Ok, so, we’ve debunked the myth that building a platform is the most important thing for an emerging artist and instead discussed how building character and relationships first will eventually lead to a more solid way to spread a message.
Here is the third and final part of this lil’ series:
Effort #3
Don’t build your platform, build your message.
It sounds a little over-simplistic, I realize, but hear me out. If you’re anything like me, once something has implanted itself so deeply in your heart, you want to shout it from the rooftops.
I remember being 24 years old and intensely passionate about originality in the church. This was about the same time when a lot of contemporary churches were making sermon series parodies of popular TV shows and movies – including my own church. Coming from a creative corporate background, and being a rule-follower, the copyright implications alone were enough to make me uncomfortable. But I also believed (and still believe) that there is a huge difference between inspiration and emulation, and so many churches were falling into the emulation category.
Sorry. Soapbox over.
Anyway, I had voiced my opinions (passionately) having the platform of Director of Communications/Media and had been repeatedly shot down. A few months into my position, I attended a small conference where Rob Bell spoke and later had some down time where he invited anyone to come and hang out. Just two or three of us took him up on it. I asked him a question about originality in the church, shared my thoughts, and he simply said,
“Don’t let your passion become annoying.”
Ouch!
I’ve learned a lot in the last five years and have realized the importance of building a message through more than just passionately vocalizing it. To build your message, you have to continuously ask yourself, “Why do I believe this?,” “What are the implications of the message?,” “What’s required of me to dedicate this season to this message?,” “Is there a need for this message?,” “How can I learn more about this and sharpen my own knowledge and passion?”
Building a message takes time. It takes repetition of simple communication. It takes being able to handle criticism and even change the course if it’s not the right one. It takes flexibility. It takes commitment.
Your message should be timeless, and not trendy.
Sure, trendy is catchy. Trendy is noticeable. But trendy is not remarkable.
Having a message spread wide and having your message resonate deeply are two very different things. They are not mutually exclusive, but more often than not, we settle for a season of brief popularity.
If your message is as important as you think it is, take the time and expend the energy to make it stick…to allow it the time to embed in the hearts of others. When others are influenced as much as you have been, it will continue to spread both deep and wide in a meaningful way.
Comments
29 responses to “Don’t Build Your Platform, Build Your Message”
great word Anne! I’m so thankful for these tips! Thanks for sharing.
Jan Owen?s last blog post..25 Years Ago – June 2, 1984
Do you feel like it took a while for you to find your voice? It takes so much talking and passion sometimes for most to even figure out what they’re trying to say – much less to build on it and make it timeless and remarkable.
I love this, though, Anne. Jesus was so good at this. His message was hard to swallow but not at all annoying. Sometimes I wonder why he didn’t start his “ministry” until he was 30. Sometimes I wish we could have seen him as an adolescent, choosing not to develop his platform but rather to build his character, relationships, and message.
I love how you’ve addressed Platform and our need to truly mature. When I was in high school I wrote the most embarrassing poetry, and I wanted to be famous for it. Imagine if I had have tried. Imagine! I would have to have changed my name.
Amber@theRunaMuck?s last blog post..ART and more on not being dead on the inside
Amen! I wrote about something sort of similar today.
Good Series here.
I would still caution that we need to focus on the One who gave the message first and the message should flow out of that.
However I do hear what you are saying. I particularly like Rob Bell’s “advice” and that is a good word for all of us.
Rick Apperson?s last blog post..5 Questions with Tom Morrisey
“Don’t let your passion become annoying.” Holy Smokes! What a great statement!
:::Trying to think of everyone I need to tell that….:::
And undoubtedly, many are doing the same with me. :-)
Chad Payne?s last blog post..Recent Movies Reviewed
..and don’t let your annoyance become a passion.
(that was for me, not anyone else)
Excellent series, Anne. You wrote all 3 parts as if you were writing them directly to me (and my family). Printed all 3 to keep. Will take time to pray and think about how I should put each of them into practice.
You’re too smart for your own good. No really that is some good stuff and I really appreciate the effort and thoughtfulness you offer.
Keep up the good work!
Question: What did Rob Bell mean by that? Did he mean that you shouldn’t let your passion become annoying to other people, or that you shouldn’t let it become a constant source of annoyance for you (because you get so worked up when you see the church imitating a TV series)? I mean, obviously you shouldn’t let it become annoying in any way, but I’m curious about what exactly he was (and you are) getting at.
And the follow-up: What can we do to keep our passions from becoming annoying? Or maybe it’s better to ask it the other way around: What do we do that makes our passion annoying?
I’m pretty sure my passion is getting annoying. It’s getting annoying to me because I get worked up whenever the subject comes up or I am confronted by the issues that disturb me (which is often). And I’m starting to wonder if it’s getting annoying to other people who are probably sick of hearing me say the same thing over and over. I just don’t know exactly what to do about it…
@Stina – he meant to others. I wanted them to leap from A to Z, assuming Z was the right option for them (and I believed it was). I was always pushing my agenda on people. Instead, I needed to step back, and ask myself the questions I wrote in my post and pray about the ways I should approach it with others.
If your message is something that is controversial and most “republican” Christians go against it, how do you share it (obviously with love) but how do you stand up for your message and not get shut out of every place and get fired for your message?
Kyle Reed?s last blog post..Top 5 bands of All Time
You continue to love as you get shut out. :)
oooh Great post Anne. Very true. We can be very passionate about something and it is okay to create a message and desire people to hear that message. But the second you become that “annoying” individual….the message is no longer heard. Just your annoyance. ;) Nice job!
Tiffany?s last blog post..Cyclone in Bangladesh
Last night I spent some time with my spiritual mentor, Renni. She posed this question and shared a quote.
“Are we more interested in being with God, or becoming what we think He wants us to be?”
“A key difference between mystics and all others is that their spiritual eyes have been opened, and they have ‘seen.’ From the chaos of their early inner confusion, mystics awaken to an illumined posture of Being. They are in a state of Being, rather than — like most others — seeking to become.” (from Ordinary People as Monks and Mystics by Marsha Sinetar)
I want to be a mystic. :)
Sara Ross?s last blog post..my lips
This post made me think of Andy Andrews. Was listening to his interview on the most recent Catalyst podcast. He said “The Traveler’s Gift” was turned down by 51 publishers. Then he followed that up with how it took several years to get published… how during those years he continued to grow, learn and refine his message as he continues to do to this day. Book has now gone on to sell millions of copies all over the globe.
He talked about Persistence without Exception too. Believing in something enough to see it through, despite the naysayers or the short term outcome.
Regardless of how we measure our success, one thing is true, most seemingly overnight successes are years in the making.
“Don’t let your message become annoying”
Here’s how I hear that. “Don’t beat people over the head with it.”
When invited to certain conversations I ask myself, “What do I bring to the table that’s different from anyone else? What questions can I ask coming from that perspective?” It’s a skill to cultivate the conversation over time.
gina?s last blog post..5 Things to Build Team
Love it, Anne.
Just went to a writer’s conference in the Midwest. Again, platform, platform, platform. You’re so right the message is the platform and relationships are key. Still, publishers want to know the numbers: how many unique visitors to your website/blogs? how many speaking engagements a year with how many in attendance? A radio show? TV? On and on.
Thanks for being a refreshing voice and, BTW, you are NOT annoying.
Blessings, Lucy
If any beginner writers want to read my series, “The Making of a Book,” bop over to my blogsite and search the category by this name. The ups, the downs.
Lucy Ann Moll?s last blog post..Beauty: You Got It! Susan Boyle Too!
Great post. I think our messages get annoying when we become so convinced that we are right that we stop listening. I’ve been guilty of this myself.
Rachel H. Evans?s last blog post..Restoring Respect for Journalists
Don’t let your passion become annoying …
Been there, done that, and probably still not totally innocent.
The shift for me started when I began reminding myself that my testimony of God is about … God. Not me. And no matter how high and great and deep my passion, it will never reach others as much as love. Love always comes first if the message will carry the greatest impact.
This is my first visit here, Anne. Peter P sent me over, and I’m going to subscribe.
Anne Lang Bundy?s last blog post..Unforgivable Sin
Haha. A little bit ago, the inkling I had regarding my story/message/purpose turned into a God given, beyond what I would have come up with, heavy dream that He dropped on me, but without many details. Tucking that away in my heart, waiting on His timing and using wisdom as to who I discuss it with = huge challenge.
The funny thing is, I’ve been looking at/reading you, Ben Arment, Los and many others and while it is encouraging, I have been frustrating myself with the idea that for you guys the process was a short one -God gave you a message and *poof* overnight magic everyone heard it and caught on. Within the past weeks it feels like everyone has been talking about the process, the time, putting one foot in front of the other, the steps it takes and groundwork. So thank you for these posts, this one especially…
@shanti. years. years. years. in the process.
and i am sure…continuing. :)
best to yours….enjoy the sweat blood and tears. xxoo
Anne, just hours ago I was sharing with Chris that God’s telling me that I must give my message time to steep. I trust that the timing of sharing a message is as significant as the audience and the message itself. Many thanks with love – your words are a great confirmation to me today! Dana
I see… I guess you had to take some time to think about B-Y?
Thanks so much for answering!
I’m glad you tweeted this again today. It was good for me to read, especially the end part in italics.
.-= Tiffany?s last blog ..Touch =-.
so timely. thank you for re-posting this, Anne.
Awesome post!!! Thank you!
Very powerful post. Thank you.
This post was much needed. I have been trying to figure out the “why” and “how” of expressing what is so deep in my heart…and as I’ve taken a hard look at the truth I’m realizing I got so caught up in the pursuit of justice…I lost the love for the people I am writing to.
Thanks for the reminders of what blogging is really about.
“Don’t let your passion become annoying” – Thanks for sharing! :) – One definitely has to keep his or her audience in mind.