This year, our golden retriever puppy has been the ultimate reminder of a lesson I’ve preached for years: take the first step first. Progress matters more than perfection. I say that a lot—to teams, to individuals, sometimes even to myself—but it’s funny how easy it is to forget when you’re in the thick of it.

Bringing home a puppy is a crash course in this mindset. There’s no such thing as “perfect” when it comes to raising a dog—especially in the early weeks. One day, you’re celebrating a successful crate nap. The next, you’re cleaning up an accident five minutes after a potty break. It’s a cycle of tiny wins and new challenges. But here’s the thing: every day builds on the last.

Each “almost got it” moment with our pup—responding quicker to a command, calming down just a little faster, holding it an extra minute before going outside—adds up. You don’t see perfection. You see hope. You see progress. And when we pause to actually celebrate those small wins, it reinforces the behavior—for the pup and for us. That little rush of “we’re getting somewhere” is powerful.

The same principle applies with teams.

Whether you’re managing people or building a product, it’s tempting to hold off until everything feels just right. The architecture isn’t clean enough. The copy needs one more round of edits. We haven’t pressure-tested every edge case. But if you’re waiting for perfect, you’re going to miss your moment. You’ll build a monument no one needs by the time it’s done—when what really drives value is momentum.

That’s why I love the quote: “Don’t build monuments, build momentum.”

Software is supposed to evolve. People are supposed to grow. Products get better when they’re out in the wild being used, tested, pushed, and questioned. You launch. You learn. You iterate. You go again.

The teams I’ve seen succeed aren’t the ones who obsess over a flawless first release—they’re the ones who keep shipping, keep learning, and keep moving. They build momentum through consistent progress. And that momentum? It’s contagious. It creates energy, motivation, and trust.

But here’s the real key: consistency over intensity. Sustainable growth doesn’t come from sprinting until burnout. It comes from building habits, systems, and a culture that values forward motion. One step at a time. You celebrate the little things—each pull request, each bug squashed, each hard conversation navigated. Those add up to long-term wins.

Progress builds confidence. Perfection builds pressure.

Of course, there’s still a part of me that wants things to be great before they see the light of day. That voice says, “Just one more tweak.” But more and more, I’m learning to quiet that voice. Just like with the puppy, I’m learning to recognize that every small improvement is part of a bigger picture.

So if you’re in the weeds—whether it’s with a product launch, a process you’re refining, or your own growth—don’t aim for a monument. Aim for movement. Get that one thing out the door. Take the step, however small. Celebrate it. Then take the next one.

That’s how you build something that lasts.