Product Habits - How Stripe scaled

A Common Trait in Those Who Succeed Repeatedly

I saw this tweet from Kunal Shah last week and couldn't agree more: "A common trait in all those who repeatedly succeed in startups, comedy, investing, products, marketing is extraordinary ability to distill insights." This is one of those commonalities no one talks about, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a successful person who can't spot essential insights. What are some other traits you've noticed in repeatedly successful people? 

The Decision-Making Pendulum

Many startups get lost in the decision-making process and end up swinging too far in one direction, using a lot of authority, or trying too hard to seek consensus. This is a thought-provoking read on why leaders should be more flexible in their decision-making styles. Ultimately, it creates a healthy organization where things move along while everyone still has a voice to share opinions and objections. 

When Multi-Level Marketing Met Gen Z

The business world has long made fun of multi-level marketing companies, but it's hard to argue that many end up being successful and attracting a cult following. So many changes are happening fast in the working world, and a particularly fascinating one is the collision of Gen Z and MLM. This story will give you perspective on the shift. 

The Secret to a More Strategic Product Roadmap

Startup success largely depends on the speed and quality of your decision-making. But here's the dilemma at many startups: The slowest way to build products is by testing everything with customers, while the fastest feedback loop is making intuitive product decisions. The good news is there's a way to build a customer-centric company without slowing things down too much. Here's how. 

Scaling the Practice of Software Architecture

Software architecture refers to the structures and systems behind the software, from diagram-drawing to non-coding. As important as it is, many traditional processes break down in practice. Try this method instead to build strong bones for your software product. 

The Best Way To Set Marketing Priorities

As the year winds down and many teams start planning for 2022, this is a must-read for marketers. There will never be a shortage of marketing ideas, but success belongs to those who know how to select and prioritize the ones that will drive the most significant impact. You'll appreciate the methodical prioritization method laid out in this article as you think through how to approach your marketing efforts next year.

A Founder's Guide to Community

Every few years, the concept of building a startup community trends again—but the interest comes in waves. I think it's because it takes a herculean amount of time and effort to create an authentic one from the ground up. David Spinks wrote the ultimate founder's guide to creating community, and I highly recommend reading this before you commit to the journey of building your own.

It's Time for a Landing Page Refresh

Your landing page will either bottleneck your company's growth or drastically drive revenue. Alex Garcia has optimized over 300 landing pages and shares his best tips for increasing your conversion rate. I highly recommend applying this advice—you'd be shocked by how much clarity and growth these simple changes can produce.