Becoming a product shokunin

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