Ben Yoskovitz

Thanks for joining us!

One exec says go fast. The next day, someone else says “do Blue Ocean strategy instead.” It’s chaos.

Without conviction from the top, and alignment across leadership, it’s all just noise.

Workshops don’t matter. Meetings don’t matter. If nothing gets built, it’s just theater.

Why do so many big companies fail at innovation even when the CEO says it’s a priority? Here’s a great take from @ericries.bsky.social from my recent podcast episode:

Because they lack constancy of purpose.

So more focused on executive / stakeholder management than actual building / doing.

Product managers: What are your best practices for product roadmaps?

I'm launching the results of a survey on product roadmaps tomorrow-figured I'd see if anyone has great ideas / tips they want to share on how they use product roadmaps properly/effectively in their orgs?

Share below!

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Anyone in my network recently use Kickstarter to raise money and build awareness?

Looking to chat! Thanks.

Founders: Don't outsource sales.

If you hire salespeople too early, they most likely won't hit quota (b/c there's no developed playbook.)

And if you go the partnership route, you're outsourcing responsibility to others and losing direct contact with customers.

"The hardest thing about the road not taken is that you never know where it might have led." - Lisa Windgate

^^ That's why I believe so much in founders. They take the road less traveled. They swing for the fences.

"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity." - Amelia Earhart

When you start a company, imagine yourself working on it for the next 7-10 years. Is that really what you want to be doing with your time? Really?

"When faced with two choices, simply toss a coin. It works not because it settles the question for you, but because in that brief moment when the coin is in the air, you suddenly know what you are hoping for." - Anonymous

Damn, that's true.

Learning by doing > learning by reading.

I've always felt that's the case, although I love writing about my experiences (including all the failures) and sharing with others. If it helps, great.

But you have to experience stuff to really get it.

"When you have to make a choice and don't make it, that in itself is a choice." - William James

I still make this mistake.

Inaction is often one of a founder's biggest regrets.

Imposter Syndrome is real. Everyone feels it at some point (except perhaps the criminally insane.) You can get through it. Step by step. Cross some stuff off your todo, push to make that one extra sales call. Commit. You’re an imposter and a winner at the same time.

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I love this.

www.whatsnextiseverything.com/blog/2024/12...

Question: How are people using product roadmaps?

I'm doing a deep dive on product roadmaps and looking for input.

* How do you prioritize?
* How often does it change?
* How detailed is it?
* Etc.

Wanna help out? Reply or send me a message. Thank you!

I wanna talk to founders and product people (managers, owners, etc.) about product roadmaps.

Who wants to share?

Product managers: How do you roadmap?

I'm curious and put together a survey: bit.ly/40bhr4T

The goal is to gather as much information as possible and then summarize it in my newsletter. Check it out!

Anyone wanna go see a basketball game?!?!

I have 4 tickets to Spurs - Knicks in San Antonio on March 19th. Unfortunately I can't go. I'd like to sell the tickets so they don't go to waste.

Message me for details. Thanks!

"Grit is that 'extra something' that separates the most successful people from the rest. It's the passion, perseverance, and stamina that we must channel in order to stick with our dreams until they become a reality." - Travis Bradberry

I ❤️ grit.

Good morning folks!

Today, you'll get some things right. 🎉

And you'll make some mistakes. 😬

Shit happens. Push through it. (Well, if you find yourself in actual shit get out as quickly as possible, pushing through sounds awful).

I've built zombie startups before and it fucking sucks.

Zombie startups can survive forever but never go anywhere. They shuffle along, dead but still existing.

Such. A. Waste. Of. Time.

Don't be a fucking 🧟.

Well said. Or written. Or both. :)

I've always ❤️ this visual. It shows how Moz used NET ADDS as their One Metric That Matters - a business health indicator to help them ask better questions within each department.

It shows the power of measuring what matters and then leveraging that to diagnose good or bad things.

2. What are users/customers using AT THE SAME TIME as your product?

Again, since nothing is done in isolation, and most people are using multiple products/services simultaneously, you need to understand how your product/service fits in.

1. What are users/customers doing BEFORE and AFTER they use your product?

This is critical to understand, b/c you'll have a more complete picture of the context in which they're using your product. Nothing is done/used in isolation.

When trying to understand a customer's journey using your product, there are two critical questions that people often forget to ask and dig into:

Everyone should realize that startup options are a lottery ticket.

Occasionally they pay out and legit change people's lives. But it's rare.

Still, I believe early employees deserve more equity and should be topped up over time for kick ass performance.

People often say, "Titles don't matter to me."

Most of the time, people are lying.

Titles matter to people.

Rightly or wrongly.