START UGLY. ITERATE. REPEAT.

You ever stare at a blank Figma file, a roadmap draft, or a new feature idea and think: “This needs to be flawless before I even breathe on it”?
Spoiler: It doesn’t.

This week’s brain snack comes straight from Ash Mehrotra’s podcast gem:
“You’re just gonna have to go out there, take a few first steps and iterate. The effects will compound.”

Let’s unpack why this mindset is the cheat code for product leaders (and humans who want to stop overthinking their lives).

🧩 Step 1: Start BEFORE You’re “Ready”

(Aka: The Myth of the Perfect Prototype)

Newsflash: Waiting to be “ready” is just procrastination in a blazer.

• Overcomplicating success? Classic move.

• Waiting for the “perfect” plan/skills/moment? That’s fear wearing a disguise.

Product Leadership Hack:
Your first MVP isn’t about impressing stakeholders. It’s about learning.

• Airbnb started as a janky site renting air mattresses.

• Slack was a gaming company’s internal tool.

The Fix:
Launch the ugly beta. Run the scrappy user test. Send the imperfect email.
Progress > polish.

🔄 Step 2: Iterate Like Your Life Depends on It

(Because It Kinda Does)

Your first attempt will suck. Your second might too. But iteration is where the magic hides.

Why Product Leaders Obsess Over This:

• Tweak pricing → Pivot onboarding → Kill a feature → Repeat.

• Agile isn’t a buzzword. It’s survival.

Hot Take:
Treat your career like software. Release updates weekly.
“But what if users hate it?”
Cool. Now you know what to fix.

📈 Step 3: Let Compounding Work Its Voodoo

(AKA: The Silent Superpower)

Small efforts feel pointless… until they don’t.

Fun With Math:
1% better daily = 37x growth in a year.
(Yes, really. Blame exponents.)

Product Leadership Example:

• Fix one tiny UX friction point today.

• Interview one customer this week.

• Write three bullet points for next quarter’s strategy.

One day you’ll blink and realize: “Oh. I’m here because I kept moving.”

🛠 How to Apply This TODAY

(No, really. Like, after you finish this coffee.)

1️⃣ Pick ONE thing you’ve overthought.
(That feature? That blog post? That convo with your boss?) Launch it ugly.
2️⃣ Review weekly:
“What worked? What needs a Viking funeral?”
3️⃣ Track micro-wins:
Journal. Spreadsheet. Voice notes. Carrier pigeon. Just track it.

Bottom Line:
Success isn’t about genius ideas or grand gestures.
It’s about:
✅ Showing up imperfectly.
✅ Refining relentlessly.
✅ Trusting the math of time.

Stop waiting. Start building.
The compound effect is coming for you.

💬 Over to You:
What’s a “small step” that snowballed into something big for you?
Hit reply—I read every reply.

P.S. If you enjoyed this, share it with someone who needs to hear “start ugly.” (Or forward it to your overthinking colleague. You know the one.)

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Want to work together?
I help product leaders build teams that ship faster, freak out less, and actually enjoy Mondays. Let’s chat