Data Impact by Ritavan Launch Day!
One of the best PM books I've ever read. Available right now. $0.99 only today.
Hey, Paweł here. Welcome to a special edition of The Product Compass Newsletter.
I’m excited. Today is the launch day of Data Impact by Ritavan. I got access before publication. It turned out to be one of the best PM books I've ever read.
Even though the subtitle suggests “legacy businesses,” 90% of the insights are universal. Every leader, product manager, and founder would benefit from reading it.
And only today, you can get a Kindle version for just $0.99. Here’s a direct link: Amazon.
(This post was not sponsored)
[Edited] The book is now a #1 bestseller in many categories 🔥
The SLASOG Framework
One of the concepts I recently discussed with Ritavan was the SLASOG framework. It consists of six easy steps:
Save
Book: Eliminate waste and save money. Every minute you spend running after something that's not high impact is a minute you wasted.
My comment: This overlaps with Product Discovery which is all about reducing waste and rework by identifying high-risk assumptions and performing experiments to test them before implementation.
Leverage
Book: Digital transformation is a myth. Use your unique strengths (data, knowledge, resources) to build an unfair competitive advantage.
My comment: In Product Strategy Canvas and Startup Canvas, I emphasized:
The need to clearly define your core competencies.
The importance of strategy passing the “Can’t/Won’t” test. The moment you succeed is the moment someone else will try to do the same.
Align
Book: Make sure everyone understands your vision and strategy. Align the teams around common goals. Clearly communicate your intent without micromanagement.
My comment: We’ve discussed leading with context, not control, multiple times.
“If you give employees more freedom instead of developing processes to prevent them from exercising their own judgment, they will make better decisions and it’s easier to hold them accountable.” - Reed Hastings, No Rules Rules
In Radical Focus, Christina Wodtke explains how critical it is to align, not cascade, the objectives. For more information, see Product Model First Principles.
Simplify
Book: Some believe you can create more value by adding more. But the best companies minimize complexity to lower costs, prevent collapse, and maximize returns.
My comment: The best product companies cut and simplify features ruthlessly. A post you might have missed: Your Guide to Feature Detox: Winning Through Simplifying.
Optimize
Book: Understand your environment and constraints. Formulate hypotheses. Consider the probability of possible outcomes. Experiment to test your assumptions and adjust after every iteration.
My comment: Ritavan includes insights related to statistics. But we’ve discussed the core idea (getting maximum validated learning with minimal effort and iterating fast) many times in different contexts, for example in How to Manage Risks as a Product Manager and Continuous Product Discovery Masterclass.
Grow
Book: Sustainable growth results from value creation. Embrace an abundance mindset and obsess over the customers.
My comment: That’s why the North Star Metric reflects the value customers get from our product. Revenue lags behind, which is why the North Star Metric serves as a leading indicator of long-term business success.
The “abundance” element in Data Impact refers to legacy companies, but you can easily generalize that into “how can we” attitude.
My Interview With Ritavan
In the recent interview, we also discuss:
Product management in legacy vs. tech companies
How the military can inspire leadership
What humans should focus on in the age of AI
You can listen here:
Thanks for Reading The Product Compass Newsletter
It’s great to explore, learn, and grow together.
Have an awesome rest of the week!
Paweł