Every so often, I remind myself that this platform is a blog. It’s where I share insights from my journey as a VR developer, entrepreneur, and writer. My hope is that these stories might resonate with others navigating similar paths. Today, I want to discuss a fresh approach I’ve begun to embrace over the last few weeks.
For those familiar with me, it’s well-known that my passion for Virtual Reality, or Mixed Reality as Meta coins it, drives me to juggle multiple projects simultaneously. I juggle blogging, attending industry events, engaging in contract work, and occasionally dabbling with my own product ideas. Initially, I said "yes" to every opportunity that came my way. On the upside, this meant tangible successes across various endeavors, but on the flip side, it fostered stress and diluted focus, stalling progress.
A few months ago, some insightful books, like "Antifragile," coupled with personal experiences, prompted me to reevaluate my approach. Now, here’s a tenet that steers my professional life: doing fewer things but with greater impact trumps doing many things with little significance. Allow me to elaborate.
Social media is one area where this thinking came into play. I’d routinely share a plethora of XR-related articles on Twitter/X, feeling compelled to inform the community. My routine was simple: read, tag it with a few hashtags, and hit share. Yet, engagement was minimal. It’s not the lack of likes that bothered me, but the realization that the content reached only a handful. The algorithm didn’t favor posts that lacked emotional spark or debate, especially those with external links. It wasn’t the algorithm’s fault, per se, but my content wasn’t serving the purpose I intended: informing and engaging a community.
So, I shifted my strategy. Instead of sharing everything, I now focus on posting only the most compelling content. I also invest time into crafting these posts to make them more engaging. I strive not to stir up divisive debates, but rather aim for informative and positive interactions. This change has gradually boosted engagement and fostered new connections.
This principle applies to all facets of my work. Previously, I felt compelled to churn out at least one article per week, even if the content was superficial. These efforts mirrored the aforementioned social media posts: time-consuming and largely inconsequential to the community. Now, rather than force a piece out, I prefer to channel my energy elsewhere, focusing on quality over quantity. This approach has yielded more meaningful interactions and recognition, as seen when my post on Android XR earned mentions in various reputable magazines.
As a developer, I used to accept any feasible contract. But working on a $100,000 project as part of a team is significantly more rewarding than tackling ten smaller $10,000 projects. Larger endeavors often mean a chance to collaborate with valuable clients, advance professionally, and earn portfolio-worthy projects. Take, for instance, the VR concert platform VRROOM, which radically expanded my skill set over a year and a half—more so than several smaller projects combined.
Every undertaking carries a cost, particularly from a time perspective. With multiple projects, the fixed overhead—in terms of contracts, meetings, and post-project feedback—can balloon, making it inefficient. While hunting down large projects is tougher than snagging smaller ones, when given a choice, pursuing the bigger, high-impact projects can prove worthwhile.
To fans of Pareto, my approach won’t sound groundbreaking. The 80/20 rule suggests that 20% of your efforts generate 80% of your results. Hypothetically, eliminating 80% of your tasks would only diminish your output by 20%. This theory highlights the importance of prioritizing impactful projects.
"Antifragile" articulates these "non-linearities" of life well. It’s akin to dropping a hefty stone versus scattering a thousand pebbles—the impact isn’t equivalent. The single, larger action often bears a far greater influence.
Quality matters greatly, too. Spreading yourself thin across multiple tasks compromises quality. Focusing on fewer projects allows me to hone quality, ensuring that my work not only satisfies but elevates my reputation. Over time, I’ve come to recognize the true value of my work, trading volume for value, even if it means asking for more compensation. The outcome? Better output and a more sustainable work-life balance.
Yet success isn’t solely tethered to quality. Regularity holds equal weight. For instance, a viral tweet may garner countless likes, but infrequent posting fails to establish lasting connections. A person’s followership grows not from a standout post but through consistent, relevant contributions.
This principle extends to networking and events. For instance, attending CES—one of the major tech events—was highly beneficial, yielding crucial connections and insights into the XR landscape. But infrequent attendance would yield little return.
Years ago, I learned from Francesco Ronchi, CEO of Synesthesia, that real connections often form through repeat encounters. There’s truth in his advice: meaningful relationships evolve over multiple interactions, be it networking events or professional collaborations. Thus, it’s important to maintain a balance between quality and quantity, delivering consistent value over time.
Finally, beyond delivering quality and balancing quantity, consider the long-term impact. While a viral post might attract attention, the question remains: how does it shape your career in the long haul?
Concurrently with my regular tasks, I ponder which endeavors could propell my career five or ten years into the future. These ambitions, albeit slow-burning, provide direction and potentially facilitate significant career milestones.
In conclusion, the crux is clear:
Do fewer, but more impactful things—both presently and for the future. You’ll offer more value, earn more in return, and foster a more fulfilling, less stressful lifestyle.
Jot this philosophy down if it resonates. After all, a little wisdom can enhance the most essential parts of our day. Whether anyone needed this reminder today, I hope my reflections contribute to someone else’s path toward an improved professional life. If so, share your thoughts or spread this post—just remember to put your own spin on it!
