Avoid getting caught up in the obsession over the perfect framework or process for doing things. When conversations lean towards following established doctrines simply because “that’s the way it’s always been,” my usual reaction is “maybe…” 🙃
Imagine you’re baking a cake 🎂 with the aim of replicating something you can find at any large chain grocery store; sticking to a recipe makes sense.
But, what if your goal is to innovate? To bake a cake unlike any the world has ever tasted?
Well, getting the fundamentals down is key.
You’ll also need to understand the craft and methodologies of cake making.
You’ll need to bake many times, following frameworks and processes of others, before you’re good at it.
⚡️ However, to truly innovate and deliver something uniquely different, you’ll need to veer off course, metaphorically forget everything you know, and add your unique twist.
“Good process serves you so you can serve customers. But if you’re not watchful, the process can become the thing… The process becomes the proxy for the result you want. You stop looking at outcomes and just make sure you’re doing the process right… The process is not the thing.” — Bezos
Processes and frameworks lay the groundwork; they’re indispensable. But blindly following them does not lead to innovation or true edge.
There comes a point where you’ll need to trust yourself and allow a level of intuition to guide your actions.
Frameworks and processes are ubiquitous at this point, we all know them—ChatGPT can tell you 20 different ones in an instant. However, it can’t replicate your unique experiences, insights, or essence. That personal touch is what truly sets you apart.
So, don’t let processes and frameworks box you in. Understand them, learn from them, but also embrace spontaneity and exploration to forge a unique edge that truly differentiates.
Bring your unique flavor to the table, and create something truly unique and great.
PS, once you’ve discovered that edge, consider codifying it into a new framework or process to scale across your team or organization so all can leverage it if applicable.