“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”
Marcus Aurelius
I often struggle with beginning. The tasks require to get where I want to be and do what I want to do seem insurmountable. I have begun to realize that my fear, perhaps my biggest fear, is complexity. I often find myself confused, what needs to be done? Where does that start? How can I find out? How can I be sure I haven’t missed some foundational step?
Of course the answers to these questions are all in the “impediment” as Marcus calls it. The obstacle that stands in the way. That obstacle is never the actual task, it’s always the fear of the task. And I knew that part for years because when people would talk to me about stage fright and impostor syndrome I’d always tell them that the only way out was through. In other words the impediment to action advances action…
At the beginning of the year I set a goal for myself; I would distribute my own music. I started off fine, learning about digital distribution, about where to have physical CDs made, but then I bogged down. I knew that there were things I’d need to do, but they seemed too complex and for several months now I’ve been circling around the outside, too unsure and fearful to make any progress.
Over the last few days I’ve had something of a breakthrough. I now have a PayPal for Business account, and a name use registration from the State of MN, so I can now get paid and there will be no comingling of funds. I also have a registered Assumed Name to do business in the state of Minnesota, and I was happy to learn that I don’t need any other type of business license.
Finally I have started actual work on the website for my digital distribution business, and have a hosting provider. With any luck at all I will be able to finish that in the next couple of weeks. There won’t be a lot of product to start with, only my own music and the first of five recordings from a friend of mine. But that will grow in time.
Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know 