Focus on the present moment, not the monsters that may or may not be ahead. - Ryan Holiday

When you're lacking motivation, remind yourself: discipline now, freedom later. The labor will pass, and the rewards will last.

Do I need this? Or is it really about ego?

In my definition, a platform is the combination of the tools, relationships, access, and audience that you have to bear on spreading your ideas—not just once, but over the course of a career. So a platform is your social media and the stage you stand on, but it also includes your friends, your body of work, the community your work exists in, the media outlets and influencers who appreciate what you do, your e-mail list, the trust you’ve built, your sources of income, and countless other assets. A platform is what you cultivate and grow not just through your work, but for creative work, whatever it may be.