Why Iterate?

Published: 2025 February 12

After reading and listening to the Stratechery Bundle's analysis1 of Open AI's newly launched Deep Research agent2, I was motivated to write about the importance of iteration.

Ben Thompson's analysis of Apple reminded me of the Steve Jobs quote, "If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time"3, 4. It's a reminder of the importance of consistently iterating towards delivering wonderful products that bring delight.

To illustrate the value of iteration, consider several of the most impactful people of our time and what they may highlight as a key driver for their success:

  • Mark Zuckerberg: "Iteration"5
  • Lebron James: "Attention to detail"6
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger: "Reps, reps, reps"7
  • Charlie Munger: "Discipline"8

Iteration is an expression of agency and ambition. In an era of AI agents and robotics, being a doer and a maker is increasingly important. Let's get iterating!9

Footnotes:
1. Stratechery's "Deep Research and Knowledge Value".
2. OpenAI Deep Research announcement.
3. "Make Something Wonderful" by Steve Jobs.
4. Steve Jobs on "overnight success" and long-term iteration.
5-8. Interviews with Mark Zuckerberg (Acquired), LeBron James (The Shop), Arnold Schwarzenegger (Total Recall), and Charlie Munger (Poor Charlie's Almanack).
9. Personal motivation on the importance of human agency in the AI era.