On Versions

What is "On Versions" about?

Inspired by Picasso's sketches at the Barcelona museum, Gilad argues that mastery is built through iteration, not a single flawless creation—the early, rougher versions of a masterpiece were necessary steps, not failures. He applies this to personal and professional growth, challenging the instinct to judge an initial attempt (a business plan, a relationship approach, a habit) as a final verdict rather than a draft meant to make contact with reality and be revised. The essay critiques perfectionism and the fear of starting, noting that waiting for a polished 'final version' often means never beginning at all. Gilad outlines a reflective process: identifying what current 'version' of a goal, role, belief, or routine is operating, running a small, time-boxed experiment to test it, seeking honest outside perspective from someone committed to the result rather than ego protection, and then revising deliberately. He insists the first version was not worthless—it did its job by generating real feedback—so each new version should be seen as an evolution in service of the end result, not a repudiation of earlier effort.

In brief

What are the key takeaways?

1. 01Mastery comes from iterating through many versions, not producing one perfect result from the start.
2. 02An early 'version' of a plan, habit, or relationship isn't a failure—it's data that makes contact with reality.
3. 03Run small, time-boxed experiments and seek honest, non-ego-driven feedback before revising to the next version.