The Five Steps Process to Continuously Improve OneSelf as a Creator
Embarking on a Self-Productization Journey
Embarking on a
Self-Productization Journey
As a creator, have you ever adopted a solution right away to tackle a problem? Did you assess if it aligns with your needs?
Have you ever done the same in your life? Did you decide to use a solution found on youtube to enhance your productivity? And, without questioning if it will fit you?
It happened to me throughout my career and is a demon I am still fighting today. My natural inclination is to fix things and solve problems.
While beneficial in certain situations, this trait can be the worst practical approach. Even more, if you are a leader. The immediate impulse to find a solution might not yield the best result. These old habits resurface while working on my brand, book, and product creation.
Navigating unfamiliar territories triggers me. I want to find the best ways to be more productive and efficient. I want to do the right thing and better organise myself.
After some time, I was full of frustration. I find myself resorting to tools that add to my frustration. It culminates by burning down to the ground everything and starting from scratch. These conflicts propelled me on an unexpected journey.
I began a personal odyssey of self-improvement. I explored ways to enhance my career as a Product Creator, my roles, the teams I managed, and even my personal life.
The two tools in “Part I — Harnessing the Power of Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence to Productize Oneself” marked the beginning of this transformative journey. With these tools as a foundation, I needed a systematic approach to build upon it. Being process-oriented, I harnessed this inclination to devise a 5-step process.
The Process to Re-Design Our Life
Throughout many interactions with users and colleagues, I’ve realised people like to complain. (me included). We want to change our situation. It is a natural human response, after all.
Yet, as a leader, I could do nothing in those situations. It took me a while to discern it, though.
It highlighted that my habitual impulse to resolve problems may not be the best. It could lead to implementing a solution, within a product, for instance, that may be useless.
The same happens in my life. A situation frustrates me, and I try to find a solution to solve it right now. The main issue with that pattern is that the real problem differs from the first thought.
The five steps process follows a sequence helping me determine what action comes next. It is also a virtuous circle. The more I go through it, the better my life becomes. It became a second nature. Same as the hero’s journey.
Step 1 — Audit the current situation
My first years were in consulting, and I still draw the best practices I accumulated from those years.
This brings us to the first step in our journey: auditing the current situation.
The initial task is to audit the existing situation. It demands to be thorough and honest. It requires altering our behaviours. It will also help us gain different perspectives on the circumstances we put ourselves in.
The aim is to remove blind spots and have a complete context picture. During this step, I prompt myself with the following questions:
What does my current routine look like?
What are my sources of frustration?
Why do I have those frustrations?
This first step’s foundation is transparency, objectivity, and self-awareness. The outcome is a clear snapshot of our starting point.
Step 2 — Identify the Problem #1
Once you have clarity on the situation, the detective work begins. What is the main problem you’re attempting to solve?
It could range from anything like:
Being a better PM or writer;
Balancing travel with career growth;
Creating a capsule wardrobe that can adapt to any occasion;
Incorporating more personal training or hobbies into your life;
Discovering a more straightforward method to manage time without disruptions.
My problem was acknowledging the discrepancy between my current and desired state.
For example, how could I perform better in delegation and content creation? Identifying these problems helped shed light on the areas that needed improvement.
Acknowledging the problem is the first step towards a viable solution.
Step 3 — Imagine the Dream Experience
Once we’ve identified the problem, it’s time to let our imaginations run wild. The third step involves conceptualising an ideal state of affairs. Here are the rules:
They are no limitations;
It is a world free of frustrations;
We are feeling inspired and fulfilled.
I refer to this as the Dream Experience or the Zero Frustration Experience.
For example, the desk I am working on must change based on the situation or type of work. I worked on the lights and the location of my accessories. I added figurines to make it more playful. I wanted something that brought me to a different universe.
The goal here is to liberate our creative instincts. We must cast aside self-imposed limitations and envision our ideal journey.
What habits would we need to cultivate? What would an improved version of ourselves look, act, and feel like?
Step 4 — Expand the horizon
Once we have identified our dream, we can bridge the gap between our current and ideal state.
But how can we achieve this?
The answer might take some work. It requires us to raise hypotheses, conduct research and engage in discussions. We have to observe our surroundings and explore unconventional directions.
The solutions to our dream experiences might be outside our field of expertise. My leadership tools originate from an individual managing a shoe eCommerce company. A photography brand inspired my digital nomad travel gear. The equipment on my desk is usually a gamer’ or streamer’s setup.
Acknowledging this and broadening our search, venturing into unexplored territories is critical.
Innovation comes from being open-minded.
Step 5 — Take the next step & Experiment
The final step involves taking that crucial first step towards our goal. No plan is required nor measurable objectives.
Yet, it demands patience, an inclination to experiment, commitment, and tracking progress.
This meant trying many lighting setups to create an energising work environment.
I searched for the perfect bag to transport my gear for over two months.
I visited many stores to find clothing that aligned with my minimalist style.
My product leadership style took me almost a decade to master.
Simplicity and Agility are key.
Final thoughts
There’s an inherent beauty in seeing oneself as a product. There is an infinite potential for continuous improvement and enhancement.
The five-step process I’ve outlined here has proven a powerful tool in my journey towards self-productization.
My 5-Step Design System has its roots in my experiences as a consultant, creator and Product Manager.
What’s exciting is I applied these five steps to change, optimise or create a new product or feature. I used it to introduce a new way of working with your team or even revamp my workspace. The journey is ongoing, and I continue learning and growing each day.
Remember, every journey commences with a single step.
What will be yours?
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