Occasionally, I remind myself that this is a blog, a platform where I can share the lessons I’ve learned throughout my career as a VR developer, entrepreneur, and blogger. Perhaps these insights might resonate with others facing similar challenges. Today feels like one of those moments, so I’d like to delve into a new approach I’ve recently begun to embrace.
If you’ve been following my work, you know I’m deeply passionate about Virtual Reality, or as Meta prefers, Mixed Reality. This enthusiasm has often driven me to juggle numerous projects simultaneously. Whether it’s blogging, attending events, taking on contract work, or tinkering with my own products, I’ve always leaned towards saying "yes" to every opportunity. While this can lead to varied experiences and achievements, it also brings stress and dilutes focus, making it hard to make a significant impact.
A few months back, some readings—including "Antifragile"—and personal reflections led me to establish a principle that’s reshaping my professional life: focus on fewer, impactful endeavors rather than scattering efforts across many minor ones. Let me explain this change.
This realization hit me hard when considering my social media habits. I’ve always enjoyed sharing XR-related articles on Twitter (yes, Twitter, not X) to keep the community informed. My routine involved quickly posting these links with a couple of hashtags, but I started noticing that these posts barely received engagement. The reality? The algorithm wasn’t favorable to links leading users away from the platform, resulting in minimal visibility.
Despite my intention to inform, my efforts were mostly in vain. My time and energy were consumed by content that went largely unnoticed, offering no new connections or followers. This prompted a change; I began to curate more meaningful content, focusing on crafting posts that could spark curiosity and engagement, though still within the realms of positivity and informativeness. The shift was rewarding, drawing more attention and fostering connections.
This lesson extends beyond social media. Previously, I was fixated on producing at least one blog post per week, driven by the pressure to always have something to say. Whether it was holiday updates or quick XR software tips, the results were unimpressive and left little lasting impact. Now, if there’s nothing substantial to share, I opt to focus my time elsewhere. This ensures that when I do write, the content is informative and respects both my time and my audience’s. This approach yielded significant dividends; a post on Android XR access, for instance, expanded my blog’s reach, bolstering both reputation and SEO.
Similarly, in my development work, a paradigm shift was necessary. While I once took on any contract available, I’ve learned that landing a single $100,000 project is often more beneficial than spreading oneself thin over multiple smaller projects. Larger projects offer the opportunity to build lasting client relationships, showcase impressive work, and significantly enhance professional growth. My involvement with VRROOM, a VR concert platform, over 18 months taught me more about development and management than years of smaller piecemeal projects ever could.
Everything we pursue comes with a cost, especially time. Managing multiple projects means handling numerous contracts, meetings, and potential issues, whereas a single, substantial project consolidates these demands. While it’s not always feasible to secure big projects exclusively, it’s worth striving for these opportunities.
Reflecting on the Pareto Principle—where 20% of efforts drive 80% of results—reinforces this mindset. While theoretical, it underscores concentrating on impactful actions. Books like "Antifragile" illustrate that significant endeavors carry exponentially more influence than numerous small ones combined.
Emphasizing quality is crucial too. When overwhelmed with tasks, quality inevitably suffers. Undertaking less means finally having the bandwidth to produce exceptional work, enhancing both personal satisfaction and professional credibility. Quality costs more, and while I once hesitated to charge accordingly, experience now validates my worth, allowing me to focus on fewer projects, deliver superior results, and maintain a healthier work-life balance.
Yet, quality alone isn’t enough. One standout achievement won’t sustain success. Engaging regularly and consistently is key. Just as infrequent event attendance yields little, maintaining a presence fosters deeper connections. Early advice from an industry peer highlighted the value of repeated interactions for building meaningful networks.
Beyond immediate tasks, considering long-term career impact is vital. While short-term wins are gratifying, they rarely shape future trajectories decisively. I actively seek tasks with potential long-run benefits, steering strategic career advancement. Identifying these tasks, aligned with future goals, is essential.
To wrap up this rather extensive reflection:
Focus on fewer, more impactful endeavors for both present and future gains. This approach promises greater value, satisfaction, and reduced stress.
Feel free to jot that down somewhere handy as a daily reminder. I hope sharing these insights has been helpful. If it resonates, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments or see you share this post—thoughtfully—across social media!
