Before I was booked for a set,

or graduated from uni,

or expanded The Writer's Psyche,

I had to put the hours in,

and do the same tasks over and over again,

until something stuck.

This is the practice of 'boring fundamentals'.

I first heard of this term from Internet guru Dan Koe,

who gained fame and success via online platforms.

It refers to consistent habits

that form the building blocks

of whatever it is you want to achieve,

and practicing them for an extended period of time,

compounding into your end goal.

These 'fundamentals' are usually iterative tasks

that give you little to no instant reward,

hence the word 'boring',

but require long-term cultivation for outcomes,

and as a result,

a level of discipline and structure.

Over the years,

this approach resonated with me,

especially as my own fundamentals

were subject to personal lapses of discipline and judgement,

and I saw how slipping away from them hurt meaningful progress.

Despite the bumps,

I've stayed consistent in many ways since then,

such as writing these emails every Monday,

and performing poetry anywhere with a mic.

I knew that doing this

was the foundation of something big,

and I've broken through a little,

yet there's a much greater distance

left to run.

One thing's for sure, Reader,

the 'boring fundamentals'

helped get me this far.

So I advise you to learn them too,

in relation to whatever it is you are pursuing,

and keep that habit consistently in operation.

This concept isn't limited to the creative either,

it can be extrapolated for fitness goals

or entrepreneurial pursuits for example.

If you're a buisness owner,

a boring fundamental may be oversight of all operations at all times.

If you're an athlete,

a boring fundamental may be intense cardio or training every week.

If you're a copywriter,

a boring fundamental may be writing a certain number of words a day.

The goal here is to make 'boring fundamentals' a lifestyle choice,

until it's like second nature to you.

You don't need motivation or inspiration anymore,

you simply act out of habit and discipline.

Because you realise that this is what creates success,

not fancy morning routines or esoteric self-improvement tips,

but maintaining the building blocks of your pursuit.

You will reap the rewards soon,

but for most of the journey,

there will be no perceived reward,

so learn to live without it,

and when it comes, embrace it.

Creative Update

This past week has seen the completion

of the latest draft of a story of mine from In Da Crime Life.

It is a piece that kicks off the collaborative anthology,

set in a shared fictional crime universe,

charting the rise and fall of an assassin

trying to escape da crime life.

I've also been working on organising a poetry event

with lineups and logistics currently shaping up nicely.

All will be revealed very soon...

Just know that some great poets are involved,

and it will show how poetry is a force

that affects people beyond its grasp,

and I wanted to use this power for a real cause.

Upcoming Opportunties

Artist Callout

CreateSpace have announced a call out for poets and spoken word artists from Birmingham to submit 'all types of poetry' for their first zine.

DEADLINE: 12TH JUNE

Full House Literary Magazine

Open for submissions for:

Poetry, prose, art, visual poems, photos, flash fiction, micro fiction, prose poems, send it all our way! Especially looking for bold and interesting pieces.

More details via link below.

DEADLINE: 26TH MAY

Catch Me Next

My next two appearances include a TedX set that is sold out,

and an event that is yet to be announced,

so stay tuned!

Best wishes,

Bilal Psyche Akram