How to Achieve More by Rushing Less

How to Achieve More by Rushing Less - Photo by Nada on Unsplash

When we’re eager to move forward, it’s tempting to rush to the next step. Many people feel this urge, even when they know deep down it’s not logical or justified. They want to go faster, skip steps, or breeze through them. But by doing so, they risk missing out on what really matters.

Let’s take the example of launching software. Some people want to release their product as soon as possible, without showing it to anyone first. Of course, nothing works as expected. On the flip side, there are those who spend years perfecting every detail, only to realize—after all that time—that nobody cares, or that users want something completely different. That’s even worse.

Getting negative feedback can be discouraging. Sure, it helps you improve, but it can also sap your motivation. There’s a common mantra: “Build fast, ship fast.” That’s where the concept of MVP comes in—Minimum Viable Product. But people often forget what “viable” really means. The MVP should be a tiny product, not a product that tries to do everything. Instead of building a complete but imperfect product, focus on creating a perfect but incomplete one. In other words, do one thing extremely well, rather than twenty things poorly.

This is even more important if you’re a freelancer. Your reputation is all you have. If you try to offer too many features and none of them work well, you’re setting yourself up for failure. It’s better to pick the most requested feature and make it flawless, with a user experience that’s better than the competition. Even if your product does almost nothing, if it does that one thing much better than anyone else, people will come to you.

There’s a definition of MVP that I find spot on: the minimum effort for the maximum impact. Always aim for the least effort that brings the most value—whether that’s for your users or your bottom line. This is the metric to watch: minimum effort, maximum impact.

Take OpenAI, for example. They love MVPs. As of November 2024, there’s still no feature to change your password in your account settings. Instead, if you want to change your password, you have to log out and use the “forgot password” link. That’s the only way. They don’t waste time on features that don’t add real value. Their focus is on making their AI better—reducing hallucinations and providing more accurate, up-to-date answers. That’s what matters.

How to Achieve More by Rushing Less - Photo by White Malaki on Unsplash

So, as a freelancer, ask yourself: what’s my MVP? Focus on that. Do it better than anyone else.

I often come to this spot, surrounded by nature, because it sparks creativity and inspiration. Finding the right environment is like giving a tree the richest soil—it grows faster and stronger. The same goes for us. In some countries, success is possible but slow and hard. In others, where the entrepreneurial environment is more fertile, success comes faster and bigger. The people you surround yourself with, and the place you choose to work, have a huge impact on your motivation and your ideas.

Fundraising works the same way. It’s not about the money itself, but about speeding up your progress. With more resources, you can move faster, get ahead, and achieve bigger results. If you’re ahead of your competitors, you’re already in the future while they’re stuck in the present or the past.

That’s why the MVP principle is so powerful. Don’t launch a half-baked product that nobody wants. Instead, do one thing exceptionally well. Pivot if needed. Always look for the smallest effort that brings the biggest impact. This is the heart of the Pareto principle—the famous 20% of actions that bring 80% of results.

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”
— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

“Don’t worry about failure; you only have to be right once.”
— Drew Houston

Key Takeaways

How to Achieve More by Rushing Less - Photo by kimny on Unsplash

• Don’t rush—focus on doing one thing exceptionally well.
• An MVP is about minimum effort, maximum impact.
• Your environment and the people around you matter more than you think.
• Always ask: what’s the smallest thing I can do that will have the biggest effect?
• The Pareto principle (20/80 rule) applies: focus on the vital few, not the trivial many.

Action Steps

• Identify the single most valuable feature you can offer.
• Make that feature flawless before adding anything else.
• Choose your environment and community carefully—they shape your success.
• Regularly ask yourself if you’re focusing on impact, not just effort.

Reflection

Are you spreading yourself too thin, or are you focusing on what truly matters? What’s your MVP, and how can you make it the best in its class?