#115 - Stop Treating Your Website Like Your Magnum Opus

WEBVTT
00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:02.720
Hey and welcome to Patent Shift.
00:00:02.799 --> 00:00:12.080
I'm Saskia, creative life and business coach for fiber-loving makers, teachers, designers, shop owners, and all-around creatives.
00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:19.359
I help you wayfind your next step, organize your business to fit your life, and launch ideas with joyful action.
00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:28.239
Together we'll untangle the tricky bits like branding, marketing and sales, and build something sustainable, soulful, and truly you.
00:00:30.079 --> 00:00:34.719
Hi and welcome to the Pattern Shift Podcast, or welcome back, even better.
00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:50.399
My name is Saskia and I'm coming from Rotterdam in the Netherlands talking to you today about momentum, basically, and how your standards are keeping you from moving forward.
00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:55.679
So uh let's start with what brought up this idea.
00:00:55.840 --> 00:01:03.679
I was just talking to a client, someone I coach, and she wants to put herself out there more.
00:01:03.840 --> 00:01:07.519
And so we're working on building a website for her.
00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:14.719
And I'm not necessarily building it for her, I'm helping her to go through the process of building a website.
00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:42.480
And what comes up a lot is that the deadline, how much time you have to do this and how big this project could become potentially, and how utterly sometimes debilitating it is to even get started, because you can see all the possibilities and all the things you could make or do, and then that becomes a huge struggle.
00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:54.319
So I'm not saying that this particular client was talking about all these difficulties, but these are things that I talk to people about, things that happen and that slow us down.
00:01:55.120 --> 00:02:04.079
So I thought it was a good time to really hone in on this topic of the time you have available to do these things.
00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:11.919
As small creative businesses, we want to do all the things ourselves.
00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:17.199
And sometimes we need to do all the things ourselves because we don't have the budget.
00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:23.680
And then it's about making a decision of where do you want to put your energy towards?
00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:28.639
The budget of time, not only the budget of money, both of that.
00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:41.360
So this particular client I worked with before, and at the end of our last sessions, she was thinking to set the deadline for a new website in the next year.
00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:52.479
And then today, when we had our first session, particularly focused on doing some more practical work rather than just coaching around some struggles and feelings.
00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:54.879
We were focusing on the practical more.
00:02:55.120 --> 00:03:02.000
In this first session, she realized that wait, that sounds way too far away next year.
00:03:02.319 --> 00:03:08.639
I want and need this website sooner, and I actually think I can do it.
00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:18.479
And that has to do with a lot of work around what is good enough, and not even what is good enough.
00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:24.479
That sounds like it's a version that is suboptable.
00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:37.680
It's not that, it's not about good enough, it's about understanding that a certain version of a website is great, and it doesn't need to be more.
00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:44.479
It actually could be better when it's more simple and when it's done faster.
00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:45.840
Let's talk about it.
00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:48.080
So sometimes we're stuck.
00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:54.639
We want to start this big project, and I'm using the example of a website, but it could be anything.
00:03:54.960 --> 00:04:16.160
We feel like we have ideas and they're in our heads, and we see other people's websites, and this is what we strive to be or to become or to come across as or look like, and it's this huge big idea or ideal.
00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:29.120
That's interesting that the word idea and ideal are so close together, but that's maybe for another time, and that keeps us stuck although we think we're moving.
00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:41.199
So every time we think that we're ready to get started, the ready gets bigger and it gets like it's not good enough.
00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:43.839
It needs to be more perfect than this.
00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:53.680
And of course, perfectionism steps in here, it's something that is just not getting us anywhere.
00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:57.759
But we're not being lazy for not getting started.
00:04:58.319 --> 00:05:14.160
We are having the possibility, the possibilities of all that it could be in our heads, and we just see all the ways that it can get better, and so it never feels like it's done enough.
00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:19.040
The idea is never done enough to actually start building.
00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:51.759
And when we do start building, separate parts of the bigger project get that same treatment where you think, okay, this is the homepage, but wait, now I see this other home page or this other imagery that really speaks to me, and now I want this, and then we get stuck again, and so nothing really launches, nothing really grows, nothing really gets momentum and keeps going and keeps moving.
00:05:52.000 --> 00:06:02.079
It's a start and stop situation, and the preparation and overthinking becomes the same thing, and that's blocking us.
00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:11.120
We're overthinking what we could potentially build instead of actually building something.
00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:15.199
So now let me talk about Parkinson's law.
00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:22.480
Work expands to fill the time available, and this was coined by C.
00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:26.959
Northcote Parkinson in 1955, if you want to know.
00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:29.920
So work expands to fill the time available.
00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:37.680
That means that the amount of time that you allow yourself to do something is the amount of time it will take to do something.
00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:44.160
So if you say, I have a full year of building a website, it'll probably take you that full year.
00:06:44.319 --> 00:06:46.480
And you won't be working at it the full year.
00:06:46.639 --> 00:06:54.560
You probably start working at the last minute or just dragging those thoughts along with you through the year.
00:06:54.879 --> 00:07:00.079
And if you have the deadline at the end of the year, you work towards that deadline.
00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:07.360
But if you give yourself, I need to have a website done in two weeks, you're able to do it in two weeks.
00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:11.519
Heck, I even build a website in eight hours one day.
00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:13.759
So I know what I'm talking about.
00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:15.759
This is actually a really interesting story.
00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:21.199
We should I should add a little tune here.
00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:22.160
Probably not.
00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:23.600
I don't have time for a tune.
00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:25.519
Anyway, side story.
00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:29.439
So I was looking for what was it?
00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:32.000
A pedicure, I think, years ago.
00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:39.360
And I was looking for someone who could provide me with a service that was not too far away from where I live.
00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:50.240
And also I used animal-friendly products, environmentally friendly products, people-friendly products, that kind of thing.
00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:53.759
And it was really hard to find that person.
00:07:54.399 --> 00:08:01.839
And when I did, I landed on a website that particularly stated that she used those kinds of products.
00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:11.439
And I was really happy about that because I found the person I was looking for, but her website was what should I say?
00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:13.279
Not up to date.
00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:15.920
And I felt like I could help her.
00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:26.480
And without asking, I basically took all the information from her website, I copy-pasted the text, and I build her a new website.
00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:29.439
And it was just not really meant for her.
00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:33.360
It was just uh a joyful thing for me to do, believe it or not.
00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:43.759
I really enjoyed doing that, and I gave myself a day to do it because I understood I have other things to do, but it this was also gonna be something that I could learn from.
00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:48.240
And within the eight hours, uh I built her a new website.
00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:53.679
And when I set a date, I showed her, but she was like freaked out or something.
00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:54.720
She was like, What?
00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:57.279
I she didn't really say anything.
00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:00.159
I tried to explain her that this is something I like to do.
00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:05.840
It's like making a sketch or something, it's drawing someone in public who didn't give their permission.
00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:09.519
I know how that sounds, but so she never did anything with it.
00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:13.039
I offered her the design for nothing for free.
00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:17.440
The only thing she had to do was like switch platforms because she was using another platform.
00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:41.679
And that she gave me, she did give me some feedback and saying that she didn't want to pay more than she was paying now, and that was definitely the reason why the website looked as it looked, because you do have to spend something, like some type of budget, whether that be money or loads of time, to get something that you can stand behind.
00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:43.360
Is that literally Dutch?
00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:45.919
Something that you can that's good enough for you.
00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:47.759
I don't want to use the word good enough.
00:09:47.840 --> 00:09:48.639
That's the thing.
00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:50.320
Anyway, let's move on.
00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:57.279
The point is that if you want to, you can make a website that is good in eight hours.
00:09:57.600 --> 00:10:00.720
Because the question is, what do you want to communicate?
00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:02.879
Who do you want to communicate it to?
00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:14.000
And if you're not a fully starting a new business, then you already know who you are and what you do, who you want to speak to, and that is part of the work, of course.
00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:19.679
So I would have to say this is doable if you already have a business.
00:10:19.840 --> 00:10:30.879
If you are starting a business, then there's work to do around who is your what's your product or your service and who you are talking to and all the things with branding and stuff.
00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:34.399
I do have to give you that information as well.
00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:49.519
Still, if you give yourself six months to build a website, it takes six months and it would be as much done as you would give yourself a weekend or similar.
00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:52.080
I hope you get my point.
00:10:53.440 --> 00:11:01.679
So she basically chose my client is not getting a deadline from anyone, she's giving herself a deadline.
00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:13.120
She gave herself a deadline for a year at first, and while we were talking, she realized that she didn't need a year, and so she chose a new deadline, and that's what you can do.
00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:16.000
You can choose the deadline and work towards that.
00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:20.080
So to take action, you need clarity.
00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:25.679
You cannot think your way to be ready to start.
00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:30.480
The first version is a foundation, is your baseline.
00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:37.360
Your first vet version of your website or your big project is just the first version.
00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:41.840
And perhaps here we do get to talk about good enough.
00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:48.320
Just clarifying that good enough is not bad, it is literally good enough.
00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:52.639
And then you can hang the decorations later.
00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:58.559
So you have you have this space that has everything you need in it.
00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:05.919
There's heating, there's a place to sleep, there's a fridge, but there isn't any wallpaper yet.
00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:18.480
Fine, the wallpaper can come later, the basics are there, and perhaps wallpaper is not the greatest example because I feel you thinking, but I need I need wallpaper, I need pictures, I need a vibe.
00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:20.960
So maybe there's some wallpaper.
00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:37.759
So if you have a website that exists and that can lead people towards you, show them who you are, what you do, and give them information to get connected to you, that is already literally worth money.
00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:46.080
Because if people can find you and you can get their business, that's more than if you don't have the website.
00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:49.679
So that is as simple as it gets.
00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:52.639
If it's not live, it's not helping you.
00:12:52.879 --> 00:13:00.799
The first version is not a compromise, it's the only way that the next version ever will happen.
00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:14.159
And if you leave the first version and not share it with the world until you get to the second version, that could take ages, and that's so much lost opportunity there.
00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:26.399
So the real work is in deciding what are the basics, what is the baseline for the things that are needed, and write down what that is.
00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:32.960
What do people need to know about you to be able to work with you?
00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:34.240
That's it.
00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:35.440
That's it.
00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:41.679
Let's say you're an uh an artist and you have work you want to sell.
00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:46.480
The basic version of that is showing who you are.
00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:52.559
Never forget that I think that's probably one of the most important things.
00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:56.879
Showing who you are, what you have to offer, and how they can contact you.
00:13:57.120 --> 00:14:04.559
And the simplest way to do that is a picture of yourself, a picture of your work, and your email.
00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:06.799
That's the simplest way.
00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:11.919
And that is already almost like a done website in a way.
00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:15.360
Remember that a picture towels a thousand words.
00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:24.080
So if you struggle finding the words to explain the things that you do, which is I I understand it's not easy to do.
00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:26.480
Sometimes it's just showing the work.
00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:29.200
And then you can expand on that.
00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:31.279
That can become a portfolio.
00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:39.039
You can even work backwards, show the last thing you did, and then every day add something to the portfolio.
00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:45.440
If you feel like that is such an overwhelming thing, and the same goes for a web shop.
00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:56.559
If you have uh a brick and mortar shop and you want to start a web shop, why not start brand by brand or subject by subject?
00:14:56.799 --> 00:15:03.679
So if you sell yarns and tools, start with the yarns, do the tool next tools next.
00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:06.399
But decide what's the baseline.
00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:10.559
Perhaps what is your most sold item in your shop?
00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:18.320
Make sure that the first baseline of your website has that uh has that product on it.
00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:26.960
The thing is that you need to start taking small steps, the smallest steps that you can think about.
00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:31.120
If you don't take action, nothing is going to happen.
00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:37.440
If it all stays in your head, then it all stays in your head.
00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:40.159
It sounds super simple and it is really simple.
00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:55.039
So the first thing that you could do is, for example, look at two or three, two or three different web shop platforms or website platforms, and don't automatically go with the cheapest version.
00:15:55.279 --> 00:16:09.440
The amount of people I talk to that struggle with their website is because it's unworkable, it's not people-friendly, it has a really bad user experience, and it's cheap.
00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:15.039
So better pay for more so it makes it easier for you to work with.
00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:23.519
Or perhaps you should invest in someone to help you with it and let someone do the work for you.
00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:32.399
Sometimes you have to really realize that the hours that you spend on something are also paid hours.
00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:47.840
You're not paying yourself, but you're pulling yourself away from your core business by doing stuff that someone else could do, and you're not growing your business if you are doing everything yourself.
00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:57.519
And so sometimes it's really good to think about these things and to while I'm talking, I'm just realizing that this client is probably listening.
00:16:57.679 --> 00:16:59.679
If you're listening, you know who you are.
00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:09.359
I'm using your your case as an example, but I'm also adding things to it, of course, because from my experience.
00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:12.079
And now I lost my train of thought.
00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:19.599
So yeah, these small steps are important, and I'm talking tiny steps.
00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:29.359
Momentum literally means once something gets moving, it can accelerate and it can keep moving.
00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:35.359
It's not a start-stop situation if you do a little small step every day.
00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:42.960
And I would say do it every day for some period of time and make the action steps really small.
00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:52.480
And what I mean by really small, tiny tiny is, for example, opening uh a website to research the price of something.
00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:57.920
Perhaps it's looking up the best picture that you have of yourself.
00:17:58.319 --> 00:18:07.119
Perhaps it's taking a page in your journal and writing about whether or not you're gonna have your picture taken by a photographer.
00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:10.960
Depending on what you do, that might be important.
00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:15.440
Sometimes just a selfie is good enough.
00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:20.799
Sometimes you want to have a photo shoot with a professional photographer.
00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:27.759
Thinking about these things, things is important, yes, but it doesn't need to take ages and ages.
00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:39.200
You can also just start with the selfie and open up the website, get the website out there, and then later on do a photo shoot if you feel like that's important.
00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:41.519
That's the thing with business.
00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:44.640
If it doesn't exist, it's not going to help your business.
00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:53.200
So not existing versus a good enough version versus the perfect version in a business situation, go with good enough.
00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:54.400
You need to get going.
00:18:54.640 --> 00:19:00.000
In your journal, you could think of small steps that you need to take to get where you need to be.
00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:03.920
And then if you have the small steps, try to make them even smaller.
00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:13.039
Because for me, sometimes I just don't have the energy or I have a certain type of brain space for something.
00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:14.960
And this was so clever.
00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:23.440
This client told me that without saying too much, of course, about about them, but you have different states of mind, right?
00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:29.680
Sometimes you are in your creative state, and sometimes you're in your you kind of want to do something practical.
00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:46.240
So if you have the option of choosing between doing something creative or practical, and they're both small, then you can just feel into what feels right for you in that day and just to keep that thing going, keep it going, keep it growing.
00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:47.039
All right.
00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:52.480
I want to end with this thing that could be really helpful without selling you something.
00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:54.720
I'm not gonna earn anything from this.
00:19:55.039 --> 00:20:00.319
But as an example, I've had a Shopify website for forever.
00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:02.480
Yeah, for a long time.
00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:06.960
And I really love working with it.
00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:13.440
I know that I can do more that I'm doing, but I don't need to be doing more that I'm doing with it.
00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:16.799
So I don't get overwhelmed by all the options.
00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:28.319
You simply choose a template, you perhaps change some colors, you add in some photos, and it's a really playful way of designing something.
00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:30.480
It's easy to do, I think.
00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:37.359
And if it doesn't feel easy, then at some point after trying, perhaps you can get some help.
00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:47.359
But the great thing that they offer is they have this three months for three euros.
00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:52.319
So it's one euro a month or one dollar, like something along those lines.
00:20:52.640 --> 00:21:02.000
And you have three months to build this website for almost no money, like really almost no money.
00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:04.960
And this trial period could be your deadline.
00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:08.880
If you need to have somebody give you a deadline, there it is.
00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:10.799
Some people work better that way.
00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:17.039
They can get things done where they have to do it in a certain time, and that's what we're talking about.
00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:25.839
So if you don't know how much time to give yourself, like eight hours in a day or a year, maybe those three months is perfect.
00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:33.920
It's something that is really tangible, and it actually something ends after three months.
00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:40.400
So you build what you can actually finish in that time and you then launch it before that period turns out.
00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:47.759
Again, it's not sponsored, I just use it myself, and I don't have any affiliate links or anything.
00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:50.160
I probably should work on that.
00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:53.279
But yeah, that's how I use this podcast.
00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:58.640
My podcast is I make advertisements for my coaching.
00:21:58.960 --> 00:22:04.319
I don't work with other people or other products to earn money.
00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:06.240
This is what I do.
00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:16.319
So if you want to work with me around these kinds of things, around setting up your new website or building a brand, I do this.
00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:18.799
I can do this in different ways.
00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:30.640
We can do coaching that goes more into what's stuck, we can do the practical steps where I just go with you through the whole process and make sure that it gets done.
00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:39.920
There's I'm there to hold your hand, I can hold you accountable, I can give you all my insights and my experience and everything in between.
00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:43.119
Let me know if you need some help around this.
00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:47.119
You find all the information on patentshift.fm.
00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:51.039
And I hope you really take too hard what I said.
00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:53.440
Small steps, small, small steps.
00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:55.200
Do something every day.
00:22:55.440 --> 00:23:02.319
Give yourself a deadline that is not too wide so that you cannot start to overthink things.
00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:05.680
The first version is not the last version.
00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:14.799
The first version is there for people to find you so that you can start to make uh a living, actually.
00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:16.480
And that's the point, isn't it?
00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:17.599
It's not the point.
00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:22.720
Your website is not your what's the word, magnum opus.
00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:24.160
It's not your life's work.
00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:30.799
It's just a way for people to get in touch with you and you can build it as you grow.
00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:32.880
Yeah, that's it for today.
00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:37.599
I'm off to the hairdresser because I need some more color on my hair.
00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:41.759
I guess that's my version 2.0, growing as we go.
00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:47.359
See you next time on YouTube, and you can hear me on the podcast platforms anywhere.
00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:53.519
Share this podcast with someone you know that you think could benefit from some insights.
00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:58.799
And also, if they need a coach, and if you need a coach as well, let me know.
00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.680
Bye.