Want a Life Full of Meaning and Focus? Learn to Harness the Power of Boredom.

Published: Tue, 09/15/20

When You Pay Attention to Boredom, it Gets Unbelievably Interesting
— Jon Kabat Zinn

I’m having a great conversation with a reader that I’ve just met. They like my work, and we have a connection. I’m sharing some funny stories about the writing process, and they are telling me about themselves and the kind of books they are really into. This love-fest continues until my potential super fan asks the question: I want to be a writer. What should I expect if I want to be successful?

You are worth the Boredom

My stomach tightens, and I start to sweat. My mouth goes dry, and I’m eyeing the emergency exit for a potential quick getaway. Do I lie, or do I tell them the ugly truth? If I lie, I gain a fan, but if I tell the truth, it’s inevitable that I’ll be one less reader who will also spread the word that I’m an asshole. I’d love to say that I always do the right thing, but that hasn’t always been the case.

But let’s just say I’m being a good boy today, and I speak my truth, but first, I ask a question.
“Can you handle boredom?”
I get that look, as they wonder what the hell I’m talking about. Then I drop the bomb.

“Are you willing to put in the work? At times writing can suck more than it inspires, especially if you are a self-published author. Still, if you can overcome the boredom and repetition of writing and reading every day for years, you can become successful. It hurts, but it’s worth it. Every finished book that I can share with the world is worth it. But I’m not going to lie to you; it’s hard, monotonous work.”

Mic drop.
I’ve had the pitchforks leveled at me for such talk because the would-be writer thinks I’m trying to destroy their dream.
I don’t mean to be a bastard, and I’m not going to say I’m a realist either. It’s just my experience and how I see the world, and I want my writer-to-be friends to have a dose of reality early on. The romantic notion of succeeding in a craft like writing could get you through the door, but it won’t sustain you for the long haul.
Whatever skill you want to master, whether it’s writing, music, or art, it comes at a price. It takes time, perhaps thousands of hours. It takes full concentration. It might mean waking up early and studying late when you could have been out at the club or drinking in a pub.

“Repetition can be boring or tedious, which is why so few people ever master anything.” -Hal Elrod

I must sound like the worst advocate for becoming an author in the world, but in my reality, this is the road less travelled.
The saying goes that we all have a book, a canvas, or a song in us, and I believe that to be true, but if you want to go a step further and become a master at your craft, well, that requires a different set of rules.

Consistency is boring. Putting in the work, day in and day out for a long time will make you question your sanity. The work isn’t sexy, and you won’t see results for a while, but you keep going because you know this the only path to long term mastery.

This is where most people quit. They want instant results, but if you can push through the dip - if you can keep putting in the work even when it feels like you’re going nowhere - you can achieve extraordinary results.
You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Observe the Masses and Do the Opposite.

James Caan

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