"Plank said that being overly focused on "pretense" or "process" is wasteful. "That's great, but the right answer will save us a lot of time," he said. When Plank launched Under Armour in 1996, performance apparel was still a fledgling industry. Nike was hot, but competitors like Adidas were struggling. Popular 2010s brands like Lululemon and Alo had yet to launch."
""We need the speed of market," he said. "We need to be able to get things to market in 12 months, 9 months, 6 months if the product's ready." Plank said that he lives by the 80/20 rule: 80% running at the speed of the market, and 20% room for creativity and openness. Later in the conversation, Plank veered closer to a 90/10 ratio."
Kevin Plank endorses selective micromanagement at certain levels and considers it underestimated for ensuring correct decisions. Excessive emphasis on pretense or process is viewed as wasteful compared with finding the right answer quickly. Speed to market is prioritized, with target timelines of 12, 9, or 6 months when product readiness allows. Operational planning targets roughly 80% execution structured around market demands and 20% reserved for creativity and openness, with occasional shifts toward a 90/10 split. The approach balances disciplined structure for most business activity with a smaller allocation for innovation and flexibility.
Read at Business Insider
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