Every now and then, I remind myself that this is a platform for sharing, so I like to open up about the insights I’ve gained throughout my journey as a VR developer, entrepreneur, and blogger. My hope is that these revelations might resonate with some of you who are navigating similar paths. Today feels like one of those days where such a discussion is in order, and I want to share a fresh approach I’ve recently adopted.
If you know me, you’re aware of my deep-seated passion for Virtual Reality or what Meta might refer to as Mixed Reality. This enthusiasm has often led me to juggle a multitude of projects in this field—blogging, attending events, taking on contract work, and occasionally trying to create products of my own. Initially, I had a habit of saying "yes" to every opportunity thrown my way. On the plus side, it allowed me to explore diverse avenues and achieve satisfactory results across these domains. However, spreading myself too thin has its drawbacks—it can be incredibly stressful and often thwarts the focus needed to make a meaningful impact.
This mindset shift started brewing a few months ago, spurred by some compelling reading, including the book Antifragile, alongside personal experiences. It dawned on me that it’s more valuable to commit to a few high-impact projects than to scatter my energy across numerous trivial ones. Let me illustrate how this principle is reshaping my endeavors.
Take social media, for instance. I’ve been accustomed to sharing a plethora of XR-related links on Twitter/X, believing these insights could benefit the community. So, I’d read an article, hit the share button, add a couple of hashtags, and post. I kept at it until I realized these posts garnered little engagement—not because I’m chasing "likes," but because low interaction implied minimal readership, rendering my efforts futile. The problem wasn’t just with my posts being overlooked; it was the algorithm punishing them for not inciting dialogue or emotion, or simply because they contained links redirecting users away from the platform. While we all acknowledge the capricious nature of social media algorithms, the key takeaway was my time was being squandered with no return—be it in the form of informed followers, new connections, or anything of tangible value.
I needed a strategy overhaul. I stopped sharing everything I found interesting and focused on sharing only the most significant topics, investing additional effort to enrich these posts beyond a simple title and link (though I do slip back into that habit occasionally). While I try to steer clear of inciting contentious debates or heated political discussions, I now accept that playing by the platform’s rules can lead to more meaningful engagement and potentially foster new connections.
This philosophy extends to all areas of my work. I used to pressure myself to churn out at least one article a week, besides regular round-ups. When content ideas were scant, I’d hastily piece together posts about upcoming vacations, events, or small XR software hacks. But the outcome mirrored my social media experience—these posts added little value, offering no follower growth, reputation boost, or collaborative opportunities in return. Nowadays, if I lack something worthwhile to share, I prefer saving that time for endeavors that promise more relevance. The posts I do write are crafted with the intention of being truly informative, earning my time—and my readers’—through their substance. Occasionally, this approach leads to significant exposure, as with my piece on Android XR allowing camera access, which attracted mentions from several online publications, enhancing both my credibility and SEO.
When it comes to development work, I once jumped at every project that came my way. But I’ve realized a single $100,000 project, engaged within a team—even if not all that bounty is mine—is far more beneficial than spearheading ten $10,000 projects. Larger projects not only offer the chance to align with reputable clients but also position themselves as showcases on social media and boost your professional portfolio. The smaller assignments, while financially rewarding, often lack the appeal or impact that can advance your reputation. Additionally, significant projects teach you much more, both technically and in terms of professional growth. My work with VRROOM—a VR concert platform—stands out as a testament to this, teaching me more about development and management in a year and a half than years’ worth of smaller projects combined.
Consider time’s value—a finite resource with fixed overheads attached to each venture. Managing numerous smaller projects means negotiating multiple contracts, attending endless update meetings, and dealing with various post-project issues. A singular, larger project, by contrast, condenses these efforts into a more manageable package. Now, don’t misconstrue this as a call to shun smaller projects entirely—especially considering VR’s current landscape; they’re often necessary. But aim to position yourself to step into those more significant, impactful projects whenever feasible.
The wisdom behind the saying that 20% of your activities yield 80% of your results—a nod to Pareto’s principle—is something I resonate with. It suggests that eliminating 80% of activities would only diminish your results by a mere 20% in theory. This underscores the power of focusing on that crucial fraction of high-impact tasks.
Books like Antifragile highlight life’s "non-linearities." A handful of significant actions bear a greater cumulative impact than scores of minor ones combined. To quote an analogy, dropping a single heavy stone can cause immense damage—far more than scattering a thousand pebbles could achieve.
Another critical factor is quality. Engaging in countless pursuits leaves little room for crafting quality outcomes. Fewer undertakings afford the luxury of quality, creating work that fulfills individuals, enriches others, and builds reputation. I’ve always valued excellence in my professional pursuits, now linking it closely to my reputation. It’s about ensuring those approaching me expect and receive quality work. Charging appropriately for this caliber of work, while once daunting, now feels aligned with the experience I’ve painstakingly built over a decade in this field.
Balancing quality with consistency is pivotal. Without regularly delivering strong work, even standout efforts may not yield lasting success. To illustrate: on social media, you might find a tweet with thousands of likes, yet the author remains largely unknown and gains few followers. Sustained, engaging content fosters genuine connections, not sporadic viral hits.
This principle applies to networking, too. This year, I focused my energies on attending significant events like CES, maximizing the value from such high-impact interactions. While not frequent, these experiences have yielded valuable connections and insights—more so than attending numerous smaller gatherings would. A lesson I learned from an Italian IT leader was the importance of repeatedly presenting oneself at events, as strong connections often develop through repeated encounters.
Lastly, consider the long-term impact of your efforts. Immediate successes or viral moments may feel rewarding but ask yourself—do they contribute to your career’s trajectory over the next five to ten years?
Alongside my day-to-day work, I contemplate strategies to create lasting professional growth. This foresight guides strategic decisions that can potentially transform my career, whether it means spearheading a landmark project, ascending into leadership roles, or achieving visibility on public platforms. Preparing for the future takes time and deliberate action but is instrumental in steering my career towards momentous heights.
And there it is—my reflection for today. To sum up:
Remember, achieving more by doing less can lead to greater satisfaction and less stress. Opt for impactful actions that enrich both your present and your future.
Feel free to ponder over this paradoxical wisdom during life’s essential moments. I hope these musings resonate with some of you, enhancing your own professional journeys. If that rings true, drop a comment or, better yet, give this post some extra thought before sharing it on social media. Grins
