Discovery Not Invention - Success Secret

Personal Hack has a great post using improv comedy as an example to show how discovery can be more important in business than invention:

"Discovery simply defined is learning by doing. It requires one to take the first action step right away to learn from the success or failure that results. A good example is an employee who’s thinking about starting their own business on the side. The employee can do tons of research, and market analysis however they have no idea what they are in for until they actually take the first step such as contacting a potential client.

Many people actually get stuck in the “invention” stage excessively researching the market, trying to create a bulletproof business plan, end up feeling overwhelmed and never actually start the business. While planning is important for any business idea to succeed, the willingness to learn by doing is equally essential. One must start taking action steps, one step at a time learning from each failure and success. "

I completely agree and have learned far more by doing business than by planning meticulously. It's a balance of having direction and focus, and yet keeping your business model flexible enough to adapt in a fast changing environment.