Landings over launches!
Many focus on launching, or shipping! So often I hear “when will X launch or when will Y ship?” Or “What are you shipping today?”.
Launching feels good, but landing is what matters!
Airline are not in w business of taking off, they are in a business of landing with happy passangers and their undamaged luggage, safely, on time, and in the right destination.
The same applies to building software and products. The launch is a prerequisite for a landing. But the effort only matters it the launch landed safely and customers are happy.
So the next time someone asks you when will X ship, pause them and ask about their expectations around the landing.
Even an airplane can take off with an empty tank and luggage not yet loaded, but only if nobody cares that it will crash shortly after the launch. I’d avoid an airline that operates in this way.
Landings over launches!
