During a recent Refreshed Therapist Network Q+A, I was asked by a participant, “How do you do it all? You are so prolific!”

My answer? I do what I feel inspired to do in the moment.

However, I don’t do it all! There are months when I am not able to write a post for this blog, because I must focus on my professor job. And, there are months when I don’t create new resources or events, because I put more focus on my personal roles.

The point is, you can produce enough content to become known for your expertise, without keeping a rigid, or pressuring content schedule.

You do not need to buy into hustle culture, or the comparison trap. The main idea in hustle culture is that you must work harder to achieve success. The comparison trap grabs our attention when we see others in our niche, or field, “succeeding,” and we tell ourselves (in a variety of ways) that we are “behind.”

Brené Brown says, “Comparison is a creativity killer.” When your mind begins to tell you that you don’t measure up, that is a sign that it’s time to connect with who you are and what you want.

The truth is, you can build your platform and business by following your inspiration, by following a plan, by setting goals or not setting goals. There is no one system that will work for you, except what feels right to you.

There are three habits that I have found get me through writer’s block, lack of inspiration, and general “not knowing what to do next.” They are:

1 | Relying on what I know well

Step 1

Find a topic you know well. Maybe you know more about it than others in your circle; also, 1) you enjoy researching it and discussing it, and 2) you would like (or wouldn’t mind) being known for it.

Step 2

Answer the question, Who is your audience? If you were to share your knowledge on this topic, who would be interested? This is your target audience.

Step 3

Only share information relevant to your topic, and your target audience (this becomes your “niche,” or your area of expertise).

Using this three step formula, you will ensure that you provide information that is interesting, relevant, and specific.

2 | Keeping a list of ideas

The best ideas come at the most inconvenient times. I’ve learned to have a method for recording ideas accessible, no matter where I am: The Notes app on my phone, a notebook and pen in my bag, the voice recorder app, and so on. This list saves me when I need inspiration.

Adding to this list becomes a habit over time. Once you have several ideas, turn them into social media posts, blog articles, presentation pitches, videos, etc. Work on what you feel inspired to do that moment. Some days, you’ll be excited about creating an Instagram post, other days, you may have a big idea that turns into a workshop.

3 | Collaborating with platforms and professionals in your niche

When I first began this blog, I emailed experts for their points of view, pitched articles to online magazines, and requested to interview therapists I admired.

Step 1

A simple way to get started sharing your ideas, is to sign up for HARO (Help A Reporter Out). HARO is a list serve that emails content requests from journalists three times per day, every business day. Search the emails for inquiries that match your expertise, and pitch reporters. (Scroll to the bottom of this post, to steal my HARO pitch template!)

Step 2

Offer to provide free content for platforms that are closely related to your niche. Some examples include being a guest on a podcast, or webinar, and writing guest blog posts. These collaborations expand your audience and create professional connections.

4 | Keep going. Don’t give up, and, take breaks!

Creating a platform takes time. Every piece of content you publish will add to your “portfolio,” and will, over time, lead to professional opportunities. Continue to work toward the platform you want to build, at your own pace, and it will pay off!