Arnold Schwarzenegger
“Focus on the basics. Don’t get lost in the weeds. Zoom out.”
“Fundamentals over optimization” is a guiding principle for decision-making and overcoming procrastination, empowering you to Do Things. At its core, this principle emphasizes mastering fundamental techniques and understanding before focusing on optimizations. In practice, this means periodically “bringing it back to the basics,” no matter what it may be. This principle applies to two primary scenarios: (1) performing an activity, such as exercising or designing a software application, and (2) developing a deeper understanding of a subject.
Scenario #1
If you cannot consistently execute the basics, any effort spent on optimizations is ineffective. Take weightlifting for example. Fitness influencers, articles, and videos often critique every detail of a bench press—elbow angles, chest positioning, leg placement, and more. While these aspects do matter, they are irrelevant if you aren’t actually performing the bench press. If you’re saying “I can start next week once I learn the proper form” then you’re avoiding the work. Performing an imperfect bench press consistently will yield far better results than waiting for flawless technique. Similarly, when designing software, it’s unproductive to obsess over achieving 10-millisecond latency if the system doesn’t consistently perform its core functionality. Fine-tuning small details only makes sense after the foundational issues are resolved. Focusing on minor efficiencies as a way to avoid tackling core challenges is counterproductive.
Scenario #2
When learning a subject, diving too deeply into details before establishing a foundation often leads to confusion and inefficiency. For instance, while exploring the Dune series for fun, ending up on a Wikipedia page about why Leto II became a worm may be an acceptable detour. However, when learning something like Spanish, knowing the word for “hammer” is far less valuable if you can’t form basic sentences. Foundational knowledge must come first to make later details meaningful. Similarly, in programming, learning how to replace a Scala method with a lambda is pointless if you don’t understand what a method is. While exploring advanced topics may feel engaging, it ultimately distracts from achieving a true understanding of the subject.
Avoiding the Perfectionism Trap
Focusing on minor details while ignoring the main objective is often procrastination in disguise. It creates the illusion of productivity without meaningful progress. In essence, this principle warns against “missing the forest for the trees.” Getting bogged down in the weeds inevitably stalls your progress. I’ve found myself succumbing to this tendency at times, requiring a step back and renewed focus on my goals. Having a succinct reminder helps me regain perspective and move forward. Thus, Fundamentals over Optimization*.