In 2007, I started a simple blog on Blogspot.
At the time, I did not know much about blogging. I did not know about content strategy. I did not know about SEO. I did not know how to build an audience. I did not even know if anyone would read what I wrote.
I only knew one thing.
I wanted to share.
My best friend, Chris Chun, introduced me to blogging. We both started around the same time. Chris wrote about his art, and I wrote about creativity, art, design, business, and advice for creatives.
Back then, it was simple. We were not thinking about building a brand. We were not thinking about creating a business. We were just showing up, writing, learning, and sharing what mattered to us.
Now, 19 years later, I look back and realise something powerful.
That little Blogspot blog became the seed of ArtSHINE.
What started as a small blog became a creative coaching business. Then it became a creative ecosystem. Today, ArtSHINE supports artists, surface designers, writers, musicians, and creative professionals to build a more sustainable creative life.
That did not happen overnight.
It happened because of consistency.
It happened because of commitment.
It happened because I kept going, even when I was not perfect.
I Did Not Start as a Strong Writer
When I first started writing, I was not a polished writer.
My grammar was not perfect. My sentence structure was not always strong. Sometimes my words were messy. Sometimes my thoughts were bigger than my ability to express them clearly in English.
And yes, people noticed.
I remember a few moments when readers were not very kind. One person said the content was good, but the grammar and sentence structure were bad. She was an English teacher, and she said I could not write like a native English speaker.
At the time, it hurt.
However, she was partly right.
I am not a native English speaker. I am an Asian man who speaks seven languages and can write in four. English is one of the languages I use, but it is not the only language that lives inside me.
I am imperfect in many ways.
But here is the thing.
I have never wanted to become someone else just to be accepted.
What does “native English” really mean anyway?
For me, writing is not only about perfect grammar. Writing is about communication. It is about sharing ideas. It is about helping people feel seen. It is about giving someone hope, clarity, courage, or direction.
Of course, grammar matters. Structure matters. Clear writing matters.
But heart matters too.
And heart was something I always had.
Criticism Can Hurt, But It Can Also Teach You
When people judge your work, it is not always easy.
Sometimes they judge you online. Sometimes they judge you face to face. Sometimes they say something that is useful, but the way they say it feels harsh.
This happens to many creatives.
An artist may hear, “Your work is not commercial enough.”
A designer may hear, “Your collection is not strong enough.”
A writer may hear, “Your grammar is weak.”
A musician may hear, “Your song is not ready.”
A photographer may hear, “Your style is not clear.”
These words can hurt. They can make you doubt yourself. They can make you want to stop.
But we need to remember something important.
We cannot always control how people speak to us.
However, we can control how we respond.
We can listen for the lesson without taking in the cruelty.
We can accept the useful part and leave behind the unkind part.
We can improve without allowing shame to take over.
That is what I chose to do.
I kept writing.
I kept practising.
I kept learning.
I kept showing up.
Commitment Builds Confidence
People sometimes ask me, “How do you find time to write so much?”
The answer is simple, but not always easy.
Discipline.
I do not wait until I feel inspired. I do not wait until everything is perfect. I do not wait until I have a quiet week.
I write because it is part of my practice.
Over the years, I have built a system around writing. I plan topics. I draft articles. I schedule posts in WordPress. I do not always post every day by writing on the day. Instead, I prepare articles ahead of time and schedule them.
Sometimes I schedule five articles a week.
Sometimes I schedule even more, so I can stay ahead.
This system helps me stay consistent. It means the blog can continue even when life becomes busy.
However, no system is perfect.
Sometimes everything runs well for a while. Then life happens. Work gets busy. Travel comes up. Projects become urgent. Personal things need attention. Suddenly, the system needs care again.
That is normal.
We are human.
So, I adjust. I refine. I fine-tune. I get back on top of things.
Consistency does not mean everything is perfect all the time.
Consistency means you return to the work.
From Art and Design to Culture, Story, Poetry, and Music
When I began blogging, I mostly wrote about art, design, creativity, and business advice for creatives.
Over time, my writing grew.
I began writing about culture, memory, identity, storytelling, poetry, and music. I started turning ideas into lyrics for ArtSHINE Music. I explored cultural stories, creative life lessons, personal reflections, and the deeper meaning behind art.
This is the beautiful thing about commitment.
When you keep practising, your world expands.
You do not stay in the same place.
You grow.
You discover new voices inside yourself. You find new ways to express what matters to you. You begin to connect the dots between your past, your culture, your work, and your purpose.
Writing became more than a blog for me.
It became a way to think.
It became a way to teach.
It became a way to remember.
It became a way to connect with people across the world.
Your Imperfection May Be the Reason People Connect With You
One of the things I am most grateful for is that I did not stop writing because of criticism.
If I had stopped, ArtSHINE may not exist in the way it does today.
If I had allowed one person’s judgement to define me, I would have turned away from something that became one of the most important parts of my life and work.
Today, my articles reach audiences around the world.
Many of them speak English as their second, third, or fourth language. They understand what it feels like to have ideas, dreams, and emotions that are sometimes hard to express in perfect English.
They are not looking for perfection.
They are looking for connection.
They are looking for useful advice.
They are looking for encouragement.
They are looking for someone who understands the creative journey.
And that is why I keep writing.
The blog now receives millions of visits each year, and I am deeply grateful for every reader, every comment, every share, and every person who has supported the journey.
But the numbers are not the most important part.
The most important part is knowing that the work has helped someone.
Do Not Give Up Too Easily
Why am I sharing this story?
Because I want you to understand that success is not always built from a perfect beginning.
Sometimes it begins with a messy first step.
Sometimes it begins with a simple Blogspot page.
Sometimes it begins with bad grammar, big ideas, and a brave heart.
Sometimes it begins with not knowing what you are doing, but doing it anyway.
Life is not a smooth ride. It has bumpy roads, awkward moments, hard lessons, and uncomfortable feedback. There will be times when people do not understand you. There will be times when you feel judged. There will be times when you feel behind.
But keep going.
Listen.
Learn.
Improve.
Adjust.
But do not let judgement stop you from becoming who you are meant to become.
For artists, designers, writers, musicians, and creative professionals, this is important.
Your first work will not be your best work.
Your first article will not be your strongest article.
Your first collection will not be your most commercial collection.
Your first song will not be your most powerful song.
Your first exhibition will not be your final destination.
But every step matters.
Every article teaches you.
Every artwork teaches you.
Every mistake teaches you.
Every rejection teaches you.
Every moment of discipline builds the path beneath your feet.
Build a System That Supports Your Dream
Passion is beautiful, but passion alone is not enough.
You need a system.
You need a routine.
You need a way to keep showing up when life gets busy.
For me, that means planning article topics, writing ahead, using WordPress scheduling, and staying organised as much as possible.
For you, it may mean setting aside one hour each morning to create.
It may mean building one new pattern every week.
It may mean writing three pages a day.
It may mean submitting your work to five potential clients each month.
It may mean reviewing your portfolio every quarter.
It may mean finding a coach, a mentor, or a creative community to help you stay accountable.
Your system does not need to be complicated.
It only needs to support your direction.
Because when you create a system, you are no longer relying only on mood, luck, or motivation.
You are building a practice.
And practice is what turns a dream into something real.
The Lesson I Carry With Me
Looking back, I am thankful for that small Blogspot beginning.
I am thankful Chris Chun introduced me to blogging.
I am thankful I started before I was ready.
I am thankful I kept going when people criticised me.
I am thankful I did not wait to become perfect.
Most of all, I am thankful that a simple act of writing became a pathway to something much bigger.
ArtSHINE was not born from one big moment.
It was born from many small moments.
One article.
One idea.
One lesson.
One reader.
One creative conversation.
One step after another.
That is how consistency and commitment pave the way.
Not loudly.
Not suddenly.
But steadily.
So, if you are building your creative career, your art practice, your writing, your music, your design business, or your own creative platform, remember this:
Start where you are.
Use what you have.
Keep learning.
Keep refining.
Keep showing up.
Your beginning does not need to be perfect.
It only needs to be honest.
And with consistency, commitment, and courage, that small beginning may one day become something far greater than you imagined.
Call to Action
Are you an artist, surface designer, writer, musician, or creative professional who wants support to build your creative path with more structure, confidence, and direction?
Join the ArtSHINE community and learn how to grow your creative practice with purpose.
Visit: lpa.artshine.com
