On not apologizing for beta.
It’s Friday. Time for the occasional round-up of the week’s Lessons Learned.
It happens every time.
Early on, I didn’t understand it at all. But now, when it shows up, I recognize it for what it is.
Maybe someday soon, I’ll learn to anticipate it. You know, plan for it with a supportive system.
But, for now, I’m happy just to have nipped it in the proverbial bud.
Every single time I’m about two-thirds of the way through teaching something new, I discover the two dozen things that would make it way better next time.
Which is great for next time.
And I know that without trying things out, I would never discover what would make them better. I know this is how the process works.
The only problem is, all that information just leaves me feeling like I’ve shortchanged my beta students.
Which I haven’t. Just because something could be more awesome doesn’t make the current version less-than-awesome.
What I’m feeling is not what they are experiencing.
And for the first time ever, I remembered that sooner rather than later and didn’t let my unnecessarily guilty conscience paralyze me or go too crazy with the making-up-for-it.
This time, I’m putting my energy into version 1.1, instead of apologizing for 1.0.
And to this recovering perfectionist, that feels like huge progress.
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What did you learn this week?
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657 days ago,
Maribeth said:
As a graduate of a couple of your classes, I can confirm, without a doubt, that you and your classes are awesome. So you had better not apologize for beta because – well – a bunch of us would have pay you a visit and whoop some ass ;)
You are an amazing woman Cairene, and I am always learning from you – so a huge thank you from this beta girl.
.-= Maribeth´s last blog ..Disastrous Bra Shopping or Not =-.
657 days ago,
Patty K said:
Your timing is amazing. I just delivered version 1.0 of a presentation and had the same thoughts. Ideas to make it better. Parts I want to reorganize or remove altogether. Awkward transitions I want to smooth.
And the feeling of short-changing my “practice” audience.
Thank you for the perspective of seeing things through the audience’s eyes.
.-= Patty K´s last blog ..My first video =-.
657 days ago,
Cairene said:
@Maribeth –
Aw, thanks from the bottom of my grateful heart. It feels really good to be affirmed in such a loving whoop ass kind of way.
oxo C
657 days ago,
Cairene said:
@Patty K
Aha – so I’m not alone. Thank goodness.
I’ve no doubt you were awesome (wearing pajamas or not – I always picture you presenting in PJs now…). And I’ve no doubt it will be even better next time. And that both audiences will have loved it.
Cheers to beta!
oxo C