Definition

Iteration involves an actor (person or group) doing something over and over while progressively improving quality with each iteration cycle.

Examples

1. Writing several outlines of a paper. Then, writing several drafts. Then, stopping once the quality of the paper is good enough to be done.

2. Toyota improves the Tacoma pickup every year. In addition, once every ten years, they do a major revision.

3. Once upon a time Tiger Woods did not know how to play golf. But he started learning and playing games. Along the way, he improved. He played tournaments. He kept improving. Eventually, he reached the level of the number one rated golfer in the world.

4. The Wright Brothers succeeded in inventing the airplane by using iteration cycles. First, they designed a kite and flew it. They learned from this cycle, and then designed a glider and flew it. They learned from this cycle and then design, built, and tested an even better gliders. Their data revealed that the lift data of the time was not quite accurate so they designed a wind tunnel and got better data.

5. Apple succeed with the world first home computer because Steve Wozniak used iteration cycles. In particular, Woz designed many computers on paper because parts were too expensive. But when the time came, he designed the Apple I computer which sold about 200 units. His next design, the Apple II, was completed in a few weeks. This design sold 5 to 6 million units. Woz succeed because he had done so many iteration cycles which gave him the requisite knowledge and skill sets.

6. When JE was learning algebra, he did story problem after story problem after story problem. At first the story problems were hard, but they got each easier and easier. Eventually, JE could do story problems so well that he could do them literally in his sleep and do them super fast and get the right answer.

Rationale

1. Rewarding: constantly getting rewards as you build things and get the associated satisfaction. Makes “hard things” that most people seek to avoid rewarding and thereby addictive.

2. For some things, an iterative approach is the only way to succeed.

3. Basis of deliberate practice which a fantastic way to learn.

4. Equips you design cool things like cars, airplanes, landscapes buildings, bridges, and houses.

5. Equips you to do cool things like write novels, write songs, write plays, write nonfiction books, and so on.

6. Saves huge amounts of time and money.

7. Super fun and engaging; you get to do things today instead of overthinking them. This is like being a 10 year old and jumping into action without excessive thinking.

Facts

1. Iterations cycles can involve a system or they can involve a part of a system.

2. Iterations cycles have different names depending on the context:

   1. In design, they are called sketches and prototypes (protos).
   2. In writing, they are called drafts
   3. In learning, they are called growth cycles

3. Iterations should be super fast. For example, Paul McCready designed the world’s first human-powered airplane. His first proto was built in a weekend. It did not fly, but the point of iterating is to learn or figure something out and then try it out and learn from the experiences.

Iteration (How To)

While quality is improving, take the follow actions

1. Design:

   1. Figure out the goal state.
   2. Figure out how to reach the goal state.

2. Build: Build your entity in some form.

3. Test: Get data that tells you current level of quality.

4. Loop Back: If your quality is not yet where you want it, loop back to the previous actions and repeat them.