I just spent the last twenty minutes recording myself while I crocheted. The lighting wasn’t great, and the angle wasn’t the best. Nonetheless, I persisted. I’m trying to learn about voiceovers in videos. I didn’t worry about the sound in the video because I plan to strip the original sound and replace it with a recorded voiceover instead. It’s what my father would call “O.J.T.” or “on the job training.” It’s a phrase I grew up knowing.
Do you want to learn to cook? O.J.T. Do you need to use a drill press or jigsaw? O.J.T. Do you desperately need clean laundry? O.J.T. Does the float need to be replaced in the toilet bowl? O.J.T. In my teenage years, it was my Dad’s way of saying “learn and do” at the same time. I still find it to be the best way to learn. Last year, I wrote about the importance of learning and doing at the same time. To be honest, we can’t always wait for it to be a perfect time.
As I ventured into the world of YouTube, I realized which subjects I was most interested in covering. I’m not going to get everything perfect from the beginning, and I’m comfortable with imperfect content. My initial videos are more about learning what works and what doesn’t in my workspace and with my skillset. I’ve long abandoned my perfectionist tendencies, and I’m content with doing the best I can.
I enjoy honest content on YouTube. When someone makes a mistake and leaves it in the video, I connect with them. It feels human instead of AI-generated. I also appreciate when someone talks about their qualifications or explains that they are just sharing their own personal experience. If the lighting or angle isn’t perfect in someone’s video, I feel right at home because I’m learning those things, too.
So far, my YouTube content isn’t great, and I laugh at it when I see my thumbnails. I keep at it because I’m interested in learning how to be a better content creator. If it doesn’t turn out to be a success, it’s fine because at least I will know I tried. At the least, I can make a video some time about all the mistakes I made. It could be instructional or a blooper reel. Who knows?!
If you’ve been thinking about a YouTube channel, don’t keep thinking about it. Start filming. Start learning about editing. Use the software freely available to you. You don’t have to sink money into it to give it a try. Whatever it is you are interested in doing this year, give yourself some O.J.T. Don’t put it off until a “better” time. Just begin. Learn as you go, and don’t be too hard on yourself about any mistakes. It’s all part of the learning process, and at the least, you can tell yourself you tried, which is better than the regret of never trying.
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Inspirational Verse for the Day:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13, NKJV)
All Things Subject to Change 