Most creators (myself included) won’t progress until they do this one thing
Ever wondered why some video creators seem to effortlessly put out highly valuable content while others struggle to keep up the momentum?
In this post, I’m going to share something that has completely transformed my approach to content creation, and how my YouTube channel will develop over the coming year.
This shift could be a pivotal moment for your content creation journey too.
Ok, so before I dive in, what am I talking about and what does it actually involve?
It’s a concept developed by psychologist Carol Dweck, and is the belief that our abilities and intelligence can be developed with time, effort, and dedication. This is what is known as a 'Growth Mindset’.
The Mindset
It's about seeing potential for growth in every challenge and setback, rather than viewing them as fixed or obstacles that we can’t overcome. This perspective can be incredibly empowering in the world of content creation.
By exploring this mindset shift I want to highlight six key concepts that can positively transform our approach to content creation.
From what I’ve come to understand, each of these concepts plays a crucial role in developing a growth mindset and I believe they will have the power to significantly impact my journey as a content creator, as well as yours.
So starting with the first concept…
1. See challenges as opportunities for growth
In the world of video creation, every obstacle we come across presents a chance for personal growth. Whether we're navigating the ever-evolving landscape of new trends, learning how to handle criticism constructively, or trying to come up with fresh creative ideas, these challenges are more than just roadblocks.
We can look at them as opportunities to hone our skills and explore new avenues within our creative journey.
By embracing a growth mindset, we’ll find ourselves looking at these challenges from a different perspective. Rather than seeing them as hindrances, we'll recognise them as valuable moments for self-improvement and creative growth.
2. Embrace the 'Not Yet' approach to setbacks
Consider a baby learning to walk. Each attempt, each wobbly movement, isn't a failure – it's a 'not yet.' Babies don't fail at walking; they’re simply in the process of mastering it. Every effort, even those that end in a tumble, is a crucial step towards their goal; they’re learning from it.
In video creation, our setbacks are similar. They’re a way of acknowledging that while we may not have achieved our goal today, we're on the path to achieving it tomorrow.
This shift in perspective could prove to be incredibly motivating as each effort brings us closer to our goal, building our skills and resilience as content creators.
3. Value effort and persistence over innate talent
In the content creation space, we can often fall into the trap of thinking that innate talent is the sole driver of success. However, the reality is that effort and persistence play a significant role.
This approach shifts the focus from a fixed mindset (the direct opposite of a growth mindset), where talent is seen as a static trait, to a growth-oriented perspective that values continuous improvement.
For video creators, this means recognising that every effort we put into learning new skills, experimenting with different techniques, and persisting through challenges is more valuable than any supposed natural ability.
It's about understanding that mastery involves a series of steps and that each step, no matter how small, is a progression.
Consistent effort in refining this craft, whether it's through editing, storytelling, or engaging with our audience, is what leads to substantial improvement over time.
This approach encourages us to view each project, feedback, and setback as an opportunity to grow and develop our skills further. It's a reminder that in the world of content creation, persistence, and the willingness to learn and adapt can be the true keys to success.
4. Learn from feedback and mistakes
If we can embrace feedback and mistakes as essential parts of the creative process, use constructive criticism to refine our work, and view each mistake as a chance to learn and improve, we’ll succeed in developing a mindset of continuous improvement without fear of judgment, a trait that can often lead us to talk ourselves out of ideas.
Instead, we would follow through on those ideas to see where they lead.
5. Value progress over perfection
Focusing on perfectionism holds a lot of people back. This was one of my biggest setbacks before I began living by:
“Done is better than perfect because perfect never gets done”.
And now I prioritise making progress over trying to achieve perfection, which I know can never be attained.
This approach encourages us to celebrate every small step forward, understanding that the journey of improvement breeds creativity and innovation and is more important than the elusive goal of perfection.
If we can prioritise progress over perfection, we're consciously choosing to learn and improve. It means taking what we've learned from our current video project and applying it to the next, always aiming to do better.
What’s more, perfectionism can be a barrier to creativity and productivity. Again, something that I have personally experienced.
Progress over perfection encourages experimentation and learning from outcomes, which is essential for creative growth. Without experimentation, we’ll never know if there is a better approach to how we create our content or even what we create.
6. Continue to learn and inspire through personal growth
If we can combine a commitment to lifelong learning to inspire others, we’ll stay curious and be able to easily adapt, always seeking new ways to enhance our skills.
I believe that sharing our personal growth journey can enrich our content and deepen our connection with our audience.
So, what now?
I think that embracing a growth mindset is more than just a change in perspective; it's a transformative approach to how we handle our creativity.
It's about focusing on developing skills and learning from failures instead of being scared of them, thus giving us room to grow over time.
This mindset shift will be a significant change in both my written and video content moving forward. I want to experiment more and explore my creativity without constraining myself to one path or thought process.
Why am I sharing this with you?
It's to hold myself accountable and document this shift; sharing my thoughts and experiences along the way. I hope that the transparency of my journey – with all its ups and downs, setbacks, achievements, and new learnings – will serve as a source of inspiration and guidance for you along your own content creation journey.
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