“Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily.” – Epictetus
Success in business is rarely about getting things perfect the first time. More often, it’s the result of a series of attempts, learning from each effort, and making adjustments based on feedback.
Take the story of Slack, for instance. Today, Slack stands as a cornerstone for team communication in numerous organizations, big and small. However, its journey didn’t begin as a communication platform. Originally, Slack was a gaming company named Tiny Speck, with a game called Glitch. When Glitch failed to gain traction, the team noticed that the internal communication tool they had built for the game’s development had potential. Instead of giving up after their game’s failure, they pivoted and refined that tool, turning it into what we now know as Slack.
What Slack’s journey underscores is the value of flexibility and responsiveness in business. Even if an initial idea doesn’t pan out, there could be elements within it that can be salvaged, refined, and turned into something valuable. The key is to be open to feedback and willing to make necessary adjustments.
Action Step: Evaluate a segment of your business that might not be performing optimally. Rather than dismissing it, explore it. What feedback can you gather? What elements are working, and which aren’t? Can some aspects be adapted or repurposed? Adopting an iterative mindset can help you see opportunities where others might see setbacks.
Business success isn’t always about a linear path or a flawless start. It’s about adjusting, learning, and iterating. Each adjustment brings you a step closer to your ultimate goals.
To learn more about the power of iteration, and how to apply it to your business, be sure to check out our book of the week: “Launch” by Jeff Walker.