Radical Product Thinking

Imagine embarking on a journey without a clear destination — a road trip where your only plan is to head north, hoping for the best. This is what happens when organizations rely on vague vision statements or slogans that sound inspiring but lack direction. A vision is not just words to be memorized; it is the blueprint that guides every step of your product's journey. Without a clear and detailed vision, teams can easily lose their way, chasing short-term gains or getting distracted by the latest trends.

Consider the story of a cooperative of women who started with a simple yet profound vision: to earn a dignified living and educate their children. Their vision was not about market share or profits but about creating sustainable self-employment for underprivileged women. This vision was deeply meaningful and centered on a real problem, which helped align thousands of women over decades. Their success was not accidental; it was the result of a vision that everyone could internalize and contribute to.

In contrast, many companies craft broad visions like 'to be the best' or 'to revolutionize an industry,' which sound grand but fail to provide actionable guidance. These broad visions often lead to iteration-led approaches where short-term metrics drive decisions, resulting in bloated products and lost focus.

To craft a compelling vision, ask yourself: Whose world are you trying to change? What does their world look like today? Why is the status quo unacceptable? When will you know you've succeeded? And how will you bring about this change? Answering these questions in detail creates a vision that is both inspiring and practical.

This detailed vision becomes a shared language that connects every team member and customer. It helps to create 'visionary moments' — experiences where individuals see firsthand the impact of the vision, transforming abstract ideas into personal commitment.

As you internalize this approach, you begin to see your product not as an end in itself but as a mechanism to create change. Every feature, every decision, every iteration should be measured against this vision. This clarity sets the stage for the next step: crafting a strategy that connects your vision to how you will achieve it.

Let us now explore how strategy serves as the bridge between your vision and the practical steps needed to realize it, ensuring that your product truly solves validated pain points and delivers meaningful impact.