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The Evil Power of Self-Editing

Author: Sean D'Souza

When we sit down to do a project, we never seem to see the end of it.
Let's say you want to create a simple information product such as a fifteen minute audio.

Technically speaking, this audio should take you fifteen minutes to create.
If you sit down and write an outline, it should take you thirty minutes at best.

Yet that's not what happens
Your self-editor kicks in.
And then all hell breaks loose.
You want to fix the ums, the ahs. You don't like the sound of your voice. You want to fix this and you want to fix that. And suddenly the thirty minute project is now either a three-hour project. Or the project is postponed indefinitely.

And this curse of self-editing is easily fixed if you follow these simple rules:
1) For starters at least, do not record sitting in front of your computer.
2) In fact, don't record anything till you write a brief outline.
3) This outline should not take you more than 10 minutes. If it does, it's not an outline.
4) The outline should cover three main points. And then three sub-points under every main point.
5) Get a friend to call you. And ask the questions based on the points and sub-points.
6) Record the conversation.
7) Fifteen-twenty minutes later you have a product.

And now when you listen to the product, you'll hate how you seem to have ums, ahs and other gaps. You'll find you may have even rambled at times. It doesn't matter. It's a good enough product. And it's time to get it out.

The reason why people never get anything done, is because of the evil power of self-editing.
If you want to get rid of the curse, use this simple system.

Ok, enough reading. Off you go to create your product.

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Filed Under: Human Nature Tagged With: getting things done, info products, self-editing

Comments

  1. Steven says

    November 26, 2010 at 10:54 am

    Awesome “just do it” guide for creating simple products. I like it. I needed the motivation.

    Reply

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