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Re:Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit) by palish on Friday August 31, 2007 @01:22PM (#48793)
Like Artix, Chain would have failed in its current form no matter how smooth it was polished. It was very important that we failed fast so that we could focus on morphing it into something that works. You lose that with perfectionism.

So you'd better be a Steve Jobs.

Re:Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit) by gscott on Friday August 31, 2007 @04:06PM (#48934)
> So you'd better be a Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs is a huge perfectionist. However he will make you work 70+ hours a week to achieve his perfection and he will ride you every step of the way to get the best out of you. http://www.folklore.org

Re:Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit) by aston on Friday August 31, 2007 @02:29PM (#48840)
Steve Jobs releases with less than perfection all the time. If you need evidence, look no further than giving AT&T an exclusive with the iPhone.

The key is accepting that people prefer products to promises, and just going ahead with something that's good enough without it being perfect.

Re:Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit) by palish on Friday August 31, 2007 @02:39PM (#48850)
Being a perfectionist doesn't mean you make perfect things. However, perfectionism requires perfect taste for success.

It feels like there are two forms of design: "release early and release often" and "release it perfectly". Very few people have the taste necessary to find success in the latter.

Re:Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit) by far33d on Friday August 31, 2007 @03:01PM (#48868)
Good point - "release early, release often" is also a quest to perfectionism, but is a public quest. You have your users determine what is perfect, what directions to go in.

Holding something to yourself until it is "perfect" is a solo quest. You may spend too much time on the wrong things and no time on the right things. But you also won't release something that is completely broken.

Re:Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit) by omouse on Friday August 31, 2007 @04:03PM (#48926)
"You may spend too much time on the wrong things and no time on the right things."

Aha, now we know what to call that solo quest for perfection: premature optimization.

Re:Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit) by omouse on Friday August 31, 2007 @02:41PM (#48854)
Don't you dare say Chain is failing. I'm still using the site!

Just make it look a tiny bit nicer, get a few mentions on various blogs and you'll be fine. A PayPal donate link may help too?

Re:Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit) by palish on Friday August 31, 2007 @02:48PM (#48860)
Aw, thanks mouse! I love creating something that at least one person likes.

We're just refocusing the site. I'll toss you an email with the outline of the redesign so you can approve or disapprove it.

Edit: Email away

Re:Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit) by oditogre on Friday August 31, 2007 @03:16PM (#48879)
What is Chain?
Re:Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit) by palish on Friday August 31, 2007 @03:17PM (#48881)
Re:Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit) by oditogre on Friday August 31, 2007 @03:20PM (#48884)
So it's something like a community incubator? Interesting. Not something I'd use, but interesting.
Re:Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit) by palish on Friday August 31, 2007 @03:29PM (#48892)
Hehe, no, and that's why it's being redesigned. The focus isn't immediately clear.

It's currently a productivity site. You'll say "I'm going to run every day". When you've done it you check back to the site and make a post about it and attach a photo. Your post is shared with everyone else doing the same thing as you, and you can upvote posts.

Re:Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit) by steve on Friday August 31, 2007 @08:19PM (#49071)
I think you have set a new record for deciding defeat the fastest:)
Re:Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit) by palish on Saturday September 01, 2007 @08:49AM (#49204)
Depends what you mean by defeat. It seems like one is only defeated when they stop trying new things, which is never going to be the case for us. But one can simply fail by making something only 2 people want.