When you’re doing the work that matters, everything recedes

In physics, the formula for calculating momentum is mass times velocity.

The quantity of an object’s motion can be understood as the product of its size and speed.

Do you remember that equation from high school science class?

Not me. Physics was always my worst subject. English was always my thing. And yet, I had no idea this equation would become fundamental to my work as an artist.

Because when you’re fighting the terrible weight of creative inertia, having a basic understanding of momentum is a game changer. You realize that, as a creator, there are only two variables under your control that can lead to success.

Being bigger or being faster. Change one or both of those elements, and you’re guaranteed to increase momentum.

This concept first crystallized for me while visiting my friend’s church. Ten years ago, he relocated his family across the globe, dreaming about building a community of faith like they had back home. But they didn’t tempt fate by postponing their journey. With a heaping ton of hard work, they spent a decade starting a number of ministries in various local neighborhoods, along with a foundation that invests hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in the process of planting churches globally.

Liberty is now my favorite case study about creative momentum. Paul and his team started small, got their congregation from a state of rest to a state of motion, and slowly built momentum for their bigger challenges ahead. Mass times velocity really does work.

It actually gave me an idea for a new business. Every year, thousands of churches close their doors due to low attendance and funding. Growing membership really is a holy challenge. And as a leader, achieving your divine dreams can feel hopeless.

But what if somebody built a placement service that paid actors to attend services at new congregations to preserve the illusion of community growth and momentum? Performers can attend services at their assigned church, and through their method acting techniques, become the most engaged members that your church has ever had, galvanizing others to do the same. You essentially create fake community until it happens for real. And nobody will know the difference, except god.

Churchplants. We’re looking for a pew good men.

Do you think my business idea would take off? It’s possible. Companies have profited a lot more from a lot less.

Either way, it’s still a good lesson in momentum. If you do creative work of any kind, accept that you have two choices. Increase mass or increase velocity. Don’t try to gain momentum by scratching the surface of a seventeen things.

Pick one or both of the two key variables, and focus your efforts relentlessly. Make the small, daily moves that propel your work to the next steps with the least amount of friction. Constantly ask yourself:

Where is the easiest place for me to build momentum right now? What would it have to take to get on a roll immediately?

Then use that energy to replace your anxiety of not knowing how to move forward. It won’t guarantee success, but you’ll dramatically increase your odds of success, not to mention, feel satisfied every step of the way.

And eventually, the power of your momentum will become so strong, that things will just stop being hard. They will simply become the way that you live.

The quantity of your object’s motion will be undeniable.

How could you build momentum by building on whatever comes naturally to you?