Quality Begins With Twice

Naivety

We tend to underestimate the complexity of many of our projects. We often assume that instructions or a well-constructed plan can compensate for the unfamiliarity of a project. We tend to be overly optimistic about the quality we can achieve on the first attempt. Naivety tends to punish first attempts, both in the first execution, and in expectations about the first execution.

Our minds contain far-more resources for handling complexity than we tend to understand. Our benefit of innately handling complexity has a cost of assuming too much simplicity and encouraging too much confidence. Much of the mind is instead designed to engage and to integrate lessons from experiences. The Universe is too complex for rigidness. Doing well often requires defying rigidness.

Complexity

The higher the details of a project, the higher the chances for various small failures, and some small failures can be highly consequential. Complexity tends to dictate that no amount of organization or preparation can ensure quality in the first attempt. Complexity tends to dictate that a minimum of two attempts are necessary in understanding the details of a specific situation.

The lessons of the first attempt tend to be exponential, after it has been attempted and examined. Additional lessons can be had from further attempts, though the benefit will decay for each attempt.

Understanding the dynamics of multiple attempts can inform practice and expectations. One may realize it unwise to jump into an unfamiliar situation where consequential finality is expected. One may realize it unwise to plan over and over again, assuming preparation can anticipate every important detail. One may be wise to try to find an inexpensive similar siutation where an inexpensive first attempt can be made. One may be wise to break a large project into many subprojects, where discrete pieces of the project can be attempted prior to important attempts on the grander project. One may be wise to realize that their project may be too niche for inputs and guidances from others.

Wasteful Speculation

You may think that your preparation is progression, but such progression may be small compared to actually doing, especially where there are options to do something that is disposable. Some may perceive it to be a waste of time doing each project two or more times instead of once. But there tends to be significant time wasted in insulating the self from real experiences and direct familiarizations. Planning can only teach a limited set of lessons.

You may need to question yourself about attitude or procrastination or fear if you are dreading first-hand practice. Perhaps you can tolerate the experience more if you were more enthusiastic about attempting it, and perhaps there will be more enthusiasm from beginning smaller or easier. Fearing failure may be fearing what you actually need, as failure is often necessary in improvement.

Speculation can pressurize the situation. And perhaps some kind of forgiveness is necessary in depressuring such. One may find forgiveness in disposability or smallness, in working where failure can easily be forgiven.

Getting Help

There are tradeoffs in seeking assistance. Mentors may be capable of helping, though one may be insulated from some of the lessons that could be had, and one may surrender some of their individuality. Often ability is defined by struggle. Many special projects may be too personal or too specialized to benefit from advice or guidance. In retrospect one may wish to question every experience they inherited from others, which may be difficult for many reasons.

Good Foundations

There are tradeoffs to utilizing drafts, as the refinement of a draft is not the same as doing it twice. A draft may lay mediocre foundations that are difficult to replace, and encourage assumptions that are difficult to unassume.

Quality also begins with good foundations, and independent multiple attempts can force better foundations, taking some benefit from the experiences of previous attempts. The pieces of a foundation may be collected and organized better after an inferior version has been attempted. It can be informative simply having a creation that one can look down upon, detached, and feel free in questioning everything about it. Simple attempts at subprojects can clarify the identity of each piece of the foundation of a larger project.

Concrete Example

One may first try making concrete, using a small mould and a small amount of cement, and learn various lessons. Such as the need for various supplies during formation, such as clean water and a trowel and a stick and gloves and tarps. Such as the difficulty of physically mixing cement, and the fact that instructions tend to suggest low amounts of water. Such as the fact that cement may need to be pressed into corners, as it may not fill tight areas on its own. Such as the fact that too much or too little water is a significant factor in the quality of the resulting concrete. Such as the fact that a motorized mixer may lower the strain and water required in preparing a cement slurry. Such as the fact that concrete may need to stay hydrated during the curing process.

Cooking Example

One may first try cooking an unfamiliar recipe, with mediocre results. And may discover better ingredient proportions or temperatures or cooking times. Early naivety can actually help in finding improvements for recipes.

Programming Example

One may try programming, and discover that a large project is very difficult to handle. And may learn that it can help to do smaller independent pieces of the program before implementing them for the larger program. And may learn that the first implementation tends to contain many structural flaws that can be addressed in subsequent implementations.

Writing Example

One may have the prospect of writing a book, but easily get overwhelmed by the large task. And perhaps may consider writing short pieces of the book, similar in information or theme, pieces that may not be the same as the book, pieces that may or may not ever be shared with others, pieces that may reveal ideas for other writing projects. Such can provide valuable experience along with insights into the foundations and particulars of a book. Such may make evident what is needed or not needed in a book, and the order in which various pieces are arranged. Diaries can be a means of smaller doings before larger doings, as well as offering many other benefits. Diaries can help break much of the speculation in projects, in any type of project beyond writing. This entry was written twice, and I have other works I am planning on doing at least twice in one way or another.

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