🥲🥲🥲

”You’re a big hypocrite, Redim”

Ouch.

My inner critic is loud.

“It only stings because it's fact. Your last email was titled 'why I email you daily' in which you dedicated 1000+ words to the importance of consistency... then you go near three days without so much as a peep!"

I'd love a chance to explain...

"Explain what? How you don't even prioritise your own values?"

But the thing is—

"No buts, I don't wanna hear it 🙉"

The voice inside our head claims to be helpful...

Sometimes though, it only adds unneeded pressure that only weighs you down.

"Of course you'd say that, so you can keep making excuses to stay lazy"

Laziness when you have no energy isn't laziness.

There's value in recharging your batteries to avoid short-circuiting.

Being burned out never helped anybody.

"If I had a gun to your head I bet you wouldn't need to 'recharge', so it's obviously placebo"

Ahh yes, the adrenaline response... a fantastic tool to override fatigue.

But try making it your default measure and watch how quick "placebo" turns to cold, undeniable reality.

At the time of sending my last email (which gives an in-depth look at my daily—or, daily-ish—newsletter philosophy), my wife and I were in the middle of a weekend (well spent, Alhamdulillah), with my grandparents.

Even though this kind of leniency may mean business suffers slightly, I don't mind.

Family and health come before business.

Besides, I only want to attract customers and clients who understand this and share the same values.

That's why I changed my target audience last year. I want to deal with and serve Muslim Creators, because we share the same perspective on what's important in life.

"You just launched your coaching program. You don't get to be picky. You should be grateful and accept anyone who comes in the door"

If you try to appeal to everyone, you'll appeal to no one.

"That doesn't change the fact that you still have all that work to do which you haven't made a dent in, because you were spending time with family and 'recharging your batteries'"

If you're a part time creator with other responsibilities in life, there will always be stuff that needs your attention.

You'll start to get traction.

People will engage with your content.

You'll scale your operation.

Launch new products and services.

Build on new channels.

But whatever you do...

DO NOT COMPROMISE YOUR BOUNDARIES

Remember Parkinson's Law?

Work expands to fill the available time.

Build your creator business with the long-term in mind.

You have a finite supply of energy and mental well-being.

While the demand for your attention as a creator will always be infinite (there's always a new project or task you could be paying attention to—but it doesn't mean you should).

Have intention with your attention

Speaking of attention, I think it's time to quit entertaining my inner critic.

The takeaway from this me vs me? (aside from perhaps your entertainment 😆)

Don't be so hard on yourself akhi.

You're a human, not a robot.

Treating yourself like one will only burn you out.

And remember, being kind to yourself doesn't mean lowering your standards.

Continue to aim high, but when you fall short, just get back up akhi.

Analogy: If you chip a tooth, you don't grab a hammer to knock out the rest.

That would be self sabotage; which is exactly what negative self talk usually is.

(Don't get me wrong, there's a time and place for tough love but that's not what this email is about).

Besides, when you aim high and fall short, you probably still come out way above where you otherwise would have, so dream big!

Are you an existing or aspiring part-time creator with a big dream but also responsibilities, limited time and limited energy?

Confused how to wisely manage it all?

I know it's hard to go at it alone (I didn't), which is why I'm launching a BRAND NEW 1:1 coaching program where I'll personally hand-hold you in growing and monetising your brand.

If you're interested, reply "GROW" to this email, and let's chat.

As-salamu aleiykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, my halal creator friend 😊

—Redim