Winston Churchill once wrote:
“Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement; then it becomes a mistress, and then it becomes a master, and then a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster, and fling him out to the public.”
Tim and I have never written a book, yet we can sympathise with Winston when it comes to our Email Ninja e-Learning package. This project has been an obsession and a monster — that we are to soon unleash into the world!
Isn’t it funny how meaningful endeavours always require a bit of pain and struggle (think marriage, children, starting a business, building a team etc). Simple things come easily (and often fade fast), whereas great things are hard. They make a lasting impression and yet are only discovered on the other side of challenge.
At least, this has been our experience…
This monster e-learning project has been frustratingly slow, expensive to develop and personally challenging..
At times, both Tim and I have felt out of our depth (how on earth does one actually build an e-learning platform?) We’ve felt frustrated at having to sideline other stuff (like blog writing, which I love.) At points, the complexity has felt overwhelming (juggling IT development, marketing, graphics and filming contractors all at the same time.) Personally, we’ve also been forced to take a good look at ourselves and face feelings of self-doubt (can I really do this?), fear (will anyone actually want this thing?) and perseverance (we’re almost there!)
Yet as the dust settles and we tidy up the edges, Tim and I are incredibly thankful. Our e-Learning package is the most elegant, creative and practical project that we’ve ever undertaken. Sure, there’s been some challenges, but also great joy. It’s been an adventure to take a big risk and to jump into the unknown.
Life is too short to live safely. We value the new skills that we’ve learnt and feel stronger and more able to live with risk than ever before. And best of all, we have a beautiful baby monster to introduce into the world!
Thank you everyone for your encouragement, your ideas, your questions and your support. You make it all worthwhile.
You can check out our finished product here.
Tell us about your monster project? How has it challenged you for the better?