🎶The "Take On Me" Effort

In the early 1980s, three young musicians from Norway had a dream: to make it big in the English pop scene. They packed a cassette tape with a few songs and took a leap of faith. One song, originally called Miss Erie, kept evolving—new lyrics, new instruments, new energy. Eventually, it became Take On Me. But the road wasn’t easy:

First release? Flopped.

Second release? Flopped again.

Record label? Losing faith.

Band? Still believed.

After years of rewrites, late-night studio sessions, and a third version paired with a groundbreaking animated music video, Take On Me finally hit #1 on the Billboard charts. Their so-called “overnight success” was actually three years of relentless iteration.

Sometimes your first (or second, or third) version doesn’t hit—but that doesn’t mean your idea is bad. A-ha’s story shows that creativity is a process of refining, re-imagining, and not giving up until your best work shines through.

Your Task:

Pick a project you’ve done recently—something creative, academic, or personal. Now:
1. Identify one thing you could improve. (Lyrics, layout, argument, timing, etc.)
2. Iterate it. Make one small change and see what happens.
3. Share your version 2.0. What feels stronger now?