From Vision To Reality: Lessons Learned Creating My New Speaker Reel

Working on a new keynote speaker demo reel has been a challenging journey, filled with valuable lessons that have shaped not only the final product but also my approach to performance and leadership. As I navigated the complexities of capturing the essence of my message in a visually compelling way, I encountered numerous creative challenges and insights. Here are some key takeaways that emerged from this process we can all apply when trying to bring a vision to life:

Vision Includes Emotion I could feel how I wanted the video to look, but I struggled to articulate it visually or to my editor at times. I had to lean into the feeling until it could visually come to life. Part of this was asking myself, “How do I want others to think and feel when watching it?” This required a deep connection with my own emotions and a clear vision of the impact I wanted the video to have. Understanding the emotional journey I wanted to create was crucial in guiding the creative process.

Obsess Over the Details We spent over 100 hours trying to decide on the first 15 seconds of the video, with several different cuts. In the end, the decision I landed on came from “not trying” and using a simple 3-step process for creativity. This meticulous attention to detail was essential in setting the tone and capturing the audience's attention right from the start. It taught me the importance of patience and the value of refining every element until it felt just right (for now).

Take Breaks If you’re not sick of working on it, you probably are not working hard enough. I wanted to be done with this project multiple times before it was ready. I had to be aware of my body and mind and know when to take breaks. If I felt any stress or tension, it was a sign to hit the sauna, walk my dog, or do yoga. Your external work is a direct result of your internal state. Regular breaks allowed me to return to the project with fresh eyes and renewed energy, ultimately leading to better results.

Set Deadlines for Milestones Having psychological triggers can help you get out of analysis paralysis, put you into a flow state, and meet milestones. Setting specific deadlines for each stage of the project kept me accountable and focused. These milestones served as checkpoints, ensuring steady progress and preventing the overwhelming feeling of an endless project. It’s important to celebrate small victories along the way to maintain motivation.

Ask for Help, but Trust Your Intuition This requires being aware of how we are feeling, not just what we are thinking. A lot of strategy went into the video, but with certain sections, I had to tap into my feelings to make decisions. One of those was cutting out what 99% of speaker reels have—a stage intro with all my accolades. I wanted the work to stand alone as “enough.” Seeking feedback and collaboration was invaluable, but ultimately, trusting my intuition ensured the final product truly reflected my vision and authenticity.

It’s Not Permanent Unless you’re building a physical product (even then), nothing is really in its final form. There’s one section in the reel that I know is missing, but I had to accept that this video is not permanent. It’s going to be an iterative process. As long as I keep growing, so will the reel. Embracing this mindset allowed me to let go of perfectionism and focus on continuous improvement. Each version of the reel is a step in my journey, reflecting my evolving skills and insights.

Know It’ll Be a Rollercoaster I can’t tell you how many times I went from thinking, “This is going to be epic” to “I don’t know if this will ever get finished.” The creative process is full of highs and lows, and it’s easy to get discouraged. Recognizing that these emotional fluctuations are normal helped me stay resilient and persistent. Keeping the end goal in sight and reminding myself of the purpose behind the project kept me motivated during challenging times.

Drop the Attachment to the Outcome I’ve had to practice letting go of the hoped-for outcomes of this video. I did the work and now have to trust it will reach who it needs to reach. By focusing on the process rather than the end result, I was able to release the video with a bit more freedom.?