The Hierarchy of Engagement: Closing the Gap Between Good Taste and Great Work

The Hierarchy of Engagement: Closing the Gap Between Good Taste and Great Work

User engagement is the fuel that powers products, and understanding the hierarchy of engagement is crucial for success. This hierarchy consists of three levels: growing engaged users, retaining users, and achieving self-perpetuation. Each level builds upon the previous one, creating a pathway towards sustained success and growth.

When it comes to creativity, there is a quote by Ira Glass that perfectly captures the essence of the creative journey. Glass emphasizes that beginners often struggle with a gap between their taste and the quality of their work. As aspiring creators, we enter the world of creative work because we have good taste. However, in the initial stages, our work may not meet our own high standards. This can be discouraging, leading some individuals to quit before they can fully develop their skills.

But here's the thing: this struggle is completely normal. Most successful creatives have gone through years of producing work that falls short of their own expectations. The key to overcoming this phase is to keep pushing forward and producing a volume of work. By establishing deadlines and committing to finishing projects on a regular basis, we can gradually close the gap between our taste and our actual output.

Creativity is a journey of practice, repetition, and reinvention over time. It's about constantly improving and refining our work with each new attempt. As Ira Glass suggests, the job is not to simply "be creative," but rather to create. We must embrace the process of making things and continuously strive to make them better.

In 2017, at SXSW, Glass encapsulated this truth by saying, "Don't wait. Just make the thing. Make a version, and then make it better and then make it better." This mindset resonates deeply because it eliminates the pressure of perfection and instead focuses on progress. It reminds us that anyone can create something meaningful if they are willing to put in the effort.

To close the gap between our taste, intuition, and ambitions, and our current skill level, we need to build a substantial body of work. Our body of work is our true project, and through it, we can continuously refine our skills and bring our creative vision to life. It is through the act of creating, experimenting, and learning from our experiences that we can bridge the gap and produce work that aligns with our aspirations.

Here are three actionable pieces of advice to help you on your creative journey:

1. Embrace the imperfections: Understand that your early work may not meet your own standards. Embrace this phase as a necessary part of the creative process and keep pushing forward.

2. Establish a routine: Set deadlines for yourself and commit to completing projects regularly. This will help you build a volume of work and improve your skills over time.

3. Emphasize progress over perfection: Focus on continuous improvement rather than striving for perfection from the start. Each version of your work should be better than the last, and this iterative approach will lead to significant growth.

In conclusion, the hierarchy of engagement and the journey of creativity are interconnected. By understanding the process of closing the gap between our taste and our output, we can create a substantial body of work that resonates with our audience. Remember, the most important thing is to keep creating, learning, and improving. Keep pushing forward, and you will ultimately achieve greatness in your creative endeavors.