The Delta 4 Rule
Inspired by on Lenny's Podcast
If your new parenting approach isn't at least four points better than what you were doing before, you're going to slide right back.
Kunal Shah created a framework called Delta 4 that explains why some products stick and others don't: "Every time you see that the product efficiency delta is greater than or equal to four, three things happen. It is irreversible. Second is that you have a very high tolerance for it to fail. And third is what I call the UBP, 'Unique Brag-worthy Proposition.'"
Apply this to parenting changes.
That new bedtime routine you're trying? Rate the old routine 1-10 on how well it worked. Rate the new one. Is the gap at least four points? If not, you're going to slip back to the old way the moment you're exhausted.
But when something is truly Delta 4 better - when the new approach is dramatically more effective - three things happen: You won't go back. You'll tolerate some failures. And you won't be able to shut up about it to other parents.
Most parenting "improvements" are Delta 1 or 2. Marginally better. Not worth the switching cost. Find the Delta 4 changes and commit to those.
PM Theme: Product adoption and switching costs
Parenting Theme: Making changes that stick
“Every time you see that the product efficiency delta is greater than or equal to four, three things happen. It is irreversible. Second is that you have a very high tolerance for it to fail. And third is what I call the UBP, 'Unique Brag-worthy Proposition.' Every time humans unlock a Delta 4 product or service, they cannot stop talking or sharing about it.”Kunal Shah · 00:07:14
