The force that allowed us to encircle the world

It’s easier to give feedback on something that exists.

That’s why speed trumps accuracy. Instead of killing ourselves trying to knock it out of the park on the first try, we prototype the thing. Instead of doing too much work inside our heads, we can just get some eyes on the thing.

We create a frame a reference, fail quickly, quietly and cheaply, iterate until it’s good enough, and ship the sonavabitch out the door.

Compare that approach to perfectionists and procrastinators and pleasers, these human tortoises who take six weeks to even consider thinking about the possibly of becoming interested in learning about how to maybe take a crack at some new fart of idea.

Enough deliberation. Stop planning. We need momentum. We need somebody to start making something, anything, right now.

And it might now work. But even if we’re headed twelve knots in the wrong direction, at least the boat is sailing. And it’s small enough to change course if needed.

During my job interview for the content director role at a tech startup, the founder asked me what my task list would be for the first week.

My answer was two words. Connect and create. In that order, too.

Introduce myself to everyone, ask questions to anyone, read everything, and then start writing.

Which is exactly what happened. And by the second week, the first piece we published shot to the top of our list of web traffic referral sources.

Was it because it was the best thing ever written? Not at all.

It’s because even the tiniest movement can break the spell of inertia. Restlessness is the most underrated and overlooked skill that creates value in a growing organization.

Bonhoeffer, the legendary pastor, theologian and spy, wrote a beautiful passage about this in one of his sermons:

Restlessness is the characteristic feature distinguishing human beings from animals. It is the power that creates history and culture. It is the root of every spirit that elevates itself to morality, the most profound meaning bloodlike power in the direction of the eternal.

In a business world where ideas are free and execution is priceless, perhaps failing to plan is planning to win.

Are you getting restless right on schedule?