4 ms·

Better To Do Than To Think

43 points by pw 15y ago

aeden 15y ago
Warning: I was redirected to a spam site for weight loss pills when clicking on the above URL.
- corin_ 15y ago
  That will happen if you accidentally click on the weight loss pills advert, fairly unsurprisingly.
  - aeden 15y ago
    Bizarre - I swear I did not click on any advert.
revorad 15y ago
This is why I'm not too keen on the Lean startup methodology.
- astrofinch 15y ago
  Hm, it seems to me that the lean startup methodology is very compatible with what this guy describes.
keyle 15y ago
Well this applies to nearly every thing. Ie. You learn better french immersed in France than reading text books. ie. You learn better python doing it than reading HN ;)
- smokestack 15y ago
  I came here to say that one of the exceptions would be architecture and construction, or any undertaking where redoing later is way more expensive than foreseeing now. Science is the art of collecting data and factoring out subjectivity as much as possible. So, ideally, "doing" is the only thing (non-theoretical) science should be doing. As for software construction, I don't think it's controversial to say that the "head-first" methodology is dangerous.
rkalla 15y ago
In my own personal adventure with this (DO vs THINK) I have the following thoughts on the subject... 1. "DOING" doesn't necessarily always mean what you think it means. DOING simply means "forward-moving-action", even if it isn't the super-important-thing-you-have-been-procrastinating-on-for-a-week. 2. I've found that simply the act of DOING anything that moves me forward, seems to move ALL my efforts forward; a lot of times, just enough to get me over the hill that has blocked me in the first place. 3. Thinking has its place though. DOING without any THINKING... that isn't any better than constant thinking with no doing. I currently have a 50/50 split between the two and end up thinking of critically important things from time to time that I wouldn't have had I kept DOING non-stop. 4. DOING is suppose to be fun/challenging/engaging. If it never is, you might be working on the wrong project or in the wrong line of work. Don't be afraid to step back for a sec and think about that, maybe look at some alternatives down the road or start dabbling in some hobby work to try and find what sparks your soul. 5. If you have been stuck THINKING about something for a month and not moved on it yet because it doesn't feel like you "have it figured out yet", set aside a day or an afternoon and commit to DOING it with the following allowances you give yourself: - This is a dry-run, nothing serious. - Be as hacky as possible, move as fast as possible. - You are just "playing around". I've found I get stuck when I need to make a next-move that isn't totally clear and I think it's committing me to something long-term. Once you get that momentum moving forward on whatever has been blocking you, you'll get clarity that you are either on the right track (then go back and clean up what you did) or you had it all wrong this whole time (pivot time!). This is just what has helped me (a chronic thinker).
- cema 15y ago
  a chronic thinker This! Much better than a "chronic procrastinator". Thank you for the word! :-)
beagle3 15y ago
Obligatory ref: http://www.brepettis.com/blog/2009/3/3/the-cult-of-done-manifesto.html http://www.brepettis.com/blog/2009/3/3/the-cult-of-done-mani... (Bre Pettis is a cofounder of the NYC Resistor hackerspace, and of MakerBot Industries)

43 points by pw 15y ago

aeden 15y ago

Warning: I was redirected to a spam site for weight loss pills when clicking on the above URL.

corin_ 15y ago
That will happen if you accidentally click on the weight loss pills advert, fairly unsurprisingly.
- aeden 15y ago
  Bizarre - I swear I did not click on any advert.

revorad 15y ago

This is why I'm not too keen on the Lean startup methodology.

astrofinch 15y ago
Hm, it seems to me that the lean startup methodology is very compatible with what this guy describes.

keyle 15y ago

Well this applies to nearly every thing. Ie. You learn better french immersed in France than reading text books. ie. You learn better python doing it than reading HN ;)

smokestack 15y ago
I came here to say that one of the exceptions would be architecture and construction, or any undertaking where redoing later is way more expensive than foreseeing now. Science is the art of collecting data and factoring out subjectivity as much as possible. So, ideally, "doing" is the only thing (non-theoretical) science should be doing. As for software construction, I don't think it's controversial to say that the "head-first" methodology is dangerous.

rkalla 15y ago

In my own personal adventure with this (DO vs THINK) I have the following thoughts on the subject... 1. "DOING" doesn't necessarily always mean what you think it means. DOING simply means "forward-moving-action", even if it isn't the super-important-thing-you-have-been-procrastinating-on-for-a-week. 2. I've found that simply the act of DOING anything that moves me forward, seems to move ALL my efforts forward; a lot of times, just enough to get me over the hill that has blocked me in the first place. 3. Thinking has its place though. DOING without any THINKING... that isn't any better than constant thinking with no doing. I currently have a 50/50 split between the two and end up thinking of critically important things from time to time that I wouldn't have had I kept DOING non-stop. 4. DOING is suppose to be fun/challenging/engaging. If it never is, you might be working on the wrong project or in the wrong line of work. Don't be afraid to step back for a sec and think about that, maybe look at some alternatives down the road or start dabbling in some hobby work to try and find what sparks your soul. 5. If you have been stuck THINKING about something for a month and not moved on it yet because it doesn't feel like you "have it figured out yet", set aside a day or an afternoon and commit to DOING it with the following allowances you give yourself: - This is a dry-run, nothing serious. - Be as hacky as possible, move as fast as possible. - You are just "playing around". I've found I get stuck when I need to make a next-move that isn't totally clear and I think it's committing me to something long-term. Once you get that momentum moving forward on whatever has been blocking you, you'll get clarity that you are either on the right track (then go back and clean up what you did) or you had it all wrong this whole time (pivot time!). This is just what has helped me (a chronic thinker).

cema 15y ago
a chronic thinker This! Much better than a "chronic procrastinator". Thank you for the word! :-)

beagle3 15y ago

Obligatory ref: http://www.brepettis.com/blog/2009/3/3/the-cult-of-done-manifesto.html http://www.brepettis.com/blog/2009/3/3/the-cult-of-done-mani... (Bre Pettis is a cofounder of the NYC Resistor hackerspace, and of MakerBot Industries)