When we think of creating something amazing, it’s easy to assume that the best ideas will come right away. We believe that we just need a single spark of inspiration, and then everything will fall into place. But here’s the truth: inspiration rarely shows up before we start. It’s not about waiting for the perfect idea to come to you. If you want to make something excellent, you need to begin by doing the work, even if your early attempts feel average.
Think of it this way: your first idea won’t be the best one. It’s likely to be one of many. But as you keep working, ideas start to flow more freely. The real gold appears once you’ve pushed past the first rough drafts. By the time you reach the twenty-fifth attempt, you’ll have something to be proud of. Excellence doesn’t happen by chance; it happens when we commit to the process.
The Power of Repetition
Most people stop before they’ve given themselves a real chance. They try a few times, get discouraged, and think they’re just not good enough. What they don’t realise is that their early attempts were necessary steps toward something better. The more you do something, the more you improve at it. Repetition is how skills develop and ideas improve.
Imagine you’re learning to play a musical instrument. The first time you touch the keys, you’re not going to sound like a professional. But with practice, your fingers become more familiar with the movements, and the music starts to flow. The same is true for any creative work. You must go through many ‘average’ tries to get to the one that feels just right.
Don’t aim for perfection right from the start. Instead, focus on making lots of things. Each time, you’re getting a little closer to the result you want. The first attempts are just practice, and practice is what leads to real progress.
Inspiration Comes Through Action
One of the biggest myths about creativity is that inspiration comes first. Many people wait for the right moment, the right mood, or the right idea to get started. But waiting doesn’t get you anywhere. The only way to find inspiration is by taking action. When you create something—anything—you learn more about what works and what doesn’t. This helps you refine your ideas.
Let’s say you want to write a great story. You can sit around waiting for the perfect plot to hit you, but you might be waiting for a long time. Instead, you could start writing. Your first draft might not be very good, but that’s okay. By writing, you’ll start to see what needs to be improved, and slowly, the story will begin to take shape.
Inspiration is a by-product of the work itself. As you put in the effort, your mind becomes more creative. You might find that your best ideas appear when you least expect them—after you’ve already been working for a while. So, the lesson is simple: don’t wait for inspiration. Start creating, and inspiration will follow.
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