Why momentum beats everything else in building something new
Want to know the secret to getting things done? It’s not about having the perfect idea. It’s not about assembling the dream team. It’s not even about getting everything right.
It’s about momentum.
I’ve learned this the hard way. Through successes and failures, one thing stands clear: constant progress beats perfection every time.
Think about running a marathon. You don’t sprint the whole way. Sometimes you slow down. But the key is that you keep moving forward. Always forward.
The trap of perfection
I’ve seen many projects fail. Not because the idea was bad. Not because the team wasn’t skilled. They failed because they lost momentum.
When you work too slowly or aim for perfection, something dangerous happens. Energy drops. Motivation fades. The project starts to feel heavy.
Soon, everything grinds to a halt.
Also read Think like a startup
What actually works
Let me share something that worked incredibly well for me.
In one project, our team worked remotely. We could have let that slow us down. Instead, we did something simple but powerful.
Every morning at 8:45, we had a check-in. Just 15 minutes. Every single day.
This small habit changed everything.
- It kept the project top of mind
- Everyone knew what others were doing
- Progress happened daily
- No one could hide or slip behind
- You got a great start on your day
The power of small steps
Here’s the thing about momentum: it doesn’t care about the size of your steps. It only cares that you keep taking them.
Some days you’ll make huge progress. Other days, you might only fix a small bug or write a single paragraph.
That’s okay.
My advice to you
If you’re building something new – whether it’s a startup, a project, or even writing a book – focus on momentum above all else.
- Set up daily check-ins
- Make progress every day, no matter how small
- Don’t wait for perfect conditions
- Keep moving forward
Remember: A slow step forward is infinitely better than no step at all.
The project that moves slowly but steadily will beat the “perfect” project that never ships.
So start small. Start today. And whatever you do, keep moving.
Your future self will thank you for it.
Also read Fail fast
