Steven Jay Gould and Niles Eldredge spoke of punctuated equilibrium in evolution, where periods of equilibrium are ended by sudden, great and often lasting changes (which then become the new equilibrium).

To make great progress over the long run, I believe that achieving regular bouts of punctuated equilibrium is the best way to go, rather than consistent and steady progress. I supposed it’s possible to do both, but I believe creative teams and companies can make more progress through a series of breakthroughs (big and small).

The first months of a startup can feel that way on a weekly basis. Since there are only two of us, we both have a lot of tasks and we stay pretty concentrated. But there are many issues to deal with and at the rate we move, even a week can feel like a long time. Open issues will sit there and, if we are lucky, we get a chance to discuss, a breakthrough happens and we move it along very quickly. So there are two tricks: one is the right dynamic and the other is time.

Most days, Dan Gartung (co-founder in Boxxet) and I sit 5 feet from each other, and progress is made based on a combination of heads-down work and the delicate balance of conversation/interruption. So it is all about when to talk, how often before it is annoying, what subjects are worth breaking concentration (hey, how did the Carpenters end up on my custom radio station?) and the return signals. Luckily, Dan and I are pretty in tuned with one another and have achieved a good dynamic, but it took a while.

As for time, I learned not to feel pressured to solve great issues and make Herculean progress every day. But if I do not get the moments of punctuated equilibrium, then I try setting aside time to think and talk. I find that mid-afternoons are pretty ripe time to achieve punctuated equilibrium. While I do not know why, I am guessing it is that my mind is starting to lose concentration on the tasks and I am less pressured to complete tasks and more likely to explore an issue.

All I know is when it happens, I get the very satisfying feeling of progress.