Reality rewards usable work, not theoretical brilliance.

Theoretical brilliance is evaluated by other people’s admiration. Usable work is evaluated by whether it does something, and reality only responds to the second. A somewhat crude thing that functions changes more than an elegant thing that remains a description.

Ask whether what you are building could actually be used by someone this month. If not, simplify until it could. Usability is the threshold at which work starts producing effects.