The Key Points to Building a Successful Product, Hiring Talent, and Creating Value

The Key Points to Building a Successful Product, Hiring Talent, and Creating Value

In a recent interview with Ivan Zhao, co-founder of the versatile tool "Notion," he shared his insights on the key points to consider when it comes to product development, hiring talent, and creating value. One of the main points he emphasized was the importance of attention to detail and craftsmanship. He explained that there is an artistry to every aspect of a product, and this attention to detail is something he has always valued, even before working in Japan.

Living in a city like Kyoto has further reinforced his appreciation for the beauty of simplicity and the importance of a slower pace of life. He observed that people in Kyoto live their lives with great care and attention to detail. This mindset of craftsmanship and hospitality has greatly influenced how he and his team approach their work at Notion. They see software as a service and believe that providing a product is not just about the software itself but also about the support, sales, and customer success that come along with it.

Zhao also touched upon the fact that most people want to solve the problems they encounter in their daily lives, and often, the most commonly used tool for this is Microsoft Office. However, he believes that these tools have not evolved much over the years and lack a business sense. Notion aims to fill this gap by incorporating business sense into their product development process. They now view personas and core use cases as "jobs" that their product should fulfill.

To strike a balance between quality and quantity, Zhao believes that it is necessary to sacrifice the number of products they offer in order to improve the quality. They prioritize being honest with themselves and continuously iterate on their product based on feedback. If something doesn't work, they go back to the drawing board and try again. While they also consider the balance between development speed and quality, they place a higher importance on quality.

In terms of reaching out to users and gathering feedback, Notion consciously utilizes social media platforms such as Twitter and Reddit. They make an effort to engage with users directly and take their feedback seriously. This approach aims to position Notion as a tool maker that builds its product based on user feedback.

Internally, Notion has a framework that helps them make important decisions – they ask themselves whether a decision is reversible or irreversible. For example, when it comes to designing the authorization management of their product, they carefully consider decisions such as providing Notion for free to partners. They understand that decisions related to quality and recruiting are difficult to reverse, so they approach these decisions with great thoughtfulness.

In terms of the qualities they look for in their team members, they value individuals who understand that feedback is a gift. Notion has a culture of direct feedback, where team members learn from each other. They also value individuals who can focus on their work with a sense of craftsmanship and dedication, as this attitude is contagious within the team.

Lastly, Zhao highlighted the importance of sincerity. Notion has a test to measure sincerity, as it is closely tied to gaining trust from users. Once trust is lost, it is incredibly difficult to regain. Additionally, he mentioned that Notion values being holistic, as most problems are interconnected. By approaching problem-solving from a holistic perspective, they can find the best solutions.

In a separate interview, Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, shared his perspective on progress and innovation. He emphasized the importance of vertical or intensive progress, which involves doing new things and going from 0 to 1. This type of progress is harder to imagine because it requires doing something that nobody else has ever done before. Thiel also explained that horizontal or extensive progress, which involves copying things that work and going from 1 to n, is easier to recognize because we already know what it looks like.

Thiel believes that both globalization and technology are different modes of progress. Globalization refers to spreading old ways to create wealth around the world, while technology represents vertical progress. He warns that without new technology, globalization is unsustainable and will lead to devastation rather than riches.

Combining these insights, we can see the common points that emerge. Both Ivan Zhao and Peter Thiel emphasize the importance of innovation and doing something new. They both believe in the value of craftsmanship and attention to detail. Both also highlight the significance of feedback and the need to continuously iterate on products based on user input. Additionally, they touch upon the importance of trust and the impact it has on the success of a product or company.

Based on these insights, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Embrace attention to detail and craftsmanship in your product development process. Strive for simplicity and quality rather than quantity.

2. Actively seek feedback from users and engage with them directly. Take their feedback seriously and use it to improve your product.

3. Foster a culture of innovation and vertical progress within your team. Encourage individuals to think outside the box and strive for new solutions that have not been done before.

In conclusion, building a successful product, hiring the right talent, and creating value require a combination of attention to detail, innovation, feedback, and trust. By incorporating these principles into your own work, you can increase the chances of achieving success in your endeavors.