Learning is a wonderful thing – and it should be a lifelong endeavor.
But learning can also be a stumbling block when used incorrectly. What I mean by this is when you use learning in place of activity.
Many people are going to create that new product, re-do a dated web site, install a new piece of software, test a new marketing strategy, etc. – once they feel they’ve learned enough to master it.
That’s a big mistake.
Once you have the basic skills, you’re ready to go. You don’t need to be the master of some skill, have the hottest web site, the most dazzling graphics, or have an airtight plan that will get you a first page ranking on Google.
Just start. It’s the best thing you could possibly do for your business.
In their book, “Rework”, authors Jason Fried and David Hansson, founders of 37signals (they make Basecamp) talk about a concept called “Build half a product, not a half-assed product”.
What they mean by this is once you have a basic plan for a good product, get started. And once it’s good enough, launch it. You can always add more bells and whistles later. And half of a good product is always superior to all of a half-assed product.
A real life example
Most entrepreneurs have at least a bit of a perfectionist streak. And they usually strive to make whatever they have better. And better, and better and better.
Yep, I admit to having that tendency myself.
So last month, I decided to challenge myself to act rather than perfect. I created a new training program and used only the most basic methods to put together the content. And we used a simple, inexpensive WordPress plug-in to manage and deliver that content.
Most of the members of my mastermind group told me I was nuts. That I needed a hot “theme” to really give the site some sizzle. That I needed more expensive, more powerful software to manage the content delivery. That I needed broadcast quality videos to really capture peoples’ attention.
I ignored all their well intentioned advice and did it the “simple is better way” instead.
This allowed me to have the pilot project up, running, and on sale in just four days. And within eight days, we were sold out and took in $121,000.
Had I spent more time learning and developing, it would have taken at least three months to have the pilot project ready to go. That’s a far cry from four days!
And now that I have my “half a product” version done and it’s profitable, I can relax and use some of the proceeds to fine tune and improve it on a much more leisurely schedule.
Hey, if I can learn to put a limit on learning, you can too. Give it a try and let me know how it works for you.
Hi Bob.
I like this article, and this site too. Your content is my focus, not the design. So it is already good enough.
Thank you!
That really captures the spiirt of it. Thanks for posting.
General George S. Patton stated “A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan next week”.
Thanks Bob, that’s a really timely email for me to come and read this post. I just wasted 1/2 my day “spacing out” trying to perfect a post for my affiliate site.
Thanks for the kick in the rear!
Appreciated
Derek
This article is a good example of the KISS (keep it simple self). I’ll practically apply it today.
Sounds like me… Waiting to be perfact… I enjoyed this since it is direct and to the point. Just what ‘I’ need.
Awesome!
What a great favour you’ve done me. You’ve just confirmed a thought that’s been on my mind for the past two days. I’m now set to finish my first book by December 24th. Thanks for the present.
Ali
I spent most of this year learning the differences between novels and screenplays. As an author I can already write a good story. But the goal of my writing has always been to see the stories become movies. Now that I’ve read enough material I’m working on my first few screenplays, which means adjusting to a different writing format.
I picked ‘mentors’ from screenwriters who have actually sold screenplays, some of which have been made into movies. There are a lot of writers out there who have books about the craft but have yet to sell a single screenplay. (Those weren’t the results I wanted.)
If I’d known that screenwriting was the way to accomplish my goals I might never have gotten published. But it was through the publishing process that screenwriting came to my attention. When you’re looking for a different result you must alter the way you do things.
Excellent article and something that I find I need to be reminded of often! I might just have to print this and keep it handy for future (frequent) reference! Thanks 🙂
Hi Bob, Great post and very timely. Ive been wracking my brain and a lot of time trying to customize a premium wp theme and it can be frustrating. I needed to hear your ‘just do the damn thing’ message. Thanks
Zing! Love the real life example – and the compelling, simple message. A former mentor told me years ago – Done is better than perfect – and I didn’t always get it, but I do now and this is proof he was right!
Excellent point about effective headlines that make one want to ACT.
One could scan the emails one gets everyday and write down the effective headlines
for future possible use.
Thanks, Bob.
I use your same strategy when helping other marketers improve their headlines so they attract more readers to their sales copy. As your readers may already know, whether you’re a expert or not, headlines have to be created and tested to see which one performs
the best in your copy. Study other good headlines and just start creating your own. Learn as you go. That’s what I do. Even a newbie could create an award winning headline on their first attempt.