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Have you looked back on your old material and cringed? It was a course in audio engineering. The instructor was talking about improving and the growing pains of learning.
When we first learn anything, we aren't good. The best way to learn is to do. With his knowledge and skills today, his tracks from his early days sounded terrible to him.
Go back and watch the first videos of any significant Youtube. Mr. Beast started with just a phone and his room.
When we see where people are today, we tend to forget they had a beginning. Most people Won't start ideally. The main reason is you won't know what works until you start.
Writers start with pages of notes and ideas they cobble together to form a book. They spend years learning more as they go, and the books get better.
You may create videos but, over time, learn more tricks. Tricks like lighting, positioning, or editing. The more skills you develop, the better your output becomes.
We endanger ourselves when we delay when we wait for perfection.
It is true you may lose some potential audience with your early stuff. It is true you may gain many new followers, admirers, or subscribers.
You won't know what works and what your voice is until you go through it.
You can't become a great singer and performer if you don't sing or perform live.
You won't become a creative music producer if you're not putting yourself in unique and creative situations.
If you wait to be perfect, you won't create a multi-million dollar business.
By delaying, you risk the opportunities you could have had.
You risk the partnerships you could've made and the people you could have impacted.
It is better to start messy and try to improve than not try. If you're waiting for perfect, you'll be waiting for life.
In addition to what I mentioned, here are three more reasons to start.
Experience is the Best Teacher
You should study. Learn what you can. Read all the books and watch all the classes. They are great for building your foundation.
What gets you noticed is the experiences you gain. You will struggle through the unique problems the textbooks can't cover.
The quality of your service rises from your experiences. Your knowledge of what customers are most accessible and who requires more attention improves.
You know who you'd rather deal with and who you would rather not tolerate.
You know what jobs are worth your time and what jobs are not in your wheelhouse.
You learn what processes make you more efficient and what makes you lag.
These are things we think we can plan out. You'll see it isn't so clear-cut as you engage in the real world.
What you thought you could do, you no longer can. The process you thought you'd work with the system you have.
Things you will not be able to figure out in your mind. Problems you only encounter when you start. The experience will take you farthest.
You Attract an Audience
We all attract unique audiences, despite how professional you look or sound. If your products are good, your service or your attitude is good. You're good to start.
People are going to flock to you no matter what the topic. Whatever your offer, there will be people who will want it.
Some may leave because you aren't perfect. But the audience you build when in those beginning stages will stick with you for longer. They'll be more loyal and committed as you grow.
People love to be the first to do something. First to listen to a new, soon-to-be-famous rock band. Or a cute new restaurant or a niche training channel on Youtube.
People won't mind if they enjoy what you produce. Find your people and give them a chance to join you.
Adapting is Life
There is no such thing as a perfect plan. Every plan collapse once you're in the game. No matter how long you prepare, you cannot predict how it plays out.
Everything changes, whether it is the economy, regulations, or trends.
By starting messy, you are in adjustment mode. You release products, make sales and then research the results.
You release products and content then you evaluate and improve.
No matter how perfect you think everything is, there is room to improve.
You should plan, but don't delay because the plan isn't just right. Collect as much as you can, then act.
What's Next?
It is natural to look back on our past work and be embarrassed. You don't start off knowing everything.
When you start something, it can be stressful. Uncertainty and lack of experience all play a role.
Don't wait to be perfect. Determine to start with your best plan and act.
Experience is the best teacher. We learn the most from the situations we are facing. Textbooks and training courses can't cover the uniqueness of every situation.
The more you try and, at times, fail, the more you learn.
In your beginning stages, you can find an audience. They'll show up if people like your content, products, or services. You may have to search a bit for them.
Starting messy teaches you to adapt. When you create an extensive plan, everything becomes rigid—no room to move. Any disruptions can cause problems. Be flexible and continually work to adapt to elevate yourself.
What's next is to move forward with your goals. Is there something you've been meaning to start? Today!