There are many things in this world that draw strange amounts of both curiosity and obsession. But how many of them make us better writers?

Take Godzilla, for example. How can a mythical giant monster from a 1954 Japanese horror movie be an example of a successful life in 2025? Before there was CGI in movies, a man would put on a monster suite and parade around being filmed kicking tiny busses. Then they would edit in scenes of Japanese people screaming and running for their lives. Voila! Now you have a success mentor for the ages.

Then there is “the son of perdition” from the Bible, better known as the Antichrist. He will never be mentioned in a book about living an abundant life. But he should be.

I’ve known people who return their license plates to the DMV because they have 666 on them. It creeps them out. The man who will distribute the “mark of the beast” in the future isn’t taught in Booth, Kellogg, or Wharton Business Schools. That is doing the students a grave disservice.

The three things that Godzilla and the Antichrist have in common, if heeded, can propel us to achieve any goal we set for ourselves. This dynamic duo holds the keys to literary greatness.

1. They Both Rise Up From Out of the Sea.

I don’t know what it was that originally awoke Godzilla from his reptilian slumber. Radiation, I think. But he rose to the surface of the sea and made his appearance known quickly. In the same way, John the Apostle writes prophetically in Revelation 13 about the Antichrist. He says “Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea”. What does it mean for us?

The sea has always been a Biblical analogy of people groups or nations. The sea could be media today. There is a large body of writing that all looks the same, reads the same, and comes to the same conclusions. Yawn!

We have to stand out. We have to rise up out of the sea and come ashore where the unique and unconventional play. Did Tokyo take notice when Godzilla hit the beach? You better believe they did. Will the world wonder when the future “beast” hits the shore? Absolutely!

This is not a time to be self-deceived or to romanticize about what we do. This is the perfect day to take a long, honest look in the mirror. If we are in the sea, we are probably drowning. Or trying to doggie paddle against a ferocious undertow of regurgitated sameness. There is no lifeguard on the way to save us. That’s on Baywatch, not on Medium.

Let’s be different. Let’s grab a towel and dry the wetness of mediocrity from our dripping hair. Then blow dry our imaginations with the air of inventiveness. Rise up, fellow writers!

2. They Both Go Out to Conquer. And Face Stiff Resistance.

Surprised? Of course not. We knew it wouldn’t be easy. But sheesh!

Einstein said that great spirits have ALWAYS encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. These two beasts are no different. Godzilla has to swat away planes like flies at a picnic as he does his best to trash Tokyo. The prophet Daniel says that the Antichrist will encounter serious opposition as he tries world domination.

Isn’t that your story? The minute you stepped out in faith to accomplish something great, the pesky flies of friends, family, and “experts” started their buzzing of negativity around you to try to discourage you. They mean well. But they are in the sea. And will never understand the ways of the beach. “A man’s foes will be they of his own household.” -Matthew

Be nice and polite to them. Shake the dust off. And keep marching forward. We have a destiny to fulfill. We have things to accomplish that few others are called to do. It’s not being vain. It’s realizing that if we want something we have never had, we have to do something we have never done.

Godzilla had to fight flying turtles, giant crabs, robots, monsters from space, tanks, planes, and King Kong himself. The list of obstacles was endless. But he did what we should always do: give them a beat down and move forward.

Let NOTHING stop us. Let NO ONE get in our way. Watch doubt, discouragement, and imposter syndrome get crushed and sizzle like Japanese high-tension power lines. We got this.

3. Do What We Do So Well, We Go Down in History.

Guess who has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? There have been more than 40 movies made about Godzilla. Why? Because “Content is king.”

For almost three thousand years, people have been discussing and anticipating the appearance of the Antichrist. The prophet Daniel, and the apostles Paul and John did the best job imaginable of creating “buzz” around a subject.

Successful writers can do the same thing. Years ago, I saw a line of people snaking around the block at a bookstore. They were waiting for the midnight release of a new Harry Potter book. Why not us?

What if the screen you are reading this on will be responsible for creating the next “Iliad,” Odyssey,” or “The Art of War?” What if YOU are the next Shakespeare or Dostoevsky? Is it possible? Remember what Jesus said: “All things are possible to those who believe.” If you’ve read this far, you are a true believer. It’s possible.

If this inspired you, clap it up. If you are a fan of either Godzilla or the Antichrist, and want to show your appreciation, feel free to buy me a protein shake here.

Let’s decide to be great this year! I’m in! Are you?