The Five Percent
I am a big believer in the Pareto principle. However, when it comes to Product Development, I think the 80:20 ratio can be expanded to 95:5. That is, 95% of the value is driven by 5% of the people.
The key word here is driven. The remaining 95% do add necessary value. They contribute with their skills and hard work, and they are as invaluable to the product as anyone else. But the vision, motivation, rigor, and nuance are driven by the 5%.
These are the people who make the whole greater than the sum of its parts. They make tough decisions, put their reputation on the line, take risks when others won’t, and stay committed even when the weather isn’t sunny.
You can identify such people by their willingness to take on challenges beyond their current skill set, their commitment to constant learning, and their humility to learn from anyone who knows more, regardless of their role or position in the hierarchy. These individuals aren’t just problem solvers; they’re opportunity seekers. They always look for ways to get their foot in the door, come up with new ideas, and proactively request to be part of initiatives that help them grow.
The question is: are you part of this 5%? If not, what would it take to be there?