Start Small and Scale
Overcoming the gravity of liftoff requires constant iteration, even for project leads with Big Bold Visions. Failure is a teacher.
In 2008, SpaceX’s Falcon 1 rocket exploded spectacularly on its third launch attempt, prompting a wave of criticism. The critics insisted Elon Musk’s venture was reckless and doomed. Pundits scoffed, calling the fiery failures proof of incompetence.
What they missed was the essence of SpaceX’s validation process.
Each explosion was a data goldmine, revealing weaknesses in complicated systems that no simulation could fully predict. Musk’s team iterated rapidly, tweaking designs and testing again, embracing failure as a teacher.
By 2010, Falcon 1 succeeded, paving the way for reusable rockets that slashed launch costs. Where critics saw chaos, team SpaceX saw progress.
Similarly, with Tesla’s Optimus robot, early stumbles in demos drew jeers, but each misstep refined the intricate dance of AI and mechanics. For complicated products like rockets or robots, starting small, failing fast, and scaling through iteration isn’t just a strategy—it’s the only way to achieve breakthroughs that reshape industries.
Starting small and scaling allows projects to test ideas through iterative experimentation. This approach allows creatives and innovators to minimize risk and resource waste. Short iteration cycles enable rapid feedback, letting teams pivot from unworkable features, refine the product based on customer insights, and maintain a sharp focus on meeting users’ needs.
This approach ensures:
Adaptability,
Cost-efficiency, and
Customer-centric development.
Customer focus can evolve with customer demand.
Starting small and scaling can align with Peter Diamandis's 10x thinking by fostering bold, transformative objectives. But we don’t want to unleash the dreamers without offering them pragmatic considerations designed to increase their likelihood of success.
Yes, 10x thinking encourages bold, even radical, visions, but pursuing these through local experiments with real customers (e.g., users or viewers) allows for continuous learning, course correction, and refinement.
Such an adaptation framework ensures ambitious ideas remain customer-focused and feasible as founders subordinate grand visions to a rigorous validation process.