“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” - Colin Powell
You started a new project at unity to make your dream game. You started writing your dream novel. You started to prepare for a speech you really want to give.
But after a while, they are not looking good as you want. Game is not looking sexy, the draft has many typos, does not reflect what you want and your speech script doesn't appeal in written form. What do you do? Here is a choice you need to make.
Let yourself suck. Be progressive.
If you write, shut that off your inner critique about how bad you write or how your drafts look like.
If you are a programmer, Don't try to write bug-free code in one instance.
It doesn't matter what you do for a living. You can work in your passion. But sometimes, when we work on our ideas, it can be a website or a book. After a draft or two. You will hate it.
You are still learning your craft. But if you really want to make a living doing it. Don't stop here. Continue working. Let yourself suck. Don't stop working.
Creating and not having a place to show your creations is not a reason to stop creating. It’s a reason to create more and possibly to become an overnight success in couple of years. - Sarahge Bauer.
By giving yourself permission to suck, you lighten the burden you put on yourself.
If you had not worked 6 hours as you planned today. And got bad marks in the test. At least you know what you need to improve in yourself. Which in this case to give more time to study. You are already two steps ahead of those who don't want to study. You want to study and you had planned it. Now the last step is just to study as planned.
Remember 0 < 1.
One bad piece of work is better than nothing. Most people never start doing what they want to just because it looks hard. Here I want you to understand this, nothing worth achieving comes easily. You need to put hard work. And it doesn't matter if in the first time you suck, the key is to never stop. Never stop working. Never stop learning.
Let yourself suck.
Thank you for reading. It means a lot to me.
Chetneet Chouhan
Photo by Warren Wong on Unsplash