Getting the Answer Wrong is a Good Way to Learn

To learn, fail fast and cheap...really.

Being wrong is often painful and sometimes expensive.  But, scientific research shows that we can learn better and faster if we put ourselves in situations where early failure is likely, even inevitable.

Launching a new product or service is fraught with uncertainty.  Rapid, effective learning is a key to survival.  Starting the process with a small team backed with bootstrapping or venture-style, phased investment capital facilitates learning by allowing (even forcing) failure in a relatively low-risk environment.  A small team is comparatively inexpensive, and the social (and usually physical) proximity of the members speeds the development of shared meaning and understanding.  It certainly helps if the individuals who compose the team are bright, curious, and hard-working.  Phased, milestone-based investing is a technique for managing downside risk.

As my TrashCo colleagues would confirm, it's not an easy process.  Nevertheless, forcing failure (and managing the relative cost of error) can be a source of advantage.