What we remove is as important as what we add. It isn't just the ideas that get the work done.

To get through the tension, try to understand other people's positions and perceptions: How does this mess look to them? What does their mental model look like? What words do they use? Could your language mislead them? Do they agree with the intent, direction, and goals you outlined? Do they agree on the level you're working at?

When you see the world through the eyes of other people, you can spot weaknesses and opportunities for improvement. Don't hide from other stakeholders or wait until the end of the project to talk to users.

Perfection isn't possible, but progress is.

How you choose to classify and organize things reflects your intent, but it can also reflect your worldview, culture, experience, or privilege. Those same choices affect how people using your taxonomy understand what you share with them.

Revisit what you intend to do and why. Now break it down into specific goals. Make a dream list of what would be measureable in an ideal world. Even if the measurement is fuzzy or hard to find, it's useful to think about the best-case scenario.

setting goals with incomplete data is still a good way to determine if you're moving in the right direction.

The important part is being honest about what you intend to accomplish within the complicated reality of your life. Your intent may differ from other people; you may perceive things differently.

A baseline is the measurement of something before changing it. Without baselines, assumptions will likely lead us in the wrong direction.