Problems, Not Features

Marty Cagan has spent decades studying what makes product teams succeed or fail. The distinction he's found most important? Whether teams are given problems to solve or features to build.

'In a feature team, basically you are handed a typical roadmap... You are being asked to do a little design and a lot of coding. Compare that to a real product team. Instead of being given a roadmap of prioritized features, they're given problems to solve.'

This maps perfectly to parenting.

You can say 'Put your toys away' (feature). Or you can say 'The living room is a mess and guests are coming - what should we do?' (problem).

One creates compliance. The other creates capability.

When you give kids problems instead of instructions, something shifts. They start thinking. They start owning. They stop being executors of your plan and start becoming problem-solvers building their own.

The goal isn't a clean room. The goal is a kid who sees messes and knows what to do.