Love Mondays: Pros prototype

Hey there,
The main difference between pro and amateur creators: Amateurs expect everything to work.

So, the amateur leaves in their wake a trail of half-finished and failed projects.

The pro also leaves a trail of half-finished and failed projects, but by a different name. They’re called prototypes.

The amateur tries to film a new series. The pro puts together a “pilot.”
The amateur tries to mix a hit song. The pro records a “demo.”
The amateur tries to write a book. The pro writes a “first draft.”
The amateur tries to build fully-featured software. The pro ships version “alpha.”
The amateur tries to write a “tight five.” The pro goes to open mics and “works out material.”
The amateur puts their life savings into one idea. The pro adds an angel investment to their “portfolio.”

As a result, the amateur burns out, gets in over their head, or fails spectacularly. It will be a miracle if they get back up and dust off.

Meanwhile, the pro also quits or fails. But that outcome was always in the cards. The amateur tried to go on a date with destiny, the pro collected data.

Pros prototype.

Aphorism: “Sometimes I write drunk and revise sober...and sometimes I write sober and revise drunk. But you have to have both elements in creation." —Peter De Vries

Cool: Nuun makes electrolyte tablets without a bunch of sugar like most energy drinks.

Best,
David
P.S. Pros know when to finish what matters, and forget the rest.