My new favorite emotion: feeling awkward

It's awkward to put yourself out there on social media and promote your book.

It's awkward to chase for funding opportunities trying to get your project kickstarted.

It's especially awkward to receive rejection letters for projects you really thought were special.

It's annoyingly awkward to have to chase up your creative partners in order to get your book out on time.

It's personally awkward reading something you were proud of months ago and realize all the mistakes you made. You've grown beyond it now.

It's unfortunately awkward when you realize someone on your team is holding you back, and you have to let them go.

And it's awkward when your family frowns at the news that you're making comic books now.

What to do?  Relish in the awkwardness.  Embrace it!  That awkward feeling is the gateway between you and achieving excellence. If it wasn't awkward - if it were all a cakewalk - everyone would be doing it.

How you face these awkward barriers is what separates you from the crowd. It's a gift, a signal that tells you "If I push through this, I can make something really rare and special."

And then one sweet day, it won't feel awkward anymore. Just business as usual...

It can be awkward at times to be Spider-Man. But hey, you get to be Spider-Man!