Shipping is a Feature: Some Guiding Principles for Staying Motivated and Building Great Products

Shipping is a Feature: Some Guiding Principles for Staying Motivated and Building Great Products

In the world of product management, shipping is a fundamental feature. What customers value most in a product is that it "just works" or "does what it is supposed to do." However, throughout the product development process, it can be challenging to achieve this. Every product manager knows that shipping is crucial, but it is also the hardest thing to get right.

Whether you spend three years or three months developing a product, the motion of shipping, learning, gathering data, and iterating remains the same. The version you release to customers will inevitably change from what you initially envisioned. The key is to ship the product and adapt based on user feedback. This is where the true value lies.

As a product manager, you are tasked with making decisions. It is your responsibility to have a clear, focused worldview for the product. Just as you would want a person to have a defined perspective, a product should also have a distinct point of view. However, reaching decisions can be challenging, especially when there are multiple stakeholders involved.

In a well-run team, decisions should not require multiple people to agree. It is essential to understand that there is rarely a "right" answer, especially in the context of technology. Each decision must consider the team, the customers, and the overall goals of the product. Sometimes, finding a compromise may seem like the best solution, but it often leaves no one truly satisfied.

The challenge arises when deciding what to do next. It is tempting to tweak things to achieve a sense of completion, but it is crucial to consider the impact on existing and new customers. Incremental improvements may seem beneficial, but they can introduce unnecessary complexities and hinder user experience. Context is everything in decision-making as a product manager. Factors such as team skills, business realities, and execution capabilities must all be taken into account.

Staying motivated in the face of slow progress is another significant challenge for product managers. Trusting the process and finding an anchor point can help maintain motivation. Recording where you started from and measuring your progress against that starting point each day can provide a sense of accomplishment, even when progress seems slow.

Additionally, finding joy in the process is essential. Focusing solely on the outcome can lead to failure. Embracing the journey and recognizing the value in each step is crucial. As the book about Ikigai suggests, the process is often more important than the outcomes. Just being present and persistent can lead to success.

In his work, Zhuangzi emphasizes the importance of simply being there. It is a reminder that progress is not always linear, but perseverance is key. Even when the road seems long and progress seems slow, the surefire way to reach your goals is to keep going.

To summarize, here are three actionable pieces of advice for product managers:

1. Ship, learn, and iterate: Embrace the process of shipping and gathering feedback from customers. Adapt and make changes based on their needs and preferences.

2. Make decisions with a clear perspective: Develop a focused worldview for your product and make decisions that align with its overall vision. Consider the context, team skills, and business realities when making choices.

3. Trust the process and find joy in the journey: Keep yourself motivated by acknowledging your progress from where you started. Embrace the process and find fulfillment in each step, rather than solely focusing on the outcome.

In conclusion, building great products and staying motivated as a product manager require perseverance, adaptability, and a clear perspective. Shipping is a fundamental feature that allows for continuous improvement, and decision-making should consider the context and the needs of both existing and potential customers. By trusting the process, finding joy in the journey, and staying committed to the goals, product managers can overcome challenges and achieve success.