Take the hit, stay in the ring
Why product leaders must learn to take a punch
Building a product is not easy. It’s emotionally demanding, uncertain, and at times, unfair. Why? Because the more users you reach, the more likely your decisions will be questioned and your mistakes magnified. That’s why, if you’re a product leader, you’ll need to develop a critical skill: the ability to take hits.
Yes, like a sparring partner, you’ll have to fall and get back up again and again. So, how do you train for that? The most direct way is to step into the ring. Or put differently: instead of waiting to feel confident before taking action… take action to build confidence. Throw the first punch. Will you fail? Absolutely. But this isn't about getting everything right — it’s about learning to fail without leaving the ring.
In the tech industry, we often talk about “impact.” Impact means creating a meaningful transformation in users’ lives: the more transformations, the greater the impact. The problem is that, when the time comes to make a choice, most product leaders play it safe: they opt for incremental improvements, in familiar markets, with minimal risk. But this choice has consequences. Playing it safe leads teams to avoid risk. Without risk, they don’t take hits — and if they don’t take hits, they’re not fighting.
Do you want to step into the ring?
Accept that failure is part of the process: Instead of choosing battles you know you can win, take on complex problems. Failure is inevitable — face it with sportsmanship.
Redefine your relationship with success: Stop chasing external validation. Real success lies in your process: your consistency, commitment, and your ability to endure uncertainty.
Act with conviction: Great products are not born from perfect plans, but from small bets made with passion.
So step into the ring. Throw the first punch. And remember: it’s not about avoiding the fall. It’s about becoming someone who always gets back up.