Articles: Shorts

If we happened to evolve with nine fingers, we would have “Top 9” lists. So, a “Top 10” list probably doesn’t have the correct number of things. —December 2023 | 400 words.

Companies that achieve Product/Market Fit – both self-funded and VC-funded – exhibit the same prototypical metrics curves and subjective experiences. —November 2023 | 2,300 words.

Some of the most enticing, important metrics are impossible to measure, even after the fact. Here’s how to identify and avoid this trap. —October 2023 | 1,800 words.

Building a strategy that meets you where you are, aligning all your decisions, building a moat even if you’re a startup.

Language shapes our perception of setbacks. Use words other than “failure” to describe situations and to suggest the next step. —September 2023 | 800 words.

An objectively “worse” strategy can win, if it leverages something unique or unexpected. Startups can use this concept to beat incumbents. —August 2023 | 1,000 words.

Being “in control” is impossible, perhaps not even desirable. Being “in command” is ideal: honest, introspective, agile, aware, and proactive. —July 2023 | 1,100 words.

A novel system for selecting and presenting product KPIs, satisfying not only the product team, but also stakeholders, executives, and customers. —July 2023 | 2,500 words.

Don’t use phrases like “unlikely” or “almost certainly.” Here’s real-world data showing why not, and what to do instead. —July 2023 | 1,000 words.

The vaunted “single-threaded, ordered list” confuses “prioritization” with “work-planning,” and forces comparisons of the un-comparable. Here’s the solution. —August 2022 | 2,600 words.

The traditional “SWOT” analysis doesn’t create insights that lead to great strategies. By analyzing its weaknesses, we reveal what an alternative process must do instead.

Meetings are most productive when we create something that none of us could have created alone. Here are several ways to use meeting time wisely. —May 2022 | 1,200 words.

Industries commoditize over time, delivering similar products at similar prices resulting in low profit. Moats are the antedote; your strategy must create some. —May 2022 | 1,800 words.

According to the Internet, being a Product Manager is impossible. Can you ever measure up? No. But don’t worry, there’s a better answer. —April 2022 | 2,200 words.

This admonition recurs in myriad books, frameworks, and topics, across decades of time. When something is so consistent, it must be wisdom. —April 2022 | 1,900 words.

We know, “no idea is a bad idea,” but brainstorming is often unsuccessful. These prompts actually work. They could even lead to a unique business model. —March 2022 | 3,700 words.

A lesson all pilots know: How you must use multiple dials, employing different sources of energy, to report identical data, because some of it is always lying. —February 2022 | 800 words.

A simple, decentralized, scalable, constant-memory mechanism for independent replicas to record events in time, preserving the “happened-before” relation in almost all cases. —February 2019 | 3,000 words.

Decisions should usually be made quickly, to accelerate action and learning. But sometimes it really is smarter to take your time. Here’s how to decide. —September 2018 | 1,300 words.

You can charge much more than you think, if you reposition your value-proposition. Here’s how. —June 2018 | 700 words.

“MVP” is a selfish process, abusing customers so you can “learn.” SLC is an alternate philosophy that results in fast, validated learning, that customers love. —August 2017 | 1,400 words.

Everyone wants change, but doesn’t want to change. Though inevitable, change is uncomfortable and exhausting. Manage it with kindness. —August 2017 | 700 words.

Fast, or Best? Choose your decision-making goal wisely, especially if you’re a natural perfectionist. —May 2017 | 500 words.

“Building in public” is popular: How fun when strangers cheer you on! But isn’t competitive advantage ruined when competitors know your growth rate and steal your source code? —December 2016 | 700 words.

How do you assess forecasts, when the forecast is only a probability? It’s not just about accuracy. Let’s dive into the math. —June 2016 | 2,200 words.

Is everyone working very hard, all the time, and yet accomplishing 1/10th of what it seems they should? Maybe this is why. —December 2015 | 900 words.

Pricing is inextricably linked to brand, product, and purchasing decisions. It cannot be “figured out later,” because determines your business model today. —November 2014 | 1,200 words.

Everything about a startup changes over time. The few things that don’t, are its essence. The voyage is meaningless, unless you decide what those things are. —August 2014 | 1,000 words.

What is it like to reach the pinnacle of success? Is that where you attain happiness and fulfillment? Or are those found right here, right now. —July 2014 | 1,000 words.

Software cannot scale through architecture and automation alone. New, more difficult problems appear that didn’t exist before, also bringing new downstream consequences. —January 2014 | 1,100 words.

No you can’t “have it all.” You can have two things, but not three. —January 2014 | 500 words.

A business always takes more money than you expect, even when you take this fact into account. Here’s why. —January 2014 | 500 words.

Many founders experience a profound and prolonged sadness after selling their company. But “not selling” might be worse. Maybe my story will help you. —February 2013 | 1,800 words.

Customers ask for ROI calculations to justify purchasing your software, but it still doesn’t convince them. Here’s what to do instead. —October 2012 | 600 words.

A startup is a crucible – a fiery place that tests your limits, not by probing them but by violently exceeding them, all of the time. It’s worth it. —July 2012 | 1,000 words.

Is it good to be “first?” It seems so – what’s the point of being a copycat? While “first” sounds impressive, in reality it doesn’t predict who will win. —December 2011 | 1,000 words.

“Focus” requires saying “no” to most things, but there’s a way to do it that allows you to say “yes” exactly when it matters most. —April 2011 | 1,500 words.

Are you crying in the shower because you can’t handle it anymore? Beyond Impostor Syndrome: Complete melt-down? Well, at least you’re in good company. —February 2011 | 1,700 words.

Hiring even one person creates a lot less profit than you’d think, and launching a product is almost impossible. Here are some tips for consulting companies. —February 2011 | 2,000 words.

Blogger with tens of thousands of subscribers launches a new venture… and gets only 2 signups. Not the advantage you thought it was. —October 2010 | 1,200 words.

What if your company could have only one single advantage over the competition? This exercise will make your positioning and strategy stronger. —March 2010 | 1,900 words.

Most high-performing people experience Impostor Syndrome. I did too. When you understand the cause, you can defeat it. —January 2010 | 1,800 words.

Reflecting on selling Smart Bear in 2007, offering insights for entrepreneurs facing similar decisions. —October 2009 | 1,600 words.

Advice from “successful entrepreneurs” might be unreliable due to Survivor Bias. What’s real, and what’s random? —August 2009 | 1,600 words.

Beware of advice that tries to change who you are. True wisdom guides you to a better version of yourself. —December 2008 | 1,000 words.

Discounting is the typical sales technique, but refusing to discount can lead to a much better business, even in the Enterprise. —March 2008 | 1,000 words.

What marks the moment when you become a “real” company? —April 2007 | 700 words.