Sometimes the Best Edit Is Walking Away

Every creative project eventually hits a wall.

Maybe you don't know what the next step is. Maybe you're missing the perfect shot. Or maybe you've spent so much time staring at the timeline that you can't tell whether the project is getting better or worse.

When you get too close to your work, you lose perspective.

You start making changes because you can, not because you should. You add another music cue. Another graphic. Another transition. Another shot. Little by little, you drift away from the original goal—not because you're doing poor work, but because you're trying to make good work perfect.

I'm living that moment right now.

I'm up against a deadline. I'm stressed, anxious, and impatient. Not because I want this project off my desk, but because I genuinely want this series to be exceptional.

And that's when the questions start.

What if I had gone in a different direction?

What if I had incorporated more live sound? That idea sounds great now, except the scripts were never written for it.

What if I moved the interview to a completely different point in the video? It might improve the pacing... but it would also mean rebuilding the edit from the ground up.

The possibilities become endless, and that's the problem.

There usually isn't a perfect solution. More often than not, you're battling your own expectations.

I'll admit it—I'm a perfectionist.

In my mind, there's always a better shot. A smoother edit. A cleaner transition. A stronger opening. Something can always be improved.

The longer you work in this industry, the more experience you gain. You become faster, more efficient, and a better storyteller. Ironically, that same experience also makes it easier to spot every tiny flaw in your own work.

Perfection becomes a moving target.

If you're not careful, the pursuit of "better" becomes a vacuum that steals your time, your energy, and eventually your confidence.

That's when it's time to step away.

Go for a jog.

Grab a fresh cup of coffee.

Have lunch.

Talk to a friend.

Do something that has absolutely nothing to do with the project.

When you come back, you'll often discover the solution was sitting there the whole time. You just couldn't see it because you had been staring at it for too long.

So if you find yourself standing in front of a creative brick wall, stop trying to bash your way through it.

Take a break.

The project will still be there when you return.

And chances are, so will the answer.

As for me, my break today was writing this blog post.

I think it was exactly what I needed.

The Power of One Small Yes

I've been thinking lately about how much of my life can be traced back to one simple word: yes.

Our family has a philosophy that we try to live by—we try everything once. We say yes more often than we say no. It doesn't mean every opportunity is the right one, or that every experience turns out the way we'd hoped. But looking back, so many of the greatest blessings in my life began with a simple decision to say yes.

If I hadn't said yes when a beautiful girl from my high school asked me out, my life would look completely different. I wouldn't have married my best friend. I wouldn't have the life we've built together. She has been my rock, my role model, my sounding board, and often the voice of reason when I need it most. Together we’re raising an amazing son, and somewhere along the way she also became my most trusted production assistant and key grip. I'm grateful that one "yes" led to a lifetime of adventures with her.

If I hadn't said yes when a college buddy invited me to join the campus radio station, I might never have discovered my passion for media. That one opportunity led me to study broadcasting, work in television, produce corporate videos, create original programming, make a documentary, and eventually build two production companies from the ground up. Along the way, I even got to meet David Letterman. Well... "meet" might be a strong word. We exchanged a quick hello in passing, but I'm counting it.

When our minister asked if I would serve as Creative Director for our church, saying yes opened a door I never knew existed. It helped me discover that storytelling could be a ministry. I had the privilege of helping our congregation stay connected through virtual worship during the pandemic, supporting the wider Indiana-Kentucky Conference, and serving at General Synod for the United Church of Christ. One of the most memorable moments was witnessing history as the denomination elected its first female General Minister and President, with my own female Senior Pastor sitting beside me. None of that was part of the plan. It all started with one invitation.

A few years later, another unexpected opportunity arrived when I was asked to teach three college courses. I'll admit, I wasn't sure I was the right person for the job. But I said yes anyway. That decision introduced me to incredible colleagues at WVUT who have challenged and encouraged me, and to students who have taught me just as much about teaching as I've taught them about video production. I discovered that I don't just enjoy creating media—I love helping others learn how to create it too.

Now, I don't want to pretend that saying yes always leads to wonderful outcomes. It doesn't.

I've said yes to projects that didn't work out. I've accepted opportunities that became stressful, disappointing, or simply weren't the right fit. Saying yes doesn't guarantee success.

But even those experiences taught me something. They made me wiser. They helped me recognize better opportunities when they came along. They shaped who I am just as much as the victories did.

Life has a funny way of unfolding. We rarely know where a decision will lead when we're making it. Most of the time, we're simply taking the next step without seeing the entire path ahead.

So if you take anything from these random thoughts, I hope it's this: whether you're in a season of celebration or struggle, trust that your journey is shaping you. The road isn't always easy, and not every yes will lead where you expected. But sometimes the next chapter of your life begins with one small decision to embrace an opportunity instead of fearing it.

Looking back, I'm incredibly thankful for the moments when I chose to say yes. They gave me a wife I adore, a family I cherish, a career I never imagined, a ministry that fills my heart, and the privilege of teaching the next generation.

You never know where one small yes might take you.