Greatness isn’t born, it’s built.
Let me tell you a story that stopped me in my tracks at a homeschool expo I attended last weekend.
A parent walked up to me and shared something that felt like a secret most creative people overlook:
Their child wanted Pokémon cards. Instead of just buying them, they issued a challenge:
"Draw your favorite Pokémon character 30 times. Then we’ll talk."
So the kid did it. All 30 drawings. Unprompted. Unbothered. Unapologetically focused.
They came back for more cards. The parent doubled down:
"Draw 50 more."
Challenge accepted. Challenge completed.
And here’s what shocked them…
When they compared the first drawing to the 80th, it wasn’t just a step up. It was a complete transformation.
Lines were sharper. Characters more accurate. Shading was impeccable. You could see the growth with your bare eyes.
So…what changed?
Not talent. Not age. Not some mystical muse descending from the sky.
What changed was reps!
Iteration is the real teacher.
Every stroke of the pencil whispered, “I’m learning.” Every attempt refined the muscle memory. Every sketch was a quiet rebellion against the idea that creativity is a gift only a chosen few possess.
John Cleese once said, “Creativity is not a talent. It is a way of operating.”
Creativity doesn’t come from waiting for inspiration. It comes from movement. Repetition. Iteration.
You don’t get better by thinking about the drawing or music or whatever your creative domain is.
You get better by creating again and again and again…until one day, you look up, and you don’t just see improvement...you see evidence of your evolution.
Want to master your craft?
Stop waiting for the perfect moment.
Just start with the first rep.
Then do 79 more.
Stay creative,
