Version 0.1 = Start lo-fi
First read “Version ∞” and “Early drafts...”. Here’s an example of how I think of “Version 0.1”:
A guy at a conference was telling me how he really wanted to build a music recommendation service, but had been trying for a year to raise the $2 million dollars he said it’d take to build it.
My suggestion for him: Don’t wait for funding. Start now.
To start a music recommendation service, just start recommending music to friends, find out if they liked it, and improve from there. No fancy app or website needed.
By getting that initial lo-fi hands-on experience, you’ll have a deeper understanding of what people really want from music recommendations.
Then you can build your service incrementally based on real user communication, instead of hiding in a lab for a year programming in isolation based on a year-old hunch.
If you say you want to do something, do it! Never blame outside forces stopping you. Work around obstacles to start immediately.
Totally true, never sit back and wait on someone else or something else to come and save you. Often when that something comes if you haven't already started chances are you wont.
Just like you said, do it now! Don't wait, when someone else comes along to invest they will be more inclined if you can already present them with something of value.
Excuses are for people who don't really want to get the work done.
If something isn't happening the way you want it to it is 90% your fault. However you have to allow some time for a project to succeed.
Spot on! I had no funding. I was 105k in debt! And I am digging myself out one idea at at time. Excuses are no longer acceptable and maximum effort, ideas, and input is what I require of myself and all I associate with. I will "do first" and learn and adapt rather than "ponder" and wonder why it never happened. Failure is no longer an option and new ideas and knowledge will be my beacon.
Rock on MOFO's!
That's great advice, sad he didn't take it.
I like this advice. It keeps you from overcomplicating things and feeling overwhelmed.
Woddy Allen's famous quote is, "80% of success is showing up." Paul Arden in his books suggests that if you want a position at a particular company just show up and make yourself useful. No position open? Run errands and make tea (he's British). Eventually you'll know the workings of the company and have earned a reputaion for being handy and reliable. When a position opens up you'll be their first choice.
You're a do-er Derek. You see that baby steps are infinitely better than laying groundwork that will somehow magically transport you (because it won't anyway).
And good heavens, like you say, you have to tweak your approach as you go, starting slow/small gives you data upon which to iterate.
Derek, you are on a roll. Every post is better than the one before.
Awww... Thanks Seth! You're my hero and you know it. :-) — Derek
Derek,
I so agree with you. It is easy to get stuck dreaming about what "could be, if only" and avoid doing the little things right in front of us that we have all the power to do. Thanks for the reminder. I'm off to take the next little step. (What a precious photo of the little puppy!)
Pam
An aphorism was exposed to in Guitar Craft is "Establish the possible and move gradually towards the impossible."
I have applied this musical projects, my business life, and personal life to get something moving. Works every time, key word here being work.
Starting the first lowest of lo-fi versions is the hardest part usually. Once you've at least made a start on something, you can mess up, learn, re-learn, tweak and keep it going. This is what I did when I had the monumental task of producing my PhD thesis. Deadlines and milestones help too. Great post man!
Just what I needed to hear right now. Very timely advise. Thanks as ever, Charlie.
Great words of advice. There are lots of great examples of why you should "launch early and often." I have found in my own business this is harder to do than I would have expected as the product is never to the level I want it. Doesn't help being a perfectionist by nature either :). So even more reason to take this advice and think of it often. Thanks for the awesome posts Derek... keep up the great work. Your blog is now one of my favorites.
Yes, this is one of many advices of yours I took to heart. ari
I thank we can summarize what's written in this article by : Every journey starts with the first step.
We can add to this : Just do it!
Thanks Derek.
I love this; some people tend to make me feel like I'm wasting my time by moving so slowly and cautiously. I'm enjoying what I'm doing, learning a lot, but the day I go HD will be very exciting!
thanks for all of your thoughts
ive been working on things nothing
has come yet but i think if i listing to Derek and open minded to others i think things will work out but I gess the one that has to do it is me.
I do agree. If you help yourself the universe will join in. Or in other words: people will see what you're about and that you're not all talk.
I must remember this one.
Ich hab einen tollen Spruch gehört, der hierzu passt: Wer etwas will, findet Wege. Wer nicht will, findet Gründe.
Lieben Gruß
Therese
My goodness! This is some solid, encouraging advice.
My parents always remind me of Moses' story. Trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, he cried out to God for help.
God responds with a simple question: "What do you have in your hand?" What was it? A run-of-the-mill walking stick. The rest is Biblical sea-parting history. Moral of the story: Use what you have!
The Bible also says not to "despise the day of small beginnings." There's some serious wisdom to be had in that book!
Thank you, Derek!
Andrew
For years my passion has been to make people laugh. This started with my childhood and my large family. We loved parties. With our entertainment we had our Party Audience nearly Rolling With Laughter and Begging For More. Thus, "THE WORLD FAMOUS LOONEY LETTERS COLLECTION" was born in Asheville,N.C.
GoLaughing.com
Fantastic!!