I’ve always been fascinated by building things, whether it's business software, video games, or just a plain old website. But over the years, I’ve learned that what keeps me grounded is staying as close to the product as possible. It's easy to get lost in the beauty of the architecture or the cleverness of the code, but I never wanted my only inspiration to come from that. The best engineers don't just solve technical problems; they solve human problems. And that’s only possible when you keep yourself close to the product.
In my experience, engineers who are deeply product-focused play a critical role in a startup's success. They build with intention. They move fast, but with purpose. They understand that great code means nothing if it doesn’t ship or if it doesn’t solve a real need.
Austin Powers
🤔 Consider this: If I told you that delivering an app in six months would earn you a million dollars in cash, you’d become product-focused immediately. Deadlines would matter! Feature creep would die. Every decision would be meet with the question, “Does this help us launch?” That’s the clarity product focus brings. It’s not about cutting corners; it’s about cutting distractions and getting the job done, correctly.
Of course, there’s always a struggle between productivity and quality, speed and stability and it’s the job of leadership to create a path forward. Strong leadership isn’t just about steering the ship; it’s about knowing how to and when to push forward.
Our flagship app, DreamBook, isn’t just another project to us, it’s our promise to the next generation of storytellers, and my mission is simple: deliver on time, meet spec, and never compromise on quality. It’s hasn't been easy, but it’s a challenge I signed up for and one I will not fail. With the right team, the right leadership, and a relentless focus on the product we have, we will succeed. And thankfully, we have all three.
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