Done and Done: Unpacking the 'Cult of Done' Manifesto

A personal exploration into the power of action over perfection.

I'm in the midst of a career pivot towards Machine Learning and AI—a leap from my non-technical past. There are moments of doubt, hesitation, and plain old overthinking. But a few nights ago, an unexpected source of clarity emerged: “The Cult of Done Manifesto.” It struck a chord. Here's why I think it might resonate with you too.

Origins

The “Cult of Done Manifesto” isn't just a list of principles—it's a snapshot of a moment in time for its creator, Bre Pettis. In his words:

The Cult of Done Manifesto is a special document. Written from bed with Kio Stark in our first few months of dating. It was one of those magic writing moments where I had the laptop open and our ideas flew onto the page. For me, it is a map of my 2009 heart. Getting it on paper was a cathartic documentation of my life, my soul, and my passion for unbridled creativity.

Now, let’s dive into what makes this manifesto so impactful.

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The Cult of Done Manifesto

There are three states of being. Not knowing, action and completion.

Ever heard, “the more you fuck around, the more you find out”? It means if you're lost or uncertain, just dive in. Act on it. Lessons and takeaways come once you’re done. This cycle keeps repeating.

Accept that everything is a draft. It helps to get it done.

Seeing all work as a draft has been a game-changer for me. It takes the pressure off, urging me not to be too precious. Big ideas? They all started as drafts—be it demos, prototypes, or mere sketches.

There is no editing stage.

Think about it: If you've got just one shot, you'll give it your all. If you've only got 30 minutes for a song, you'll pour everything into that half hour. Editing? Vital. But endlessly tweaking? That's a trap. Quality, in my book, stems from consistent effort, not endless polishing.

Pretending you know what you’re doing is almost the same as knowing what you are doing, so just accept that you know what you’re doing even if you don’t and do it.

It's like the “fake it till you make it” mantra. Early in my music career, I was clueless. But I played the part of a pro musician—acting organized and intentional. And guess what? People took me seriously. Practice something long enough, and you become it.

Banish procrastination. If you wait more than a week to get an idea done, abandon it.

I call it the "creative energy" test. If I'm hyped about an idea, I act swiftly, or at least jot it down. Ideas that linger too long without action? I bench them, maybe to revisit later. If they don't pan out, I drop them and move on.

The point of being done is not to finish but to get other things done.

It’s like the “string of pearls” theory. Think of tasks as pearls. String one, then the next, and the next. Before you know it, you've got a necklace. One task at a time, moving swiftly from one to another.

Once you’re done you can throw it away.

That's right. Either move on to the next idea or refine what you've completed in a fresh iteration.

Laugh at perfection. It’s boring and keeps you from being done.

My mantra? “Progress over perfection.” I aim for "good enough" because once it's decent, it's done. Then, I’m free to chase other pursuits.

People without dirty hands are wrong. Doing something makes you right.

If the critics aren't in the trenches with you, their feedback's void. Those of us in the thick of it know the real deal.

Failure counts as done. So do mistakes.

Here’s the catch: If you don't take risks, you won’t know how to up your game next round. Like Rihanna says, “never a failure, always a lesson.” And the more you fail, the more you learn.

Destruction is a variant of done.

Dismantling, tearing apart, deleting—it's all part of the process.

If you have an idea and publish it on the internet, that counts as a ghost of done.

My friend Bas Grasmayer once shared a gem: If you're not going to chase an idea, why hoard it? Share it, and let others build upon it. That’s its own kind of completion.

Done is the engine of more.

Wrapping things up is a momentum builder. It's addictive. Finish one thing, and you clear space for the next exciting venture.

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In the ever-evolving journey of personal and professional growth, embracing a mindset that values action over hesitation can be transformative. The "Cult of Done Manifesto" isn't just a set of principles—it's a challenge, an invitation. I encourage you to lean into its ethos, to make "done" your mantra, and to experience the liberating power of action. Give it a shot, and let the momentum carry you forward. Done and done.

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If you’re on the same tip as me and also want to dive into ML/AI, i’ve gathered beginner resources on my github here. Hope it’s useful!