How breakthroughs happen
The breakthroughs aren't based on any experience level or magic moment of insight that strikes out of nowhere. In fact, the “out of nowhere” part is the very issue. The work we need to do is very much right in front of us, all the time. It just feels uncomfortable.
Try getting uncomfortable in three ways:
1. Treat back-end work (developing parts of the work others can’t visibly see or experience) with the same level of thought, time, and seriousness as you would front-end work. For instance, if you’re developing a podcast, actually develop the premise, episode structure, and your voice in a proactive, careful way, both through documentation and through episode content. That’s “back-end” work, and it must be taken as seriously as “front-end” work (i.e., for a podcast, booking amazing guests, promoting the show, measuring the results, shipping new episodes).
This is an uncomfortable approach. THINKING is sadly not what the world considers "work.” Additionally, this specific type of thinking which is focused on conscious, proactive development of a project or yourself forces you to question what you assume you already know.
2. Submit the work before you're ready, with the intent on being great over time. It's better that an amorphous lump of clay hit the ground and others begin to press and poke and shape it with their feedback, consumption, or even just internal-only ideas and questions. The alternative is to assume perfection in theory, only to ship and realize … it wasn’t perfect anyway.
“Good” is not the goal. The object is to be their favorite.
Aspire to perfection over time, acknowledge how impossible that is, then take one step towards your impossible aim anyway.
When in doubt, create your way out.
3. Learn to view critiques and questions from a place of generosity: Just assume everyone wants your work to be better, while anyone who simply says “NOPE!” is just not the right audience for the work. You wouldn’t get upset if you told someone you built a house and they went, “This is a terrible boat!” Um … yes, of course? Because it’s a house. “Well I want a boat!” No worries, this work isn’t for you.
Breakthroughs are outlier moments. Outlier moments are moments that lie outside the norm. That means you need to get outside the norm to experience them.
Get uncomfortable in these three ways. You’ll be amazed what happens over time.
— — —
For more content like this, and to support my work as an independent creator, consider the following:
Blog: subscribe for 3-5 short posts per week.
Book: purchase a print, Kindle, or audio copy of Break the Wheel.
Podcast: Unthinkable, questioning conventional thinking to do something better.
Speaking: I’m offering highly-immersive virtual keynotes (as well as producing this type of talk for fellow speakers/execs) during this social distancing period.