If you're like me, you have a desire to create things.
If you're like me, you also have a particular nagging problem:
When I'm creating something, I get aggravated because I'm not getting the result I want, and I'm not talking about feeling frustration at the end of a project. I get frustrated in the middle of the project!
I've always looked to the end of things too quickly. My 12th grade Calculus teacher told me I messed up math problems because my mind got ahead of itself.
But watching a friend of mine on the computer a month ago helped me realize what I've been doing wrong.
He was designing T-shirts on the computer. I got to see his process. He would quickly start with an idea instead of taking a long time to think about what to do. He would just get started. Then, once he had a rough draft down, he would correct issues he didn't like one at a time.
That was the clincher for me.
I've always thought about designs in total, and I would try to manipulate too many variables at once.
Instead, my friend would find one thing that irked him and fix that. Then he would fix something else. Then something else. Before too long, he ended up with something he liked.
This change in thinking represents the difference between enjoying the work process and trying to get to the finish line as fast as you can. Ironically, in trying to finish your work too quickly you slow yourself down with frustration and mistakes. When you enjoy the process and fix your problems one at a time, your work is completed faster.
This mindset can be applied to anything. You could be writing a song. Instead of getting frustrated because the song sucks, fix the problems with it one at a time. This melody isn't catchy enough...this turnaround is boring...this chorus is too long...etc., etc. Before too long, you've got a much better song. More happily, you have a much better completed song.
Don't think about how much you dislike something you've made. Just fix what you don't like about it one little issue at a time.
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