Carmack presents success as the result of sustained, purposeful effort rather than a single insight or moment of inspiration. The emphasis is on maintaining a clear objective and continuing to make practical progress towards it. Large ambitions are treated as a sequence of manageable actions, with persistence providing continuity between the goal and its eventual completion.

The final sentence adds experimentation to this approach. When the best course is uncertain, Carmack recommends trying competing methods and judging them by their results rather than remaining stalled by indecision. This combines discipline with a willingness to test assumptions and revise an approach when evidence suggests something works better. In its original context of game development, the quote reflects an iterative method in which ideas are implemented, compared and refined. More broadly, it describes a practical strategy for working through uncertainty while maintaining progress towards a defined objective.