Why clarity beats speed for founders

Most founders don’t fail because they move too slowly.
They fail because they move quickly in the wrong direction.

We live in a culture that celebrates speed: launch fast, iterate fast, scale fast. AI has only amplified this. You can now build, test, and ship faster than ever before.

But speed is not the same as progress.

Progress comes from clarity — knowing:

• what problem you’re really solving

• who you’re solving it for

• what matters now versus later

Without clarity, speed simply multiplies mistakes.

The most effective founders I’ve worked with don’t rush. They pause long enough to think clearly, then move deliberately. They know when to slow down — and when to accelerate.

AI doesn’t change this truth.
It makes it more important.

If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, the answer is rarely “do more”.
It’s usually “get clearer”..