From Consumption to Creation: You shouldn’t be reading this.

I want to consume less and create more. The constant flow of new podcasts and Seth Godin material to consume doesn’t usually seem overwhelming. Therein lies the problem. I can consume when I drive via podcast. I can consume before bed via books. I can consume anywhere with an internet connection via Medium. The access and ability to consume has never been a problem for me. What I am running into now is that I need to do less of it.

Whilst consuming mass amounts of new media, I continue to hear a common theme amongst the people I respect the most. CREATE. Gary Vaynerchuk describes a huge amount of his success from vlogging Wine Library before anyone was watching. When asked about which YouTube channels are his favorites, he states he “doesn’t really consume much media.” Seth Godin mentioned in the latest Tim Ferriss podcast, one of his top five business decisions of all time was daily blogging. Casey Neistat is much the same. I genuinely get excited to watch his daily vlogs. However, he will be the first to say, the vlogs take up almost every ounce of free time he has.

Noticing a theme here? I mean besides the incessant name dropping. The most successful people I know spend the better part of their days creating not consuming. In fact they do little to no consuming of common media by their own confessions.

In an attempt to tip the scales towards creation I am doing a few things differently.

1. This post: Writing more of anything is better than consuming, if your intent is to create. I do not fancy myself as a writing motivational writer, but if it motivates me, that a good thing. Just create. I write songs, poems, responses to medium posts, and anything which equates to words on a page. Most of them bad. But hey, CREATE.
2. Moving Consumption: I do not recommend writing while driving. So that is the perfect time to consume. You have to give your brain a rest from creativity and let your mind wonder. Rather than listening to the hits, I consume spoken words. Marco Arment creating a jewel of an app called Overcast. It allows me to consume podcast at a much higher rate, and makes me feel as though I am maximizing my time.
3. Daily Journal: Trust me on this one. Talking to yourself about what you are feeling is not only creative but also mind improving. Try writing the way your spouse feels everyday. I try to include a picture. It takes the focus off me, and allows me to CREATE.
4. 10 Ideas a Day: James Altucher turned me on to this one. I am amazed at how this keeps the creative juices flowing. I don’t worry much about skipping a day, or not quite getting to 10 ideas. Just get the words down daily and form the habit.

I am hoping this will work for me. Keep me honest. If you want to consume less and create more, tell me how you think you might do it. What are some of the things you do to keep yourself in creation mode?

Here’s to creation,

Timothy

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