How did I become a "content creator", Why do I continue to create content on LinkedIn & What must you learn from my journey

After several years of living a conscious, deliberate life and active experimentation, I stumbled upon a simple framework for life and career.

I call it #TraceYourMastery and it has two simple steps:

1. collect the dots: Exploring options by increasing our awareness of the world
2. connecting the dots: Exploiting opportunities suiting our strengths by staying focused

In the process of practising and applying this framework to my own life, I accidentally turned myself into a "content creator".

In this article, I share the answers to the 3 questions mentioned in the title of this article.

Q1. What prompted me to start writing/creating on LinkedIn?

(How did I become a "content creator"?)

If not for my coaching journey I wouldn't have re-joined LinkedIn in 2020 despite having my account here since 2011.

One day, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, my mentor coach told me that my writing assignment titled "reflections of my coaching journey", a 3000-word essay is something that must be published on their blog to make it accessible to all the coaches in the world and cannot remain on some google drive folders.

Initially, I was a bit hesitant but eventually, I agreed and had to reactivate my LinkedIn account to keep it relevant when the team at Coacharya tagged me on their social posts.

After a few days of enjoying the attention, I learnt that the platform has changed quite a bit and I loved the option to share my thoughts actively on the platform.

Most of all I started to notice within me, this cheap thrill of having the tag "Author" next to my name.

I think this was one of the first times I started having such a tag publicly, other than having had it in my childhood daydreams.

I must admit that I was hooked on this beautiful platform since then and then came many more powerful reasons than just my ego.

Q2. What are the 5 whys behind my content creation?

(Why do I continue to create content on LinkedIn?)

Several people started asking me why do I keep writing and sharing my thoughts here on Linkedin.

As much as I wanted to answer them precisely, I knew that I never had a very straightforward answer. I used to blabber and make up reasons on the go.

But to start with, today I am sharing 5 different reasons which reflect who I am as an individual and what makes me consistent in creating content.

Before I dive into the five reasons, I will also mention the many opportunities to network with amazingly talented members and to speak at various forums that are priceless.

Of the many, the best was to be a part of the Leadership Talk Series at my alma mater, XLRI Jamshedpur.

1. Explore the world

I was almost living in my own shell until mid-2020.

But definitely, it was great timing to come out in the open, understand what is happening and most importantly, be of help to others, especially to those who are in dire need.

I find LinkedIn to be one of the few platforms where I find the perfect blend of staying connected with the outside world, being myself and yet remaining useful to others. All of these, at the comfort of using this platform for FREE (literally).

2. Know myself better

When I started to become intentional about my LinkedIn feed, various thoughts emerged.

What content shall I consume, who are the people to follow, what are the various topics on which I can write sensibly etc.

And I learnt that the answers to all of these questions are a way to know myself better: my preferences, interests, wishes and aspirations.

“Ultimately all type of knowledge simply means self-knowledge.?You must look for truth yourself and directly experience every minute detail for yourself.” ― Bruce Lee

It is by creating content - be it a short post, a long-form article or a thoughtful comment on others' updates - I know more about myself.

3. Overcome my fears

Once you are subjected to trauma you know what fear means. Once you are made to feel psychologically secure you know what freedom means.

I can't explain enough the benefits of writing openly about our thoughts. With every word I type in here and attach my identity to it, I overcome my inherent fears.

I still feel that I have several filters when I write, yet I acknowledge the progress I am able to make.

The #365DaysOfShipping project is a reminder to myself to never stop.

4. Clarify my values

Participating in hundreds of conversations that happen on my LinkedIn feed is a great way to clarify my values.

I will be forced to take a side and it might involve politely disagreeing or actively appreciating others.

With each conversation, either by participation or by simple observation, I am getting clearer in my thoughts, sharper in my insights and better at communication.

I have dozens of examples of this, if you like to understand more, don't hesitate to reach out to me.

5. Become less selfish

This is the most important reason. Maybe this is the only reason.

I have been selfish to think of myself and my needs for a large part of my life. While I enjoyed social work as a part-time volunteer in my late teens, it is only through Coaching I realized the deep need inside me to pay it forward.

I have been a beneficiary of many others helping me out. If I keep everything I am learning and experiencing to myself, I think I am being selfish.

Being on LinkedIn has been a smart way for me to try and give others my time and knowledge as generously as possible.

It is also a reason why I curate this weekly newsletter to share with the world, a part of my journey, which also fits into one of my values as detailed below.

??? ???? ??? ???? ???? ???????????

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Transliteration:

aya? nija? paro veti ga?anā laghucetasām?

udāracaritānā? tu vasudhaiva ku?umbakam?

Hindi translation:

?? ???? ??, ?? ????? ??, ??? ????? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ????

???? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ????? ?? ?? ?????? ????? ????

English translation:

This is mine, that is his, say the small minded,

The wise believe that the entire world is a family.

Q3: What do I recommend/suggest to you?

(What must you learn from my journey?)

I only have one thing to say.

Start.

Life will always be tough.

There will never be an ideal time and perfect situation.

Don't let anything come in the way of you creating content, creating conversations, creating impact.

Begin.

“Start before you’re ready. The enemy is Resistance. Don’t prepare. Begin.” ― Steven Pressfield

At the end of the day: What did I gain by writing regularly?

I can go on to share another set of 5 reasons but I won't do that.

Because my gains might not be your motivators.

You will have to find your own answers.

Only then you can sustain your journey of writing, creating and changing the world.

One word at a time. One piece of content at a time.

#CreateOnLinkedIn