I started building digital products in 2008 with YouVersion and have led innovation and product development in various contexts for the past 16 years. The first book I read at YouVersion was a printed PDF of "Getting Real," given to me by our Digerati Leader -- Terry Storch, on my first day.
In 2009, we interviewed an incredible designer, Jason Zimdars, who was in the process of interviewing at 37signals; needless to say, he took their offer and has been with them ever since (15+ years).
Another acquaintance, Brian Bailey (the husband of one of our copywriters at YouVersion), who built some personally impacting digital communities during the 2010s, is now with the team as VP of Product Strategy and, from our last conversation, enjoys shaping the work with their teams.
I've got multiple copies of ShapeUp on my bookshelf behind me, ready to hand out to curious Product Managers, Developers, and Designers. I've read everything Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson (and Ryan Singer) have put on paper. Ugh.
It's true, I'm smitten. I highly regard their ability to create great products and higher regard for their philosophy of building organizations that create great products. Yes, I'm an idealist, I know. It's a problem.
I'd rather not meet my childhood heroes for fear that they ruin my idealized projection of who they are and have been to me. Ha! I don't usually watch Jerry Rice or Joe Montana interviews for this reason. I want my heroes to be infallible, bigger than life, and as close to perfect as possible.
In my heart, though, I know nothing is utopia, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't work to improve things wherever you build... You must chase something to be great, even if it is a projection.
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Am I the only one? Who are your darlings? What are you learning from them?
#fanboy #digital #product
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