Make a piece of rubbish first

A while ago Sharkman and Jaspher asked me to record a podcast. No editing, no design, no team, just three people talking to a camera. When we finished, we laughed: "This is total rubbish."

But the more I thought about it, the more right that line felt.

A lot of things should start as "rubbish". Not out of carelessness, but to put an idea into the real world at the lowest possible cost and let it take its first breath.

My first livestream was a textbook rubbish-grade MVP.

My wife and I, two hosts with no experience at all (one of whom later became my cofounder), a folding table like the ones at a mamak stall, a second-hand iPhone and a computer. The picture was whatever, the lighting was whatever, and the tripod could fall over at any moment. But that "imperfect start" is what brought us to where we are today: 24 live rooms, more than 50 hosts, nearly 200 creators, and dozens of brands.

If I had insisted on waiting until I was "ready", until the equipment was complete, until I found professional hosts, until the script was perfect, ZUCCA simply wouldn't exist today.

Many finished things in this world look polished, but behind them they were all refined step by step from "rubbish".

The "perfect preparation" you imagine really comes from the fear of not having started yet. What you actually need is that first rough breath of air after you start.

Once you have your first piece of rubbish, you have room to revise, improve and upgrade. Without starting, you don't even earn the right to make mistakes.

Start with rubbish.

Then use time to turn it into a piece of work.