When I was doing my PhD, I had an advisor who always said to me “A good dissertation is a done dissertation.” I took this lesson to heart and I finished my dissertation while dozens of my fellow classmates never completed the program. The thing is, if I’m being honest, my dissertation wasn’t really great. It was good and it was done, but it wasn’t perfect or amazing or mind blowing and part of me really wanted it to be. The thing is though, if I tried to write the perfect dissertation, I might have never finished.
I’ve found the same thing to be true about my business. For the last 2 years I’ve been working with coaches who want to write books. I’ve hosted teleseminars and workshops; written blog posts and ebooks; done individual and group coaching; and most of it was filled with mistakes. You’ll find typos in my emails and blogs, you’ll find errors on my website, and you will find imperfection throughout what I do.
This – I’m pretty sure – has been the key to my success. Even though I HATE it when I catch a mistake in something I’ve released, I know that the fact I keep putting content and programs out there helps me to refine my work and create something awesome.
Seth Godin says, “It’s not art if it doesn’t ship.”
I talk to authors in transformation every day who have a powerful message that they aren’t willing to share until they get it perfect. What they don’t realize is that it will never be perfect if you don’t share it. You have to be willing to ship your art, even if it isn’t perfect. It’s only then you’ll be able to evolve to the next level.
Where are you holding back? What idea can you put out there – even though it’s not ready?
BTW – when I finally launched TheAuthorIncubator.com I felt like I had put out something good for the first time in 2 years of running my business. If you haven’t checked it out yet, please do. And to those of you who have written to me with your support and feedback, thank you!
