In software development, we have a term known as software versioning.

Most of the software that you interact with today is still under development.

M-Pesa keeps launching new features. ChatGPT keeps improving. Claude keeps changing. Google keeps updating.

They are always fixing things.
They are always improving things.
They are always shipping something new.

There is always a prompt asking you to update to the latest version.

This is software versioning.

Building software has taught me a very beautiful concept:

Always fall in love with Version 1.

Nothing will ever be complete.

Your ideas will not be complete.
Your plans will not be complete.
Your skills will not be complete.
Your business will not be complete.

You can only version.

Version 1 is proof that something is buildable.

It does not have to be beautiful.
It does not have to be perfect.
It does not have to have everything.

It just needs to exist.

Do you want to learn how to design?

You do not need the best computer.

Start with your phone.

Use Canva.
Watch YouTube.
Practice.

That is your Version 1.

Then improve.

In Version 2, remove what did not work.

Drop the things that slowed you down.
Drop the doubts.
Keep what worked.
Improve what can be improved.

Then move to Version 3.

And Version 4.

And Version 5.

This is how movement happens.

You stop waiting for the perfect version of yourself before you begin.

You stop waiting for the perfect business idea.

You stop waiting for the perfect plan.

You start with what you have.

Then you version.

There is something powerful about this way of thinking.

It gives you permission to begin badly.

Your first website can be ugly.

Your first design can be bad.

Your first business idea can change.

Your first product can have bugs.

Your first attempt can be embarrassing.

That is okay.

It is Version 1.

You are not supposed to have everything figured out yet.

The mistake is thinking that Version 1 is supposed to look like Version 10.

It won’t.

And it shouldn’t.

When I build software, I no longer look at Version 1 and ask, “Is this perfect?”

I ask:

“Does this work?”

Because once something works, you have something to improve.

That is where the real learning begins.

You get feedback.
You find problems.
You discover better ideas.
You learn what users actually need.

Then you build Version 2.

This is not only a software principle.

It is a life principle.

You can version your skills.
You can version your business.
You can version your career.
You can version your thinking.

You do not need to see the whole staircase.

You only need to see the next step.

Build Version 1.

Then build Version 2.

Keep moving.

Start with the ugly Version 1, always.

~ Gathendi