Pass the Salt: Learning to Focus on the Job to be Done

It’s been a while since I regularly browsed XKCD, but earlier this week, I stumbled upon an older comic that was too on-point not to share. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy a little self-deprecation?

xkcd comic 974

Now, I won’t pretend I’ve fully escaped the developer’s labyrinth of over-engineering—every now and then, I catch myself eyeing a rabbit hole. But this comic? It reminded me of a younger Jeff, crafting complex solutions for problems that never materialized… Yup, definitely haven’t done that recently…

That all started to change when I tuned into an episode of Full Stack Radio. Ryan Singer was discussing Shape Up, Basecamp's sharp, precise, and incredibly effective philosophy for product development. It wasn’t just a project management method; it was a mindset.

The real game-changer, though, was discovering the Jobs to be Done (JTBD) framework through Shape Up. Software development suddenly shifted from the code I was writing to the problems I was solving. JTBD forced me to zoom out and focus on the end user. What job was my product being hired to do?

With this new lens, here's my redefined approach to development and business:

  • Keep it real: Tackle the real-world problem directly. Sure, building a condiment dispensing empire is fun, but it’s wasted effort when all that's needed is passing the salt.
  • Timebox to focus: Set a strict deadline to unleash creativity. You'll be amazed at how fast unnecessary complexities fall away when you're on the clock.
  • Embrace the rough edges: Perfection is a moving target. So I go for 'good enough,' which isn't lazy; it's strategic. It gets the job done and sets the stage for v2, where the real magic happens.
  • Iterate like crazy: Launch, then iterate. Continuous improvement beats one-time perfection every time. This, coupled with accepting the rough edges, is a genuine superpower.

Embracing Shape Up and JTBD didn't just sharpen my coding skills—it completely rewired my approach to business. It’s never been about the tech. It’s always about the people and the jobs they need done.

So, to the perfectionists meticulously crafting the next big thing: remember the message of the comic. Sometimes, all your user needs is for you to pass the salt.

Until next time, keep it simple and keep on shipping.