We track Product so you don't have to. Top Podcasts summarised, the latest AI tools, plus research and news in a 5 min digest.
Hey Product fans! 👋
Welcome to this week’s 🌮 Product Tapas. If you’ve been forwarded this you can sign up and check previous editions here.
Fear not, you haven’t gone mad it’s still Friday. This week’s edition comes to you from sunny Spain. It’s been a restful week so I figured I’d get the newsletter out a few days early ahead of the weekend. After all, this way I don’t need to worry about the result of the final on Sunday and of course, the world of Product never sleeps.
What’s on the menu this week? 🧑🍳
📰 Not Boring - This week brings exciting updates in tech. Apple and Google have teamed up to simplify photo transfers, while Google’s parent company, Alphabet, decided to pass on acquiring HubSpot. The EU wrapped up its anti-trust probe on Apple, and Amazon introduced the $79 Echo Spot alarm clock. Spotify has added comments to podcasts for better creator-fan interaction, and Meta rolled out an AI tool to remove copyrighted music from videos automatically. Samsung launched a heap of stuff, and Microsoft added spellcheck and autocorrect to Notepad after 40+ years. Plus, we’ve got news from Amazon, Starlink and, Nothing and more.
⌚️ Time-Saving Tools & GPTs - This week we help you with your knowledge work, translation management, project management, task management, coding assistance, and product analytics. Easy.
🍔 Blog Bites - Our essential reads for product teams this week cover delegation for first-time managers, finding hidden frictions in user experiences, and a case study on Arc’s successful public-building strategy 🔥.
🎙️ Pod Shots - Finally, we dive into the recent 20VC interview with Mike Schroepfer, former CTO of Meta, where he explores why the best leaders are like music conductors. Schroepfer shares his insights on leadership, resilience, and the power of strategic thinking. A great read/listen for founders and product managers looking to align their teams and drive innovation.
Plenty to get stuck into - off we go! 🚀👇
📰 Not boring
Apple and Google have joined forces to make photo transferring much easier
Whilst on the subject, Google parent Alphabet shelves efforts to acquire HubSpot after due diligence setbacks
And The EU has ended Apple’s anti-trust probe after some commitments from the company
Amazon announces new $79 Echo Spot alarm clock
Spotify rolls out comments for podcasts to allow creators more ways to interact with their fans 👀
Poe AI introduces ‘Previews’ to allow users to create Web Apps within chats - could be a neat way to spin up quick POCs or demos for product teams
Anthropic’s Claude adds a prompt playground to quickly improve your AI apps
Instagram founder confirms they won’t be focusing on long-form video any time soon
Meta announces “Erase Song” tool to easily remove copyright-claimed music from videos leaving the rest of the audio intact. Decent real-world use case for AI
Bumble wants users to report AI-generated images
Samsung launches the Galaxy Ring — a first-of-its-kind product for the tech giant amongst a stack of other new products (and yes, there’s lots of AI obvs)
Microsoft’s Notepad gets spellcheck and autocorrect 40 years after launch
Humane execs leave company to found AI fact-checking startup
Roblox names Xbox, Netflix alum Jerret West as CMO
Amazon launches AWS App Studio, a gen-AI service to help create internal applications without needing to code - could be pretty neat for internal Products
Starlink Mini is now available for anyone in the US who wants to roam
Whilst, Musk says next Neuralink brain implant expected soon, despite issues with the first patient
Finally, Nothing has shipped a budget-friendly, modular phone and it looks pretty good
⌚ Time-Saving Tools & GPTs
Hebbia: “the AI platform for knowledge work”
translized: Translation Management Software
That Works For YouFlat: Simple project management tool; “the simplest way for your team to get organised and stay aligned”
Mindpal: AI workflow and task manager to help automate various work tasks from social media to market research
Pieces: on-device AI coding assistant that boosts developer productivity by helping you solve complex development tasks through a contextual understanding of your entire workflow
Airbook: Interesting Product Analytics tool. In their words “Airbook eliminates the complexity of pulling data from multiple sources and juggling fragmented tools for cross-functional teams”
🍔 Blog Bites - Essential Reads for Product Teams
Learn: How to Delegate as a First-Time manager
Hat tip to the DOP newsletter for linking to this great HBR article full of practical advice to help people delegate better. Something many can learn from!
Learning how to delegate well is a skill every first-time manager needs to learn from the very start. Many people are promoted into management for doing their previous job well. But once you’re promoted into a leadership role, you must accept that you can’t do everything on your own — nor should you. Though it may seem counterintuitive, the more senior you become in an organization, the less you’ll be involved in doing the day-to-day work. You’ll need to have a sense of what’s happening without directly contributing to every project. To do that, you first have to change your mindset from “doing” to “managing,” even though it might feel uncomfortable. If you resist this change, you’ll likely end up overwhelmed and (unintentionally) holding onto opportunities that could be given to your team.
1 - Change your mindset
2 - Determine what to delegate and who to delegate it to
3- Clearly communicate the task or project to your team member, and clarify roles and next steps
4 - Celebrate progress and provide feedback
5 - Review and reflect
UX: How to find the invisible obstacles in your users' lives that demotivate them from buying
Here’s a thought-provoking piece from the “How They Grow” newsletter about hidden frictions in your product. The pain isn’t always about the frictions we mostly try to optimise for, but instead something more human that pulls people away from an action they’d otherwise be ready to take.
When we think of friction, our minds immediately race to things in our onboarding flow. Things like too many questions being asked at signup, the cognitive load of our UI, our pricing being too restrictive, or maybe site speed causing a drop-off.
That is all very local thinking though. Because another type of friction exists outside of our product, inside your users’ everyday lives, and in their off-platform workflows.
These are the obstacles we don’t see: The hidden frictions.
But most questions we ask users won’t reveal these hidden frictions that pull them back, because often, they don’t even know what they are.
Two main ways to find your product’s invisible and demotivating force
1 - The pre-launch approach
2 - The Fix-it! approach
Case Study: Arc’s build-in-public playbook
Nice breakdown from “Strategy Breakdowns” of Arc and how it’s building trust and passionate fans through: creating a scrapbook, not a press release, making it personal and creating an ecosystem entry point for their top users.
It’s rare to meet an Arc user who isn’t a passionate vocal supporter of The Browser Company (the creators of Arc).
Arc Browser might have a higher % of ‘superfans’ among its users (or as they call them, ”members”) than any other software product.
Most marketing playbooks prioritise generating new customers. The Browser Company has built a carefully constructed content marketing ecosystem designed specifically to make people want them to win.
🎙 Pod Shots
In today’s Pod Shots we dive into the recent 20VC interview with Mike Schroepfer, former CTO of Meta. He covers the nuances of leadership, and draws intriguing parallels between effective leadership and the role of a music conductor.
⚒ Why The Best Leaders are Like Music Conductors 🎶
20 VC
🎥 Watch the full episode here
📆 Published: June, 2024
🕒 Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes. Time saved: 75minutes🔥
🎻 The Conductor’s Role in Leadership
Building a company might seem like a series of grand moments, but it’s more accurately a game of inches. A good leader, according to Mike, resembles a conductor of an orchestra. Even the best musicians sound terrible if they aren't playing from the same sheet. Similarly, a leader must ensure all team members are aligned and working harmoniously towards a common goal.
Key Takeaways for Founders and Product Managers:
Alignment is Crucial: Ensure everyone understands the company's vision and their role in achieving it. Having seen this many times 1st hand, this point is absolutely critical.
Constant Communication: Just as a conductor communicates with musicians, leaders must maintain open lines of communication.
Adaptability: Be ready to adjust the ‘music’ as needed to keep the team in sync and progressing.
💡 Childhood Lessons and Resilience
Reflecting on his childhood, Mike shared an anecdote about a cartoonist drawing him with a bubble saying, “Oh no, bugs in my software,” highlighting his early passion for computers. This early interest and subsequent experiences shaped his resilience, especially during his startup days when he faced numerous rejections while raising funds.
Key Takeaways:
Early Passions Can Define Careers: Encourage early interests and hobbies as they can shape future professional paths.
Resilience is Key: Persistence in the face of rejection is crucial. Founders often hear many “no’s” before a “yes.”
First Principles Thinking: Base decisions on fundamental truths rather than opinions or trends.
❤️ The Power of Personal Relationships
Mike emphasised that his most memorable “yes” was his wife agreeing to marry him. Having a supportive partner who is smarter and collaborative has been invaluable. On the professional front, he shared the impact of Sequoia Capital eventually saying “yes” after many rejections.
Key Takeaways:
Support Systems Matter: Surround yourself with supportive and intelligent people both personally and professionally.
Long-Term Vision: Rejections can be stepping stones to eventual success. Stay focused on your long-term goals.
Intrinsically Motivated Teams: Foster a culture where team members are driven by internal goals and beliefs.
🚀 Overcoming No’s and Finding the Right Partners
Mike’s journey with Sequoia Capital highlighted the importance of finding the right partners who believe in your vision. Despite numerous rejections, he persisted because he believed in his product and its potential market impact.
Key Takeaways:
Find Believers: Seek investors and partners who share your vision and are willing to support your journey.
Persistence Pays Off: Repeated rejection is a natural part of the startup process. Use it as fuel to refine and improve.
Prove Your Market: Be ready to demonstrate the potential and scalability of your market.
🎯 The Importance of Strategic Thinking
A significant part of being a great leader, Mike explained, involves strategic thinking and the ability to pivot when necessary. He shared an anecdote about a board member asking if they could ship a product a quarter earlier, pushing the team to think about faster execution.
Key Takeaways:
Strategic Flexibility: Be prepared to adjust strategies based on market feedback and internal capabilities.
Push Boundaries: Encourage your team to explore faster and more efficient ways to achieve goals.
Balance Planning and Speed: Understand when to emphasize strategic planning over sheer speed and vice versa.
🌍 Climate Tech and the Future
As Mike transitioned to climate tech, he recognised the monumental impact of clean energy on human progress. He emphasised that the availability of cheap, clean energy is a major rate limiter to human advancement.
Key Takeaways:
Future-Oriented Thinking: Always look ahead to the next big technological shift that can transform industries.
Sustainable Solutions: Focus on solutions that not only solve immediate problems but also have long-term benefits for the environment and society.
Invest in Innovation: Be willing to invest in and support emerging technologies that have the potential to make significant positive impacts.
🎨 Creativity and Coordination in Teams
Mike described the importance of having high-functioning, well-coordinated teams. Like an orchestra, the best teams are those where each member plays their part perfectly, creating a harmonious and productive environment.
Key Takeaways:
Role Clarity: Ensure each team member knows their role and responsibilities.
Optimised Teamwork: Prioritise coordination and collaboration within the team to achieve optimal results.
Leverage Strengths: Identify and utilise the unique strengths of each team member to maximise performance.
📈 Continuous Learning and Adaptation
Throughout his career, Mike has championed the importance of continuous learning and adaptation. Whether it’s transitioning from operator to investor or staying ahead in technological trends, he highlights the necessity of evolving with the industry.
Key Takeaways:
Lifelong Learning: Cultivate a mindset of continuous improvement and learning.
Adaptability: Be ready to pivot and adapt to new roles and industry changes.
Stay Curious: Maintain curiosity and an open mind towards new technologies and methodologies.
🌟 Conclusion: The Symphony of Leadership
Mike Schroepfer’s insights reveal that the best leaders, like music conductors, create harmony out of chaos. They align their teams, push boundaries, and remain resilient in the face of challenges. By fostering coordination, strategic thinking, and continuous learning, leaders can orchestrate success in their companies, much like a conductor leading an orchestra to a beautiful performance.
Final Takeaways:
Leadership is an Art: Treat your role as a leader like that of a conductor, creating harmony and alignment within your team.
Embrace Challenges: Use rejections and challenges as opportunities for growth and improvement.
Invest in People: Surround yourself with supportive, intelligent people and invest in their growth and development.
Want to know more quickly? Just ask the episode below [web only]👇 🤯
or if you prefer, 🎥 Watch the full episode here
📅 Timestamps:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Leadership Philosophy
00:00:21 - Guest Introduction and Excitement
00:00:49 - Childhood Reflections
00:01:38 - Memorable Yes and No Moments
00:03:12 - Raising Money for a Startup
00:04:13 - Meeting with Sequoia Capital
00:06:05 - Board Member Experiences
00:07:58 - Qualities of a Great Board Member
00:09:53 - Transition from Operator to Investor
00:11:30 - Managing Multiple Business Units
00:13:00 - Common Organizational Challenges
00:15:45 - Coordination and Optimization in Teams
00:16:06 - Balancing Speed and Strategic Thought
00:18:24 - Decision-Making Frameworks
00:20:03 - Best Decisions and Hiring Impact
00:22:30 - AI and VR Strategic Decisions
00:24:44 - Timing and Market Predictions
00:25:13 - Financing Pathways in Climate Tech
00:27:38 - Time to Revenue in Climate Tech
00:29:16 - Early Challenges in Climate Tech
00:31:12 - Consumer Hardware Experience
00:34:38 - Risks in Investing
00:36:18 - Evaluating Pre-Seed Investments
00:38:12 - Outcome Scenario Planning
00:39:35 - Capital Allocation in Climate Tech
That’s a wrap.
As always, the journey doesn't end here!
Please share and let us know what you would like to see more or less of so we can continue to improve your Product Tapas. 🚀👋
Alastair 🍽️.