Hi Friends,

Early in my writing journey, I would spend hours in bookstores reading interviews with authors in The Paris Review. I’d listen to podcasts where writers shared how they got to where they are. I wanted to know their secrets, their roadmaps.

Now, I’m doing the same thing with YouTube, social media, and cameras, because those are the things I’m actively trying to learn. I study how successful creators make videos and grow their platforms.

What I’ve noticed is this: the people I admire often come across as if they have everything figured out. But when they’re honest, they reveal the truth—they’re making it up as they go.

And that’s okay.

We’re all as unique as our fingerprints. From our passions and interests to our quirks and contradictions, we’re made up of an unrepeatable mix of traits. Trying to copy someone else, step by step, does a disservice to our uniqueness.

For example, I don’t know anyone in my circle who’s a writer, passionate about video, and aggressive on the soccer field—even though I weigh half as much as most of the players I compete with. That’s me! Those are my contradictions, my blend.

There’s only so much we can learn from others—even from this newsletter. Growth happens in private moments, when we take action on our own.

But here’s the flip side: it’s also our duty to figure out what makes us different, to lean into those traits, to bank on them, and to bring them forward.

So learn from others. Study their methods. But don’t forget to trust the messy, unpredictable, and unique path that only you can take.

— MM

💎 New From Me

At the end of December, I’ll have a week off from work. I’ll be spending that time with family, reading, and writing. But I also want to extend a hand to you. If you’ve been working on a story, article, or even the opening to a novel and want an extra pair of eyes to offer feedback, I’d love to help.

Here’s how it works: reply “Interested” to this email, and if enough people are on board, I’ll set up a simple process before my break starts.

🔖 Quote I’m pondering

“Don’t measure your life with someone else’s ruler.”

— Kevin Kelly

Source: Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier

📸 Through My Lens

Please give me feedback on the newsletter by replying to this email. Do you find it worth your time? What do you want more or less of? Or other suggestions?

Thank you for reading!

Mohamed