Focus is scary—until you realize that it only means turning your back on markets you could never have anyway. Sharp focus on jobs that customers are trying to get done holds the promise of greatly improving the odds of success in new-product development.
Interpretation
Focus helps eliminate distractions and increases the chances of success in product development.
This quote emphasizes the importance of focus in product development. By concentrating on the specific needs of customers and overlooking the myriad of other possibilities, businesses can greatly enhance their chances of success in creating products that fulfill real demands. Thus, it suggests that real clarity comes from prioritizing the right tasks and ignoring all others that do not align with customer needs.
In practice
In a business presentation about product strategy, this quote can serve as a reminder to keep the team's efforts aligned with customer demand.
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All of us failed to match our dreams of perfection. So I rate us on the base of our splendid failure to do the impossible.
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