Iterative people
I admire Iterative People. They seek constant improvement, take direct action to learn, exhibit humility, and approach the world with a curious mind. They experiment, unafraid to share things that are a work in progress.
Erik Torenberg illustrates this. I met him just as Product Hunt was starting. He joined early and was instrumental in building the initial community. Erik was eager to learn and take action on ideas from the beginning. And he’s been consistent post-Product Hunt, through his path into venture, building the OnDeck community, starting Turpentine media, and openly experimenting along the way.
Most people aren’t iterative. They get stuck in the comforts of their own habits or fear of looking foolish. This quote from The Courage to Be Disliked highlights this:
How can you be more iterative?
- Don’t be so secretive. Many worry their brilliant idea will be stolen if shared publicly. Sometimes it’s best to keep things private but more often than not, people could benefit from being open with their ideas to attract feedback, collaborators, and serendipity that could move things forward.
- Surround yourself with curious, action-oriented people. No matter how high-agency you are, your environment shapes you.
- Follow inspiration when it strikes. I’ve let many ideas die from overthinking. Some actions need careful thought—but many don’t. Jeff Bezos describes this as one-way vs. two-way doors.
I write posts like this to remind myself of behaviors I want to embody—not because I’ve mastered it. Your feedback and stories are welcome. I’m on Twitter. :)