Over the last two weeks, I’ve created 10 one-minute videos.
While a seemingly small, inconsequential project – it’s taught me some significant lessons. Here’s what I’ve learned so far.
1. The Power of 1% Daily Improvements.
With each new video, I’ve asked myself: How can I make this 1% better?
Each day, I’ll try a new tactic, baby step slightly further from my comfort zone, or just try to improve the quality or my presenting a tiny bit.
Those little improvements add up over time. Like the graph below suggests, improving 1% every day results in massive exponential growth over time.
Thanks Inscribe Self for the wallet & James Clear for the concept.
2. Ideas Beget More Ideas.
One of my concerns initial concerns was: Will I run out of ideas?
The answer, so far, is a big fat NO.
Instead of running short on ideas, I have a growing list of ideas – stories, places, topics, improvements, and questions – I want to explore with the 1-minute forum.
The same goes with writing too – the more I write, the more I want to write. Ideas beget more ideas.
3. The Tech is Never the Excuse for Not Starting.
I’ve recorded all of the videos with my iPhone and edited it all with free iMovie software. I’ve slowed videos down, sped them up, made cuts, and even found royalty-free video and music – all while laying in bed or sitting at my dining room table.
Our tiny phones pack a punch. The mini computer/camera/brain we carry in our pockets are more powerful, higher quality, and easier to use than most professional grade equipment a couple decade ago.
Making a video, publishing a book, launching and selling a product, creating art, promoting a message – the readiness or usability of technology is no longer our barrier to entry.
We’re the barrier, not the tech.
4. We Want to Look Good Before We Are Good.
This is our problem with any new endeavour.
We want the amazing product, the flashy website, the perfect blog post. We want to put on our best face before sharing it with the world. We want to look good first.
Sadly the only way I know to become good is to risk looking bad. At least at first. Which means there’ll be a period of time – longer than you want, but shorter than you think – where you won’t look very good.
It’s like what LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman says of launching a new product:
“If you’re not embarrassed by your first product release, you’ve released too late.”
There is no other way.
It’s not that I’m embarrassed by my earlier videos – but the difference in quality between #9 and #2 is pretty obvious:
Video 9: Feeling Lost or Stuck? Chase Your Tennis Balls!
Video 2: Why I’m Starting This Video Project
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