I don’t know how everything you write is literally what I need to hear that day, but it is. This piece, in particular, is going to gut-punch a lot of people into laying the bricks, hopefully. And what a brilliant analogy that is—bricks build the cathedral. The Internet will absolutely trick you into thinking the “systems” and “frameworks” and “funnels” are the work itself. Add the layer of actually needing to find a job in this economy, a job that’s always been web-based and well-paid, and it makes it a thousand times worse. I’m so weary from it all. Makes me want to disappear on a mountain with a herd of llamas.
I rarely read every word of most writing on Substack because it drones on and on. You are one of the few who nail long-form content. Not too many words. Not to few. Vocabulary that is well-selected and executed. And the pièce de résistance—actually authored by you. So I actually read and don’t skim. God bless.
Thanks for saying/writing what no one else will. You are epic. Keep slinging truths.
Holy crap its like this was aimed at me personally. You are over-educated and under-executed was so spot on i crave knowledge and have infinite curiosity. I am definitely a sophisticated procrastinator but im happy to report i have started to be a bricklayer 🙌🏻 this was fantastic, im going to save this and come back to it as often as I need to thank you 🧡
I laughed out loud at "meanwhile, you are agonizing over the perfect sentence that no one will ever read. You are not lazy. You are disciplined, curious, and probably more self-aware than anyone else in your circle. And that’s exactly the problem (this approach also reeks of a certain entitlement haha)
As a recovering perfectionist, I have to admit I still recognised myself in parts of this. Hiding behind endless preparation, research and "not quite being ready yet" often disguises itself as protection, when really it's just a very sophisticated way of avoiding reality.
And I especially loved what you wrote about being an "imperfect" human. I think many perfectionists don't realise how ego-driven perfectionism actually is. We tell ourselves it's about having high standards, but so often it's really about protecting the image we have of ourselves. If I never publish it, it can stay perfect forever. If I do publish it, I have to face the possibility that I'm... just an ordinary human making imperfect work. Ironically, that's exactly where something real can finally begin.
I also think a huge part of the business coaching industry is built around selling people their own potential and keeping them in preparation mode. Another framework, another course, another blueprint... always one step away from actually doing the thing.
"you are not the source" is one of the most powerful sections I've ever read on here, thank you for this, Phillip. we'll continue laying bricks day by day.
I love this so much. Not only for the its light bulb, I get this moments but for the courageous truth telling. My body was like , “yep, yep, so true, yep”. Thank you Phillip
This felt like talking to me personally. Well done man, sounds like you’ve honed in on who your audience is. I felt seen and under and it gave me some sort of shift in perspective.
Love that! When I set out to do this for my own audience, I feel so distant from them. And I get confused, should I just talk to my older self? Or just say whatever’s on my mind? Or try to meet people where they are.. what’s your process for this?
"Truth is more useful than perfection." OMG That line alone was worth the read. Thanks for sharing such an honest perspective on the creative process :)
The 'God Complex of the Procrastinator' is a brutal but necessary mirror, and it's very personal to me. It’s so easy to mistake the dopamine hit of planning for the actual work of living. Thanks for the reminder that being a human filter is much more sustainable than trying to be a source. Thanks for writing this Philipp.
I don’t know how everything you write is literally what I need to hear that day, but it is. This piece, in particular, is going to gut-punch a lot of people into laying the bricks, hopefully. And what a brilliant analogy that is—bricks build the cathedral. The Internet will absolutely trick you into thinking the “systems” and “frameworks” and “funnels” are the work itself. Add the layer of actually needing to find a job in this economy, a job that’s always been web-based and well-paid, and it makes it a thousand times worse. I’m so weary from it all. Makes me want to disappear on a mountain with a herd of llamas.
I rarely read every word of most writing on Substack because it drones on and on. You are one of the few who nail long-form content. Not too many words. Not to few. Vocabulary that is well-selected and executed. And the pièce de résistance—actually authored by you. So I actually read and don’t skim. God bless.
Thanks for saying/writing what no one else will. You are epic. Keep slinging truths.
Thanks for writing this beautiful comment. This made my day. And it gives me the drive to write my next article, which I will do right now.
Philip is him.
He is so elegant.
Mann I love him.
Holy crap its like this was aimed at me personally. You are over-educated and under-executed was so spot on i crave knowledge and have infinite curiosity. I am definitely a sophisticated procrastinator but im happy to report i have started to be a bricklayer 🙌🏻 this was fantastic, im going to save this and come back to it as often as I need to thank you 🧡
I think most of us (me included) are sophisticated procrastinators. There more you can see it, the more bricks you can lay.
I laughed out loud at "meanwhile, you are agonizing over the perfect sentence that no one will ever read. You are not lazy. You are disciplined, curious, and probably more self-aware than anyone else in your circle. And that’s exactly the problem (this approach also reeks of a certain entitlement haha)
As a recovering perfectionist, I have to admit I still recognised myself in parts of this. Hiding behind endless preparation, research and "not quite being ready yet" often disguises itself as protection, when really it's just a very sophisticated way of avoiding reality.
And I especially loved what you wrote about being an "imperfect" human. I think many perfectionists don't realise how ego-driven perfectionism actually is. We tell ourselves it's about having high standards, but so often it's really about protecting the image we have of ourselves. If I never publish it, it can stay perfect forever. If I do publish it, I have to face the possibility that I'm... just an ordinary human making imperfect work. Ironically, that's exactly where something real can finally begin.
I also think a huge part of the business coaching industry is built around selling people their own potential and keeping them in preparation mode. Another framework, another course, another blueprint... always one step away from actually doing the thing.
I wrote it because I'm one of them haha.
"I also think a huge part of the business coaching industry is built around selling people their own potential and keeping them in preparation mode."
This is uncomfortably accurate. Glad you can see it.
20-year-old me needed to read this so bad. I'm 63 and have managed to figure a lot of us out for myself but you are dead on.
Painful and empowering at the same time, thanks for writing this.
"you are not the source" is one of the most powerful sections I've ever read on here, thank you for this, Phillip. we'll continue laying bricks day by day.
Yes- degrees without the degree 😄 there are things I will never share- I’m okay with that
Just read this after adding a new set of tags to a Notion database. I feel called out!
Thank you for writing what I needed to hear today (and most days).
Amen. Never stop writing.
I love this so much. Not only for the its light bulb, I get this moments but for the courageous truth telling. My body was like , “yep, yep, so true, yep”. Thank you Phillip
The brick analogy is EXACTLY what I needed to hear today, thank you.
Brick by brick, day by day.
Thank you for this, exactly what I needed to hear.
This felt like talking to me personally. Well done man, sounds like you’ve honed in on who your audience is. I felt seen and under and it gave me some sort of shift in perspective.
I know because I’m talking from personal experience.
Love that! When I set out to do this for my own audience, I feel so distant from them. And I get confused, should I just talk to my older self? Or just say whatever’s on my mind? Or try to meet people where they are.. what’s your process for this?
"Truth is more useful than perfection." OMG That line alone was worth the read. Thanks for sharing such an honest perspective on the creative process :)
Almost would have cut that line.
glad you didn’t! It’s good
The 'God Complex of the Procrastinator' is a brutal but necessary mirror, and it's very personal to me. It’s so easy to mistake the dopamine hit of planning for the actual work of living. Thanks for the reminder that being a human filter is much more sustainable than trying to be a source. Thanks for writing this Philipp.
Ha! Did you write this for me? 😅😅😅