No Big Bangs, Just Small Bets: A Personal Journey in Continuous Improvement
A glimpse into the detailed world of "Tiny Bang Story".
My life has been enriched by a variety of hobbies, a tendency I likely inherited from my mother. Writing is one that brings me joy, and I intend to nurture it further. I've also explored the worlds of the flute, guitar, and bass, each providing unique experiences. A year ago, I returned to painting. While my current abilities are still evolving, I now allow myself the freedom to paint without the pressure of immediate perfection. One memorable project was painting one of my cats, a skill I'm actively developing: observation painting. The final result on the canvas differed from my initial vision. I carefully observed the reference and made a few adjustments. I recall getting quite absorbed in the details of one cat's mouth, and while I eventually felt satisfied with it, the intensity of that focus led me to move on from the piece. I've noticed a pattern in my life where I sometimes aim for meticulous control in creative endeavors, only to see the final result take its own path. It's a curious observation.
The connection between our professional and personal selves is undeniable. The impact of a thoughtless comment from a relative can sometimes mirror the discomfort of critical feedback from a colleague during an early meeting. I've sometimes held back on sharing redesigns, proposals, and new concepts, perhaps concerned they wouldn't align with some ideal. This tendency to avoid imperfection has occasionally prevented me from fully realizing my ideas.
Back at one offsite from a company I used to work, I had the opportunity to follow a course from a product lead I appreciate. Teresa Torres has a good perspective on continuous discovery habits, one that resonates deeply with both my personal life and product development. It highlights the importance of focusing on clear outcomes and embracing small, iterative experiments. It’s about breaking down large goals into manageable steps and learning from each attempt, even when things don’t go perfectly. Just as with my painting, any hobby, or even the daily complexities of work and life, continuous growth comes from consistent effort and an openness to experimentation.
At the same company, a while later, we started using Shape Up (https://basecamp.com/shapeup). I found that the concept of betting on "appetites" rather than fully scoped projects also translates surprisingly well to personal challenges. Instead of trying to overhaul my entire routine at once, I learned to place smaller "bets" on specific areas, like committing to 30 minutes of writing a few times a week, or focusing on one small improvement in my painting technique during a session. This approach, much like trusting a team to deliver within a defined scope and time, allowed me to make progress without getting bogged down in the overwhelming details of a grand plan. It fostered a sense of momentum and reduced the fear of failure, as each small bet offered a contained opportunity for learning and adjustment.
The principles from both these experiences have been incredibly helpful, providing me with a framework for approaching challenges with a more experimental and accepting mindset, both professionally and personally.
