Have you ever unexpectedly found yourself some place you hadn’t indentured to go? How did you get here and why are you here?
As it turns out, my off-track journey ultimately served my original purpose but it took some close looking to figure that out.
1. I set out to create a course, which I’ve done many times before.
2. I was on a webinar that taught me to make a short course using videos. I didn’t know how to make videos but I really liked the short course idea. I took the course.
3. I set up my course in PowerPoint using bullet points
4. I was on a webinar that said images were more powerful than bullet points. I took that course on PowerPoint presentations.
5. I still didn’t know how to make a video.
6. I was on a webinar that talked about how easy it was to do webcam talking head videos and that was the piece I was missing.
My unstructured search for the missing piece was why I ended up three streets over and two blocks down. When I realized how far from my original intent I had moved, I shared it in one of my on-line communities. Some people saw me as being a perfectionist. I wondered if I had simply chased too many bright shiny objects. But the lesson here is that until I found that missing piece (the form of video I wanted to create), I had to keep looking.
What if you don’t know what you’re looking for?
You never know what you are looking for until you find it. Funny, huh. In retrospect, I was looking for how to make videos because I wanted to add videos to my courses. But all the holes in my knowledge base kept showing up – shorter courses, images instead of bullet points, the lighting for a talking head video, and finally, how to record and edit in Camtasia. It wasn’t until I made the decision to do the webcam work that I began to turn back toward my original intention – to create some courses.
The missing piece makes it all come together
The form of the video was the missing piece I was searching for. It was rather like choosing a color scheme to furnish a room. I had to make some basic choices. Once I did, everything came together.
There was some courage missing too
I kept putting off opening up both Camtasia and PowerPoint because it had been years since I’d worked in either. It felt like I would be opening up the door to a dark cave. I avoided doing it.. Where did the courage come from? It was just suddenly there. One afternoon I simply decided to record myself talking. It turned out well. So I went on line and watched a few tutorials on how to edit a video and I did it. Courage and being proactive to find the knowledge you need, both help you get unstuck.
Decisions can change your direction
My original course was eight-modules that are all written except for one module. The short form course is easier to produce and to consume – one point, well presented and you have shared your idea. You have a product. That doesn’t fit my eight- module course concept.
The decision to create short courses created more possibilities. I outlined a series of 22 three-minute videos. Creating those will certainly upgrade my video producing and editing skills and put a good library of easily consumed ideas out there.
The need to learn can change your direction
I never considered the short courses until I came across that first webinar. When I learned the impact of images on the second webinar, I had to get better at PowerPoint. Learning is a combination of mastering the skill and understanding what is possible. We need to take time to learn. The more we know, the broader the range of possibilities. Keep learning and keep it relevant to the project you have in mind.
Look at a decision as an experiment
I just kept exploring until I found the combination that felt right, the floor plan that fit my need, if you will. It’s important to stay flexible and open during the decision making process. Each new choice I made influenced the final direction. Don’t get bogged down in a direction that doesn’t resonate. Step into the scenario, look around, get the feel of it, and see if it meets your needs. Then you can make an aligned decision.
I’m glad I have no timeline for presenting these courses because I would have been a basket case. However, since I’m allowing my life to unfold, it did just that – one organically beautiful step at a time until I reached the decision that allowed me to start back and put the missing pieces into place. I’m sure I’ll have this kind of an adventure again, but now I know I’ll be learning valuable insights to add to the final project.
Where are you? How did you here? Is this where you want to be?
To Sing a Deeper Song Consider:
07- How to Find and Express Your Distinctive Voice (podcast, 20 minutes)
10– What Will Change Because Of What You Are About To Do? (podcast, 20 minutes)
How to Free the Log Jams in Your Life
