One of my favorite things is seeing how much our apprentices change over two years.
Most of our apprentices start the apprenticeship program when they are 18-25 years old. Some of them are fresh out of high school, many of them were homeschooled.
They very courageously show up, and everything is new.
Writing every day is a challenge. Launching a public persona like a blog and social media is terrifying. Paying bills is an enigma wrapped in a mystery. Making a phone call just may be a death sentence.
Of course I’m being dramatic. Each apprentice is comfortable with some of this stuff, but finds a challenge in some of the others. Some things come easy, but other things feel overwhelming.
I think it would be easy to see what our second-year apprentices do—publish books, release weekly content, be guests on podcasts, launch new projects, share the Gospel—and to think, “Gosh, I could never do that.”
“I could never launch a podcast.”
“I could never write a novel from scratch in ten weeks.”
“I could never be vulnerable in my writing and just put it out there like that.”
Well, they couldn’t either. But they were brave enough to say “yes” to the first step and then keep showing up.
Those things that seem overwhelming, challenging, or terrifying—you will grow in them naturally over time. If you challenge yourself to grow and learn, ten years from now you’ll be a completely different person than you are right now, little by little.
But when the apprentices come here, their growth is faster, because I empower them with a simple one-word phrase.
“Today.”
Apprentices grow little by little just like anyone else, but those little steps happen at a much faster rate.
When you’re trying to become an author on your own, you might be ready to launch a blog, and over many months you pick away at it and work yourself up to it. Each step may take weeks or months of researching, learning, growing, and psyching yourself up for execution.
As an apprentice, those same steps happen in days. There’s no dilly-dallying. When you’ve worked up to that next step, we have a conversation and I say “Today.” You’re supported with expert instruction to do it right the first time without having to guess.
And then you do it. And it turns out you’re just fine. It turns out you were ready.
You can apply this same strategy at home. Whatever that next baby step is, just attach this word to it: TODAY.
But it sure helps to have somebody else say it.
Especially when that person has taken the time to get to know you, has helped you in the previous steps, and knows just how hard to push you.
Especially when that person has done it themselves, helped other people successfully do it, and will give you all the support and instruction you need to do it well.
Especially when that person loves you…but loves you enough to not let you sell yourself short.
And that’s what you get at The Company.
If you think our apprentices are superstars, I agree. They’re phenomenal and they amaze me every day.
But they didn’t start that way. They started a little bit scared, a little bit in over their heads, a little bit hoping they weren’t making a huge mistake with their lives.
But also with faith. Faith that God might have something for their writing. Faith that if they can muster the courage to do one step at a time, really good things might happen. Faith that there is a community that gets them.
And here’s the secret: despite all of the cool things they do now, they’re still a little bit afraid. And they still have to hold onto that faith. They still have to take the next scary step, one day at a time.
I know this because I’m still a little bit afraid. I still need to hold onto that faith.
Just like them, just like you, I still need to do the next scary thing…TODAY.
Chances are that you are capable of way more than you think.
I’m looking for about eight writers to join us this fall who are ready to see if that’s true.
I’m looking for about eight people who are a little bit scared, who are not quite as confident as they’d like to be, but who are ready to muster up, take a step of faith, and courageously take one step at a time.
Is that you?
Then take one step and fill out an application for The Company’s apprenticeship. Be courageous. The application isn’t a commitment, it’s just the next step to explore if this could be right for you. It’s just the beginning of a conversation.
You can find the application here: https://writers.company/training/full-time-apprenticeship/apply/
You know the best time to do it? TODAY.
Of course if you have any questions, you can reply to this email and Melissa will be glad to help.
There is tremendous power in “today.” It’s a better word than “soon” or “probably” or “if…” Whatever it is that scares you just a little bit, stamp it with that one word “Today.”
And stamp it TODAY. You may be amazed at the progress you’ll make.
P.S. Want to come and see what it’s like here at The Company? Join us for our Spring Retreat on May 2-3. Get the details and register here: https://writers.company/spring-retreat-may-2-3-2025-registration-open/
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