Slow Down to Go Fast
I like to move fast. So fast that sometimes I skip through my pre-run stretch to get out and get moving. But moving fast can lead to skipping steps that will cause injury and put you on the sideline, not moving forward at all.It can be hard to slow down as makers and creators, but sometimes we have to, or we risk skipping the most important steps.
If we slow down and validate our idea first, we can save time, energy, and effort.When Buffer launched, they didn't have a fancy landing page or a functioning app. Instead, it was a simple page that made a simple offer to help make someone's life a little easier.After gaining interest, they tested pricing to see if people would pay. Sure enough, people continued to show interest.
In the end, Buffer validated and launched a product to paying customers in 7 weeks.Step one of your validation process is a minimum viable landing page. When creating the page, answer these questions as it relates to your customer using your product or service:What do they have now, what will they have after?
How can it help make someone's average day a little better?How do they feel now and after?What is their current status now and after?While you may be selling a product, people are buying the transformation. If you articulate that transformation, you will better connect with your potential customers and get them excited to buy.
This principle hits even harder in 2026. AI tools like Claude Code can ship features in hours that used to take weeks. The temptation to move at machine speed is real. But speed without direction is still just motion. I watch teams sprint through AI-generated code without understanding what they shipped. They celebrate velocity while burying themselves in technical debt they cannot explain.
Think of it like GPS. You can drive 120 mph, but if you missed the turn three miles back, all that speed just made the problem worse. The builders winning right now are the ones who pause before prompting. They define the problem. They sketch the architecture. They validate with real users. Then they let AI accelerate the execution.
Validation has never been easier or cheaper. You can spin up a landing page in minutes, run ads for a weekend, and have real signal by Monday. The barrier is not time or money anymore. The barrier is discipline. Are you willing to test your assumptions before falling in love with your solution?
Slow down. Define the transformation you are offering. Validate that someone actually wants it. Then build fast with confidence. That is the real competitive advantage in an era where everyone has access to the same AI tools.
Related: Importance of Routine and The Hidden Costs of Meetings.
