Great post — a not-so subtle reminder that it’s more important to “ship” than it is to design a pretty shipping label.
~DON the Idea Guy

Thanks so much for all the responses — and thanks to Seth for mentioning my post. Also, a nod to Ben Mack for introducing me to the turtle metaphor to begin with.

A few specific replies…

Matthew: Wholeheartedly hear you on the call for more focus. It’s always been a challenge, but getting more so in the internet age. Great article by Nicholas Carr in this month’s Wired speaks to the alarming trend of interruptive media actually rewiring our brains and making us less able to think.

Liz: You’re absolutely right — the lines between real work and turtles aren’t always clear. Way back, I used to spend too much time playing Myth and Doom – you can’t get more turtle-ish than that! Except that these games held precursors to much of the interactive work I wound up getting paid for. I guess we just have to learn to judge wisely (easier said than done).

Amber: I had the pleasure of seeing Vonnegut give a commencement address. He predicted that our greatest challenge in the future would be…boredom. A perfect breeding ground for turtles, don’t you think?

- Rich