Nobody catches a structural mistake alone
A mistake in the structure can be caught in three places: in the sketch, by someone who could have built it; in the build, by me; or in a client's hands after it ships. For years only the last two
difficulty confirmation
Meaning
A specific form of recognition where an observer articulates an understanding of the inherent challenge, complexity, or effort involved in another person’s work, thereby validating the skill or persistence required. Difficulty confirmation goes beyond simple praise for an outcome; it acknowledges the unseen or less obvious aspects of the labor. The boundary of this confirmation is where the observer lacks sufficient knowledge or empathy to genuinely perceive and articulate the work’s underlying difficulty.
Validation Mechanism
For a founder, receiving difficulty confirmation acts as a powerful validator, affirming that their expertise and effort are seen and understood by another. This validation is distinct from general compliments, as it specifically identifies and values the depth of the work. When a peer or client acknowledges the specific technical hurdles overcome in a product launch, it confirms the founder’s competence in a tangible way.
It provides a more robust form of feedback than mere approval.
Effort Acknowledgment
The process involves a person discerning the non-obvious efforts that went into an outcome. A founder might spend weeks resolving a subtle technical problem that appears simple to the end user. Difficulty confirmation happens when an informed observer recognizes the hidden complexity of that resolution.
This acknowledgment provides a measure of recognition for the work that is not immediately apparent in the final product. It accounts for the less visible aspects of productive energy.
Foundational Support
The presence of difficulty confirmation within an exchange relationship builds a deeper foundation of trust and understanding. It signals that the observer possesses a nuanced appreciation for the founder’s craft, which can reduce the founder’s energy cost associated with constantly explaining the intricacies of their work. The absence of this specific confirmation can lead to a founder feeling that significant labor is overlooked, contributing to a sense of unacknowledged burden over time.
Appreciation is not evaluation
Two things get filed under being seen: a person responding to the fact that you made something, and a person able to tell you which part of it works. Only the second one carries information, and I spent years reading