I’ve been helping to edit a video over the last few weeks. No, I’m not about to start offering freelance video editing services anytime soon. 😬 This is a personal project.
And, well, the project has been causing me to internally scream in frustration going painfully. :’)
While my video editing skills are decent, I have super high standards for any work I do, and I feel my video doesn’t meet them.
Which is why, quickly into the project, I remembered a certain video I hadn’t thought of in ages. I first came across it 10 years ago, and it features an inspirational quote from Ira Glass that I’ll never forget.
Here’s the video:
In case you prefer not to watch the video, I tried to excerpt the quote for this newsletter, but I think it deserves to be quoted in full.
“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me.
All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap.
For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you.
A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know it’s normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work.
Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met.
It’s gonna take a while. It’s normal to take a while. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”
“There is this gap.”
Glass’ quote motivates me because it helps me recognise my frustration stems from knowing my work can be better than it is now.
Not only that: it reassures me that my work can get better. And it encourages me to keep pushing.
So, that’s what I’ll do.
I’ll keep trying to close the gap. I’ll check out more online tutorials and keep experimenting with different tools.
The learning process might be painful. But with enough effort, I’ll get to where I want to be.
Likewise if you feel you aren’t good enough at your craft—regardless of whether it’s a service you offer to clients or something you do for fun, and/or whether you’re still a beginner or have some expertise (but still not enough).
I hope this quote will inspire you, too.
More freelancer news
Time to get into AI?
In a recent Yahoo Finance interview, Upwork CEO Hayden Brown shared that freelancers who have “relevant and credible” AI skills are earning a 40% premium (presumably on the Upwork freelancing platform).
In particular, AI apps and integration-related services are in high demand. Brown also lets on that AI has made projects more complex, leading to clients spending more.
Given her background, Brown’s sharing might be Upwork-centric. But I wouldn’t immediately write off Upwork as a source of jobs, especially if you’re starting out. Her insights might also be a reflection of a broader trend that’s worth exploring.
Watch the full video interview here (it’s only 2 minutes).
This post was first published in my email newsletter on 4 Dec 2025. If you liked it, sign up for my newsletter here:
