Engineers-led startups often make the mistake of optimizing variables which bring little to no benefit to the end user. To understand this, think of the JTBD framework: people don’t buy a dishwasher, they buy clean dishes before their next meal. So, it’s not necessarily speed that the consumer cares about, but cleanliness, energy rating, and capacity. Therefore, it’s important to focus on what job people are trying to achieve and what will truly benefit them. Read full article here
Culture
The Priest in the Arena
The phrase “man in the arena” has been popularized in recent years, but a lesser known, more dangerous archetype is the “priest in the arena”. This figure is responsible for a process called theocratic capture, where an institution surrenders to a cult demanding unaccountable authority, fueled by claims to privileged knowledge. These cults often target powerful institutions and attempt to monopolize conversations with scaremongering tactics and hostile treatment of allies. It is important to identify and stop theocratic capture before it can gain control. Read full article here
Merv
May 29, 2023
