Less, but Superior and More Resilient

Every now and then, I remind myself that this is a blog, a space to share insights from my journey as a VR developer, entrepreneur, and blogger. My hope is that these reflections can offer some guidance to others facing similar challenges. Today, I want to discuss a new approach I’ve been exploring recently.

If you know me at all, you’re aware of my deep love for Virtual Reality—what Meta prefers to call Mixed Reality. This passion has led me to juggle a lot of roles: attending events, writing blogs, taking on freelance projects, and even experimenting with my own product ideas. Initially, I embraced every opportunity that came my way with a resounding “yes.” On the positive side, I enjoyed the variety of experiences and saw success in many areas. However, the downside was clear: spreading myself too thin often left me overwhelmed and hindered my ability to make meaningful progress in any one area.

A few months back, influenced by books I’ve read (such as “Antifragile”) and personal experiences, I had a revelation. I now live by this rule: it’s far more rewarding to focus on a few impactful endeavors than to scatter my efforts across numerous minor ones. Here’s what I’ve learned.

Take social media, for instance. I used to flood my Twitter/X feed with links to articles about XR, hoping to inform my community. I’d hastily click “share” and maybe add a hashtag or two. But over time, I realized these posts barely received any engagement. It wasn’t about collecting likes; it was the stark realization that no one was reading them, rendering my efforts pointless. After observing others and reading about the algorithm changes, I discovered these posts flopped because they failed to ignite conversations or elicit emotions. They also died quickly in the algorithm due to links taking users off-site. These social media algorithms are a beast, but that’s a topic for another day. What matters is I was investing time in content that wasn’t reaching anyone or building my network. Essentially, I was wasting time and effort.

So, I shifted gears. Instead of sharing everything that caught my eye, I now focus on the most relevant content, making extra effort to add value to these posts. Of course, I still occasionally share quick links, but less frequently. I’m not trying to stir up political debates, but I do aim to make my posts more informative and engaging, which typically results in more readers and new connections.

This philosophy extends to everything I do. In the past, I felt compelled to churn out at least one article a week, even if it meant sharing trivial updates or quick tips. Much like my experience with social media, these posts consumed valuable time without offering significant value to my audience, and consequently, they didn’t serve me either. Now, I prefer to write nothing at all than deliver a superficial piece. Instead, I channel my time into more meaningful efforts. When I do write, I ensure the content is informative and worthy of my—and my readers’—time. This approach has had tangible benefits; for instance, my post about Android XR’s camera access garnered significant attention, boosting both my reputation and SEO, unlike writing multiple inconsequential posts.

As a developer, I used to accept any contract work that came my way. But I’ve realized that working on a single $100,000 project, as part of a team, is far more fulfilling and valuable than tackling ten $10,000 projects. Larger projects generally involve reputable clients and offer opportunities for meaningful connections and impressive portfolio pieces. In contrast, smaller projects often don’t warrant attention and lack the complexity to drive professional growth. The most significant project I worked on, VRROOM, a VR platform for concerts, was a challenging yet rewarding year-and-a-half journey that taught me more about development and management than all my previous years combined.

Every project, big or small, demands time and energy. There’s always a fixed cost, like negotiating contracts, handling weekly client updates, and dealing with post-project feedback. Managing ten smaller projects multiplies these demands, while a single, larger project simplifies this considerably. Granted, finding a large project is challenging, especially in the current VR landscape. I’m not advocating turning down all smaller jobs, especially if you’re starting out and need to pay the bills. But if you have the option, leaning towards bigger, more significant projects is wise.

I acknowledge this isn’t groundbreaking advice. If you’re a fan of the Pareto Principle like me, you know that 20% of what you do is usually responsible for 80% of your outcomes. This implies you could, theoretically, eliminate 80% of your efforts and only sacrifice a fraction of the results. While more a conceptual framework than a precise science, it highlights the value of focusing on impactful tasks.

“Antifragile” touches on the non-linear nature of impact—larger endeavors often provide exponentially greater returns. It’s like comparing the effect of dropping a massive rock versus a thousand pebbles; the single rock is far more impactful than the sum of the pebbles.

Quality is another essential factor. When you’re constantly busy juggling multiple tasks, quality often suffers. When you do less, you have the capacity to create superior work. This enhances satisfaction, adds value to others, and bolsters your reputation. Quality is something I’ve always strived for in my roles as a developer and entrepreneur, associating it now with building a solid reputation. I want people to reach out to me knowing I’ll deliver quality work. Though this quality comes at a cost, I’m no longer embarrassed to ask for higher compensation. It reflects my worth after years of hard work in the industry. I work just as much, but it’s a healthier, more focused workload.

However, quality alone isn’t enough. Unless you create something revolutionary, like the infamous CTRL+ALT+CANC shortcut, maintaining consistent delivery of quality work is crucial. Returning to social media, I’ve seen users gain massive likes for a single post only to retain a small follower count. Resonating with the audience once isn’t enough to build a following. Consistent, engaging content is the key to gaining and maintaining followers.

This concept is equally relevant to networking and attending events. I’ve adopted the “fewer but better” mantra here too. For instance, attending CES this year—a massive tech event—I made the most of it, resulting in significant new connections, insights into the XR ecosystem, and new followers. However, attending such an event only once every few years would yield minimal benefits.

Several years ago, with less entrepreneurial experience, I was at an event in Milan where I had the chance to talk to Francesco Ronchi, CEO of a prominent IT company. While attempting to persuade him to try chocolate-covered insects (a story for another day), I asked for networking advice. He emphasized the importance of being a familiar face because strong connections often form with individuals you meet multiple times. While brief encounters rarely lead to deep connections, seeing familiar faces repeatedly can solidify and strengthen relationships. After all, some connections blossom instantly, like my rapport with Christian Steiner at XRCC, while others evolve gradually. Thus, blending quality with consistent efforts ensures sustained success.

Lastly, beyond quality and consistency, consider the long-term impact. While I’d relish a viral LinkedIn post with a million views and a flood of comments, the true question is: How does it shape my career in the long run?

Balancing my routine work with tasks that could have enduring impacts on my career is vital. This strategic approach aligns with my aspirations, helping me create opportunities for significant career advancements.

Ultimately, it’s a matter of identifying what you want in your future and aligning your efforts accordingly.

And there you have it, my musings for today. To sum up:

“Do fewer but more impactful things, for your present and your future. You will deliver more value and get more value back while being less stressed and more satisfied.”

You might even jot this down somewhere noticeable, like your bathroom mirror, as a gentle reminder to appreciate the valuable moments throughout your day.

I’m uncertain if anyone needed these insights, but I hope they’ve sparked some reflections on improving your work life. If they resonate, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments—or on social media, with a touch of effort in the sharing process.