done is better than perfect
TRANSCRIPT
the workshop
thecreativetruth.com
Hello.@sbradweaver
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the workshop
thecreativetruth.com
Brad Weaver CXO @sbradweaver
@sbradweaver
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@sbradweaver
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#invisionwebinar
thecreativetruth.com
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Getting to done.
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Let’s get started.
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They remember when you fail.
Is exceeding expectations symmetrical with disappointment?
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Apparently not.
Breaking promises is costly, exceeding them doesn’t appear to be worth the effort.
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People remember when you screw up.
…and they tend to forget when you go all-out.
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This is true almost everywhere.
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Especially in creative work.
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They remember when you’re late.
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Work that was good enough would have produced the same results.
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But that’s not satisfying for creatives.
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Which is worse… Imperfect or Incomplete?
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They shipped, I didn’t.
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Go for perfect sometimes……but not all the time.
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You have to learn to be OK with OK.
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What is Done?
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It successfully solves the problem, addresses the need, or conveys the message intended.
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It is clearly and distinctly on brand.
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The quality of work is consistent with or above the level of previous work.
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It has been thoroughly yet objectively scrutinized by other qualified individuals.
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The final decision of preference had been left in the hands of the creator.
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But we want more than that, don’t we?
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3 Key Roadblocks
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Resources: Time & Money
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Communication
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Fear
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What is everyone else’s perfect?
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Time
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Dealing with Deadlines
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Make more of what time we have or buy ourselves more.
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Procrastination
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We see our future selves as a completely different person.
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We can fight procrastination through tactics.
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Reason #1You are putting something off because you are afraid you will screw it up.
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Solution #1Adopt a “prevention focus,” but only a little.
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Prevention vs. PromotionThere are two kinds of people in the creative world.
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Promotion-focused people play to win.
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Prevention-focused people play NOT to lose.
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Adopt a little prevention-focus, but not too much.
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Every “yes” is a risk.
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What am I giving up in order to make this happen?
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Do I truly care about this and am willing to let other projects suffer in order to get it done?
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Getting an early version out there or making a big splash with the perfect version?
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Can’t have both.
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Reason #2You are putting something off because you don’t “feel” like doing it.
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Solution #2Shut up and get to work.
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Reason #3You are putting something off because it’s hard, boring, or otherwise unpleasant.
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Solution #3Use if–then planning.
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If-then planning.
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Action-action planning.
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Delegation
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Don’t, Can’t, Shouldn’t Do
make a list.
Don’t Like Doing Can’t Do Shouldn’t Do
Sending Invoices Write PHP CodeLoading Blog Content
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Let it go, Let it go.don’t be your own worst enemy.
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Getting more out of your time.Procrastination, delegation, discombobulation.
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Money
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NO SHAME.
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My favorite excuse.there’s never enough.
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Work overtime or give up.neither are ideal.
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Satisficers vs. Maximizerseveryone has customers, internal or external.
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Satisficersthey make a decision as soon as their criteria are met.
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Maximizersthey can’t make a decision until they’ve examined every option.
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You have no control over their decision-making process.
but trying to please Maximizers is near impossible at first.
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Go get more money or work with what you have.
and we all know that often, we aren’t getting more.
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So now what?
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Communication
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How to figure out their expectations.
ask these questions.
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#1 Why is this a project to begin with?
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#2What purpose does the work serve, what is the end-goal?
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#3Who needs to be involved, and who is the project ultimately for?
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#4When does it need to be completed and when are the project milestones (if there aren’t any, make some)?
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#5Where will the work appear and where will it be worked on?
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#6How will these objectives be accomplished?
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Questions• Why is this a project to begin with? • What purpose does the work serve, what is the end-goal? • Who needs to be involved, and who is the project ultimately for? • When does it need to be completed and when are the project
milestones (if there aren’t any, make some)? • Where will the work appear and where will it be worked on? • How will these objectives be accomplished?
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This isn’t new…… yet we avoid it most of the time.
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Presenting Your Work
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Present your work with context.
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Don’t apologize.
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Tell them what to do.
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Don’t list.
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Let it breathe.
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Don’t be offended.
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“Like” is your worst enemy.
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Discussing Designfantastic book.
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Revisions
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Communicate.
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Count them.
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Explain.
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Always ask “why?”
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Look for the “because.”
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Don’t get emotional.
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Only react to decision makers.
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Use the timeline.
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Beware the CEO swoop-in.
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Know the difference between compromise and concession.
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Charge for revisions.
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Be ok with stopping work.
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Show your work early and often.
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Prototypes, Sketches, & more.
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Ask specific questions.
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Don’t go too high-fidelity too soon.
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When is a prototype good enough?
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Start with the questions.
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Conversations.
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What is the purpose of this feature?
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What did you expect to happen here?
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Did it do what you expected?
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What works well with this feature? What doesn’t?
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Fear
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Coping with done.
THE REALISTIC SCALE OF WORK QUALITY & MONEY BALANCE
UNLIMITED FUNDING
SUCKS ROCKS
WORKING FOR PEANUTS
What IWant
RealisticGoal
How IFeel
Don’t let your pursuit of doing amazing work for ridiculous amounts of money keep you from doing really good work for a lot of money.
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Fear will paralyze you.
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Someone will always be better.
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When you stop focusing on the imperfections and start focusing on the preferences, you’re done.
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Be OK with OK.
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Take the time to reflect and be satisfied with the hard work you’ve put in.
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Art by Becky Simpson
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Thanks!
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Brad Weaver CXO @sbradweaver
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