Projects
Roundabout this time last year, I started a couple of new website projects. The idea was to do something different to Contains Moderate Peril and write about other subjects. One was about UK politics and the other was about a Panda watching films and TV and making wry comments. I like to cast a wide net. I also wanted to take the opportunity to develop some new skills. It was certainly interesting creating two websites from scratch, using such diverse tools as Wix and Blot. The former provides the means to construct a very modern website with all the latest features. The latter is quite the opposite, providing a lean and minimalist service. Twelve months later, both projects have proven very useful and I have a better understanding of what is required to maintain an online presence in 2024. As they have now served their purpose, both sites are now offline.
I like to learn new skills. In the last two decades, several that were previously considered niche markets and specialised, have become far more accessible and commonplace. Audio and video production is something that millions of people do on a daily basis on social media, be it on their phones or via a desktop PC. It’s a spectrum of complexity with simple montage videos on Instagram at one end and professional quality edited documentaries on YouTube at the other. These skills are no longer gated behind formal studies or “closed shop” institutions. Anyone can learn them. I have some experience in producing a podcast and have recently decided to explore video production. I have set myself the goal of learning to film, edit and produce a video of acceptable quality. If that can be achieved efficiently and without bloodshed, then I may consider its broader application.
Over the years, I have learned some simple and practical rules that I follow when embarking on a new project. Some of which I found out the hard way. They can be applied to relatively simple undertakings such as starting a blog, to more complex and expensive endeavours such as establishing a YouTube channel.
Set realistic expectations: It will take time to learn a new skill and be able to apply it. Don’t expect to be instantly good at it. It’s something you’d explain to a child but so many adults still make this mistake.
Do your research: The internet makes researching a subject a lot easier than it used to be. Guides and FAQs are abundant. However, don’t allow yourself to be sidetracked by excessive research and don’t allow yourself to be paralysed by choice.
Don’t spend any money until you need to: Don’t buy the tools for a job until you’re sure that you want to do it. If, for example, you want to try blogging, then use a free account and see if it is a viable hobby before buying a domain.
Stand on the shoulders of giants: There are numerous guides available online that can help you achieve your goal. You don’t always need a complex bespoke solution. Follow an established methodology if it produces the results you want.
Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good: It is okay to have a few rough edges. Sometimes the quirks and foibles add character. Slavishly seeking perfection means you’ll never complete your project.
Projects are a learning process. It is therefore important to remember that if it doesn’t yield the results that you are anticipating, then it is fine to end it. It is also realistic to acknowledge that some skills may elude you. You may not be able to learn them for a wealth of reasons and if that is the case, it is wise to strategically withdraw rather than torment yourself by beating your head on a brick wall. Another thing to consider when embarking upon a personal project is that you get to set the deadline and all relevant metrics. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Don’t set yourself up to fail by impractical criteria. I intend to enjoy my latest project and am therefore approaching it in a leisurely fashion. If I work within the parameters I’ve set and follow my five rules, I think I should quickly determine whether or not I will succeed or not. That being said, I am optimistic of a favourable outcome.
