Sweep your street well.

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”
―Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

So often, I hear people saying things like:

“I’m so frustrated with my blog. I only have five readers a day.”

Or: “I started my business but it’s going terribly. I only have three clients.”

Or: “Writing feels like pulling teeth because, seriously, who cares? I’m not famous. Nobody cares what I’m saying anyway.”

These feelings are understandable. They’re also harmful and unproductive.

When you allow these kinds of thoughts to occupy your mind, you tend to shut down, hide, or deliver half-hearted, unremarkable work.

This helps no one.

Instead of worrying about how many people are reading, clicking, or adoring you, focus on doing your job well.

Instead of groaning about your lack of fame, focus on helping the people standing right in front of you. Give them your best. Your whole heart. Your full attention.

You might never become famous. Never ever. Very few people do.

Accept it. Grieve the lost fantasy. Deal with it.

Here is your new reality:

I have people to help.

I just need to sweep my street well.

Happy MLK Day. Sweep on.