Do Learn Refine II
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Do Learn Refine II
Go where no person has gone before.
The Do/Learn/Refine process is ever giving, as long as we are ever-practicing.
Do Learn Refine
Sometimes it's difficult to start something new. We envision what we want, but we are aware that we don’t have the skills or knowledge to create what we envision.
Sometimes we create something and call it done. Then we move on to create something else. We end up creating many things that never get refined.
In order to fulfill our creative desires, and create an environment of abundance, we need to avoid these two behaviors. To enjoy ever increasing success, we must adopt a process of ever increasing refinement.
The simplest process is Do, Learn, Refine.
Do
When we start something new, the goal is to get the ideas out of our head and into some sort of physical (or digital) form. This step is critical because it gives us something to work with. We don’t judge our work. We use it as a tool to learn.
Learn
Once we have something to work with, we'll encounter problems. This is a never ending process because life is dynamic. Baking brownies might not change much, but everything around it does. Encountering problems can lead to better equipment, improved processes, and better recipes.
It’s not just about encountering problems. We can also gain insight. We might learn that brownies are more popular around Christmas. Or maybe a new brownie recipe sold out much quicker than usual. Interesting. Now, how can I incorporate these insights into my brownie process?
Refine
Once we see the things that need to be improved, then we can start refining. We take the problems we encountered and the insights we gained, and apply them to our creative process.
Even simple things can be complicated. If we think about all the components of making brownies, it can be overwhelming. There are multitudes of recipes, multiple sources of ingredients, baking procedures, ovens, dishes, pans, and utensils, customer interactions, packaging, delivery, and more. There are infinite ways to combine and refine all of these components into a process of making brownies.
Repeat to Infinity
Over the years I have grown to have more faith in this process. In fact, the seed of this article started twenty years ago, when I first began to pursue a more creative life. And here I am twenty years later writing about this whole journey. It has been a continuous process of Do/Learn/Refine.
What Holds Us Back?
The secret to what moves us forward is to face what holds us back.
Risk
There is a risk in pushing the GO button. You don't want to learn how to drive in busy traffic. You should have an instructor, but you also need to get behind the wheel and drive. This is scary, but it’s an acceptable risk because you are in a safe environment with an instructor. Eventually, you will deal with more complex traffic situations, and gain more confidence along the way.
We sometimes make the risks way bigger than they are. What is the risk of pursuing our dreams and not having a clear plan yet? The answer is: start with an acceptable risk. The greatest risk is not starting.
So start now with an acceptable level of risk (do). Then learn, and refine.
A Greater Vision
When we think of our creative desires, we might just be focused on the things we create. That is natural. But a more powerful, productive, and sustainable approach is to have a greater vision. Asking ourselves key questions is how we find our greater vision.
How can what we create enrich our lives? And, how can it benefit others? For example, if you love baking, you can ask "How can baking enrich my life?" and "How can my baking benefit others?"
A greater vision is thinking beyond ourselves. Ultimately, abundance comes through rich and diverse interactions within a caring community.
Benefits of the Do/Learn/Refine Principle
There are many benefits of the Do/Learn/Refine principle.
Start simple.
Start sooner.
Learn by gaining feedback from those you serve.
Gain insight by going through the process multiple times.
Gain from previous work investment and apply lessons learned.
I discuss seven more valuable benefits in my third book, MASTER, coming December 2023.
Do/Learn/Refine 2.0
I don’t consider anything I do a final work. Everything is refinable!
On January 4, 2021, over two years ago, I published my first article Do/Learn/Refine on James on Success. (It wasn’t even called James on Success at the time. The re-branding (refining) came after “doing” and “learning.”) Since then I have published 112 articles, written four books, and have run various experiments along the way.
Today I have a much deeper understanding of the Do/Learn/Refine process. And in another two years, I will have an even deeper understanding. This process is ever-giving, as long as we are ever-practicing. It is the joy of a life of mastery.
Finally
To enjoy increasing success and a more fulfilling life, we can adopt the process of Do/Learn/Refine and apply it to building our dreams. This gives us a powerful reason to get up every day. Today is good. Tomorrow is even better.
To your success!
James Wilder
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