Art is always unfinished.
Leonardo Da Vinci, one of the GOATs of the Renaissance, knew this best as he forever returned to his paintings, adding a never-ending list of colour, characters and backdrops to his masterpieces.
For, as Lomazzo, his early biographer wrote, “He never finished any of the works he began because, so sublime was his idea of art, he saw faults even in the things that to others seemed miracles”.
He was a perfectionist, like too many of us. But, he did do the most important two things right: he started, and he published. Two vital steps that cemented his legacy in the records of time for us all to be inspired by today.
Now, imagine how many who didn’t. All those who let their overthinking trap ideas that could change the world inside their skulls.
As the creatives that we all are, we must avoid doing the same. We need to be a little more Da Vinci, doing everything we can to get out of own heads so we can hit publish on the work that will change the lives of others. Here’s how…
Stop Coddling Your Ideas
Our ideas can feel like our children.
We want to hold them close and tell them everything’s going to be okay while we try to create a future for them we never had ourselves. But, in doing our best to smother them in love, we never see them actually grow. Instead, they lie wrapped in cotton wool, safe from contact with reality.
To truly enable them to flourish we need to free our ideas from success, embrace their embarrassing first version and let them grow in their own way.
Write Now. Edit Later
There are two modes of creation: the writer and the editor.
The former invites their inner child to come and play, embracing the inherent messiness of creation and leaving a long list of half-baked ideas in it’s wake. It’s not a pretty sight. But, it is an expressive one that you can refer back to.
The latter is your inner critic that seeks to perfect anything and everything it touches. Fed with a pandemonium of ideas, the editor removes the excess and distils the ideas of the writer into a coherent narrative.
You need both. The Writer first. The Editor second.
Your Second Idea is Better
Your initial idea is full of assumptions.
Grown in the test tube of your mind, the petri dish of an idea hasn’t yet hit the tarmac of the ground. So, do not attach yourself to it’s solution. Focus on the problem instead. Ask great questions. Interview those who suffer from it. And become infinitely curious about the best way to solve it.
For, as Astro Teller says, a terrible idea is “often the cousin of a good idea, and a great one is the neighbour of that”. So, keep on exploring.
Build Your Version 1
Don’t overcomplicate your first draft.
Want to write a book? Write an article first.
Want to build a website? Create a landing page first.
Want to host a podcast? Record an episode first.
You’ll then have a first creation to share, a first version to laugh at and a first iteration that you can only improve on.
Be Shameless in Self-Promotion
There is no shame in self-promotion.
It is a selfless act. Not a selfish one. We are choosing to prioritise enriching the lives of others with our work over protecting our ego from criticism.
Accept that your version one will be embarrassing. Label it a draft if you have to. And then put it out in the world to enable the impact it deserves.
Turn off the Spotlight Effect
No-one really cares.
It might feel like the whole world is looking at you and judging all your insecurities. But, in reality they’re too caught up in the dramas of their own minds to extend you more than 30 seconds of thought.
That first post you finally decide to publish will be just another one in the thousands they scroll past in their newsfeed today.
Don’t Share for Yourself
For the ones who do listen, your act of creation is inspiring.
It will start a quiet revolution within the minds of others. Showing them what is truly possible when they have the courage to share their work. Your voice will change how people think and act.
But it can’t do that trapped inside your skull.
You are Your Greatest Advocate
If you aren’t excited by your work, then why should anyone else be?
By creating art aligned to who you are and then standing as the spokesperson for it, you show others how to introduce you online. Your example gives them the words, confidence and metaphors to push your ideas further.
None of which is possible if you don’t even stand for yourself.
Leverage Your Early Audience
Sharing your version one will build you an audience.
It might not be the hundreds of thousands you dreamed of when the idea first came to mind. It could be a fireside of a fanbase, an auditorium of an audience or a tidal wave of a tribe, the size doesn’t matter.
Because being small is a secret superpower. It’s versatile. And you can do things that don’t scale. All you need to do is learn how to leverage it properly.
Accountability Partners
If you’ve shared your commitment to create on a regular basis, whether it be every day, week or month, your early audience can become your accountability partners. Especially when you remember that your work inspires them. And it’s not just about you and your selfish goals.
Feedback Friends
If you’ve shared a design of a website or app you’ve been working on your first few fans will be the perfect people to give you feedback. Just make sure they are actually the type of person you’re aiming for the thing you’re building to be used by. For not everybody’s insights are relevant.
First-time Buyers
If you’ve set a goal to write a book and gotten started with a weekly newsletter, then each week you publish you’re building trust with your audience. They can experience the quality of your work first-hand, meaning that when launch day comes you’ve already been selling to your first buyers.
By sharing your work, you’re inspiring others to contribute towards your mission. As partners, friends or buyers they now know how to support you.
Summary
Great artists share their work. They realise perfection doesn’t exist. And they decide to prioritise the learning opportunity of publishing over the emotional security of never creating something “good enough”. Follow in their footsteps by detaching yourself from the outcome of your art, adopting a beginner’s mindset and realising the endless benefits of sharing a half-finished solution.
And do it not just for yourself. But, for the inspiration your work can have on the human beings it can forever touch the beating soul of.
So true
Just spent three days doing something i’ve never done - probably badly
But good enough to publish
And learn!
My internal critic was super LOUD
But my deadline was louder
X
Great points Charlie!
I'm reminded of Rick Rubin who says that the core of an artist is the desire to share that which you've created.
You first create something and if you love it enough that you want to tell others about it...then that's what being an artist is.
Create what you love and then share with others. Because it is a gift!