On Monday I launched a new issue of Sunday| Mag. This one was completely different than the others. I interviewed one church on their creative process for Christmas – and wrote 12 articles covering it ad nauseum. It was a risk.
So I hit publish and waited. I was scared. Immediately I got 20 unsubscribes. I get unsubscribes each issue, but this was more than usual. Then I got this email:
why are you sending me christmas stuff in october???????? insane.
Insecurity took over. I knew I was a failure. I knew Sunday| Mag was doomed and I killed it – single handedly. I was so distracted I couldn’t get anything done. I felt so worthless.
So I ran. I changed into some workout clothes and went for an hour-long run. I had to clear my head. I had to get over my failure and keep going. I couldn’t be crippled by this.
One hour later my head was clear. My heart was calm. I could keep going. It would be ok.
Then I checked my email. I got numerous bravos on the magazine issue. Folks were really liking it. Perhaps it wasn’t a failure! Sure, some people didn’t like it and some didn’t get it. But I accomplished my goal with the magazine. It was a success after all!
I think many times we assume we failed before we even accurately analyze the situation. Our self-consciousness makes us roll into a fetal position and lick our wounds before it’s even necessary.
We can’t let failure or potential failure keep us from moving forward. Sometimes we need to just pound the pavement and run – clear our heads and keep going.
I guarantee this won’t be the last time I fail or assume I’ve failed. But I have to keep going.
Bless you for your courage in writing about things like this.
Bless you for your courage in writing about things like this.
“why are you sending me christmas stuff in october???????? insane.”
When do they start thinking about Christmas? December 23rd?
Enjoying the Mag. Keep them coming.
“why are you sending me christmas stuff in october???????? insane.”
When do they start thinking about Christmas? December 23rd?
Enjoying the Mag. Keep them coming.
Hey Jonathan! I loved the issue and greatly appreciate everything you write, thanks for sticking with it!
Hey Jonathan! I loved the issue and greatly appreciate everything you write, thanks for sticking with it!
Every issue has been great, but this one was fantastic. Thanks for taking the risk!
Every issue has been great, but this one was fantastic. Thanks for taking the risk!
As a Full Time Video Producer for a mega church in California, I thought October’s magazine was absolutely phenomenal. You’re an amazing creative and absolute inspiration to all on the team I work with.
Thank you! 🙂
As a Full Time Video Producer for a mega church in California, I thought October’s magazine was absolutely phenomenal. You’re an amazing creative and absolute inspiration to all on the team I work with.
Thank you! 🙂
You sir can think about Christmas January 1st till Dec 23rd and I, as the rest of us, will STILL support you. Stay blessed and keep writing. As you can tell, I’m catching up on my reading…YAY!!
You sir can think about Christmas January 1st till Dec 23rd and I, as the rest of us, will STILL support you. Stay blessed and keep writing. As you can tell, I’m catching up on my reading…YAY!!
Dude! This was perfect timing. As a church creative, we started talking about Christmas last month and this issue really helped me get a different perspective and put some more thought into our process. I was an added subscriber because of this issue.
Dude! This was perfect timing. As a church creative, we started talking about Christmas last month and this issue really helped me get a different perspective and put some more thought into our process. I was an added subscriber because of this issue.