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Becoming a product shokunin

Author: Winston Blick
Winston Blick
10th October 2019Product Excellence

Taste is tough to explain, isn’t it?

My first thought upon hearing the opening words of the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi was: this is the culinary version of Steve Jobs’ single-minded fixation on good taste. The mental jump from sushi to iPhone wasn’t such a stretch. After all, my team spends a lot of time considering what good taste means in the context of digital product design, and we seek inspiration everywhere, not just web applications.

Jiro, of the eponymous documentary, is a bonafide product leader. He created and runs a three-star Michelin restaurant in Tokyo, where meals start at $300 a plate, include no appetizers or alcohol, and may take just 15 minutes to consume. The primary seating area consists of 10 seats at a bar. And despite this, it’s practically impossible to get a reservation.

Image source: Magnolia Picture/”Jiro Dreams of Sushi” (Watch on Netflix)

What’s this got to do with product management? Quite a bit, I think. Here’s what Jiro embodies that all product makers can take to heart.


Passion

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