Product Habits - How to be creative under a deadline

How to Be Creative Under a Deadline

Tight deadlines hinder creativity, but perhaps surprisingly, so do mild deadlines. The trick to being creative is setting moderate deadlines—and if you already have a single looming deadline in place, you can do this by breaking it into smaller mini-deadlines. Another interesting thing I learned from this article: Switching tasks is actually a good thing for creativity. The next time you're taking on creative work, give yourself space to switch to other kinds of work if you hit a wall.

The Greatest Human Migration in History Will Happen in the Next Decade

Five years ago, Pieter Levels predicted there would be 1 billion digital nomads by 2035. Even he wondered if the prediction was a stretch, but it's certainly looking more likely as we enter the tail end of 2020. While the sudden move to remote work for millions of people has come with its challenges, it has also afforded people more deep work and personal time. This is the first in a five-part series about how this switch will revolutionize our lives. 

Tech's Bizarre Beginnings and Lucrative Pivots

Some of today's most successful tech companies took very non-linear paths to where they are today. I was most surprised by Nokia's early beginnings. After two Finnish companies merged to form Nokia in 1973, the company sold rubber boots for two decades before sharply pivoting to focus on mobile hardware and connectivity. It goes to show that you can't always plan your startup's twists and turns, so be open-minded as your company's journey unfolds. 

Why You Should Do a Tiny Product First

I've always been bullish on the power of content marketing, and Amy Hoy takes it a step further by making the case that startups should first create an infoproduct—anything small that teaches and isn't software. An infoproduct can be anything from an ebook or a white paper, to a video series or a workshop. What would a powerful "tiny product" look like for your company?

15 Acquisition Channels I Discovered From Reading 479 Founder Interviews

One question comes up over and over again in startup circles: Which acquisition channels are best for getting new users? Darko Williams went searching for the perfect answer by reading Hacker News' more than 470 founder interviews. He whittled down his list to the top 15 acquisition channels founders said worked best for their companies. The final list has a few surprises on it.  

What Turns a Product Into a Global Phenomenon?

It's the age-old marketing question: What propels a single item into being a sensation? The answer is multi-layered, and the path is different for utilitarian products than luxury products. But in both instances, factors include being "in the know" and pursuing status. Cultural relevance is key—and in today's social and economic climate, even affordability is becoming "cool." What recent product hit has most surprised you? 

2020 Expansion SaaS Benchmarks

OpenView Venture Partners shares their annual Expansion SaaS Benchmarks report, which includes data from more than 1,200 respondents from around the globe. It provides some interesting answers to the question on everyone's mind: What has been the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, and how did software companies adapt? The main answer is that, while COVID did take its toll, it wasn't as bad as many predicted. And it appears that enterprise SaaS is recession-proof, after all. Check out the full report of insights here.

Listen, Lead, and Grow

I don't know many people who talk about feedback conversations longingly. But, if you're nervous to have them, it probably means you aren't making the most of them. If you can both listen and lead the conversation, then you become an active stakeholder in your own growth. Changing how you approach feedback conversations will help you see your teammates as sitting next to you—not in between you—on your road to professional growth.