A reflection on "How to Build Things Fast?"

Based on the mindset of route searching when using Google Maps

Aug 03, 2024

Friday, just as I was wrapping up the week, a friend asked me, “Hey, I saw that you built the requirement checklist for our last customer really fast. How do you deliver such a complex outcome so quickly? Or in general, how do you approach building things fast?”

This question made me reflect on my process when tackling a problem. Nowadays, we need to deliver things every day, every hour, every minute: your boss asks for a monthly report, your clients request a pitch deck, or even your partner asks for a travel plan. How can you produce the best outcome with limited time and resources?

Interestingly, I realized that my approach to delivering outcomes is quite similar to the concept of route searching for delivery using Google Maps. Here are the steps I follow:

1 - Start with the end

2 - Draw the map & Choose the “best” route (of course, but how?)

3 - Put yourself in others' shoes

4 - Last but not least, make sure your outcome is well delivered

This article, as part of the answer to my friend’s question, will mainly focus on the how. It might be a bit detailed, but I hope it gives you some ideas to speed up your process.

Ok, let's dive into how I approach each of these criteria:

1 - First things first, start with the end

“Begin With the End in Mind” is the 2nd habit in the famous book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Franklin Covey: “Begin With the End in Mind means to begin each day, task, or project with a clear vision of your desired direction and destination, and then continue by flexing your proactive muscles to make things happen.” (FranklinCovey.com)

For me, this step is the most critical. A clear desired destination means that I can envision the final outcome and, even better, describe the expected outcome to other team members so they are on the same page.

Just like route searching, the first thing you need to do is find the destination.

2 - Draw the map & Choose the “best” route

Like Google Maps, you should draw a simple map to know which way to go to deliver things. For me, a map usually includes: Places, Routes, Transportation, and Traffic on that route.

Applying the concept of Google Maps to choose the best way:

First, define the places: the Starting point, Destination, and key places on the route (checkpoints).
Then, draw the line connecting these key destinations.
Third, choose the transportation method, whether it's a bike, motorbike, bus, or even walking. In real terms, this could be the tools or methods you use (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, or even a video clip).
Finally, to choose the best route, consider:
- Traffic on that route: Is it an empty road or crowded with vehicles? This means estimating if the resources needed are available. For example, if you need to design something, do you have the capacity, or do you need someone’s help? Is that person available?
- Familiarity: Have you traveled this way before, making it easier and safer, or is it a completely new path?
- Estimated Time of Arrival: The total time you'll need to reach the destination. In real terms, this is the deadline you can commit to your teammates and customers.

Just reflecting on the example, as we have to choose directions every day. :D

3 - Put yourself in others' shoes

“Put yourself in others' shoes” means viewing the expected outcome and the delivery process from your teammates' or customers' perspectives. Imagine finding the route on Google Maps, but not only you are traveling, your teammates are coming with you, and your customers are waiting at the destination. So, you should:

Double-check the destination and the routes with your teammates before starting to ensure everyone knows where you're heading and how to get there.
Regularly (or ideally, in real-time) update your customers on what you are doing and the estimated delivery time. (Think of a delivery app updating the real-time location of your driver.)

4 - Last but not least, make sure your outcome is well delivered

Once you reach the destination, the last but crucial step is to deliver your outcome effectively. This means:

Ensuring your customers receive it (like a delivery driver contacting you to hand over a package, not just leaving it at the door without notice).
Making sure your customers know how to use it: provide clear guidelines, state goals, and explain how to use the items to achieve those goals.

And finally, always ask for feedback after delivering the outcome. This helps gather data to optimize for next time.

Final thought:

I think this mindset of route searching is a tool focused on the "how" of delivering outcomes. Of course, we need to define the "what" and the "why" first. But because the word “fast” is in the question, execution becomes a key pillar in achieving the goal. Having a clear framework to think and follow can be the first step to executing everything faster.

Hey there! If you drop a heart icon or leave a comment,
it would really inspire me to keep writing :d