Seth Godin challenges me every time I start to read something he writes. His new book, Linchpin (affiliate link) has not disappointed. One of the concepts that Seth drills home is the importance of shipping what you’ve created.
It doesn’t matter what dreams, idea or concepts you have, until it ships it has no value. It also doesn’t matter what you create, if it doesn’t ship it has no value to the community.
One of the biggest enemies to shipping your ideas is procrastination and perfectionism. The mindset of never thinking it’s good enough will never get you any where. Look at all the products that are launched in beta and then tweaked after they receive feedback from the community.
One of the ways to increase what you ship is by breaking down the process from concept to shipment. If you view it as your own creative production operation the process becomes easier, as long as your goal is to set deadlines and ship what you’ve created.
The Creative Production System
1. Concept/Visualize
If you’re creative this is never an issue. You’re constantly coming up with ideas. Visualizing what it will look like, how it will function and the potential value it will provide. In this part of the process, there are no limitations. If it can be seen it can be built.
2. Gather
Gather all the data, information, talent etc. that you need to launch your idea, thought, book, blog post. This is the support structure to your idea.
3. Set Dates
Face it, it will never be perfect. Set a hard date that you plan on shipping your product and don’t waver.
4. Build/Create
Write, develop, paint, mold – whatever it takes to put skin on your idea make it happen.
5. Quality Control
Quality control should be there to assure you what you’ve created works, as well as supports the idea you’ve visualized. It should never be the part of the process that shuts down operation. It’s ultimate goal is check and then ship.
6. Ship
If you don’t ship it, no one will see it. You’ve got to ship it! There is a community that needs what you’ve created.
What are you working on that you’re afraid to ship or hit publish? What part of the production system do you struggle with?
image credit: nh567
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