How do you personally shake off the feeling of making a bad decision?

[Steven Pham]

Dear Fastlane Members:

Recently, I spent 24 waking hours making an experimental video. It was my first attempt at voiceover and visual comedy. It was a painstaking process to splice together clips that matched with the audio tracks.

When was finally published, I was hit with utter disappointment. It didn't take off as I expected. Less than 3% of people clicked on the video and 85% of viewers abandoned the video after the first minute. With poor metrics like that, it had no chance of getting recommend. After looking at the analytics, it wasn't as great as I thought it would be.

I'll embrace the humility and admit that it was my ego dictating that it was going to be a hit. There is no need for a link to the video unless a member here asks for it. An atrocity like that isn't worth self-promoting

However, I ask seasoned members here. How do you shake off the opportunity cost of making a bad decision? The 24 waking hours could've been put into making safer videos that had a track record of being hits. It could've also been put towards fitness, well-being, and so on.

Granted, I could go to my psychologist or Google it, but I also find value in gathering insights from multiple users who have been in the field.

Regards,



New User

 

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[VivaciousVipin]

Dear Fastlane Members:

Recently, I spent 24 waking hours making an experimental video. It was my first attempt at voiceover and visual comedy. It was a painstaking process to splice together clips that matched with the audio tracks.

When was finally published, I was hit with utter disappointment. It didn't take off as I expected. Less than 3% of people clicked on the video and 85% of viewers abandoned the video after the first minute. With poor metrics like that, it had no chance of getting recommend. After looking at the analytics, it wasn't as great as I thought it would be.

I'll embrace the humility and admit that it was my ego dictating that it was going to be a hit. There is no need for a link to the video unless a member here asks for it. An atrocity like that isn't worth self-promoting

However, I ask seasoned members here. How do you shake off the opportunity cost of making a bad decision? The 24 waking hours could've been put into making safer videos that had a track record of being hits. It could've also been put towards fitness, well-being, and so on.

Granted, I could go to my psychologist or Google it, but I also find value in gathering insights from multiple users who have been in the field.

Regards,



New User

I guess there's no bad decision if you really learn from it. Moreover, try repurposing and giving a few more attempts and maybe then you'll have better assessment that whether this thing is for you or not. Yeah, don't make same mistakes again. Learn from it. That's what I would do.

Thanks for the great question.

 

[The-J]

I don't see how you made a bad decision, you just tried something that didn't work. How is that a bad decision?

 

[BizyDad]

It happens to all the greats.

Welcome to the forum.

 

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[Steven Pham]

I guess there's no bad decision if you really learn from it. Moreover, try repurposing and giving a few more attempts and maybe then you'll have better assessment that whether this thing is for you or not. Yeah, don't make same mistakes again. Learn from it. That's what I would do.

Thanks for the great question.

Fair enough, it still too early to call it. I won't be spending 24 waking hours like that again. The workflow must be improved; it starts with cutting out the fluff and only featuring the best of the best material.

Welcome to the forums, and thank you for your insight.

I don't see how you made a bad decision, you just tried something that didn't work. How is that a bad decision?

I overestimated my ability to get it right the first time around. When the video flopped, I was disappointed that the 24 waking hours didn't yield desirable results for the effort put in. Hence, an opportunity cost (time). Luckily, this didn't involve capital, so funds were not wasted on this experiment.

However, this could be a mindset thing too. Thank you for the wake-up call. I'll create a better workflow so that time is spent on the important things like only recording lines and editing in the best material. A smaller script can do wonders.

By the way, I saw your post on the thread that inspired me to make an account here to gather insights.

Edit: To both of you though, if made a bad decision, how would you personally shake it off? I'm curious

 

[Steven Pham]

View attachment 36486

It happens to all the greats.

Welcome to the forum.

Ah yes, now that is a classic reminder of a mindset boost. I'll admit how easily I forgot about such a great quote. Wow, I gotta work on my memory lanes then. Time for eating more brain food

 

[Johnny boy]

Great question.

Here's some stuff you can do to increase the strength of your "not give a F*ck" muscle.

Do not attach your identity to the work you do at the beginning. You're supposed to suck at first. That's how you become an expert. You aren't a shitty person because you made a shitty video. It's ridiculous to say that out loud because it's obvious, but a small part of you FEELS like it's true otherwise it wouldn't "hurt" you. Think about it...

Think of the shitty stuff you make as "this will be hilarious looking back and will show all my progress".

Which is more impressive, a baseball pitcher who throws 75 mph working out and learning how to throw 95 mph, or a pitcher who throws 94 working out and learning how to throw 95 mph? Obviously the one with the most growth. What a much more interesting story...

Look at yourself like that. Sometimes I wish I was born into real poverty, or weighed 300 lbs, just so when I grew a business and got in great shape it would be all that more impressive. Don't get discouraged that you're starting from the beginning, the worse off you start, the prouder you'll feel when you make it to the top.

Finally, just move on. You'll make a thousand more bad decisions. Make as many decisions as possible because you only need so many good decisions to strike gold.

Some advice from Gary Vaynerchuck (paraphrased): people are trying to play the game winning 1 to 0, making no mistakes. I'm trying to win the game 118 to 87.

Just make decisions. Good ones. Bad ones. Just make em and then move on. Speed is the name of the game. Moving so fast that you forget the bad decisions because in a single day you already made 2 bad decisions and 4 good decisions.

You learn from bad decisions don't you?

 

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[Kid]

View attachment 36486

It happens to all the greats.

Welcome to the forum.

I would say "Make another one", but BizyDad stole the thunder

 

[Steven Pham]

Great question.

Here's some stuff you can do to increase the strength of your "not give a f*ck" muscle.

Do not attach your identity to the work you do at the beginning. You're supposed to suck at first. That's how you become an expert. You aren't a shitty person because you made a shitty video. It's ridiculous to say that out loud because it's obvious, but a small part of you FEELS like it's true otherwise it wouldn't "hurt" you. Think about it...

Think of the shitty stuff you make as "this will be hilarious looking back and will show all my progress".

You make a strong point. I associated too much of my personal value with my first attempt. I'm not the video itself after all

You know, this kind of pain will make me look a back. I can remember not even being able to hang onto the pullup bar for one second. My back muscles just physically couldn't handle the stress. Since then, the first pullup is a WOW. How come I wasn't able to even hang on before?

---

Finally, just move on. You'll make a thousand more bad decisions. Make as many decisions as possible because you only need so many good decisions to strike gold.

Some advice from Gary Vaynerchuck (paraphrased): people are trying to play the game winning 1 to 0, making no mistakes. I'm trying to win the game 118 to 87.

Just make decisions. Good ones. Bad ones. Just make em and then move on. Speed is the name of the game. Moving so fast that you forget the bad decisions because in a single day you already made 2 bad decisions and 4 good decisions.

You learn from bad decisions don't you?

Indeed, this experience has taught me that hardcore effort doesn't always equate to desirable results. I should start by eliminating inefficiencies in my workflow. A smaller script can do wonders if it only contains the best of the best material.

I am fine with smart work over hard work anytime as long as the results are the same or even better. This has happened in the past by the way. Thank you for your insightful reply.

---

I would say "Make another one", but BizyDad stole the thunder

This is straight to the point. There's more to it than just keep going though since I'll be stuck in a rut if I keep sticking to the same inefficient workflow. Make another one but apply what I have learned from the previous attempts.

 

[The-J]

Edit: To both of you though, if made a bad decision, how would you personally shake it off? I'm curious

I made a pretty big mistake on Tuesday with my first live event, causing a lot of people to be unable to attend and I was pretty embarrassed about it.

It doesn't bother me anymore. I got good feedback from those who were able to attend, and even though the event itself had a LOT that could be improved on, I took the wins where they were. First, I actually DID the thing even though I'd been terrified of doing it. Second, I got some leads out of the event.

So I just made plans to do another one and to correct the mistakes I made.

I think your issue is more of a mindset one. You're gonna make mistakes. You're gonna do things wrong. Sometimes, things are gonna be catastrophic. It happens and it's not just part of the entrepreneurial journey, but of LIFE.

Sit back and ask: 1) What could I have done better? 2) What will I do next time to improve it?

 

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[Steven Pham]

I made a pretty big mistake on Tuesday with my first live event, causing a lot of people to be unable to attend and I was pretty embarrassed about it.

It doesn't bother me anymore. I got good feedback from those who were able to attend, and even though the event itself had a LOT that could be improved on, I took the wins where they were. First, I actually DID the thing even though I'd been terrified of doing it. Second, I got some leads out of the event.

So I just made plans to do another one and to correct the mistakes I made.

I think your issue is more of a mindset one. You're gonna make mistakes. You're gonna do things wrong. Sometimes, things are gonna be catastrophic. It happens and it's not just part of the entrepreneurial journey, but of LIFE.

Sit back and ask: 1) What could I have done better? 2) What will I do next time to improve it?

Thank you for sharing your story.

Basically, you learned from some unexpected failures but capitalized on your small wins

You are correct that this applies to life in general. I was so caught up in the negatives. Hmmm, let me look back at it.

Alright, it was my first attempt at voiceover. It didn't produce expected results, BUT I actually did it in the first place. I put myself out there despite being scared out of my mind to reveal my voice to my audience.

Most people abandoned the video after the first minute, but some watched the whole thing and even praised the video in the comments. Now, what can I do to have more people be interested in the whole thing?

I am off to apply the tips you and other users have preached here. I'll be away for a week.

 

[JordanK]

Normal 9-5 mindset: I have 'put in 8 hours work' I will be rewarded for my 'effort'.

Entrepreneur mindset: If it's valuable, the market will respond. If it's not valuable, the market will not respond. Pivot and try again.

 

[sparechange]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfWlot6h_JM&ab_channel=TaylorSwiftVEVO

 

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[Beebop27]

Dear Fastlane Members:

Recently, I spent 24 waking hours making an experimental video. It was my first attempt at voiceover and visual comedy. It was a painstaking process to splice together clips that matched with the audio tracks.

When was finally published, I was hit with utter disappointment. It didn't take off as I expected. Less than 3% of people clicked on the video and 85% of viewers abandoned the video after the first minute. With poor metrics like that, it had no chance of getting recommend. After looking at the analytics, it wasn't as great as I thought it would be.

I'll embrace the humility and admit that it was my ego dictating that it was going to be a hit. There is no need for a link to the video unless a member here asks for it. An atrocity like that isn't worth self-promoting

However, I ask seasoned members here. How do you shake off the opportunity cost of making a bad decision? The 24 waking hours could've been put into making safer videos that had a track record of being hits. It could've also been put towards fitness, well-being, and so on.

Granted, I could go to my psychologist or Google it, but I also find value in gathering insights from multiple users who have been in the field.

Regards,



New User

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dItl1tvYRA

 

[LightHouse]

Well @Steven Pham... those of us that have experience just go back in time and don't repeat the mistake....



How would you feel if the video worked?

You can't predict results, You made a good guess and it didn't work. You haven't failed, you've merely not succeeded to your own level of expectation.

So anyone with experience that knows this is a long game and doesnt expect to be a fortune teller, goes into the data and says...

What didn't work? Look at that minute mark... was it a bunch of lined up bad jokes, was there a long pause, did the visual not line well with the narration.... do people just not like this content... etc... then make another that more closely aligns.

This may all sound basic, but hearing it will help snap you out of the personal emotional attachment you have to your sunk cost/time. The more videos make, the more disassociated that feeling will become, so keep going and you won't feel as bad the next time either way, win or lose.

Good luck my dude.

 

[bracknelson]

Don't make things completely white or black, right or wrong, Life is like a Yin Yan of Taoism symbol. In the same way, your decisions are just a part of life long learning process, where you allow yourself to learn bt making lots of trial and errors and finally arriving at efficient action in that domain.

But without the former one, you can't reach the latter so put yourself as much as possible in challenges if you want to evolve yourself or to grow yourself from the level where you're right now.

Don't sweat over small things, things that you can't control if you can change it now.

 

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[LordGanon]

I accept the fact that most often in life, you make decisions based on imperfect information. And that's just normal.

When it comes to making those decisions in the first place, I learned to literally trust my guts. For some reason, my stomach and my intestines make far better decisions than my brain. Especially when it comes to people.

 

[WJK]

If you're not failing, you're not trying enough.

Failing is part of life. It's the other side of succeeding. Figure out what you learned and move on to your next project.

 

[Thinh]

Everybody's talking about embracing failure, but be careful @Steven Pham, don't take it all too seriously.
If you go after failure, you will find it.

I'd suggest a different approach: do things that you find exciting. Shoot a video for the thrill of creating something and sharing it, not because you hope it's going to be hit.
Then if it's a hit, great. If not, at least you had a blast.

 

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