The Non-Techie’s Guide to AI: Why Product Momentum Matters More Than Perfection
Perfection is tempting, but it often leads to inaction. I learned this when building a simple video game.
I expected technical challenges because, well, I had never built a video game before. I assumed the hardest part would be coding mechanics, debugging errors, and ensuring everything worked seamlessly.
But my real struggle?
Letting go of endless refinements and just shipping it.
The lesson? Momentum matters more than perfection. Execution drives progress, while overthinking stalls it.
Here are three leadership lessons from this building experience that prove why shipping products early matters most.
Lesson 1. Progress Beats Perfection
What I did: I hesitated to share my work because it wasn’t polished.
My fish looked like a blob and swam backwards.
Who would want to share that?
What I should have done: Shared sooner and leveraged feedback from my teachers and classmates. Instead of guessing what needed improvement, I could have learned faster by collaborating.
➡️ Strategic insight: Strong leaders seek feedback early—real input is more valuable than endless speculation.
Lesson 2. The First Version is Not the Last Version
What I did: I kept refining details, trying to perfect every aspect before hitting publish on my code. Each small change felt necessary, but it only delayed progress.
What I should have done: Focused on function over form. A working version, even if rough, would have allowed me to test, learn, and improve through iteration.
➡️ Strategic insight: High-impact leaders value results over polish. A functional solution today beats a perfect one never launched.
Lesson 3. “Done” Is the Starting Point for Growth
What I did: I saw “done” as the finish line, expecting my first version to kind of feel like a final one. I treated completion as the goal rather than the beginning of improvement.
What I should have done: Treated my first version as a foundation to build on. Iteration and feedback would have made it better, faster.
➡️ Strategic insight: Great leaders don’t aim for a single perfect outcome—they build adaptable systems that evolve.
The Bottomline
Nike said it best: Just do it.
Whether it’s learning how to apply AI in your world, a project, or a major initiative, the hardest part is hitting go. If perfectionism has been holding you back, take this as your sign to act.
The learning, growth, and real impact begin after you start.
It’s frightening. Take it from this novice video game coder.
Here’s my video game, imperfections and all!
Go for it!
Joselle
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