Goals Quote by Giles Colborne
““It’s been pointed out that products that start out simple often end up getting so complex they cease to be useful. But if you set extreme targets, over time your product gets better (or at least achieves the goals that really matter).””
About This Quote
Simple products can become over‑engineered, losing usefulness; setting bold, focused goals can steer development toward meaningful improvements.
In simple terms: Avoid over‑complexity; aim for clear, impactful goals.
Key Takeaway
Clear targets keep products useful.
Themes
product design
simplicity
goal‑setting
innovation
Mood
pragmatic
critical
Type
advice
analytical
When to use this quote
- software development
- hardware design
- startup product roadmaps
Key Concepts
lean methodology
feature creep
Practical Applications
- define minimal viable features
- regularly reassess goal relevance
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance ambition with usability?
- When should a product be simplified rather than expanded?
A Different Perspective
Extreme targets may sacrifice user experience for performance.
![“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. It takes a lot of hard work to make something simple, to truly understand the underlying challenges and come up with elegant solutions. [...] It's not just minimalism or the absence of clutter. It involves digging through the depth of complexity. To be…” quote by Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0c/steve-jobs-307_able_simplicity-is-the-ultimate-sophisticatio_892908.jpg)
