Speed Above All Else

I read this book called “Problem Solving 101”, it’s a great book written by a former consultant. The idea was basically to have a workflow where you clearly diagnose everything before taking actions. There were three stories about how the Problem Solving Kids handle their tasks, all in all I don’t want to debrief the book, go read it yourself.

The point I am trying to make is that although the book is great, I think it’s too corporative and too much ceremony.

Sure, you can sit down and think really carefully before taking actions, but don’t let it get over your head to the point it hinders your ability to execute (fast).

You don’t spend your days scheming things, play out all the possible root causes or scenarios. It only becomes clearer when you take actions.

The most successful people I know value speed more than anything.

• Google Maps was overhauled in 48 hours by a single person
• iPod was shipped within 7 months
• The Empire State was built in 410 days
• JavaScript was created in 10 days
• Instagram was built and shipped in 8 weeks
• The first Gmail prototype was built in 1 day
• Basecamp was programmed largely by one developer working ~10 hours/week for about 4 months

Act. Fail. Iterate. Repeat.

You can either have it good, or you can have it fast.

Draft a plan, test it in your head, and sprint. 

However long you think a task would takes, cut that in half. Things are often possible in insanely fast timelines.

You just have to put one foot in front of the other.

Then, once you put one foot forward the path will become clearer.

You’ll start seeing paths that weren’t there before.

Most importantly, you just have to keep moving.

Just do it.