Life on the Iteration Wheel: Lessons from Product Development

I remember a designer in a start-up I co-founded years ago would always ask about our exit strategy. Being one of the first employees he seemed obsessed with the potential to cash out if the company was sold. A few months in we had a great discussion. I discussed openly stories of founders who had started and exited their companies. The designer listened wide-eyed hoping for some sort of finale to the tales. There were none.

Looking somewhat crestfallen I explained that life isn’t about the destination. I told him to imagine life as an ongoing product development journey – as in, what he was working on right now. Much like building great products, life isn’t about reaching a mythical state of “done.” Instead, it’s about embracing continuous improvement, learning from failures, and iterating on what works.

Whether you’re a product designer or just navigating daily routines, the parallels between the two are striking. I call this the Iteration Wheel of Life.

The Hamster Wheel Reimagined

We often feel stuck on a hamster wheel, running endlessly but never arriving anywhere. But what if, instead of seeing it as futile, we viewed it as purposeful? The hamster wheel becomes the Iteration Wheel—a framework for constant learning, growing, and adapting. Each day is a sprint, each week a sprint review, and life the ultimate product roadmap.

Life’s Sprint Cycles

In product development, we have sprints — focused, time-boxed periods where we build, test, and iterate. Life works the same way:

Building: Each day we construct routines, habits, and goals. Just like shipping a new feature, it may not be perfect, but it’s a starting point.

Testing: Life throws challenges at us. How we react and adapt is akin to A/B testing—trying different approaches to find what works best.

Iterating: Feedback from our experiences shapes how we adjust our actions, whether improving relationships, work habits, or personal goals.

Embracing “Never Done”

In both life and product development, there’s no final version. Even after launching, a product needs updates, bug fixes, and enhancements. Similarly, life’s “bugs” are the moments that teach us the most. Instead of striving for perfection, we aim for progress—embracing small, meaningful changes over time. I love the phrase ‘Good enough’ – by being kinder to yourself in both product AND life you can make fantastic progress by defining or accepting what is ‘good enough’.

What’s ‘good enough’ to launch our latest product (It doesn’t have to be perfect). What’s a ‘good enough’ run? I couldn’t quite do the 10k I’d aimed for but my 7.5k is certainly ‘good enough’.

Lessons from the Product World for Life:

  1. Prioritisation Matters: In product development, we constantly prioritise tasks to focus on what delivers the most value. Life is no different—time and energy are limited, so we must focus on what truly matters.

  2. MVPs Aren’t Just for Products: The concept of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) applies to life. Start small—whether it’s building a new habit, learning a skill, or tackling a big project. Over time, you can refine and expand.

  3. Feedback is Gold: Just as customer feedback is essential for product growth, life improves when we’re open to feedback from others. Constructive criticism helps us iterate faster.

  4. Celebrate the Wins: In product teams, celebrating a successful launch or hitting a milestone is key for morale. Life’s small wins—a kind word, a good day, or progress on a goal—deserve equal celebration. This is in fact the most important lesson. Reframe winning by not marking it out as a finite or fixed event but instead more like a milestone where you can take your foot off the gas for a moment. You can reflect on all the hard work

Reframing the Wheel

The Iteration Wheel of Life reminds us that the goal isn’t to escape the wheel but to use its momentum to propel ourselves forward. Every step—whether a stumble or a leap—is part of a greater journey. Life, like great products, is a masterpiece in perpetual beta.