If you have a business (or help those in business) you most likely have a brand and if you have a brand, you most likely have the opportunity to develop a product on behalf of that brand. Product development can be a powerful marketing tool for anyone looking to impact the world in a creative way. For me, though, I feel a connection to the idea of product development which springs from a deep passion. It’s a different feeling than the feeling we are “born” to be a leader, a parent, an athlete, or something like that. I’ve thought about it and I’ve decided my affinity to product development comes from my internal comfort with the deep-seeded traits that good product developers need to move forward. I think these traits would help anyone who can conceive of an idea to have the fortitude to bring it to life.
What are these magical traits I speak of?
1. Acceptance of Delayed Gratification.
In 1970, psychologist Walter Mischel performed his famous “marshmallow experiment” to test the results of delayed gratification. In the experiment, children were offered the choice between eating one small marshmallow immediately or waiting 15 minutes and receiving two treats. Years later, the children who chose the delayed gratification of the two treats over the one marshmallow were found to have been more successful in life as measured by quantifiable elements such as their SAT scores, completed education, body mass index, and other life qualities. If I had been part of that experiment, I can guarantee I’d have been one of those kids who waited for the second treat. I’ve always been patient when it comes to delayed gratification, and I’ve formed the opinion that having the ability to understand and accept delayed gratification in the product development process is very important. Product development takes time, prototypes, versions, release, and in many cases, the building of a following before reaping a profit, or even an impact on others. Good product developers “hang in there” until the process is launched and on its way. When I develop a product, I’ve already envisioned success in my mind’s eye, and my job then becomes waiting for it to manifest. If you can personally handle delayed gratification well, you may have what it takes to become a successful product developer.
2. Commitment to Values.
Life is short and everyone’s energy is limited. Product developers may entertain hundreds of ideas but at some point, they have to focus in on a few that they will relentlessly pursue. How will they know which ones make the cut? For me, my core values have always held the knife handle.
When it comes to business, many of my values were formed by studying business gurus like Napoleon Hill, Zig Ziglar, and Dale Carnegie. I have a clear mission in life that has shaped my core values. So it is then the indelible braided strands of my mission to help others, my core values as a servant leader, and my ability to impact more lives that helps me make decisions when it comes to product development. In fact, I can identify situations in my life where I turned down prestige, money, or other quick rewards because the opportunity did not align with my value to serve others. Or, maybe it served others, but another effort would benefit more people. I’ll always go with the idea that benefits more people because it aligns more closely with my core values. I’ve seen firsthand, how valuable having a commitment to my values can help me as a product developer.
3. Make the Connection.
Steve Jobs was once talking about creativity and said, “Creativity is just connecting things.” He went on to say that creative people can make connections between experiences and use them to create something novel. As a publisher, I often become the encourager of people’s stories. When they tell me that their story is not unique or exciting enough, I try to make them see that the specialness of what they have to offer from their words, their expressions, and their generation of the ideas on the page. The originality in what they have to say and how they do it is the most important piece of making the connection. Likewise, in the world of product development, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. It’s ok for a product to stimulate the creation of a similar one, as long as there is a creative twist to it. Delve into history and you will see that some of the people credited with the invention of something, for example Steve Jobs with the computer mouse, and even Thomas Edison and the light bulb, were all the result of improving upon an already existing idea. It was their own ability to bring it to market and make them household names that retain the credit for the invention in our hearts and minds.
Developing a product takes more than a solid business plan, definition of an audience, and setting of a price and distribution channel. True product developers are willing to take risks because they are looking to create more than a product. Rather, like me, they are producing an expression of their core values ..and they’re not afraid to wait for success!
Jacqueline Camacho-Ruiz is the CEO of JJR Marketing (www.jjrmarketing.com) and Fig Factor Media LLC international book publishing company (www.figfactormedia.com), founder of The Fig Factor Foundation (www.thefigfactor.org), creator of Today’s Inspired Latina book series and international movement (http://www.todayslatina.com), author of thirteen books (www.jackiecamacho.com), international speaker, and pilot. Jacqueline speaks to hundreds of audiences about marketing, servant leadership, finding your passion, and achieving success in business. She has addressed the United States Army, BP International, United Airlines, Allstate, and Farmers Insurance among other corporations to share her inspiration.
If you or an organization you know needs as speaker, please get in touch with us at http://www.jackiecamacho.com/contact.