Working in cycles
On intensity, acceptance, and working with your natural rhythms
Hello! Last week, I broke my streak. No newsletter. Instead, I was in Brittany with family, eating far too many galettes (is there such a thing?). While I was away, we hit a milestone I never expected: 500 subscribers! That’s absolutely crazy to me. I genuinely didn't ever believe that many folks would be along for the ride, so thanks very much for being here.
I've always struggled with creative consistency. I often work in bursts. Short, obsessive phases where I throw myself into something completely, then stop. I’ll get obsessed with film photography, shoot every day for three months, then not touch the camera for six. Even with this newsletter - something I genuinely love writing - I have periods where ideas flow easily and others (honestly, like today) where it's a struggle.
For years, I saw this as a flaw. “Real creatives”, I thought, worked steadily, calmly, forever consistent.
Rather than treating it as a character flaw to fix, I’m starting to lean into it. The problem isn’t the pattern itself, but my resistance to it. I probably shot and learned more about film photography in those three obsessive months than I would from 12 months of slow, deliberate progress.
I see the same thing in other parts of my life. Logically, I should work out in the mornings. I’m a morning person, I like waking up early, it fits my schedule better. But my body refuses. Evenings are when it wants to move, so that’s when I go.
Acceptance and leverage, not resistance and shame.
Working with that natural rhythm is actually what makes overall consistency possible. I'm still figuring out what this means in practice, but I'm done apologising for working in cycles instead of straight lines.
On the pod
Speaking of following your natural patterns, I just released an episode with Paul Hughes about his journey from travelling salesman to radio broadcaster. We dive into the tension between following your passion (the spark) versus chasing achievement and metrics (the score).
I really enjoyed this one because Paul's path is wildly different from mine, but we both struggle with the same thing: staying true to what genuinely excites us rather than what we think we should be doing.
Listen on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Worth your time
I've been mostly offline, so the 'Worth your time' section will be back next week! But if you've read or watched something awesome on the topic of work or creativity please hit reply and I'll potentially feature it here.
I’d also love to add a “community spotlight” section here, so if you’ve released your own project or want to share your creative work here in this newsletter, please send it over!
—Mike.