The Iterative/Experimentation Mindset

The Iterative Mindset: Experimenting Instead of Forcing Habits

The iterative or experimentation mindset offers an alternative approach to personal change - one based on curiosity rather than obligation. Instead of forcing habits and feeling guilty when they don't stick, this approach treats new behaviors as experiments to be tested and evaluated.

How the Experimentation Mindset Works#

1. Observe your interests and identify potential experiments

   2. Commit to a specific experiment for a defined period (2 weeks, 1 month, etc.)

   3. During the experiment, observe bodily sensations and thought patterns

   4. After the experiment ends, decide whether to keep, discard, or adjust the behavior

   Example experiment: Not using screens while in bed for one month.

   Business Applications#

   According to executive coach Joe Hudson, successful people in Silicon Valley demonstrate an iterative mindset - they take action and then adjust to make things successful or stop altogether. This approach is uncommon because:

   • People fear public exposure during experiments

   • Public failure feels more humiliating than private failure

   • Starting without certainty about direction requires courage

   Personal Applications#

   The speaker intends to apply this mindset by:

   • Run experiments more frequently

   • Loosen attachment to controlling outcomes

   • Enjoy the process more without unnecessary heaviness

   • Run experiments that validate or falsify assumptions

   • Identify personal wants and evaluate which behaviors to maintain

   This mindset connects to the natural process of evolution mentioned by movement coach Ido Portal - observing, adjusting, and embracing change rather than resisting it, potentially leading to a more relaxed, parasympathetic state.

<empty-block/>

Transcript omitted. Use the view tool with the meeting note url (https://app.notion.com/p/38bccca01f5b815792cdfb86113ec5d5#1f9ccca01f5b818d8b19fa5fdf822d7f) to view this transcript.

The iterative or experimentation mindset offers an alternative approach to personal change — one based on curiosity rather than obligation. Instead of forcing habits and feeling guilty when they don't stick, this approach treats new behaviors as experiments to be tested and evaluated. I have come across this concept often recently, especially in this conversation and this video, and I believe there is something valuable and inherently true in it.

How the Experimentation Mindset Works#

1. Observe your interests and identify potential experiments
2. Commit to a specific experiment for a defined period (2 weeks, 1 month, etc.)
3. During the experiment, observe bodily sensations and thought patterns — you may also keep a journal to objectively notice the data like a scientist would
4. After the experiment ends, decide whether to keep, discard, or adjust the behavior

This mindset connects to the natural process of evolution mentioned by movement coach Ido Portal — observing, adjusting, and embracing change rather than resisting it, potentially leading to a more relaxed, parasympathetic state.

According to executive coach Joe Hudson, many successful people he coaches demonstrate an iterative mindset — they take action and then adjust to make things successful or stop altogether. They build while experimenting. This approach is uncommon because:

• People fear public exposure during experiments because there is uncertainty involved
• Public failure feels more humiliating than private failure — and running experiments in "public" increases the chances of experiencing shame
• Starting without certainty about direction requires courage and a certain emotional detachment/lightness from the outcome of the experiment itself — non-identification

Practically, here are some things to consider for personal application:

• Run experiments more frequently
• Loosen attachment to controlling outcomes
• Enjoy the process more without unnecessary heaviness
• Observe, adjust, iterate with some lighthearted playfulness — sincere not serious