For your product to have a good chance of success, it has to stand on the following three legs — desirability, feasibility and viability.
Desirability: Your product has to be liked! There’s no point in creating something that no one is going to want. You have to ask, would consumers want this product? Is there a need for it? Will consumers use it? If the answer is no to any of these questions, your product will, unfortunately, likely sit on store shelves.
Feasibility: Your product has to be build-able! Why try to create something that can’t actually be made? The questions you have to ask are, can the product actually be built? Is it technically sound? Does it do what it’s supposed to do? If the answer is no, then your fabulous idea cannot really exist.
Viability: Your product has to sustain itself. That is, you have to be able to sell it at a price that people are willing to buy it for. The questions you have to ask are, can this venture make money? Can the business sustain itself? If the answer is no, then this business is really a hobby.
Based on the three legs above, it should follow that the core team necessary to launch a venture should consist of team members that can ensure that each of the legs are on solid footing.
The Hipster. The champion of desirability. The Hipster not only focuses on the visual aesthetic of the product, she more importantly has the responsibility of making sure the product presents effective solutions to consumers’ wants and needs. She’s the design thinker. She has the customers in mind always, and and aims to create the best experience for them.
The Hacker. The champion of feasibility. The Hacker’s area of responsibility is making sure the solution can be built. And that it works. She is the technician — the programmer, the engineer, the doctor, the architect, or whomever has the know-how to build the product.
The Hustler. The champion of viability. The Hustler’s main role is to hustle. She makes sure the lights stay on and the team is fed. She is in charge of ensuring that there is money in the account, that costs are managed, that people know about your product, and generally making sure that the engine is running.
Do you have your dream team lined up?