Speed changes what we notice

During a run today, my wife made an observation that stuck with me. When we walk, we don’t notice the tiny rises and dips in the path. When we run, the slightest upward piece becomes a struggle.

I realized I experience the complete opposite when building products. Speed makes me lose sight of the minutiae that actually matter. Those edge cases that seem trivial in the moment. The quiet concerns someone has after the meeting ends and the decision is already made.

When we’re moving fast, we barrel through what feels like flat ground. We miss the small friction points that will trip us up later. The user who doesn’t fit our happy path. The integration that works perfectly until it doesn’t. The team member who nods in the room but has doubts they never voice.

Speed doesn’t just change how fast we ship. It changes what we perceive as obstacles. Running teaches you that every slight incline matters. Building products fast teaches you to ignore the inclines entirely.