I have spent so much time worrying about creating on demand. Like I’m running my very own private newspaper, I always have some sort of deadline to hit.

“It’s Wednesday, time for another blog post.”
“Time for another video.”
“Time for another project.”

Don’t get me wrong, there are great lessons to be learned in creating on demand. Setting a ship date, and sticking to it, forces us to commit to the work even when inspiration doesn’t strike, life gets crazy, or we just plain old don’t feel like it. But creativity on demand is pointless unless we also create what’s in demand.

Just because Babe 2: Pig in the City is available on demand, doesn’t mean it’s in demand. A new post apocalyptic, teen survival, Hunger Games knockoff is published every day, that doesn’t mean people are rushing to the shelves to buy them. The same goes for the blogger, musician, or technician. The daily blog, the indie guitarist, the mobil app, these things are one in a million, and being created on demand every single day. 

Any bum can create on demand. Being an artist means creating avenues from which that which is in demand can burst forth. What’s in demand is connection, vulnerability, trust, love, and faith. A blog, guitarist, or mobil app that provides those things is rare, scarce, and will have people rushing to be a part of it.

Creating on demand is saying, “It’s Tuesday, time for another episode.”
Creating in demand is saying, “What do I need? What does the world need? How can I use my gifts to give it to them, no matter what day it is?”

I don’t do this because it’s easy.
I don’t do this because people like it.
I don’t do this to prove something.
I certainly don’t do this for the money.
I don’t do this because someone gave me permission.
I don’t do this because it makes sense.
I don’t do this for pride.
I don’t do this for recognition.
I don’t do this because it’s safe.

I do this because nothing else keeps me up at night.
I do this because adventure is more about the journey that the destination, and I love a good journey.

I don’t do this for success.
I don’t do this for failure.
I do this regardless of either one coming my way.

I don’t do this for the reward.
I do this for the risk.

I don’t do this because I want to.
I don’t do this because I need to.
I do this because I love it, and love goes much deeper than want or need.

I don’t do this because I chose to.
I do this because I was chosen.
I don’t do this for me.
I do this for Him.

It always happens. The very moment I sit down to write, I remember…
“I have to defrost that chicken sitting in the freezer.”

So I get up, move the chicken onto the counter, and sit back down. Time to write again. But then I think…
“I should probably unplug my air conditioning unit. My electric bill was crazy last month.”

Once again I rise, unplug the unit, then sit back down. Now I can work, for real this time. But then I think…
“I should check my email.”
“Did I wash my blue shirt?”
“I should probably clean the toilet.”

We will always create something “more important” to do the minute we sit down to create. This is one of the many tricks of what Steven Pressfield calls ‘the resistance’. The resistance will do anything to keep us from sitting down and actually doing the hard work of making. The most successful artists are the ones who push through the distractions created by the resistance and instead focus on what is really most important, the art.

Inspiring someone, saying something new, breathing new life, making a connection. This is what’s most important. 
The chicken can wait.