Everything starts with writing. Writing you say? That seems like a pretty far off topic from production. I want to show you how writing is actually one of the most important things you can do. As my friend Sean McCabe says “it all starts with writing.”

Making a course?

Filming a video?

Growing your business?

Each of those starts with writing.

I’ve had a daily writing habit for a few years now and it has completely changed my work. I spend a lot of time writing for projects, client proposals, and general upkeep of my business, but writing has also dramatically impacted how I plan and schedule my days.

Writing every day (even for 20 minutes) gives me clarity about what I should be working on and has sparked many new ideas.

Here are a few examples: Narrations for a recent project? I processed my ideas through my daily writing. Writing a $10K project proposal? Through my daily writing. Reaching out to high-level collaborators? Through my daily writing. Planning projects and prioritizing new ideas? Through my writing.

It all starts with writing.

When I look back to making the move to leave my full time job and run my own business the single habit that has dramatically changed the work I do is my writing habit. The best thing I can encourage you to do is create a daily writing habit.

Build a writing habit

To build a writing habit, start by setting aside 20 minutes every day to write. Plan this time in your schedule and commit to doing it for 30 days.

Each day when you sit down to write, start by removing any and all distractions, set a timer for 20 minutes and write. Don’t worry about what to say, just write anything and everything that comes to mind.

The first few days might seem a little odd and new, but keep up your daily writing habit. Over time, you’ll begin to see how beneficial writing is for giving you clarity, focus and new ideas.

Go write

Right now, go to your calendar and mark off 20 minutes each day to write. If you’re worried about what to write, how this writing habit thing works, or if you’re not sure if you want to try it, write that down. Anything that comes to mind gets written down.

As you write, remember, the goal isn’t to write amazing things, the goal is to build a writing habit. You succeed if you show up and write for 20 minutes – that’s all that matters. Go write and begin to see all the benefits that come from a daily writing habit.