Momentum-driven product development

Re-reading this post I wrote last year about momentum-driven development when building Lifelog got me thinking again about my current situation trying to build a new product:

Earlier this month I questioned if the features I’ve been building for Lifelog recently is pushing the envelope enough. I wanted to pivot Lifelog, but I didn’t know what. I wanted to rethink, research and re-explore this side project. I thought I wanted that. But it woefully failed. I got stuck by over-thinking, and couldn’t figure out what to do. I ended up shipping slow, most of the time unsure what features I should be building, and that killed all my momentum. The end result is nothing got shipped.

I thought I needed a higher purpose. But it seems like I was so damn wrong. I simply needed momentum. By building what I wanted, what gave me joy, it kept me building, kept me going weekend after weekend. True, I wasn’t always building what people wanted (sorry guys), but look what happened when I tried to solely build based external feedback? Nothing. At least by following my momentum, I shipped. I iterated. I learned. Perhaps when I just build, I will eventually get to place where it becomes purposeful. But I’m not there yet. I just need to keep building first.

Momentum-driven development, not purpose-driven.

A timely reminder. Even though that was for Lifelog, I think it applies in a new product too.

Maybe I don’t need a plan. Or research. Or even an idea.

Just build first.

Not ready, aim, shoot, but ready, shoot, aim.

Because I keep thinking I need to work on something substantial to get me to $10k/m. Eyes on the prize, right? But I might never get started this way. At this juncture, I simply need to just get started. Just build first. On anything. On whatever I feel interested in at the moment. It doesn’t even need to be a good idea, or a sound business, or a novel product. It can even be a bad one. Or a joke, a meme. Those factors matter in the long run yes, but just not at this stage when I have not even started yet.

So start first, then zoom in, course correct as I go.

My real problem isn’t lack of purpose, motivation or ideas, but lack of momentum.

Time for momentum-driven development.