getting unstuck with first principles
First principles thinking means understanding why things are true.
It's about figuring out the best way to solve a problem. It's based on facts, not just what everyone else does or says it true.
Why talk about this?
I was recently told that getting into analytics is a "10 out of 10 hard" market. We're launching Accoil Analytics, a product analytics tool, into a strong and competitive market.
"10 out of 10 hard" 🤦♂️
So the customers are there. The opportunity is there. But how? I reckon the opportunity lies in first getting back first principles. What problem are product analytics buyers actually solving?
How I'm thinking about thinking about this:
Ask simple questions -- why do companies need product analytics? What real value does it give?
Find out what matters -- what are the essential needs of our users? Dig deeper than the first answers.
Question existing assumptions -- are the things most analytics tools do actually helpful? What are the assumptions these tools are built on?
Rebuild with these principles in mind -- we may not rebuild a product, but we may shift how we talk about and promote it. We'll see.
First principles thinking means we're not just doing what everyone else does. We're figuring out the best way to solve a problem. It's based on the facts we know.
Ideally, the app becomes something genuinely and uniquely helpful.
If you're feeling stuck in a crowded space, what first principles can you look to as an unlock for your business?
Peter
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