Why Connor McGregor Matters to Writers

While I didn’t shell out the $99 to get the fight on Showtime, I did get an 11th-hour invitation from my neighbor to join him and a group of friends to see the fight.
Mayweather versus McGregor was billed as one of the biggest fights in recent boxing history and had the record-setting purse to prove it (over $300 million!).
All of that aside, and we can even set aside the fight itself. I want to talk to you about why Conor McGregor should matter to you.
In case you didn’t know, McGregor is an MMA fighter. This means he’s a grappler, a brawler, and a bruiser. For him to come into boxing was a huge jump. His arsenal was cut down by 2/3 (no wrapping up, no kicking). All he could do was use his hands. McGregor left his comfort zone to try a sport he hasn’t competed in, using a limited set of skills, against one of the greatest fighters in boxing — the then 49–0 champion Floyd Mayweather.
This should inspire you for three reasons.
He decided firmly. McGregor made a choice to leave his comfort zone to go do something everyone said that he could do. The odds were stacked high against him, but he didn’t let his fears talk him down. He understood that this fight was career-defining. So he got a boxing coach and got to work.
He went all in. He talked the talk and walked the walk. He didn’t half-step. He fueled the press conferences, went all on on social media, and made sure everyone knew that he was committed to fighting (not just interested). He rallied people around him with his confidence and swagger. He believed he could do it and charged forward with conviction.
We won despite losing. Even though his first attempt wasn’t the success he hoped for, he did it. He finished the race. In doing so, he also raised his value. He lasted 10 rounds with a seasoned fighter. He can now go back to MMA and earn more money with his enlarged star power. Everyone knows the name Conor McGregor now. Mission accomplished.
What does this have to do with writing? It means that you can be inspired to decide, go all in, and win. If you have ever wanted to write a book or get started contributing your expertise for publications (print or online), today is decision day.
Don’t let your fears hold you back any longer. Today is the day that you call yourself by name — an author or a writer. You’re no longer aspiring. You’re doing.
Hop on to your favorite social media platform and make it public. Let people know that you’re committing yourself to the work. Thomas Edison is said to have made all of his declarations public for the accountability. It works.
Start writing something today. It can be 100 words, 250 words, 500 words, or just an outline. Just get something on the page and build your momentum from there.
