G@G Community

My Quick Take on MyTakes, Perfect for Perfectionists

I have quite a few MyTake drafts on multiple devices. Typically I will start a MyTake, read it over, say to myself "this is crap, I should delete it and start again." And, to be fair, sometimes it is crap. And that's OK. I am not a political science major. Some of the stuff I say will be incorrect. I am not a scientist and I may well misinterpret a study. I post my (hopefully educated) opinions in hopes that somebody will find them interesting. I always try to make them as compelling as possible, but sometimes that's not the best approach and the finished product is a little boring. What does this have to do with this post?

My Quick Take on MyTakes, Perfect for Perfectionists

One of my favorite documentaries is "Seven days to air: The making of South Park." If you're not familiar with SP, each episode is produced in seven days. Since a bit after the show's inception, the creators have followed a consistent formula- toss around ideas on Thursday or Friday and spend the next few days, along with a talented team of people, writing the script, voicing the characters, editing the show, ensuring the show is the right length, ensuring the visuals and audio work, etc. What I like about SP is the fact that not every show is a gem- some shows, for lack of a better term, suck. And yet, Trey Parker and Matt Stone are massively successful. Fans can forgive some mediocre content.

I regret not completing and posting. Even though they weren't all that great, had issues and may have been debunked immediately, I still enjoyed writing them and, at the time, I was quite passionate about the topics. And maybe I would have been really happy with how one or two of them turned out.

My Quick Take on MyTakes, Perfect for Perfectionists

If the creators of South Park can allow a product they aren't entirely happy with to be shown, in accordance with a deadline set by comedy central, to millions and millions of people, why can't I produce a product I am not entirely happy with to be shown, in accordance with no deadline, to tens and tens of people. Thoughts need encouragement to become ideas. Even the stupid ones. And the more you share ideas, the more you take in ideas from other people responding. And, at the time, you can't help but think "I messed this up badly" but, looking back on it, it was a good learning experience.

So for everybody out there that has more ideas than you know what do with, I'm suggesting a challenge. This challenge allowed me to write a post on politics I never would have felt comfortable writing before. This challenge gives me permission to not be perfect. I wanted to scrap the challenge itself as soon as I messed up. But that would defeat the purpose.

Next time you write a post, don't change any words. If you misstate something clarify it in the next sentence. You're allowed to fix grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. But you cannot alter it to a degree spellchecker would not alter a word document. That includes pictures. Don't agonize over it, just post. Some truly great ideas are the result of putting something out there that just so happens to stick (glue for instance.)

I hope others find this approach helpful and can apply it to other areas of life as well. Maybe you'll come off as tone deaf or clueless. Maybe you'll come off as genuine. But, whatever the case, you shared what you wanted to share and that was important to share at the time you shared it. And now, it's getting late.

I'm sure the first two paragraphs I wrote are clunky and my word choice isn't ideal. But sometimes you just have to get an idea out there.

My Quick Take on MyTakes, Perfect for Perfectionists

#NoGoingBackspace

My Quick Take on MyTakes, Perfect for Perfectionists
Post Opinion