Riding All Of The Waves
The fun of quickly executing ideas with low expectations
Over the years I had always dreamt of making the shift from client work to building a product. A product or an idea where I could pour my energy into a rewarding idea. Often the ideas I would latch on to would be grand in nature destined to be the-next-big-thing.
Three years ago when I was invited to design and develop a theme for Tumblr’s new premium marketplace it came at the right time between two large client projects. Without grand thoughts of what it might become I took on the challenge as a chance to try something new. My expectations were simple, and I remember thinking “if nothing else it might buy my lunch every day.”
At the time I would have never imagined that this one decision would become the catalyst lead to Style Hatch becoming a highly profitable business with a full time team of four people and over 41,000 themes sold. Best of all the idea did not require sacrificing endless nights and weekends away from my growing young family to pull it off.
Looking back on that one pivotable moment that launched my career in a new direction, I realized that it came from quickly executing an idea with relatively low expectations. I don’t want to paint the picture that I am against pursuing ideas that have the potential of changing our world. Just know that high expectations often comes with a loud inner critic that can easily slow down progress and momentum.
Last year I wrote an article “Ideas Come in Sets” where I compared waiting for the perfect wave to ride while surfing with the way that we should look for ‘the next big idea’. There are still some points that I agree with from the analogy, but I was wrong in writing “patiently watch and let the smaller waves pass you by” to conserve energy for the coming big wave. Creating a premium Tumblr theme three years ago was certainly one of those smaller, low expectation waves, but it led to one of the most fun experiences I have had in my career.
When I find myself in the mindset of looking for the perfectly shaped idea it becomes easier to find fault with every rideable wave coming my way. The big, world changing idea will eventually come, but while I’m in the water I’m going to try to catch as many waves as possible. Any other way we’re missing out on all the fun.
Plus you never know, one of those small wave ideas might have the potential of turning into a world changing idea.
