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If your product is GREAT, it doesn't have to be GOOD.
Let me explain
Let me explain
1/ Pick 3 key features.
Forget everything else.
They will define the essence and value of your product.
The rest is noise.
Forget everything else.
They will define the essence and value of your product.
The rest is noise.
2/ For example, the original iPod was:
1) Small enough to fit in a pocket
2) Had enough storage to hold hours worth of songs
3) Easy to sync with Mac software
That's it.
1) Small enough to fit in a pocket
2) Had enough storage to hold hours worth of songs
3) Easy to sync with Mac software
That's it.
3/ It was missing a lot of demanded features.
No wireless, no ability to edit playlists on the device, etc.
It was nothing but the essentials, well executed.
No wireless, no ability to edit playlists on the device, etc.
It was nothing but the essentials, well executed.
4/ The iPod's focus made it successful.
The 1st gen iPod released Oct 2001.
It was such a great product that by 2008, it captured 48% of the mp3 player market.
The closest competitor had only an 8% market share.
That’s 6x better!
The 1st gen iPod released Oct 2001.
It was such a great product that by 2008, it captured 48% of the mp3 player market.
The closest competitor had only an 8% market share.
That’s 6x better!
5/ The iPod’s focus also garnered it lots of hate.
Naysayers poked at all the features it lacked.
Here are some famous 2001 iPod critiques from sites like MacRumors and Slashdot.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apples-new-thing-ipod.500/
Naysayers poked at all the features it lacked.
Here are some famous 2001 iPod critiques from sites like MacRumors and Slashdot.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apples-new-thing-ipod.500/
6/ The Lesson
By focusing on only a few core features, you are forced to find the true essence and value of your product.
AKA, the feature(s) that make your product shine.
By focusing on only a few core features, you are forced to find the true essence and value of your product.
AKA, the feature(s) that make your product shine.
7/ The Lesson (cont.)
Critics will point out the lackluster parts of your product.
And, they will be right.
Parts of your product will just be “okay.”
But, true focus takes sacrifice.
(cont.)Critics will point out the lackluster parts of your product.
And, they will be right.
Parts of your product will just be “okay.”
But, true focus takes sacrifice.
8/ The Lesson (cont.)
What are the 3 (or less) key features that will make your product so great that you can cut or half-ass everything else?
Are you focusing at least 80% of your effort on getting those three things right?
(cont.)What are the 3 (or less) key features that will make your product so great that you can cut or half-ass everything else?
Are you focusing at least 80% of your effort on getting those three things right?
Shout out to @paultoo because this is a summary of his awesome 2001 blog post 
http://paulbuchheit.blogspot.com/2010/02/if-your-product-is-great-it-doesnt-need.html
http://paulbuchheit.blogspot.com/2010/02/if-your-product-is-great-it-doesnt-need.html
You can read this thread in article form here: https://theproductperson.substack.com/p/-the-product-person-23-great-not?r=2j20m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=copy
