Finding Full Throttle
Collin Michels2 min read
I meet with a lot of people that constantly feel like they are behind the eight ball on what they could be moving the needle on. They have an idea that perfect planning will magically fix all of the hurdles in their way.
It won’t. They’re stuck because they’re moving too slow.
I see it constantly. Smart people, with good intentions, sitting in planning mode while other people are already three loops ahead of them. Rarely is the gap down to knowledge, it’s often a lack of speed…
I’ve come to find there is a simple cycle that separates the people who are actually moving from the ones who feel busy but aren’t going anywhere:
- Start fast.
- Loop fast.
- Refine fast.
Start Fast
Nothing gets better until something exists.
I’ve seen a lot of people wait for clarity or the perfect amount of research before they start. That’s backwards. Clarity comes after action, not before. Waiting for the perfect plan is just a polished way of delaying feedback.
I used to do this with calls, content, and ideas.
The boost I’ve found to help make myself better in this phase;
- Get to the first 20%. Explore with AI to get brain dumped feedback. Messy beats delayed, every time.
Loop Fast
This is where I’ve found myself most guilty. Not at the start, but in the gap between starting something and the first line of feedback.
I’d sit on things way too long because I was “polishing” them. Waiting to share until it’s cleaner. The start gives you ideas. The feedback gives you signals.
Progress isn’t about accumulating more reps. Progress is about closing loops. Do → Feedback → Adjust → Repeat. The faster you can bring in other feedback, the faster you improve.
The boost I’ve found to help make myself better in this phase:
- Bring someone else in earlier than feels comfortable.
- Time block sessions around getting feedback, not just doing the work.
Refine Fast
Now you have signal. Your next level is to use it.
Keep what works. Iterate what doesn’t. Build systems for data on what’s working and plan out strategic times to revisit projects so they don’t grow stale.
The people moving faster than everyone have built a means to make momentum work for them not against them.
The boost I’ve found to help make myself better in this phase:
- Tie my projects to clear strategic goals.
- Build tracking sheets.
- Quarterly, semi annual, annual refreshers (depending on the project).
- Organize storage for everything I am running.
Brock Baker
