Show your work - and here’s why
The other day I started to cry in the kitchen – but I wasn’t sure why.
I have such a clear memory of being in 6th grade science class and learning about the steps that scientists take to run experiments.
And I can still remember thinking: This is totally not relevant for me.
Run an experiment? Show my work before it’s finished? Start something without knowing I was going to get it right? NO WAY.
It was all just too much for my inner perfectionist/straight A student self to handle.
Fast forward a few decades, though, and my opinion on experimentation, hypotheses, and learning by doing has completely changed.
In fact, most of my life and business strategy, decisions and actions come through designing and running experiments!
There are lots and lots of reasons for this, but today I want to highlight one that is especially important if you’re making a decision or creating a change in your life that involves other people. When in doubt, remember:
Rough means potential, while polished means flaws.
Let’s say you’re dreaming up some kind of new idea or goal for your life, and now you need to tell other people about it. For example:
Sharing with your partner the new side hustle you want to invest in
Explaining to your parents your plan to quit your job and go backpacking
Mapping out your promotion path and pitching it to your boss
You spend hours, days, even weeks preparing for this conversation, crafting your perfect talking points, and anticipating their resistance. You invest a ton of time and energy into building out an iron-clad, perfect plan.
I can tell you right now… They will poke holes in it.
You’ll present your case and when it’s their turn to speak, they’ll tell you all the things that are wrong or misguided or misinformed about your decision, your strategy, etc.
This is not a ding on your partner or your parents or your boss.
They’re humans.
And most humans, whenever they’re presented with a perfect, polished plan, will look for flaws.
On the flip side, showing and sharing your work – before it’s fully polished and planned out – actually inspires people to see potential.
Another truth about humans – we love to get excited about the future and its possibilities. And we love a success story.
When you show your work – your rough ideas, your initial thinking, your first steps – you inspire people with the possibility of what you’re creating. You’re inviting them in to get excited and create the future with you.
Rough means potential, and polished means flaws.
If you’re dreaming up a new dream and it involves influencing others to get excited and involved – show it when it’s rough.
Invite them into your vision.
Ask them to help you see your blindspots.
Be willing to engage in their questions – not because they’re poking holes, but because together you’ll make your idea even better.
It goes against the grain of what our overachieving nature often tells us to do.
And I can assure you, it’s THE strategy for how to enroll people into your future vision.
What rough idea are you ready to show? I’d love to hear.
Onward,
