How to hire your first growth team

Growth teams focus on creating distribution strategies that acquire, activate, engage, and monetize customers on the existing product value. Growth teams and pods often form around acquisition, activation, monetization, and/or... ...engagement goals. The first goal new growth teams usually take on is acquisition. Improved acquisition leads to healthier engagement and monetization; refining these initial stages can enhance downstream metrics. Before achieving Product-Market Fit (PMF), develop a growth model hypothesis. If there... ...is no validation that the product has found PMF, growth has nothing to grow. During early signs of traction and initial scaling stages, founder-led growth is the best path where... ...the founder drives growth efforts across product-led, marketing-led, or sales-led motions. As your company transitions from the search for and validation of PMF to scaling work, you can begin hiring your growth team. The skill set of your first... ...growth hire should be anchored to the biggest growth lever that is currently experiencing friction: acquisition, activation, engagement, or monetization. A growth leader should not be your first hire; instead, hiring a “builder” profile such as an Acquisition PM or Retention Growth Marketer... ...is a better bet. These individuals are growth generalists focused on broad tactical and execution skills within a specific domain. There are two common archetypes of growth team structure: centralized and decentralized growth teams. Centralized growth teams are optimized for velocity... ...but often hoard growth responsibility. Decentralized growth teams distribute responsibility across the organization but may lack unified direction. Regardless of the structure, the entire company should continue aligning to growth outcomes. The reporting structure can be either reporting to the CEO or a Marketing/Product/Revenue leader. Companies should avoid the trap of hiring a growth leader to outsource solving growth... ...problems, as this often results in initiatives that do not produce desired outcomes. It is recommended not to hire a team for growth too early in the PMF journey, as it may not warrant multiple headcounts.

#growth#teams#acquisition

The Looking Glass: The Power of the Mindmeld

The writer has always desired the ability to read minds, a superpower that they believe could greatly improve their work and personal life. The writer believes that perfect communication, akin to mind-reading, is essential for teams to work effectively towards the same goal. The concept of 'mindmeld' is introduced, which is the idea that all members of a team have the same understanding and vision of the project at hand. Lack of 'mindmeld' in a team can lead to issues like resentment, poor output, and office politics. When presenting new ideas, it's important to establish a shared foundation and define any technical terms precisely to avoid confusion. The presenter should also clearly explain the benefits of their new idea and how it contributes to the shared goal. The writer's experience of participating in National Novel Writing Month, a challenge to write a 50,000-word novel in November, helped them develop as a writer. The process of writing, regardless of whether the work is published or not, is beneficial for personal growth and clarity of thought. The writer believes that writing, reading, and thinking go hand-in-hand, and regular writing can have many advantages in life. The writer contributed to a Figma article, where they shared perspectives on judgement and context in design, reflecting on Brian Chesky’s talk. The writer offers paid subscribers additional resources on improving clarity, making memorable presentations, and understanding the limitations of AI summaries.

#writer#work#hand

🧠 Community Wisdom: Having effective 1:1s, preparing for PTO, balancing qualitative and quantitative analysis, creating a resume, and much more

The importance of having effective 1:1s in order to establish open and clear communication channels, nurturing trust, and improving team dynamics. Suggested methods for preparing for PTO include setting up an autoresponder, delegating responsibilities,... ...and ensuring all important tasks have been completed or are in the hands of a competent colleague. The value of balancing qualitative and quantitative analysis is highlighted, as it allows... ...for a more comprehensive understanding of data, enhancing decision-making abilities. Tips for creating an impactful resume include highlighting achievements instead of listing responsibilities,... ...tailoring it to the specific job application, and ensuring it is concise and error-free. The "Community Wisdom" email is a subscriber-only resource that is delivered every Friday... ...and includes the most helpful conversations from the member-only Slack community. The email includes links to more comprehensive resources and discussions on the highlighted topics.

#include#responsibilities#ensuring

Monetizing passions, scaling marketplaces, and stories from a creator economy vet | Camille Hearst (Spotify, Patreon, Apple, YouTube)

Camille Hearst is the Head of Fan Monetization at Spotify, where she works on finding... ...new ways for artists to monetize their work and for fans to connect with them. She previously held the position of Head of Product for Creators at Patreon, and was a Product Marketing Manager at YouTube. Hearst was the second Product Manager at iTunes and Vice President of Product at Hailo. She co-founded a company called Kit, which was acquired by Patreon in 2018. Hearst discusses the best and worst parts of working with artists and building products for them. She shares her insights on the future of the creator economy and current trends in the content creation world. Hearst offers advice on building a successful career as a creator and on selling your startup. She highlights the importance of content curators in the creator economy. Her experience as the second Product Manager at iTunes included a memorable meeting with Steve Jobs. Hearst discusses the unique approach of Apple's product teams and the opportunities in the platform side of content creation. She shares about her early years growing up in a creative tech family and her favorite frameworks. Hearst's podcast episode covers a wide range of topics, from the supply side of marketplaces to the story of her startup, Kit.

#Hearst#Product#Manager

How Shopify builds product

Shopify's product development strategy is guided by yearly themes set by their CEO, Tobi Lütke. They avoid OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) due to their culture of embracing chaos and change,... ...and also to prevent a narrow focus on metrics that could result in a disjointed product. Shopify uses a homegrown task tracking system called GSD (Get Shit Done), which includes... ...five phases of review: proposal, prototype, build, release, and results. They restructured their teams from 10 business units to two, focusing on core products and merchant services. Teams are structured around specific jobs to be done, rather than traditional business units. Shopify employs an AAA framework for handling stakeholders, which includes aiming (setting goals),... ...assembling (gathering resources and teams), and achieving (executing and delivering). They have a guiding principle that emphasizes not reversing the first two priorities. The company operates with a long-term view, creating 6-month roadmaps that align with their bi-yearly major product releases. They value the ability to react and adapt to changes in the market, rather than strictly adhering to a set plan. Shopify places great importance on product speed and quality, but they also undertake projects purely... ...for aesthetic or user experience improvements even if they can't be measured by metrics. The company does not shy away from significant changes to improve the look and feel of its products, even if there are no metrics attached to these changes. Product, UX, marketing, operations, and partnerships report to the VP of Product, while engineering and data have their own separate functional organizations. Shopify's product and design are part of the same organization, with product managers reporting to the VP of Product.

#product#Shopify#metrics

The Looking Glass: The Loudest Way to Lead

Leaders should exemplify the behavior they expect from their team, including putting forth quality work, being... ...available and responsive, focusing on top priorities, calling out sloppy work, and investing in growth. Studying computer science can instill an engineering mindset, characterized by problem-solving skills, a preference for system-wide solutions,... ...an appreciation for selecting the right inputs and outputs, a dislike for repetitive tasks, and a love for scale and well-designed systems. The "Three-Body Problem" series emphasizes the patterns of struggle, self-destruction, and beauty... ...inherent in life, providing a perspective that makes personal problems seem insignificant. Instead of questioning one's worthiness or seeking validation through "Am I right?" or "Are you with me?", it is... ...more productive to frame questions in terms of whether proposed actions or ideas contribute to a cause or goal. In product development, there's a constant debate between quality and time (TTBQT), with teams often having to compromise on one or the other. The author suggests a third option in TTBQT debates: asking whether the team would have... ...chosen to work on the feature knowing the time it would take to make it high-quality. This question forces the team to assess their prioritization, execution, and estimation skills. If a feature isn't worth the time it takes to make it high-quality, the rational decision is to cut it, regardless of sunk costs. If a feature is worth the effort, it indicates its importance and justifies the time and effort spent on making it high-quality. Success should not be conflated with shipping a large quantity of features; instead, teams should focus on... ...doing fewer things better, prioritizing important tasks, and executing well to deliver high-quality work. The Looking Glass is a reader-supported publication, with paid subscriptions encouraging... ...more frequent publishing and helping to hire editorial and management staff.

#quality#work#time

A letter to my 20 year old self

The author reflects on his 20s, a time filled with mistakes and wins, and provides advice he would give to his younger self. Mentors aren't everything. Spend 1/3 of your time with mentors, peers, and people who look... ...up to you respectively. Constantly change your list of people as you grow and change. Be remarkable in the right spaces, both digital and physical. Make an effort to be where... ...the action is, and if you can't, build a large social media following in your niche. Always push yourself to think bigger. This applies to small, medium, and large decisions. Choose who you work with carefully, prioritizing integrity over intelligence or reputation. Avoid working with people who bring you down. Diversify your sources of income. The author operates a holding company with 10+ revenue streams, providing stability if one area faces challenges. Follow Amazon's two pizza rule: each internal team should be small enough to be fed with two pizzas. This fosters efficiency and scalability. Be direct and get to the point in all areas of life. Regularly meet with other founders to exchange ideas and inspiration. Tune in to things that matter to you and tune out distractions or things you cannot control. The author concludes by encouraging readers to share this advice and announcing a waitlist for his design subscription service due to high demand.

#author#people#time

I made a promise to myself — to smack the perfectionism out of me

The author has made a commitment to combat his perfectionism, aiming to embrace imperfection instead. The motivation behind this decision is the belief that less perfectionism leads to more decision-making, enabling the actualization of more ideas and products. The world of startups, according to the author, has no room for perfectionism. The first challenge in embracing imperfection occurred when promoting a project called... ...Dispatch, where the author made a typo in the link in an email newsletter. The mistake led to a flood of messages pointing out the error, causing the author to feel frustrated and embarrassed. Upon reflection, the author discovered that the error had led to over $1.4 million in qualified leads reaching out for more information on Dispatch. The author views the mistake as a blessing in disguise, sparking intrigue and conversation about Dispatch. The author encourages embracing imperfections, arguing that this approach can unlock new levels of productivity. The author ends with a note about potential price increases due to high demand for Dispatch.

#author#Dispatch#perfectionism

The Looking Glass: You Cannot Teach Wisdom

The Looking Glass is a reader-supported publication that offers insights on product development and management. The blog post suggests seven key questions to ask when interviewing a prospective user of your product. The questions are designed to capture an eyewitness account, check table stakes, probe for... ...pain, research cost, determine the bar, gather potential visions, and test your thesis. The author asserts that wisdom cannot be taught; it is gained through personal experiences, growth, and introspection. According to the article, wisdom is like an elixir, which matures and gets better with time. The author suggests that clichés are containers of wisdom, which start off as shallow but become deeper and more meaningful with life experiences. The blog post emphasizes that wisdom is not something that can be passed on, but rather it is something that must be lived and experienced. The author also shares insights on the true measure of greatness, suggesting that it's... ...not about achieving a label but about creating things that meet one's own standards. An archived post on the blog discusses effective ways to pitch a product idea. It's important to describe the problem you're solving, consider how many people have... ...this problem, and present the solution in terms of experience, not the product. The author also stresses the importance of letting go of personal ownership of ideas and embracing a team approach. The author encourages paid subscriptions to support the publication and to gain access to subscriber-only content.

#author#product#wisdom

📧 Welcome Emails

Welcome emails are crucial in accelerating the journey to the first 1000 customers. Four different types of welcome emails can serve slightly different purposes: Incentivizing Users,... ...Standing Out in a Crowded Space, Educating Customers, and Guiding Users to the Next Step. Incentivizing emails aim to get users to take action by offering a discount, which works particularly well for low-intent... ...customers in a competitive market. These emails should have a clear call-to-action (CTA) and highlight the incentive. To stand out in a crowded space, reaffirm your value proposition and position your company against... ...more established brands, which works well for high-intent customers in a competitive market. To educate customers, explain the new market you are pioneering. This strategy works for lower-intent customers in a low-competition market. Guiding users to the next step in the funnel to reach their "aha" moment works for high-intent customers in a low-competitive market. An effective welcome email should have a primary CTA that aligns with the market competitiveness and customer intentions, focus on one action and avoid distractors, have a secondary... ...CTA that links to a lower commitment step along the activation journey, overcommunicate the one thing you are trying to say, and be personalized to different end-users.

#customers#market#emails

What does GTM actually mean?

GTM stands for Go-To-Market strategy. A GTM strategy often begins with a deliberate tradeoff that gives the company an advantage over its competitors. The right tradeoff and leverage enable companies to generate differentiated value. This differentiated value is used to create user and business impact. A successful go-to-market strategy starts with a tradeoff and ends in profits. An example of a GTM strategy is Apple, which focuses on four core products instead of 15, allowing them... ...to ship products more frequently, learn from mistakes faster than competitors, and innovate often. This approach by Apple has led to a strong and beloved brand and given them pricing power. GTM strategies are not static; they require constant refinement and adjustments as market conditions evolve.

#strategy#tradeoff#competitors

Beware of Optimization Junkies

The term "optimization junkies" refers to individuals who constantly aim to maximize every moment for productivity and success, often leading to burnout. The philosophy of "Slow Living" focuses on consciously slowing down the pace of life to appreciate the world and maintain balance. Integrating simple acts of mindfulness into your daily routine, such as a peaceful morning coffee routine or nature walks, can enhance your overall well-being. The most transformative ideas don't always emerge from intense brainstorming sessions but often from moments of quiet contemplation. The middle ground between hyper-optimization and complacency is the most healthy approach, balancing hard work with personal time. Advancements in AI technology have made it possible to work normal hours while still achieving high productivity levels. Tim Ferriss's concept of the "4-Hour Workweek" suggests that the internet allows for flexible work schedules and locations. The concept of Slow Living is essential in counteracting the culture of over-optimization and achieving a meaningful life. The best ideas arise when we allow our minds space to wander rather than constantly filling them with tasks and deadlines. Adding more hours to work isn't always the solution; it can be more beneficial to add more life to your hours.

#work#optimization#life

Relentless curiosity, radical accountability, and HubSpot’s winning growth formula | Christopher Miller (VP of Product, Growth and AI)

Christopher Miller serves as the VP of Product for Growth and AI at HubSpot, where he has led... ...the company's early growth strategy, shift to Product-Led Growth (PLG), and investment in AI. Miller believes in the principles of winning teams, careers, and companies, and emphasizes the importance of customer obsession in practice. He suggests that relentless curiosity is a key trait for successful product managers. Miller also shares advice for breaking into product management, including the importance of learning the craft and seeking out mentors. Speaking to customers, former customers, and potential customers is crucial for understanding their needs and enhancing the product. Miller highlights the uniqueness of HubSpot's culture and how it contributes to the company's success. He discusses HubSpot's decision to stay in the mid-market space and how this has benefited the company. Key elements that contributed to HubSpot's early growth include aggressive experimentation within new channels and the implementation of growth loops. Miller warns against some common mistakes when trying to start a PLG motion, such as not being fully committed to the approach. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated growth at HubSpot, demonstrating the company's ability to adapt and thrive in changing circumstances.

#Miller#HubSpot#company

The Looking Glass: Unintuitive, lying truths

The author explores the concept of truth and how self-deception can distort it. The deepest truth is not about facts, but about what individuals believe to be true or false, and why they choose to believe it. The author discusses the lies that builders or creators often tell themselves, usually... ...as a coping mechanism. These lies can hinder progress and lead to mediocrity. The author suggests that honesty is often found in simpler explanations. Building a great product is a difficult process involving numerous small decisions, not just one single feature or change. The author encourages reframing problems and focusing on finding solutions rather than blaming external factors. The author shares seven non-intuitive things about career growth, such as the downsides of emulating admired careers, the importance of accepting flaws, the link between... ...focus and creativity, the value of asking questions, the significance of asking for help, the unexpected nature of mistakes, and the strength in collective effort. The author encourages readers to refer friends to subscribe to The Looking Glass, with incentives for those who do. The additional content in the newsletter is exclusive to subscribers.

#author#truth#believe

How AI will solve all your problems

AI can solve repetitive and tedious tasks quickly and efficiently. DoNotPay, the world's first robot lawyer, uses AI to solve various daily problems like fighting corporations,... ...beating bureaucracy, finding hidden money, suing anyone, and automatically cancelling free trials. AI can also be used to automate salary negotiation process with employers. There are numerous problems in the world that can potentially be solved by AI, creating a huge market opportunity. To build your own "DoNotPay for X", start by identifying a niche or geography and listing the common problems faced by people in the chosen category. The problems should be sorted into three categories: tasks that are time-consuming, tasks that cost too much money, and tasks that are unpleasant to do. If a task can be automated, AI can be used to create a robot that can solve the problem efficiently. AI can handle tasks as complex as renewing your vehicle registration or transferring your title without requiring you to stand in line at the DMV. The future of AI businesses lies in solving problems that are currently unimaginable to be solved by robots. AI can serve as "superheroes", solving problems and making people's lives more enjoyable. By building your own AI solution, you can significantly improve people's lives and generate substantial revenue.

#problems#tasks#solve