Hey there —
Coming up with another great 🤯 idea is not the most important thing you can do for your creative self today.
You know what is?A
cting on any one of the dozens of ideas you’ve already saved in your notes app or that folder on your desktop.
Feeling a little too seen? 👀
It’s okay. We’re not here to throw shade on your brainstorming sessions.
There’s no arguing that ideas are an important first step in the creative process. And collecting ideas is fun! As your pile of notes grows, it sure feels like you’re making progress toward your goals.
But here’s the thing: Those ideas are useless (and won’t get you anywhere) if you don’t act on them.
Of course, knowing this doesn’t make the doing easy. Because after the inspirational high of the brainstorming phase, reality and insecurity sets in.
This is harder than I thought.
Can I even pull it off?
What if it doesn’t turn out like the vision in my head?
What if everyone else hates it?
What if it’s already been done?
And so we struggle to move from idea to execution, often falling into one of these patterns:
😣 We get stuck in planning mode, trying to “perfect” our idea.
☠️ We give up, discouraged and overwhelmed by just how much work it will take.
✨ We give in to the distraction of a shiny new idea, leaving a slew of half-finished projects in our wake.
If any of this sounds familiar, here are some strategies to help you go from idea collector to creator.
To get unstuck and move past prep into production, take a tip from CEO coach Aviva Leebow Wolmer who advises demystifying the idea of a “perfect strategy”:
“A sound strategy should be transformed and enhanced during the implementation process, so if it's perfect, it's only because it was shaped by execution.”
In other words, it’s only through the process of bringing an idea to life that it can be fully refined and “perfected.” And notice Wolmer says if it winds up perfect. Perfection isn’t the ultimate (or even realistic) goal — completion is.
To go the distance, break the execution of your idea into small, achievable steps and focus on one at a time. With each completed step you’ll gain a much needed sense of progress and the momentum to keep going.
To resist the temptation of a shiny new idea, be honest with yourself about whether you’re moving on to something better or more attainable…or just avoiding something difficult.
Take a realistic look at this new idea, what it will require of you, and whether it’s really worth the expense of abandoning your current project. Then, as creative coach Dre Genevieve says, either “realize it or release it.” Meaning you fully commit to completing it, or you accept that it’s not the right idea for you (at least not yet).
Every creative journey is going to have highs and lows. That beginning burst of excitement and inspiration will always lead to the murky middle — but there’s a reward waiting on the other side.
To get there, lean into the process, commit to your creative goals, and push through to the end.
And soon, you won’t just have a folder full of good ideas — you’ll have a portfolio full of your best work. 💼
Go from idea to upload with Master YouTube
by Slow Growth
If that note on your phone is full of video ideas, but every time you even *think* about starting a YouTube channel (or continuing to work on your existing one), you end up overwhelmed and stuck…
We’re excited to let you know that enrollment is now open for our Master YouTube course! 🎥
Inside Master YouTube, you’ll find a step-by-step roadmap to creating a successful channel, including…
What you really need to know about the algorithm (and how to beat it)
A blueprint for developing an original content strategy
Essential gear and tool recommendations (with tips to stay within budget)
The Simple Production Workflow that will take you from idea to upload (consistently!)
How to tell better stories that keep viewers engaged from start to finish
A process to edit your videos twice as fast
Strategies to grow your audience and monetize your channel (with intention and integrity)
If launching or growing your channel has been your “someday” goal, Master YouTube can provide the resources and support you need to get unstuck, go the distance, and finally bring your creative dreams to life.
And you can start today.
Follow the link to learn more or sign up — enrollment closes April 7th. Learn more and sign up →
I disconnected from the electric grid for 8 months — in Manhattan
by Joshua Spodek
On May 22, 2022, Joshua Spodek unplugged everything in his apartment, with the goal of drawing zero power from the electric grid for one month. ⚡
Eight months later (and still disconnected), Spodek shares the challenges, lessons learned, and how he survives off the grid while still meeting the expectations of his job (and recording his podcast!).
His observations go deeper than an extreme experiment, offering a goldmine of wisdom on living your values, using constraints to find what works, and the power of showing the world what’s possible.
Everything you need to know about tipping right now
By Grub Street
If you live in the U.S., tipping is part of the cultural etiquette (and relied on by many service industry workers in below-minimum-wage jobs).
But that doesn’t mean we’re all well-versed in how tipping has changed with the current economy, or whether takeout requires the same percentage as dining in.
If you’ve ever panicked when faced with the “add a tip” screen at the register, Grub Street has a handy and up-to-date guide on which purchases require tipping — and how much you should give — to help you properly compensate everyone from your barista to your Uber driver. 💁
QUESTION
What is the best free software for video editing for YouTube?
— Vishal T., India
ANSWER
I currently use Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve to edit all my videos and their free version offers more than enough for most editors. There are professional features for editing, sound mixing, and coloring. (In fact, Resolve’s color grading is far more in depth than other programs, but it’s still a relatively simple process to learn.)
I love Resolve because it gives my team and I the ability to easily collaborate remotely. On top of that, it’s incredibly reliable and stable, maximizing the specs of both Mac and Windows. Less lagging and crashing means more time editing and that’s exactly what we need.
Overall, Blackmagic Design seems to care a lot about getting high-quality filmmaking products into the hands of creators for an affordable price tag and are pouring a lot of love and care into their software (and they’re not paying us to say that). Definitely check it out!
— Matt
Got a question for the Slow Growth team? Click here to send it our way!
Written by Ashley Martin
Edited by Matt D'Avella