The Cult of Done: My Journey to Becoming a Maker
#1about 3 minutes
A personal story of becoming a software maker
The speaker shares their journey of growth and finding identity as a software engineer by embracing the "maker" mindset.
#2about 2 minutes
Facing existential dread in a software career
A feeling of being lost and directionless in a software engineering career prompts a search for purpose beyond just writing code.
#3about 3 minutes
Discovering the true definition of a maker
Adam Savage's definition of a maker as anyone who creates something from nothing provides a powerful and inclusive starting point.
#4about 4 minutes
Using the Cult of Done manifesto as a guide
The Cult of Done's first principle—the three states of not knowing, action, and completion—provides a clear framework for any creative project.
#5about 1 minute
Letting go of perfection for "good enough"
By learning to "throw away" completed work, you can focus on iterative learning and avoid sacrificing good results in pursuit of an abstract ideal of perfection.
#6about 5 minutes
Reframing failure as a necessary part of creation
Treating failure and mistakes as valid forms of "done" is crucial for learning and removes the fear that paralyzes the creative process.
#7about 3 minutes
Why direct experience trumps outside opinions
Getting your hands dirty is the only way to truly learn, and protecting your early creative process from outside feedback is essential for developing your own voice.
#8about 2 minutes
How finishing projects creates powerful momentum
The principle "done is the engine of more" highlights how completing projects, no matter how small, builds compounding experience and motivation for future work.
#9about 2 minutes
The final lesson is you are not your output
The most critical realization is to separate your identity from your work, which allows for creative freedom and protects your sense of self.
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