Working in public has been burdening me for a long time.

If you’re like the old me, you’re always trying to craft a masterpiece before publishing. You want to sound smart, so you feel you need to make your creation the last word. Otherwise, you feel like an impostor.

It’s overwhelming but also a common situation to be in. As are its results: you publish nothing, ever —or if you do, it happens very sporadically.

But you don’t need as much to start sharing your work.

Public retrospective.

There is no last word.

Share your journey as it happens. When you see what you publish as a work in progress and make everything about sharing what you’re doing, learning, finding, and thinking at the moment, the road gets easier and more joyful.

It’s like doing a retrospective but in public.

I was practicing retrospectives as part of my journaling process before. And I was practicing them in development teams even before that. But I never saw them this way.

When done in private, definitely a fantastic tool for accountability and reflection that brings clarity to your mind.

But when done in public, it’s a bomb. Now, I can make the most out of my time simply by sharing what I’m already doing. I’m just picking the low-hanging fruit, so it makes it a great return on investment. And logically, it demands a bit more effort than working in private, but the benefits are outstanding.

I’m not working in the shadows anymore, and you neither have to.

I learned this from David Perell in his revealing appearance in Nathan Barry’s Show. This is what he calls “burnt-ends content.” You can have a look at the shortened clip where he talks about that here.

Or if you want to watch the full episode, you can also do that here.

Small pieces.

You don’t have to craft an extensive and profound essay to start sharing. You look for consistency first. Quality comes second.

Start by sharing just small pieces —like this one. That will help you stay visible to the outside world and begin making crucial relationships while building and connecting your thoughts into broader, more whole concepts.

Just one channel.

When you start working in public, there are many things you don’t know and many moving pieces to fit in.

You have to learn and practice skills like writing or speaking—depending on your chosen medium.

You’ve got to get into the dynamics, culture, language, and peculiarities of all the communities you’re trying to get into.

If you’re trying to syndicate content, you’ll have to understand their contribution policies and learn their submission processes.

You’ve got to learn the right tools, strategies, and tactics, often specific for each platform…

The list is daunting.

And if that wasn’t enough, you also have to keep up with the rest of your life and work.

It’s a very ambitious move. But also a hazardous one. Trying to reach so many channels, communities, and formats can be over-killing.

Instead, simplify. You’re trying to build a habit and learn what’s needed. When you’re starting, pick just one channel and master it. Once you’re comfortable, expand.

This is what I’m doing right now by focusing on Twitter alone.