[The following was copied and pasted from GPT-4 after I fed it a transcript of a 3 minute ramble I had recorded while walking just now and asked it to turn it into a 3000 word blog in the style of Morgan Housel]
Often, we find ourselves standing at the crossroads of aspiration and hesitation. It's a familiar place where our desires to embark on new ventures are frequently overshadowed by our fears – particularly, the fear of not excelling. This fear, deeply rooted in our perception of skill and accomplishment, can be a formidable barrier. It's a barrier that not only constrains our potential but also limits our understanding of what it means to truly engage in an activity.
Consider for a moment the sheer joy of a child painting. The child doesn't worry about the finesse of their brush strokes or the harmony of colors. Instead, they revel in the act of painting itself. Somewhere along our journey into adulthood, we lose this inherent ability to value the act of doing over the art of excelling. We start to equate our worth and the worth of our endeavors with our level of proficiency.
This perception, while understandable, overlooks a fundamental truth: there is intrinsic value in the mere act of creation, independent of the skill level achieved. In every attempt, there's a lesson, an experience, a step taken forward – however small. The distinction between the ability to do something and the mastery of it is crucial. Mastery is a journey, not a destination, and every journey begins with a single, often imperfect, step.
My personal journey with writing serves as a testament to this philosophy. Writing, for me, was never about crafting perfect sentences or eloquent prose. It was, and remains, a medium to untangle thoughts, to give voice to feelings that often lay dormant, hidden beneath the hustle of daily life. Technology, particularly in recent years, has been a steadfast ally in this endeavor. Tools like voice transcriptions and AI platforms like ChatGPT have offered a new avenue for expression – one that is less hindered by the technicalities of writing and more focused on the essence of the ideas being conveyed.
These technological advancements have underscored an important lesson – the power of taking imperfect action. It's about moving from zero to one, transitioning from inaction to action. This principle, 'doing over excelling', is liberating. It shifts the focus from the end result to the process itself, encouraging a mindset where the act of trying supersedes the need for perfection.
In embracing this mindset, we open ourselves to a world of possibilities. Sharing our work, irrespective of its perceived quality, becomes a pathway to growth. Each shared piece is an invitation for feedback, for connection, for unexpected opportunities. It becomes less about how good the work is and more about the act of sharing, of being vulnerable, of being open to the journey of improvement.
Reflecting on this, it's evident that this principle extends far beyond writing or creative pursuits. It's applicable in all spheres of life – from learning a new skill to starting a new venture. The initial steps, often clumsy and uncertain, are the most crucial. They represent the courage to move beyond our comfort zones, to explore, to grow.
As we navigate through life's challenges and opportunities, it's worth remembering that our endeavors need not be perfect. They need only be sincere. The beauty lies in the attempt, in the courage to express, to create, to do – irrespective of the outcome.
In conclusion, I urge you, as I remind myself, to cherish the act of creation. Let us not be deterred by the elusive quest for perfection. Instead, let us find joy in the journey of doing, in the process of learning, and in the beauty of expressing ourselves. Our creations, no matter how imperfect, are reflections of our unique perspectives and experiences. They are valuable, not because they are flawless, but because they are real.