Less, but Enhanced and More Durable

Every once in a while, I find myself needing to step back and reflect on the lessons I’ve picked up along my journey as a VR developer, entrepreneur, and blogger. Today seems like the perfect time to share some insights that could be beneficial for those of you navigating similar paths.

If you’ve been following along, you might know that my enthusiasm for Virtual Reality (or as Meta might call it, Mixed Reality) tends to get the better of me, leading me to juggle various tasks all at once. I blog, attend events, work on contracts, and occasionally dabble in creating my own products. Initially, I said “yes” to every opportunity that came my way. This approach helped me achieve decent results across these endeavors. However, I’ve realized that spreading myself too thin has its downsides. The stress piles up, and I often miss the focus necessary to make a meaningful impact.

It was a while ago when I started mulling this over, influenced by a few eye-opening books I read (Antifragile stands out) and from personal experiences. This reflection led me to a pivotal realization: it’s far more effective to concentrate on a handful of impactful activities rather than scatter my energy across numerous minor ones. Let me delve into this a little more.

One area where this new thinking took root was social media. As someone who enjoys sharing insightful articles about XR on Twitter (or X), I wanted to keep my community informed. I’d read something intriguing, hit the share button with a couple of hashtags, and move along. But I started noticing something. Despite my efforts, these posts often fell into oblivion, garnering little to no engagement. It’s not that I was chasing likes, but their silence suggested that my content was missing the mark.

After observing trends and learning about the platform’s algorithm, it became clear that posts needed to stir emotions or provoke conversation to truly resonate—not merely link out to external articles. While these algorithms can be tricky, the key takeaway here was realizing I was investing time into content that didn’t reach or resonate with my audience, yielding little to no return in new followers or meaningful connections.

Realizing this, I revamped my strategy. I decided to limit my sharing to only what I found most valuable and invested more care into crafting engaging posts. This shift hasn’t led me to chase after heated political debates; rather, I’ve learned to play by the platform’s rules while maintaining my integrity. Now, I find that intentional, well-thought-out posts attract more readers and often lead to new connections.

This principle isn’t confined to social media. I used to push myself to put out at least one article a week, even if I had little to say. I’d cobble together posts on holidays or minor XR software tricks just to maintain output. But, much like my social media efforts, these were often met with indifference, giving nothing back in terms of followers, reputation, or networking opportunities. Consequently, I’ve shifted towards quality over quantity. If there’s nothing substantial to write about, I opt not to write at all. This frees up my time for activities that might offer greater returns. Now, when I do post, it’s with care and depth, ensuring it’s worth the time of both myself and my readers.

For example, I once wrote an impactful article on Android XR gaining camera access, which garnered attention from several online magazines, boosting both my credibility and SEO presence. Simply put, writing a series of superficial “I love you VR community” posts wouldn’t have gotten me that kind of traction.

The same goes for my development projects. Taking on a significant project worth $100,000 with a team is, by far, more beneficial than ten smaller $10,000 gigs. Larger projects typically connect me with better clients, promote higher-quality portfolio pieces, and enhance my professional growth. My work on the VR concert platform VRROOM taught me more about development and leadership than any scattered smaller gigs could.

Managing projects also comes with fixed costs that often go unnoticed. Handling multiple smaller gigs means negotiating multiple contracts, dealing with numerous update calls, and juggling maintenance after delivery, whereas a single project streamlines these processes. Of course, landing these sizable projects is no easy feat, but when given a choice, it’s wise to aim for those more substantial projects.

None of this is groundbreaking news, especially if you’re a fan of the Pareto principle like me. The idea is that 20% of your work yields 80% of your results. While this is a theoretical framework, it indicates that focusing on key activities can lead to significant outcomes, rather than getting bogged down in the minutiae.

Antifragile’s emphasis on “non-linearities” echoes this sentiment well—big actions can have exponentially larger impacts than small repetitive ones. Consider a giant stone falling: it can cause complete destruction, whereas broken into pebbles and dropped, they cause little harm.

The essence of doing less also ties into prioritizing quality. When you’re bombarded with tasks, creating something of value becomes a challenge. With a leaner focus, quality flourishes. Delivering top-notch work not only satisfies me but adds real value to others and, importantly, bolsters my reputation. I’ve long been committed to excellence in the roles of developer and entrepreneur. Now, I also value how I’m perceived—ensuring that whoever reaches out to me knows I’ll strive to deliver exceptional results. This quality comes with a price, and after years of industry experience, I confidently charge accordingly. This way, I’m able to work hard, but in a balanced, more satisfying fashion.

Yet, it’s essential not to focus solely on quality at the expense of consistency. Take the example of social media posts. A single viral post might gain massive engagement numbers initially, but without consistent regularity in valuable content, lasting connections don’t form. Building a follower base requires ongoing, impactful contributions, not one-offs.

This leads into event networking. I’ve applied the “fewer but better” approach to my attendance, making my time at major events like CES as impactful as possible, even if it leaves me exhausted. The key is forming solid connections, broadening my XR insights, and expanding my network on platforms like YouTube. If I’d only attended events sporadically, I’d have seen minimal benefits from them.

Years ago, during a less experienced phase at an event in Milan, I encountered Francesco Ronchi from Synesthesia. In our chat, I learned the art of networking wasn’t about grand gestures but routine. It’s those you run into repeatedly that turn into lasting connections. It’s a slow burn, but worth it.

This brings us back to maintaining a balance of quality and quantity. Success demands regularity in delivering valuable projects or content.

Lastly, don’t just think about today’s impact; consider the future. While sudden social media success or short-term recognition feels great, think: how will this influence your long-term goals? Beyond your current tasks, consider what will propel your career over five to ten years. That’s a key part of my planning, ensuring every week I’m contributing to something that could lead to significant advancements, whether a large project, a leadership role, or being part of an esteemed company.

Future-focused tasks might seem slow but they’re guides, giving direction to what will further my career. Knowing where you want to go is vital for identifying these tasks.

To sum up this reflection:

> Focus on fewer, more impactful pursuits for now and the future. This results in better output, more satisfaction, and reduced stress.

Write this down, maybe on a sticky note for your coffee table—another reminder that quality matters at key moments.

Ultimately, I’m unsure who may benefit from these musings today. But if these thoughts offered you any new perspective or clarity in your own work life, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments—or maybe even see this shared on social media (not without putting in a little extra effort, of course!).