Everything at WooThemes is the way it is due to an evolving process.
See, when Mark, Magnus & I started WooThemes we had limited experience & knowledge in running a business, and much less in establishing new online brand. To say that we’ve had to learn on the job would thus be a gross understatement; beyond knowing how to design & code, we really don’t *know* much more.
That is why I started off by saying that what you see in front of you today, is a company & brand that has undergone continuous tweaks & changes in the last 2-odd years and the only reason we’ve managed to pull it off is because we have never been fearful of taking a few risks and investing heavily in our ideas, vision & ambitions. Had we however allowed that “fear” to consume us, things may have been a little different… Let me explain…
As an example, I’d like to point to our existing backend system: when we first launched WooThemes, we realized that it had some glaringly obvious limitations and whilst the launch of WOO2 last year went a long way in addressing some of those limitations, we still don’t have a perfect system. Consider the odd login & billing imperfections / glitches in our system and it is clear that we’re a long way off from offering our users a perfect environment. But that’s not the point…
What we could’ve done in the past, was to develop a perfect system from the get-go, which would’ve eliminated those issues now. This would have been a lengthy and costly exercise though, and something that is always easier to say in hindsight. Instead, we opted to embrace the limitations & imperfections of our backend system (and our business as a whole) and just evolve everything as we go. Getting what we want to offer you, to you quicker.
The point that I want to bring across though, is that even considering all of this, we’ve still been able to build a business that is both profitable and becoming more sustainable as time goes on. Irrespective of the lack of experience, knowledge & the massive budget most people think is needed to create a new business, we’ve created something against most odds; the only barrier to entry would’ve thus been the limitations that we set ourselves in our minds.
Don’t be afraid to evolve your ideas and build from an imperfect foundation. There are always ways to rectify those imperfections in the future, and being conscious of those imperfections shouldn’t deter you from gunning for your vision & ambition with utter passion & motivation.
17 Responses to “Imperfect Systems”
Great tips and insight! I think fear is possibly the biggest and most challenging emotion to get by, no matter what it is your trying to complete or experience.
Also, innovation is definitely big when it comes to running a business. Like you said, Woothemes keeps on innovating all the time.
Keep up the good work guys!
Invaluable advice. Reminds me of the Voltaire quote, “The Perfect is the enemy of the Good.” Or, in more modern terms, “Perfection is the enemy of progress.” Too many of us are paralyzed by perfection.
A good friend of mine used to say, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing poorly.” Which is not to say that we should do anything half-ass, but rather get moving today, with what we’ve got in hand. Then, refine it over time with a relentless dedication toward excellence.
Something you guys continue to do very well. Keep up the great work!
Very inspiring guys – just what I needed today
thanks
What JohnONolan said. Thanks!
Yet another reason I love Woo (besides great advice). You aren’t afraid to be honest and upfront. To me, that shows your confident and in control. And that’s why I’m always recommending you guys.
Great post
On a semi-related note: which themes have been updated to include WOO2?
You mean WooFramework2? All themes are updated.
i love woo! your my favorite wordpress theme..
and im always recomending woothemes to my clients.
Wise words indeed. You cannot wait until your product is perfect before launching – it will cost too much, take too long, and you’ll still be left with a system that does what you want but not necessarily what your customers need.
Developing an online business is a great opportunity to use “The Wisdom of Crowds” to get your visitors to help quickly build on your early ideas to deliver a great system.
Keep up the good work!
I agree wholeheartedly with this philosophy. Great post
Bravo ! I applaud anyone who has the faith, skill & organisation to get their own start-up running successfully. It takes a huge amount of hard work. I also think you usually manage to hit the right tone on the site with your blogs and posts and dialog with customers.
The Woo nav story is also a great vote for your code skills
But as your officially designated ‘hardest to please customer’, is my maths off or have we had just one theme release this month ?
Indeed. The other 2 themes for February will be released tomorrow, as our development cycle got delayed slightly by the integration of the WooNav into the WP 3.0 core (which took up quite a bit of our time).
I totally agree, and I’ve had this conversation with many clients in the past … no one knows what they are going to do and how it will play out in the beginning, especially for an entrepreneur. I think the smart business move is to get something going, see how it works, and make adjustments as you go. I know that being an adaptable business means that I have changed my service a few times over the years that I have been doing this, and it has allowed me to adapt to a changing economy, my changing family/life situations, and whatever else comes my way. I’m not saying you shouldn’t make plans and goals — in fact, especially when it comes to web development, a bit of planning can save my clients a lot of money — I’m just saying, don’t be set in stone. See what is working, focus on the things that make your business the most money or that bring you the most happiness, eliminate or modify the programs that aren’t working, and go with the overall flow of where this crazy entrepreneurship thing takes you!
I think the smart business move is to get something going, see how it works, and make adjustments as you go.
Thank you for the advice. I too sometimes want things to be perfect before I implement them. Not that I will throw caution to the wind but I am now more likely to feel a little more free in trying something now that I see others (like Woo) doing the same.
Thanks for the post!
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