Buckle Up, Humans: I Made Mistakes — And I’m Owning Them
Let’s take a deep dive (no snorkel required) into the honest-to-goodness mistakes I made while creating the enclosed video titled:
“Meet Spicy Aurora Risotto and Giulia Pasta.”
No B.S.
No spin.
No hiding behind an AI voice filter.
Just me, sharing the good, the bad, and the “what-was-I-thinking” of it all. Because honestly, you don’t see much of this kind of post on the internet — it’s rarer than a senior discount at Starbucks.
Why Am I Doing This?
Because I believe in embracing mistakes — and not just hugging them awkwardly, but learning from them.
When I screw up (which I do, sometimes with flair), I try to figure out why, and how to improve next time. That’s how growth happens — even in retirement, even in a senior community, and even when you’re teaching robots how to be funny.
I used this same approach back when I taught tech. Yes, boys and girls — Professor Geek made mistakes, and so can you. It’s all part of the process.
Here’s What Went Wrong (and What I’d Do Differently)
- The Logo That Wouldn’t Leave
The video opens with my logo… and then stays there like it paid rent.
Rule of thumb: If your name isn’t Apple, IBM, or Nike, your logo should show up for 3 seconds or less, or better yet, go at the end.
Nobody came to hear about your life story — they want the meat and potatoes, not the garnish.
- The Intro That Overstayed Its Welcome
Dr. Colleen’s intro? Too long. Lovely voice, great presence, but the intro needs to get to the point faster — otherwise viewers are checking their watches… or their exit strategies.
- Judy’s Thank-You Tour
After the main speakers, Judy pops in to say thanks.
And keeps saying thanks.
And then says a bit more.
Trim it down. Viewers already feel appreciated — no need to roll out the Oscar speech.
- That “Created by a Geek” Screen
I love a good humblebrag, but that full-screen credit slide isn’t helping.
If you must include that info, it belongs at the very end, folded neatly into the Legal Disclaimer section — or better yet, rename it Legal Notice and keep it classy.
- Animated Geek Overload
Yes, my animated self made a cameo — and sure, it was funny.
But it also took too much time.
A static image would’ve delivered the same charm with half the run time (and zero motion sickness).
Final Thoughts (and a Bit of Heart)
So there you have it: the unvarnished story of my mistakes in this particular project.
I hope, with all my heart, that someone out there finds this helpful — whether you’re making your first AI video or your hundredth. Owning your flaws isn’t just liberating — it makes you better.
And hey, if an animated geek in Henderson can do it… so can you.
All the best,
Director of Humor
P.S. I wrote this from scratch, then let my AI sidekick ChatGPT give it a polish and toss in a few chuckles. The typos are mine. The jokes you don’t like? Definitely the AI’s fault.
