Adopt the Mindset of Iteration
I went to business school because I was unhappy at my job.
Well, it’s not quite that simple.
I went to business school because I was unhappy at my job, I couldn’t see any possible way to another job that would be any less awful than the ones I’d had… and one of my best friends had recently decided to go to business school.
So I decided to follow her.
In one fell swoop – with unusually little introspection or advanced planning on my part – I committed myself to:
Diving head first into studying for the GMAT (even though math is not my strong suit)
Quitting my job (even though I had no idea what kind of job I’d graduate with)
Moving to the exact opposite side of the country (even though I wanted to stay in California)
And $250,000 in student debt (gulp)
All because I was unhappy with my current job, and couldn’t see any other option than to follow in the footsteps of an entirely different human being.
Someone who – though I would follow her to the ends of the earth if she told me it was good for me – was actually not qualified to make this life decision for me.
Someone who – though I love very much to this day – WAS NOT ACTUALLY ME.
Fast forward almost 15 years later, and I can appreciate all that business school taught me. I can appreciate all the learning and friendships and general grad student-style adulting it brought into my life.
And – I also know I wouldn’t do it that way again.
Now I know better. Because I know about iteration.
Rather than trying to eat the elephant whole (as they say), iteration helps us eat it one bite at a time. Here’s what I mean:
Instead of up-and-quitting my job and moving from San Francisco to Boston in one whirlwind summer (not to mention getting married at the exact same time), I could have prototyped it.
Not sure I like the MBA curriculum? Take a 6 week econ class to try it out.
Not sure what kinds of jobs will be available to me after an MBA? Line up some info interviews with recent grads to learn what they’re doing now.
Not sure if I like Boston? Go visit the darn place.
Instead, I threw myself into an expensive, long term solution – and within minutes of sitting down in my first Intro to Economics class, knew I’d made a mistake.
Iteration is about breaking a question or problem into baby steps and designing experiments to learn along the way.
It’s about asking ourselves, What’s the smallest, fastest, cheapest thing I can do or try to learn the most – right now?
Not 6 months from now when you’ve accepted that job you weren’t actually excited about, or locked yourself into that grad program that you realize isn’t right for you.
I’m a firm believer that iteration makes everything better – including our mindsets.
When we can adopt a mindset of iteration, two incredible things happen:
First, we get better results. That’s because we’re trying things in smaller increments, and as we learn, we refine our plans and decisions with that learning in mind. More ongoing learning equals better outcomes.
Second, we give ourselves permission to start. When we’re overwhelmed by a huge problem, the tendency is to want to solve it with radical and immediate action. Which makes sense on the surface because big problems are uncomfortable, and we humans don’t like discomfort.
Resist the temptation to make sweeping, large-scale change just because you’re uncomfortable!
Instead, give yourself permission to just get started already – but on just one thing. Start small, start cheap and tune into what you’re learning along the way.
In other words, Step forward into growth.
Had I iterated on my way to business school, I think I would have eventually iterated my way right out of it.
And yet – here I am, running my own business.
So maybe it all works out in the end…
Onward,
PS: Are we connected on Instagram? I'm starting to share more of my behind-the-scenes there, including what I'm trying and learning (aka: iterating) as I build my coaching and design business – and I'd love to have you join me. Follow me here.