Following our blog post on Lean and accelerating our learning in the Collaborative Age, a particular issue came up. As part of the lean methodology, we propose to go out in the world as early as possible with a ‘Minimum Viable Product’. That is to say, an unfinished product with some basic functionality and lots of bugs. This product could be a book, a painting, a recording, a set of photos, a blog, a website… anything that you are creating with your heart.
That’s generally at this point of time that Resistance attacks. What? Coming out to the world with an imperfect product? What about my ego, my reputation? Won’t I look ridiculous?
And there we often freak out. Delay. Find all sorts of excuses not to go out with this imperfect product and work to improve it. Worst even, not to anything on the product and just shelve it waiting to be secure enough to show it to the world.
Resistance was already trying to avoid us working on the product or the creation; it is the ultimate battle before it gets to the world; and Resistance does fight it with the back to the brick wall.
Just consider this: you might be somewhat ridiculous this time with this imperfect product; but you will be much more later if you spend much more time trying to make it ‘perfect’ in your eyes and if it remains dull in the eyes of the world. And you won’t be able to forgive yourself if you never bring it out to the world.
Do you want to live in regrets all your life? Just come out with it. And rock on!
And no- you won’t be ridiculous this time anyway. Your tribe will take interest in your new creation and guide you toward making it really fascinating and useful.
Have you anything almost finished on the shelf you never managed to get out to the world? Get it out and start learning! Beat the Resistance!
