Then I think about it some more and it takes a direction.
As I work through the direction, I’ll see another direction. Usually relatively similar, but different enough that it demands its own exploration.
As I dig in into the problem, more layers and possibilities reveal themselves. Sometimes they point in entirely different directions. Some seem like big possibilities, others seem smaller.
As I keep exploring, some more options emerge. Some independent of the ones I’ve already explored, but others branch off from an existing exploration.
As I keep sketching and thinking and mocking and working through variations and conditions in my head, on paper, or in code, a few strong possibilities take the lead. I begin to follow those.
One primary direction becomes the most obvious, but there are still variations on that idea.
As I dig into the variations, I realize they aren’t direct descendants of that primary direction. Instead they’re closely related offshoots, but smaller. They usually fade away.
And finally the solution becomes clear.
Then I check my thinking by going through the process again.
Where it goes from here depends on what it is, but hopefully at the end I’ve enjoyed figuring something out.
About Jason Fried
Hey! I'm Jason, the Co-Founder and CEO at 37signals, makers of Basecamp and HEY. Subscribe below to follow my thinking on business, design, product development, and whatever else is on my mind. Thanks for visiting, thanks for reading.