Part 5: Just do it already!

The “Lessons Learned” blog series talks about things we learned when trying to grow to the next level with the help of an external program. It turns out the best lesson of all was to just get out and do it.

Getting into the program would have meant a lot of responsibilities that were not related to what we’re trying to do.  We would have been burning out our energy on extra tasks instead of focusing on our unique abilities in the day to day.

Our products are constantly evolving because they are made to suit our clients’ needs. We prefer to get something out there and change it as it comes.

We have focused a lot of this series on Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. They say you have to act quickly before someone else does it first. You’ll feel better about what you’re developing because you’ll see it making a difference to your clients.

Most projects and products will always have one more thing you can do or something you would like to revise. Rework also talks about launching a business or product like opening a hot dog stand. The first thing you know is you’re going to sell hot dogs. Then you typically consider the regular condiments you will serve like ketchup and mustard. Depending on what your clients want, you might bring in onions, relish, bacon bits, or sauerkraut. The list can go on after you establish the base product.

Testing your product through iterative development is also a great way to determine what the public’s reaction will be to it. If they don’t take to it right away, you can change it. It’s more difficult and heartbreaking to make changes to something after a lot of effort and a promotional push.

You won’t learn from your mistakes if you’re afraid of making them in the first place. Sometimes the best lessons are learned when things don’t work out.

Part Four: Accepting what you are can be very powerful
Part Three: There’s something to that K.I.S.S. rule
Part Two: Stick to your guns
Part One: Why a meal of crow can be very satisfying