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Despite similarly sounding names, there are huge differences between project and product development. These two concepts are often confused with one another that sometimes even experienced people in the field find it difficult to tell the difference. So, if you plan on hiring a developer for product or project development, it is imperative for you to conceptualize the difference between the two.

This is mainly because the process of selecting the right IT Company during development is of great importance. Therefore, if you make a mistake and hire the wrong company, it will directly result in the wastage of your efforts, time and money. That’s why in today’s article, you will learn more about the main differences between project and product development.

Project Development

The process of project development is usually carried out by a professional project manager who works closely with a product manager to create a successful product. However, please note that project managers are not a part of development process, but they are involved in the pre-development process. In simpler words, a project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique service or process that is developed by an organization for its own operational requirements.

Therefore, the process has nothing to do with product development, despite the fact it provides valuable information on what type of product has to be created. Additionally, a project is developed only for handling specific applications of an organization where look and feel of a product doesn’t matter, just the idea does. It is when a company wants to optimize its processes, but doesn’t want to waste money on purchase a ready-made tool that may or may not meet the exact requirements.

Product Development

Product development, also known as the ‘Stage-Gate’ process is when a product manager collaborates with other teams in order to ‘develop’ new innovations. Developing a product means creating something that a company intends to sell and generate revenues afterwards. It is strictly related to business and focuses on a wide range of consumer needs, wants and requirements. In fact, it has a whole life-cycle consisting of multiple stages.

The process begins right from the very conceptualization of the idea to developing all the architecture, drawings, designs of the products and then converting them into real, workable and sellable products. However, developing a product requires strong support and the assistance of professional product designers and industrial designers. Regardless, the entire process is carried out to develop a product with the intention of selling it in the marketplace to represent the image of a company.

Project Development vs. Product Development

• In project development, less maintenance is required, but product development requires high maintenance, strong support, and good financial resources.
• The development of a project requires long term testing, whereas project development involves limited tested.
• In project development, features and requirements are important, but the feel and look don’t carry much significance. However, product development is all about the look, feel and user-experience of a product.

• Product development is for selling and revenue generation where as project development is for a company’s own operational requirements.
• Product development is an ongoing investment that involves adding new features, but project development is only a onetime investment.

So, now that you are familiar with the factors mentioned above, determining the difference between project and product development won’t be a problem.

In business presenting, I often work with clients who’ve had a tough time getting the skills they need to be successful. Get a fresh start in the skills that can transform your business – and your career.

“Let us not look back in anger or forward in fear, but around in awareness.”

-James Thurber

Clients and students constantly ask me: how can I get over the jitters, nervous anxiety and shaky knees even thinking about presenting?

You might be shocked at the people who are terrified of presenting to a group. In other parts of their work life, they appear confident and strong. But when they have a date to speak to a board, conference, or group of executives, they freeze up.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Let’s look at the three things you must do to get a fresh start so you can adapt to new circumstances without carrying the baggage of old negative experiences.

Tip 1. Learn From the Past

My hunch is you had some doozy experiences presenting in the past. Perhaps you really blew a big sale. Or you may have said something inappropriate in front of an important decision maker. Maybe you just froze up when it was your turn to speak.

Whatever happened, it’s time to learn from the experience. Explore what happened in precise detail. Pick it apart with surgical tweezers. Why did you say that? What really went wrong? What else could you have done?

This kind of precise investigation is not for the purpose of beating yourself up. It’s to find out with objective eyes what happened – so you can prevent it in the future.

While you are learning from the past, you’ll also realize that there is no need to continue being angry about what happened. It’s over. Now, it’s time to move on – armed with fresh insights and new perspectives.

Tip 2. Look Forward to a New Future

Specialized training in presentation design and delivery is the key to looking forward to the future. With new skills, you are more prepared and ready to take on new challenges.

Instead of relying on the skill set or lack of skills you had in the past, with skills-based training you can learn how to plan a powerful story, show convincing visuals and inspire action.

New skills are the exact cure for uprooting fear. You are not the same person as you were in your last presentation. Therefore, you don’t need to approach the next speech, talk or video cast with trepidation.

You are ready, prepared and a new future is waiting for you.

Tip 3. Check Your Attitude

Dissolving past anger and uprooting future fears, creates an open attitude towards business presenting.

This changes everything. You’ll move differently. You’re going to choose different words, and discover new responses to attendees.

Look at all the ways your attitude shows up. Are you open and listening? Are you passionate? Are you patient in responding to questions? Are you speaking in plain English so everyone will understand what you’re saying?

Your attitude and awareness form the foundation for giving phenomenal presentations. Get exceptional results by dissolving the past, embracing the future and focusing on your positive attitude. Get a fresh start by learning new presentation skills to grow your business.  

Deeper Purposeful Questions

Why are you here on this earth?

What is your purpose, if you associate yourself with one?

Rest assured this is not an existentialist treatise but something simpler.

These types of questions are popular in every culture. The journey called life with its twists and turns is quite a trip. We trudge along through childhood to adulthood experiencing a various events while learning, growing, falling and getting up again.

In the West we live in a society that tries to mould us into conditioned men and women. Go with the crowd, listen to the media and governmental officials. Don’t buck the system because the system works.

Does it really?

At some point, everyone asks themselves deeper purposeful questions while searching for the truth. Many times painful circumstances compel us to stop and contemplate life.

I’m drawn to a passage by Dr. Alex Lickerman who writes in The Undefeated Mind: On the Science of Constructing an Indestructible Self: “Nietzsche once wrote that he who has a why to live can bear almost any how. According to Nichiren Buddhism, however, not every why is created equal. To build the strongest life force possible – one that can bear the weight of any how – Nichiren Buddhism argues we need a why to live that in some way involves contributing to the well-being of others.”

Foggy Mornings

I’m up in the mountains as I write this enjoying solitude and peace. This morning there’s a thick fog hovering over the home.

As I sit outside taking in the stunning morning, I realise many times become stuck in a spiritual fog. Our perspective is skewed and we can’t see beyond our current circumstances or ego.

The fog made it impossible to see the beautiful view this morning, so I closed my eyes and tried to imagine it. I know it’s there beyond the fog and I know it will be visible in a few hours when the fog lifts.

Likewise, when we experience darkness, we act less than graceful. We become frustrated, succumbing to negativity and cannot see beyond the fog. We believe the situation will continue forever and get mired in bad moods. We fail to realise that foggy mornings turn into gorgeous days.

Sit In The Fog

I sat in the fog this morning and enjoyed the stillness and majesty of nature. I watched clouds of fog inch towards me. I liken it to the stillness of mornings that flows through us.

I haven’t taken time to just sit still for weeks because of the busyness that overwhelmed me. Sometimes we need to ground ourselves in Mother Nature; to reconnect with our roots so to speak.

Time away is worthwhile, but what about everyday life?

Do you let the hustle and bustle of everyday living overpower you?

Do you need to be busy all the time?

Even if you are busy with things that matter, do you compromise time for meditation and sitting quietly to reconnect with yourself?

We need to make time to sit in the fog and find our bearings. But many of us are caught up with agendas and to do lists, we forget to come home to ourselves until it’s too late. And by then it can be too late.

“It isn’t life’s “content” that determines its value. It’s the awareness you bring to it, moment to moment. It’s attention itself. Presence is its same self regardless of the particulars of the moment,” affirms author Jan Frazier in The Freedom of Being: At Ease with What Is.

Do You Want Answers?

If you want answers to your life’s purpose or your next step, make time for you. Time to sit and be still. Time to walk in nature and reconnect with yourself. Time to contemplate, breathe and relax. Quiet your mind.

If you want answers, make it a priority to retreat into silence.

Switch the mobile device on silent for a moment. I promise you, nothing will change. Facebook will still be there and so too will your Instagram followers.

Life’s journey is simple and believe it or not, you are in control more than you think. If things are not the way you like them to be, make changes. I give you permission to change your circumstances.

Get up earlier, stay up later. Go away for a few days. Go for a walk. Turn the TV and computer off. Leave your cell phone at home or turn it off. We are addicted to technology so much so that our attention span has burnt out.

A reader recently wrote a comment on an article I wrote that highlights this point of view. She said: “Teaching people to observe their surroundings and thoughts, in a way that creates being in the present moment, is a difficult process for many to grasp. When I take clients outside to observe nature, they often are confused about why the present moment is important. The constant stimulation of our brains by electronics changes our neural pathways. We have lost our connection to the earth and the positive effect it has when we are still and take notice.”

I was a little saddened that people are confused why the present moment is important. Because that is ALL you have! There is no tomorrow or past, but many people process them in the present moment while “it” (present moment) slips through their fingers.

Something must give if you want a better life. You can’t keep doing the same things while expecting conditions to improve. The fog represents the fog of separation and the illusion that blinds you from the truth.

Your truth differs from my truth, yet they are the one true constant in our lives. They are our compass and if we lose our bearings what assurances are there we will find our way back again?

It’s what author Donald Altman means when he says in Clearing Emotional Clutter: “If you tell yourself something long enough, you might end up believing it, even if it has no basis in truth.”

Rediscover what is important to you and pursue it passionately. The fog will eventually lift and reveal another day, yet your time is limited and you don’t want to keep dragging your heels hoping for a better life.

It is here and NOW, when you set the intention to live intentionally. Only then will you experience life cascading through you in its infinite glory.