At the start of 2026, I decided to take a break from making offers.

I wanted to give myself permission to focus on my book, Magnetic Writing, without distraction. It helped me write 140,000 words in a month, and then spend the next few months editing without feeling rushed.

I finished the third draft 4 weeks ago. My plan was to launch a cohort after this. I love teaching live and miss the connection. But as I began to write the curriculum, I noticed anxiety creeping in.

What if no one buys?

What if my other offers ‘just got lucky?’

What if the market has changed?

Part of me was tempted to push the launch back again. One more round of editing. I found myself spinning a seductive tale that my book could do with one more round of editing. But in reality, I was responding to fear. The fear of potential rejection. The sting of making an offer that might flop.

I realised that I was falling into a trap that I thought I clawed my way out of:

Wanting certainty before action.

Back when I was a young whippersnapper drilling teeth for a living, I spent years dreaming about being an entrepreneur. But when I brushed against action, it was never the right time. Never the right idea.

In retrospect, I was trying to land on the perfect product without the prerequisite pain of putting yourself out there.

But then the fear of wasting my life overcame the fear of looking stupid.

I built my first blog. No one read. Then my first product, a guide to get into dental school. No one bought. Then I tried to be a copywriter. No one cared. Finally, I released a product, the Viral Inspiration Lab.

People enjoyed it, and the ball began to roll.

In an interview with Shane Parrish, James Clear said:

“The most powerful form of preparation is a mindset that can handle uncertainty.”

I felt that. Because as someone who likes to be in control, uncertainty scares the shit out of me. But I’ve long since realised that the attribute closest tied to success is a willingness to take a risk. To have an idea and put it out into the world.

Because few people take the leap from planning to producing.

You might be wrong many times, but you only need to be right once.

So let me give you the reframe that has helped me massively:

When you find yourself anxious about your success, I guarantee it is because you are thinking about yourself. But when you focus on serving other people, fear paves way to optimism. You stop asking, “will this work or not?” and start asking, “what can I build that other people will love?”

This approach will make you unstoppable in the infinite game of writing online.

Help other people win. It doesn’t get more complicated than that.

Kieran