Feeling Stuck? Tap Into Your Momentum

Momentum is the difference between creators who thrive and those who stall out. But how do you build it—and keep it? Let's break it down.

Why do coaches call time outs?

Have you ever watched a basketball game when a team is doing REALLY well?

They’re on a hot streak. They’re in the zone.

Shots are landing, the defense is tight, and the energy is electric. Then—timeout.

The opposing coach shuts it all down.

Why? Because momentum wins games, and coaches know it.

How Momentum Can Help You

If momentum is powerful enough to change the course of a game, imagine what it can do for your creative work.

Many describe momentum as speed or fluidity.

Those can be aspects of momentum but it’s much simpler than that.

Momentum is constant movement.

A flow.

A rhythm.

A direction.

Momentum is about taking your next step.

It’s about steadily moving forward without overthinking, over-rationalizing, or overexerting—true progress doesn’t have to feel forced.

Momentum is much like stepping stones guiding your way.

It isn’t about rushing—it's about steady, intentional progress. The right movement at the right time.

Knowing you’re making the right decisions.

And taking the correct actions.

Each step is a snapshot in time. A collection of moments.

Every one of them getting you closer and closer to your goal.

Momentum and Moment come from the same Latin root.

Movere “to move.”

I translate it as movement through time.

Each step building on the last.

Providing you with consistent progress.

Each completed step, solidly becoming a gain.

A GAIN.

Again.

Again.

Again.

1. The Problem: Why Momentum Feels Hard to Build

Most creators think momentum is about speed—churning out content, publishing consistently, and riding a wave of productivity.

But what happens when that wave crashes? When you miss a day? When inspiration dries up?

The truth is, momentum isn’t about moving fast. It’s about making sure you’re always moving forward, even if it’s just one small step at a time.

The problem? Most creators stop completely when they feel stuck—when the last post flops, when the ideas won’t flow, when life gets in the way.

Momentum isn’t lost because we slow down. It’s lost when we stop.

But momentum builds on itself, regardless of its source.

If you need to take a break from:

• Writing your YouTube script

• Researching your next newsletter

• Or finishing your manifesto about why pineapple should go on pizza

Then switch things up.

• Go for a walk

• Wash your dishes

• Organize your books

Do anything that keeps you going to gather tiny wins. Just don’t stop.

Resting? Yes!

Stopping? No!

It’s not about hard work, it’s all about smart work.

Last week I kept my momentum by trimming down the clutter in my house.

I sold 5 of my older collectibles and brought in $1k that week.

The very next day, it gave me the energy and momentum to write this newsletter.

That’s Progressive Success!

2. Make the Mental Shift: What Creators Get Wrong About Momentum

Momentum isn’t about keeping a breakneck pace. It’s about lowering the effort required to keep going.

Think of it like stepping stones across a river. If the next stone is too far away, you hesitate, overthink, and freeze.

But if there’s a small, easy step right in front of you, you take it without hesitation.

Creators struggle with momentum because they think every step has to be a big one. The reality? Small, easy steps build momentum faster than giant leaps.

The giant leaps will come from all the little steps you’ve made.

Tiny wins keep you moving, motivated, and mindful.

Bringing huge outcomes over time.

And, speaking of tiny wins, I’m currently reading Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff.

As someone who’s driven by creativity and being naturally curious, I’m loving this book! It’s a transformative guide to living a life of curiosity, embracing uncertainty, and reinventing your ambitions. Order your copy now.

In it she shares a relationship between mistakes and how it can effect your momentum.

I’m hoping to finish reading it this next week. Maybe I’ll have a book review for you at some point in the near future. Stay tuned!

3. The Solution: How to Build, Sustain, and Regain Momentum

Instead of trying to force motivation, focus on doing the easiest thing to move forward:

If you can’t write a full post, write one sentence.

If you have writers block, you could be stuck in focused mode.

Shift your thinking to diffuse thinking.

Zoom out to gain clarity.

Write freeform thoughts, even if it’s nonsensical.

This will empty your brain and remove the clutter.

Sometimes you have to empty the junk drawer on the floor to find that one paper clip you know is in there.

If you don’t have a great idea, rework an old one.

I’m sure you have many unfinished works.

Even the greatest authors have unfinished stories tucked away at the bottom of their sock drawers.

Go to your vault and dig for hidden gems.

It’s not incomplete. It’s pre-done.

If you feel stuck, publish something small or off topic—just to keep the streak alive.

This is what creator Chenell Basilio did. She’s the publisher of Growth In Reverse, a newsletter highlighting “deep dives” of creators and their frameworks for success.

On a long flight home from visiting a friend overseas she writes: 👇

Because Chenel didn’t have time to write her newest deep dive, she repurposed an old one.

Problem solved.

Chenel used her momentum and decided to finish something important to her and still managed to keep her newsletter streak.

Becuase she knew it was important to her audience.

And important for her business.

The takeaway here is that momentum can help support your consistency as it enhances your flow.

If you can’t deliver on all your promises—that’s okay.

Just be honest and genuine with your audience. They’ll understand and appreciate you for keeping them informed.

There aren’t many ways to fail when momentum is on your side.

In fact, here’s another gem from Tiny Experiments:

“The only failure is to confuse mindless movement with mindful momentum.”

Well said, Anne-Laure!

Momentum thrives on completion. The more you finish, the easier it gets to keep going.

Momentum isn’t about doing everything—it’s about doing something. Anything that prevents the stall.

If you’re feeling stuck, ask yourself, “what’s the smallest step I can take right now to keep moving?”

Then, take it.

Keep moving and keep stacking wins.

Momentum is your path forward. Follow it and you can’t lose.

Thanks for Reading

If you enjoyed this letter please share it with others so they can get unstuck in their creative endeavors too.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Hit reply and let me know what you liked, what you didn’t, and what you think I should write about next.

See you next time.

-Joe

P.S. If you’re not getting what you expected from this newsletter, that’s okay. The last thing I want to do is clutter your inbox and waste your time. Feel free to unsubscribe—no hard feelings.