Product Habits - Lessons from 100 couples

100 Couples Share Their Secrets to a Successful Relationship

This isn't the type of article I typically share, but I read it earlier this week and thought it was incredibly well-written. It's about what one newlywed learned when it came to building a successful relationship. She crowdsourced marriage advice from over 100 people, and distilled the responses down to 20 things anyone can do to maintain a great relationship with their significant other. Interestingly, I think a lot of the same advice applies to co-founders, too. Which part really stands out to you? 

Introducing Screenshot Essays

Bedrock Founder Eric Stromberg released something last week called "Screenshot Essays," where we writes short essays that fit into a single iPhone screenshot. I think the concept is brilliant, and I'm not the only one. Eric got over 2,000 subscribers within the first 48 hours of launching. His first essay is about hidden moats in consumer subscription. You can read it–and sign up for future screenshot essays—here. 

From $1M to $2M ARR in 6 Months With No Funding

These are the kinds of articles I love. Lemlist Co-founder Guillaume Moubeche wrote an incredibly insightful, detailed article describing how his company went from $1M to $2M ARR in six months with no funding—even in the middle of a pandemic. He shares the 7-step strategy his company used to maintain exponential growth this year. One of my favorites is giving thoughtful co-marketing a try. 

How the Basecamp Team Achieves Simple Design

As always, the Basecamp team shares short and sweet explanations about why they do what they do, and I always find their posts helpful when it comes to thinking more intentionally (and minimally) about product design. This is a company that clearly always chooses clarity over being fancy, and prefers good copywriting to a slick UI. Can you say the same about your product?

The Most Extensive Email Guide From A to Z

I've heard so many founders and salespeople tell me they are passionate about their product, but don't know how to get people interested through cold emailing. Like any other part of building a company, improving sales emails requires patience, testing, and unmistakable authenticity. This guide covers everything you need to know about finding prospects and sending cold emails that get responses. You'll want to bookmark this one. 

Why is TikTok Doing Better Than Vine Ever Did?

I thought this thread on Indie Hackers was fascinating. It's worth asking: Why has TikTok done so much better than Vine? I think this is the most accurate and succinct answer: "Vine created a format, TikTok made the format addicting." Of course, there are many other factors at play. But it goes to show that while timing may not necessarily be everything, it's most certainly important. 

The Best Metric for Determining Quantitative Product-Market Fit

Pinterest's growth technical leader Jeff Chang points out that there are many definitions of product-market fit, and you can experience success using any of them. But, he makes the case that cohort retention rate is the most important metric (specifically for multiple-use or subscription products, not single-use products). Here is his rationale for what makes a good product-market fit metric in the first place, and why measuring cohort retention rate is the best indicator of long-term success. 

Leadership and Innovation with Instacart's VP of Infrastructure

I always find it helpful to read AMA's like this one with Instacart's VP of Infrastructure Dustin Pearce. You can save a lot of time learning from the hard-earned lessons of other leaders. Here are a few things Dustin says in this interview that I think are worth pondering: 

• It's important to create a visceral sense of product ownership for your team. 
• It's really important to vigorously prioritize work and challenge your assumptions. 
• Take on technical debt consciously, or else it'll come back to bit you down the road.