Iterative Development

Summary Define time spans, execute, course correct, repeat

Goal Make consistent progress through structured cycles of planning, execution, and reflection

Tags timecyclesplanningagile

Principles CompoundingBalance

Why Iteration Matters

Long-term goals fail when we try to achieve them in one push. Iterative development breaks work into manageable cycles, each with its own plan, execution, and review. This creates natural checkpoints for learning and adjustment.

The power of iteration comes from compounding: small improvements accumulate over many cycles into transformative change.

Implementation

Define Your Cycle

Choose a duration that matches your context (1 week for personal habits, 2 weeks for team sprints)
Set clear boundaries — a defined start and end creates urgency and focus
Make cycles consistent so you can compare and improve

Plan the Cycle

Select 1-3 priorities that can realistically be completed
Define “done” clearly before starting
Identify blockers and dependencies upfront

Execute

Protect focus time during the cycle
Track progress visibly
Defer new ideas to the next cycle

Review and Adjust

Compare results to plan — what worked, what didn’t?
Identify one improvement for next cycle
Celebrate completions before moving on

Common Pitfalls

Cycles too long — you lose the feedback loop
Cycles too short — no time for deep work
Skipping reviews — you repeat the same mistakes
Overcommitting — better to complete 2 things than half-finish 5

Don’t Break The Chain (for tracking consistency across cycles)
Environment Forming (for protecting focus during execution)