Logged into a fascinating session on product management/thinking by @kunalb11 and @BrianNorgard today. Caveat: I am not a PM, logged in partly to just see what the session experience was going to be like. If it isn't already obvious, absolutely loved it. Some nuggets below (1/n)
One of the fundamental tenets of Tinder was to change the way dating was being looked at (filling forms, rules, criteria, etc), rewire it as Entertainment and make it a Game-like experience where users enjoyed "Leveling Up" (Boosts, Super-likes) (2/n)
Also, all of this linking back to monetization, making it one of the highest-grossing apps. Mousetrap of new experience on the front end, going in tandem with monetization. Fun Fact: Kunal equates Cred to a game like experience as well. (3/n)
Outstanding insight - All products should be thought of as Toys, should be simple, consumable and something people like to "Show off". People today love discovering products in the wild and talking about it - that's what gives them joy. (4/n)
This will likely prompt users to show their screen to others . Example - Uber, the first time you could see your taxi/car moving around your screen. No growth hack is ever going to substitute for the joy your product delivers & thus makes their lives better = Word of mouth. (5/n)
No-mind product thinking: Simplicity ranks supreme. Users don't have time, won't read text, can't look for things. Build products that remain true across multiple versions of reality and can guide users to an end goal without them realizing it. (6/n)
Lot of likely unnecessary focus often on differences and building for that vs looking at the homogenous nature of users. Don't miss truisms that are fundamental to human nature - eg. People used Tinder exactly the same way across the globe. (7/n)
Great Product person!=Great product manager. Product managers exist in many forms (technical, design, growth etc). Best ones know the core objective they are chasing, can track the right metrics & report them right. Most importantly, own the full value chain (8/n)
Framework for decision making on products at Tinder: Simple, Fun and Useful. Any product decision was driven by this. Every organization has (or should have) someone who lays out these rules and brings it back in every decision. (9/n)
On the "disease" of building numerous features to a successful product - the bane of scale and need to grow organizations. Great organizations stand out for their ability to eliminate features as they scale (Apple was an example, wondering why). (10/n)
The ability to pull/hold the line and maintain the focus defines success or failure of products. Attributes success of many large organizations to founders who have the ability to do this and push out the market noise to build more, but instead build deeper. (11/n)
Amazing analogy to cooking - Everyone has similar ingredients, some make a mess and some make a masterpiece. What were some of the courageous decisions the successful ones took? Hence, Brian's favorite show - Chef's table. (12/n)
Kunal's observation - Most of the great experiences are soulful and beautiful, but typically inefficient. eg - Think of the resort you last went to and really enjoyed a vacation (wishful thinking from me - how I wish I could go anywhere right now!). (13/n)
Best people/places to learn, understand product management - Thinkers from the Apple stable and the Steve Jobs school of thinking. Videos and notes of Tony Fadell and Jony Ive. (14/n)
Book recommendations - @BrianNorgard: Addiction by Design (on building products for the casino industry and Bible for Las Vegas). @kunalb11: Don't Shoot the dog (on training animals and hence learning how to shape behavior). (15/n)
Transcribed as per my best ability to keep up with everything, paraphrased as best as I could :). Fun session - Also, honest admission, had no idea who Brian was before this. Walking away from this a fan! Thank you @kunalb11 and @CRED_club for a superb Friday evening. Fin.
P.S First time on @airmeet_com. Definitely a very different experience, I liked the idea of recreating "Networking Tables". Unfortunately, lot of spam on the chat and the audio/video quality weren't consistent. 1500 people at the start, 1000 at the end! Good fun overall!
P.P.S: Learnt from a friend that Cred has had many such sessions over the last 3 months. Can only imagine the treasure trove of learning that has been opened up to everyone there. Super jealous and hoping to have more of these to be made open to the public.
