What's the "Best" Way to Get From Point A to Point B?

Colleagues,
 
Here is a recap of yesterday:
 
Fence: 
4 hrs of research + $100 materials + 8 hrs construction + 2 hrs installation = no digging
 
Netting: 
5 minutes scrounging in garden shed + 10 minutes arranging = no digging
 
No digging is my A-B. The net is my MVP, or minimally viable product. 
 
The MVP concept comes from the tech and manufacturing industries. It emphasizes early deployment with rapid cycles of improvement. An MVP is designed to meet the most minimal of criteria and then deployed in order to get real-world feedback. Improvements are made based on feedback, the MVP is refined and relaunched, and the process is repeated multiple times. 
 
So, why an MVP? Why not go for the “best” solution?

• Speed – the netting improved the situation immediately
• Resources – I didn’t need to invest more time and money into making things better
• Motivation – it was a lot easier to throw the netting on

 
And here is the really incredible thing about an MVP: What if the problem had been moles? I could have spent $100 and many hours building a great fence that had zero impact. 
 
The MVP approach is extra powerful when we get things wrong! If we misdiagnose the problem, our resource and time investments are minimal and the speed of an MVP approach means that we get timely feedback to help develop the next solution. 
 
Are you dealing with moles or rabbits? Or maybe birds?
 
How do you make the situation better right now?
 
Do this: Think about a complex issue you are facing. Think about something that you could do immediately that would make the situation a tiny bit better. That something is an MVP. 
 
Do good and be well,
 
Frederick