Latest Essays

Most bad product decisions are justified by what the business needs. Most good product decisions are justified by what the customer needs Most bad product decisions are justified by what the business needs. Most good product decisions are justified by what the customer needs
6 years ago, the Prisma app team hit that milestone and got over 120 million installs. Now the same team is at it again with their new product Lensa 6 years ago, the Prisma app team hit that milestone and got over 120 million installs. Now the same team is at it again with their new product Lensa
Hook Model: encouraging a product habit to improve retention Hook Model: encouraging a product habit to improve retention
If the first version of your product is complex and hard for users to understand, you’re doing something wrong If the first version of your product is complex and hard for users to understand, you’re doing something wrong
There is a lot of talk among product people about being data-driven There is a lot of talk among product people about being data-driven
What product managers should read and listen to in 2023 What product managers should read and listen to in 2023
Product managers do many, many things Product managers do many, many things
Day 1 retention of 65%! A mobile game with that kind of retention must be something special, right? Day 1 retention of 65%! A mobile game with that kind of retention must be something special, right?
There are two different types of product work. Creating value and delivering value There are two different types of product work. Creating value and delivering value
PMs often cite experiences at previous companies when justifying product decisions. Don’t do this PMs often cite experiences at previous companies when justifying product decisions. Don’t do this
Product teams love measuring changes in engagement. Usually with metrics like time or actions “per active user”. But such metrics can be misleading Product teams love measuring changes in engagement. Usually with metrics like time or actions “per active user”. But such metrics can be misleading
People assume that product/market fit is a binary thing. It isn’t People assume that product/market fit is a binary thing. It isn’t
Your team almost certainly has contradictory ideas about what your product’s growth model is Your team almost certainly has contradictory ideas about what your product’s growth model is
Most PMs focus exclusively on objective product value. But users make decisions based on perceived product value Most PMs focus exclusively on objective product value. But users make decisions based on perceived product value
“We achieved product/market fit for our mobile e-commerce marketplace → Our target market is global retail worth >$20 trillion → We can build a huge business.” “We achieved product/market fit for our mobile e-commerce marketplace → Our target market is global retail worth >$20 trillion → We can build a huge business.”
Strange how U.S. monthly sales for Uber and Lyft still haven’t recovered post-pandemic Strange how U.S. monthly sales for Uber and Lyft still haven’t recovered post-pandemic
Facebook was all set to turn into TikTok. Until it decided not to Facebook was all set to turn into TikTok. Until it decided not to
What is value? Most people have only a fuzzy idea of what it is What is value? Most people have only a fuzzy idea of what it is
Strategic decisions require going beyond the data Strategic decisions require going beyond the data
Over the last 15 years, a whole generation of app-focused PMs has emerged Over the last 15 years, a whole generation of app-focused PMs has emerged