Good Day Class,

What an exciting treat we have today. Not only is Bamboo Forest of the fabulous blog, Pun Intended making a return appearance as substitute teacher (guest writer), but he has brought along his latest invention; a free online timer we can all use to monitor not only our online activities, but any chore or activity we’d like to time.

Without further ado, I’ll take a seat next to you and enjoy today’s lesson.

The floor is yours, Bamboo.

Hi Class,

It’s great to be here again.

I’m well aware time is of the essence, so let’s get started.

* * * * *

I used to be concerned when publishing something I was thrilled with while having so few subscribers and so little outreach.

I would tell myself I’m being wasteful publishing my best stuff for just a few people.

Even worse, whatever great article (at least to me) I do publish under these circumstances is going to get buried beneath the hundreds of posts it’ll take to grow a large audience.

But then it hit me. I have it all wrong.

It doesn’t matter!

Today’s Lesson

Publishing your “best stuff” now, while you’re small, builds your creative muscles so that later on you’re capable of far greater things.

It’s like weight lifting.

When you start out, you’re only capable of lifting so much. With consistent practice, however, you’re able to lift even more. But here’s the thing: You have to lift more now to be able to lift more later.

See what I’m talking about?

Look at any accomplished blogger. Brian Clark, Leo Babauta, Chris Brogan, you name it… I bet they never saved any of their best stuff for later. They published it as soon as they could. And by doing so they’ve grown into the wickedly skillful bloggers they are today.

Holding back your best stuff for later won’t get you there.

Another advantage of publishing your best material now is it puts pressure on you to continue publishing only the best you can.

For example, let’s say you just posted an amazing article that knocks everyone’s socks off. Doing so has set a standard for your blog. You’re telling your readers what to expect and there’s no turning back now. You’ve put yourself in a position where not only your readers expect more from you, but you expect more from yourself, too.

That’s the kind of pressure you probably want.

If developing into the most skillful blogger possible is high on your agenda, think twice about saving your best for later.

Today’s Assignment

Have you ever felt regretful publishing your best material while having a small audience?

Is there ever a time to save a great piece for later?

Raise your hand and share your thoughts.

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Bamboo Forest created an online timer that makes bloggers ridiculously productive. He also writes for Pun Intended, a blog that’s hilarious and enlightening.