Surviving the Messy Middle

Intro

We’we all heard about the “Messy Middle”. The part after you start... but before you see results.

In the beginning, there’s energy. Excitement. The rush of trying something new. And when you make your first few moves, people notice. It feels like you’re on the right path.

But then it happens: The messy middle.

Where momentum slows down. Where posting feels pointless. Where your calendar is full but your doubts are even louder.

And you start to ask:

"Is this even working?"

"Am I just wasting my time?"

"Maybe I’m not cut out for this after all."

Why the middle feels so heavy

The messy middle is heavy not because you're failing, but because you're building something real. Surface-level wins come fast. Meaningful growth takes time.

It's like the iceberg: Above the surface, progress looks tiny. Underneath? A massive structure is forming → invisible, but essential.

The hidden danger: writing for numbers

If you're not careful, the messy middle will trick you into chasing shortcuts.

The moment you hit "publish," there's a tiny trap waiting.

It whispers: "Maybe if I tweak the headline..."; "Maybe if I post at the right hour..."; "Maybe if I write what the algorithm likes..."

And sometimes, without realizing it, you spend hours sitting by the keyboard.

Not writing, but waiting. Waiting for validation from numbers.

At first, you adjust tiny things to "optimize". Then you start hesitating to share real ideas, afraid they won't perform. And slowly, writing stops being self-expression... and starts being performance.

Sometimes, you can waste entire mornings refreshing stats instead of creating. The energy shifts: from building → to waiting (and begging for attention).

My experience

There were months where I kept showing up — writing, building, posting, and it felt like shouting into an empty room. No big wins. No "breakthrough moment." It was frustrating. Especially when I caught myself refreshing stats after every post, looking for some proof that my work mattered.

The irony? The posts I expected to succeed often barely made a ripple. And the ones I wrote without overthinking — the ones that simply flowed from real energy — were the ones that connected most deeply.

Looking back, I realize: Growth was happening underneath the surface, like an iceberg slowly forming. I just couldn’t see it yet.

What you can't measure matters most

The real impact of your work can't always be captured in a dashboard. It shows up quietly:

• In a message months later from someone you helped without knowing.
• In the decision of a potential client who followed your work silently for a year.
• In the quiet trust you build by simply showing up — again and again — even when nobody seems to be watching.

When you focus only on what's measurable, you miss what actually matters.

The biggest shifts happen underground — like the roots of a tree growing deeper before the first leaves appear. Real influence is slow. It's silent. But when it finally breaks through the surface, it's strong enough to last.

How to “stay sane” and keep creating

If you want to survive the messy middle, your reason for creating must be bigger than the numbers.

You must create because you believe in what you’re building. Because you care about the people you’re reaching. Because the work itself is worth it → even when nobody’s clapping.

Your next steps

1. Expect silence. Silence isn't rejection. It's space for real growth.
2. Detach from numbers. Let numbers guide you, but never define you.
3. Prioritize real clarity. Create what’s true, not just what trends.
4. Notice your energy. Are you creating, or waiting?
5. Reconnect to your purpose. When you focus on impact, not impressions, the middle feels lighter.

Last Words

The messy middle will tempt you to give up or sell out. But if you stay true to your purpose — and resist the trap of numbers — you'll not only survive it. You’ll emerge stronger, clearer, and more intention & meaning than ever before.

Keep building. The world needs what you’re making, even if they (and you) can’t see it yet.

— Damjan

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