I first learned about the idea of “being on the hook” from Seth Godin. In essence, when you’re doing creative work, you’re either on the hook or off the hook.
If you create but never share your work with anyone, you’re off the hook—there’s no commitment or tension driving you forward. In contrast, if you commit to sharing your work with the world every day, you’re on the hook. You allow your work to be seen, judged, and consumed.
Being on the hook means holding yourself accountable for shipping your work. It creates a healthy tension that pushes you not only to do the work but to release it. And this is where many creatives get stuck: doing the work is just one part of the equation. If you never show it to the world, you miss out on the most life-infusing and essential component. You can only learn and improve by exposing your work to judgment.
For a creative, the magic lies in being on the hook. It’s about making the commitment to ship your project and then working hard to create the best thing you can. It unlocks your greatest creative potential—even though it can be uncomfortable. But that’s exactly where you need to look, because that’s where the magic is found.
What commitment are you avoiding regarding your creative work?