Substack diaries: Did I just have a mini meltdown from setting up Substack?

Idea to Execution…and the messy middle of starting on Substack :: April 2023

I know that starting something new can be rocky, but I didn’t know it could be soul crushing

I wish it isn’t wasn’t so dramatic, I wish I could tell you how easy and invigorating it was to start writing on Substack, but the truth is, it wasn’t pretty.

The weight of perfectionism took it’s toll and I almost gave up.

I don’t want to brush over the difficult. I want to share it, because somewhere out there, someone is also starting something new and are having similar battles.

I want you to know that you aren’t alone.

Enjoy xx

The idea

You woke up early, full of excitement and ideas. 

The dream of what’s to come, the dream of putting your work out into the word.

Work that’s been swirling and twirling in your mind and in your heart.

You thought you found the solution, a place, a home to house your thoughts, hoping it would resonate with someone, to help somebody. 

You went downstairs, ready to start, ready to leap into the dream that electrified your soul.

The messy middle: Act I

Then everything came to a crashing halt.

You faced a decision, a choice, a permanence that you weren’t ready for. 

Choosing a name for Substack.

A decision that, in your mind, had a right or wrong.

What started as lightness, shifted to heaviness.

Have to make the right choice.

Think, think, think.

Research, figure it out, don’t mess up.

It started to feel too hard.

Answers weren’t flowing.

Daunting overbearing walls stood where optimism once was.

Tightening in the stomach.

Escape.

Need to escape.

This is too hard. Can’t do this anymore.

Want to leave.

If you leave, where does that leave the dream.

Maybe you can’t do this.

Maybe you can’t do anything.

The crushing reality weighs heavily as you push through.

Must push through.

You can do this.

A break, need to take a break.

The early start that day catches up with you, along with the weight of defeat.

You retire to bed in the middle of the day, exhausted.

The messy middle: Act II

You wake from the slumber, groggy, but determined.

You try a different version of a name.

You tried Mika’s Musings, but it was taken.

You decide to try musings by mika - AVAILABLE!

You move forward.

Everything feels slow and hard, but you keep going.

You set up some of the homepage on Substack.

It’s unfinished and not perfect.

There is so much to learn. More decisions to be made.

You try not to get overwhelmed, try to ignore the impatience.

Execution

You push through and quickly write your first post.

You wonder if you will actually publish it, or just sit on it.

You know that there is still so much to do.

Create thumbnails, logos, headers etc.

However, right now, you exhale and decide to push publish on your first musings.

You did it. You choose the name, you wrote, and more importantly, you PUSHED THROUGH!

Beginnings can feel uncomfortable, but it doesn’t mean that the dreams aren’t meant to be chased

Meeks

Learnings

1. Remember your purpose: When you feel overwhelmed, remember your initial motivation for starting, the message you want to put out into the world, and the impact you wanted to create.

2. Take a breather: Sometimes the most effective solution is to step away and return when you feel recharged.

3. Be patient: It's common to feel enthusiastic and want to start immediately (and perfectly!), but it usually takes time to learn new things. Use this new beginning as a time to try new things and experiment. You can change your mind!

4. Acknowledge milestones: Recognise and celebrate small successes as you progress (like hitting publish on your first post!)