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Madhukar's avatar

Your writing gives me hope that we won't all be replaced by ChatGPT.

Some of my favorite bits:

"In this prelapsarian state, the work is flawless because it is nothing: a ghost of pure potential that haunts the creator with its impossible beauty."

"Creation is not birth; it is murder. The murder of the impossible in service of the possible."

"Your masterpiece won't emerge from your mind fully formed like Athena from Zeus's head. It will emerge from your willingness to start badly and improve steadily. It will emerge from your commitment to showing up consistently rather than brilliantly. It will emerge from your ability to see failure as information rather than indictment.

The work that will matter most to you, the work that will surprise you with its significance, is probably much smaller than you imagine and much closer than you think."

"The curse and the gift are the same thing: we see further than we can walk, dream bigger than we can build, imagine more than we can create."

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Takim Williams's avatar

It would be hilarious if it turned out these lines were written by ChatGPT

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Madhukar's avatar

I would lose my mind 😂😭

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Krasimir Velichkov's avatar

No way this cannot be ChatGPT, maybe Gemini? Grok 4? Jokes aside this is a great article!

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Catherine's avatar

‘Theoretical purgatory’👌. What a line. I would prefer hell.

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Michael's avatar

This is exceptionally written - loved every sentence. And admittedly, and unfortunately, I feel very seen. The question is how did I get here in the first place? If not for social media, is it just the way I am, lack of validation growing up? No jdea. Surely there’s more like me and just getting to work feels like a never ending uphill battle. More to explore for sure but this was so insightful and clear. Thank you for writing this

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Palak Jain's avatar

"creation is not birth, it is murder" I'm dying, one of the best lines I've ever read

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Smicolo's avatar

I’ve read quite a few of your pieces but this has moved me like no other. As someone who has been creatively paralyzed for the past two years and feels trapped in their idealized version of their work, this felt like a wake up call. You put into words things I felt but couldn’t express. Thank you, I can’t wait to start do-learning again.

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Andrew Palla's avatar

I am possibly one of those new people in the audience. I saw a viral video of you, read one of your Substack posts and then created an account just to read what you’ve got to say. Your writing is so eloquent, yet approachable. I am envious of how well you communicate your thoughts. I am going to start giving myself permission to fail.

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Maalvika's avatar

wow, thank you for being here!! such kind words, i appreciate it :)

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Tica Martin's avatar

Fascinating analysis. Do-learn is great. And I love the sports analogy. Here’s another one: You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Gretzky, I think.

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Samantha Morgan's avatar

It was Micheal Scott quoting Gretzky. lol

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Athanasius Georgy's avatar

This was really an insightful read. What really hit home: the learning never stops requiring the doing. The doing never stops requiring learning. The work changes me. I change the work. The work changes me again.

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Saket's avatar

Haven't read an article like this. I could literally see my reflection in every sentence that you made. Loved it to it's core.

I am going through this phase right now, where my skills don't match my taste and vision. You have no idea how much this article has impacted me. I am just sitting speechless on my bed.

Someday when I make it, I'll remember this article as the spark which lit the fire.

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Besart Çopa's avatar

This was excellent. Instant subscribe.

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Michael Macfadden's avatar

Thank you for giving me a name for the taste-skill discrepancy. Loved this piece.

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Aryl shamir's avatar

My appreciation for this craftsmanship goes beyond words. 🙏

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Parker Jones's avatar

sheesh this is beautiful, and made me feel one of my favorite feelings - when vague and disparate fragments of intuition are woven together in ways that feel new yet intensely familiar. I struggle with the learn/do balancing act and while the voice of those preaching power of consistency seems to be getting louder, the message has never felt as clear as you’ve managed to make it. thank you and looking forward to reading more of your work.

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Darkest Hour Reads's avatar

This is such a gorgeous post 🖤 On this take, I might also add one of the most relevant lessons I ever learned: "Keep creating, even if it isn't good –you will always have the time to go back and improve things. You will never be satisfied with your work if you never start in the first place."

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Scot Duffton's avatar

If I start, and ultimately don’t succeed, I am in no worse position than if I had never started.

If I don’t start, I have already failed.

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Bhoga's avatar

among the best recent articles I have read.

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Gurunath Viswanathan's avatar

This is definitely one article that I will want to pass on to the next generations.

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Maria FB's avatar

Thank you for this. Put me back on the right path I think.

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