How to Ship with Excellence

Introduction

Throughout my time at Airbnb, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside many talented individuals. One key trait I’ve noticed in those who consistently deliver outstanding work is their ability to ship projects with both quality and excellence. In this post, I want to explore what that looks like and what sets these individuals apart.

Traits of Those Who Ship Excellence

While it’s rare for any one individual to excel in all of these areas, great talent often demonstrates some of these qualities consistently.

Understand the Why

Far too often, I’ve seen engineers fall into the trap of “solutioning”—jumping straight into implementation without fully understanding the problem or why it’s worth solving. Instead of first defining the issue, they focus on execution details, building something without ensuring it truly addresses the intended challenge.

While shipping reliable and resilient code is a hallmark of good engineering, it’s only part of the equation. You can use the latest technology or the most efficient algorithm, but none of it matters if you’re solving the wrong problem.

Engineers who recognize this distinction ask the right questions before writing a single line of code. They take the time to deeply understand the core issue, probing into what users are struggling with. They rely on research, data, and collaboration with product managers to clearly define the problem. More importantly, they synthesize these insights into a one-pager, articulating why the problem matters before jumping into solutions.

Engineers who exhibit this mindset often become a product manager’s best partner. They are highly user-focused, possessing a deep understanding of both user pain points and the broader product landscape. Unsurprisingly, they earn a great deal of respect from users—because they aren’t just building features; they’re solving real problems.

Fast Iteration Speed

Some of the best engineers I know ship quickly, moving from ideation to a working prototype with remarkable speed. They are both pragmatic and selective in their approach, balancing efficiency with thoughtful decision-making.

Using a bullet-tracing approach, they ship small iterations rapidly, gather feedback, and refine their work. This iterative cycle helps them catch flaws early, making it easier to adjust and improve. They prototype frequently, test ideas rapidly, and aren’t afraid to discard or backtrack when something doesn’t work. Their lack of attachment to initial code allows them to stay agile, adapt quickly, and focus on what truly matters.

Engineers who embody this trait are often the go-to people for taking a project from 0 to 1. They have a keen ability to assess the complexity of new initiatives, identify potential risks, and spot opportunities early. Highly capable technically, they thrive in ambiguous projects, leveraging their skills to systematically de-risk challenges and pave the way for successful execution.

Focus on Execution Details

Another trait of engineers who ship with high quality is their ability to plan ahead and develop a solid, detailed execution plan. These engineers excel during the scaling phase, taking proof-of-concept work and transforming it into production-grade, battle-tested systems.

Great, experienced engineers understand that building the feature is only the beginning. They know that to prevent catastrophic failures, adding observability and monitoring is essential. They proactively consider mean time to detection and remediation, especially for highly critical systems. When the project aims to replace a legacy system, these engineers prioritize a transparent migration process that minimizes the burden on users. At the same time, they aren’t afraid to ask users to take on migration work when necessary. Finally, engineers who ship end-to-end recognize the importance of clear communication through Public Service Announcements (PSAs) with a direct call to action. Their PSAs explain the motivation behind the work, why it matters, how users can utilize it, and what’s required from them (e.g., migration steps).

These engineers are exceptional at scaling early, promising projects into mature, fully integrated systems. They collaborate effectively with engineers who take a project from 0 to 1, to take the project from 1 to N. They bring deep operational knowledge and lead by example, especially during on-call duties, incidents, and recovery efforts.

Hungry for Feedback

Great engineers who ship with excellence not only give feedback but are also highly receptive to it. They do not settle for mediocrity or allow inefficiencies to persist, and they believe everyone can improve with the appropriate guidance and support.

Engineers who embrace feedback possess a high degree of self-awareness. They know their strengths and weaknesses, and they understand that personal growth stems from continuous learning. Rather than being defensive or dismissive, they view feedback as an opportunity to evolve, improve, and refine their approach. This mindset allows them to treat feedback as a valuable resource rather than a critique of their ability.

Great engineers also know when and how to give feedback. They are not shy about offering it when necessary—they understand that feedback is not meant to attack individuals but to elevate the team and ensure the highest standards are met. Engineers who ship with excellence hold themselves—and their teammates—to a high standard. They understand that for a team to succeed, every member must continuously improve and deliver top-tier results. This drives their commitment to offering feedback that pushes for excellence.

Incidentally, I have worked with a few engineers from Netflix, who are extremely accustomed to this culture. I don’t think it’s for everyone, but it’s highly effective. It does require each individual to develop some thick skin, but you quickly adapt to it when everyone practices giving constructive feedback. In the end, this approach fosters an environment where growth, accountability, and excellence thrive.

Conclusion

A few years ago, when I transitioned into a product management role, my predecessor gave me two simple yet powerful words of advice—Ship Greatness. While this is an ambitious goal, achieving it boils down to cultivating high standards and refined judgment when approaching projects. In this post, I’ve shared some key qualities to consider when shipping high-quality work. I hope it inspires you to pursue excellence in everything you build.