What is quality? Quality is the result of bringing the details of a product to the forefront, where every decision that led to its creation was deliberate and purposeful. It's a world where everything holds significance. Some may argue that certain aspects are unimportant, but in the sphere of high-quality products, every touchpoint matters. Quality is about elevating every detail and relentlessly pursuing perfection in the minutiae.

Apple, under the leadership of Steve Jobs, originally set the standard for quality. Their unwavering commitment to quality distinguished them from the rest. Their seeming invincibility doesn't stem from their existing product line, but from a culture that stubbornly prioritizes quality. This unique obsession with quality allows them to venture into new product categories like headphones, smart speakers, or voice assistants and consistently outperform the competition.

Emerging software startups like Linear recently rediscovered this. An obsession with the details and an unyielding drive to create something truly exceptional are the traits of great product teams. A refusal to accept mediocrity and a focus on quality is essentially all you need.