Too many excuses

For around eight years, I've dreamed of creating and sharing my art with the world. But for just as long, I've been holding myself back with excuses.

I want to share my experience and the lessons I've learned along the way until I decided to make The Tiny Wisdom a reality.

These are a list of excuses I've made to justify not doing anything for years. I hope this list will help you reflect and learn from my experience.

Equipment Problem

I always told myself I needed the "right" equipment. This led me to buy things I didn't need, and I still felt like I needed more. I bought sketchbooks, fountain pens, an iPad, an e-ink tablet, and so on, but I never seemed to have enough equipment to start doing something.

Then, my lack of funds became another reason to procrastinate:

"Oh, I need that high-end tablet pen, and I don't have the money for it, so I guess I can't be an artist for now."

We've all been there—convincing ourselves that success lies in the next purchase. "If only I had that professional camera." "Once I get that high-end tablet. " "After I buy that expensive software." The list never ends.

Yet, with every new acquisition, the goalpost seemed to move further away. But here's the uncomfortable truth: this mindset is just sophisticated procrastination.

So, I learned to stop waiting for perfect tools and start creating with what I have. My creativity isn't locked inside a product—it's within me, waiting to be expressed. The only essential equipment is your dedication to practice and improve.

Remember: Tools don't make the artist; the artist makes the tools work.

Time & Energy Problem

I was a master of waiting. Each day brought a new, perfectly crafted excuse.

"After this project ends," I'd tell myself.

"When I'm less tired," I'd promise.

"Once things settle down," I'd whisper.

Eight years passed this way. Eight years of "someday" and "not yet." Eight years of watching others build what I only dreamed about.

What's fascinating is how the excuses evolve. They become more sophisticated and more convincing. I got better at justifying our inaction. In the first year, it was simple: "I'm too busy." By year four, it became "I need to research more." And by year eight, I had graduated to "I'm doing some research, and now is not the right time."

It amazes me how humans can use their intelligence to construct elaborate reasons for delay rather than use it to solve the challenges of starting.

There's no perfect time—and there never will be. Life doesn't pause for our dreams. The creators you admire didn't wait for ideal conditions—they created despite imperfect ones. They made time while tired after work, busy with family, stressed about money, and uncertain about results.

Don't wait for the right time – make time. Start messy. Start small. Start now. Because in another eight years, you'll either have a body of work you're proud of or more sophisticated excuses for why you waited. The choice is yours.

Fear of Insignificance

Ultimately, fear was at the root of my procrastination. What if nobody cares? What if it's not good enough? What if I'm terrible at this?

These "what ifs" paralyzed me from taking action.

They were chains binding me to inaction. Each "what if" added another lock, making the simple act of starting to feel impossible.

But here's what I finally understood: I had made myself the center of a story that existed only in my mind. I imagined crowds of critics waiting to judge my every move when, in reality, most people are too caught up in their own lives to notice.

Think about it. Even when you scroll past someone's content, how long do you actually think about it? Seconds? And those celebrities and creators you admire – how often do they cross your mind? We're all leading our movies, too busy with our plots to be more than brief extras in someone else's.

So, let the fear of judgment fall away. Let the paralysis of perfectionism fade. If you're going to be a brief moment in other people's stories anyway, you might as well make your own story worth living.

Create what you want. Start before you're ready. Make mistakes publicly. Learn visibly because the alternative – letting fear keep your dreams locked away – is the only actual failure. After all, in a world where everyone is the main character in their own life, you might as well be the hero of yours.

Breaking Through the Excuses

Despite these fears and excuses, I finally decided to take action. I realized that regardless of the outcome, at least I would have done something instead of just dreaming about it.

I don't want to be 8 years older than I am now and still regret the same thing.

You Will Never Have Enough Equipment
There will always be newer, shinier tools. Don't let this stop you. If you want to draw, start with a pen and paper. If you're going to take photos, use your phone. Don't wait for perfect equipment – start.

You Will Never Have Enough Time and Energy
There's no perfect time for anything. The more we wait, the more excuses we find. We even upgrade our excuses over time, using our ability to learn against ourselves. Don't wait for the right time – make time.

Nobody Cares (And That's Liberating)
We often overestimate how much others think about us. Even for famous people, we rarely spend more than a few moments thinking about them. Everyone is the main character in their own life – you're just an extra in theirs. This realization is freeing: if nobody cares that much, you might as well do what you want.

So, what's your excuse? Remember:

• You don't need the latest tools to chase your dreams.
• You're wasting time waiting for the "perfect" moment.
• Nobody cares as much as you think, so live your life to the fullest.

I hope you find this insightful. Remember:

It's not going to be easy,
But it's not impossible.

Your friend,
Brian.