🌴282. The First Draft is the Hardest
In today’s episode, I share a gem of a quote that came from Fiona Kruger (thanks Fiona!) — one her manager used to repeat almost daily:
“The first draft is the hardest.”
Simple, powerful, and so true.
I unpack how that idea plays out across everything from corporate projects to book writing — and why accepting that the first draft will always be hard takes the pressure off. It’s not supposed to be perfect. It’s supposed to exist.
You’ll hear me riff on:
- 💡 Why getting the first draft out is 90% of the battle
- 🧠 How Fiona’s approach to front-loading her work made collaboration easier
- ✍️ My 52-day sprint to write The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint (and why a tight deadline saved me from overthinking)
- 🎧 The incredible Ira Glass quote about “the gap” between your taste and your skill — and how to close it through volume
- 🔥 Why perfection kills momentum and why iteration builds mastery
My challenge to you this week:
Create your next first draft — even if it’s rough. Publish it. Send it. Ship it. Because you can’t edit what doesn’t exist.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Fiona (and her brilliant quote!)
- The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint by yours truly
- Ira Glass on closing the creative gap — full transcript here
Takeaway:
➡️ The first draft is the hardest — but it’s also the most important.
The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll get good.
🎧 Thanks for listening — if this resonated, share it with a friend who’s been stuck in “draft limbo.”
I’ll speak to you tomorrow.
Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.
Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com
P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:
- Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.
- Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint.
Let's connect on all the channels:
Visit my website: leannehughes.com
Email me: hello@leannehughes.com
Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.