ACTUALLY WORKING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN LOOKING AS THOUGH IT WILL ACTUALLY WORK

"Beauty is less important than quality."

Eugene Ormandy, 20th century Hungarian born violinist/conductor

In some instances, maybe not, but I wouldn't bank on it when creating product you want to sell.

From cars to computers, the product landscape is littered with what were initially considered attractive products whose quality ultimately proved lacking.

Looks count, just not for everything.

HOW AS MUCH AS WHAT

"He gains everyone's approval who mixes the pleasant with the useful."

Horace (BC 65-8) Latin lyric poet

Note to engineers: How something works is every bit as important as what it does. 

A parachute will get a person from an airplane to the ground but that doesn't make it the preferred method of descent for most.

FOCUS!

"Sir, a man may be so much of everything, that he is nothing of anything."

Samuel Johnson

18th century British author

The Army has a name for what a lot of today's companies call product development.

Recon by fire: Just keep shooting until you hit something.

Whatever else it may be it isn't efficient.

Can you afford it?

Improvement: The Quest to be Best

"It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character, and judgment."

Marcus Tullius Cicero
First Century BC Roman Statesman

Well I have to think that being a world class sprinter does require muscle, speed and at least some physical dexterity; however I also believe that the business equivalents (most money, best people, best product) can and often are trumped by smaller, more nimble companies with greater desire, focus and energy.

It comes down to continually looking for ways to improve and never is that more necessary than when you are the leader.