Find All The Reasons They Won't
Inspired by on Lenny's Podcast
You introduced a new rule and you're looking for signs it's working. Try the opposite: look for where it breaks down.
Marty Cagan shares Elon Musk's counterintuitive advice for testing products: 'When you do user research, you should be focused on finding all the reasons they won't use your product.'
Not looking for validation. Looking for problems.
Most parents do the opposite. New bedtime routine? Look for the one night it worked smoothly. New discipline approach? Celebrate when it lands. We're seeking validation, not truth.
What if you flipped it? Introduced the new routine and specifically looked for where it breaks down. Started the new approach and hunted for situations where it doesn't apply. Tried the new communication style and paid attention to when it backfires.
'Even though Elon Musk has some issues right now, he's pretty good at product.'
The goal isn't to feel bad about your parenting. It's to iterate faster. Every failure point you find is information you can use. Every breakdown is a clue.
Stop looking for reasons your approach is working. Start looking for reasons it might fail. That's where the real learning lives.
PM Theme: Product testing / user research
Parenting Theme: Looking for what's NOT working
“In fact, that's an Elon Musk quote is when you do user research, you should be focused on finding all the reasons they won't use your product.”Marty Cagan · 32:45
“Even though Elon Musk has some issues right now, he's pretty good at product. And so he is very good at this.”Marty Cagan · 32:45
