Why your brain is so good at rewriting history and shaping your view of building products.

Why your brain is so good at rewriting history and shaping your view of building products.

Memory is a fascinating aspect of the human brain. It not only stores information but also has the ability to rewrite history. Our brains have a natural tendency to emphasize our own contributions to a project, as those are the memories that stand out the most vividly. This phenomenon is known as schema-driven memory.

Schemas are frameworks in our memory that help us predict the sequence of events and understand the reasons behind our actions. We have schemas for many things we do at work, and when we reflect on the past, these schemas often structure our memories. However, this can lead to misremembering the order of events or the specific details of a meeting where a key idea was discussed. Our visual memories of an event can also get mixed in with information we hear about after the event, further distorting our recollection.

Understanding how our brains shape our memories is crucial in various aspects of life, including product development. In the world of building products, there are 15 key ideas that can shape our view and approach:

1. Focus on the "why": People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it. Identifying the underlying purpose and motivation behind your product will help you connect with your customers on a deeper level.

2. Delight your users: Identify the narrow set of features or customers that have the most significant impact on your business. By improving those functionalities and delighting those users, you can drive positive results for your product.

3. Test and use your own products: To truly understand your customers and their pain points, it's essential to test and use your own products. This firsthand experience will allow you to empathize with your customers and identify areas for improvement.

4. Prioritize and say no: Just like velocity measures distance displaced, in product development, you want velocity towards your strategy. High velocity requires prioritization and the ability to say no to tasks or projects that do not contribute to your overall strategy.

5. Make reversible decisions: Irreversible decisions should be made carefully and require extensive information gathering before reaching a conclusion. Rushing into irreversible decisions can result in unintended consequences and missed opportunities.

6. Eliminate overwhelming options: People can easily become overwhelmed when faced with too many options, leading to indecision and less satisfaction. Simplify your product offerings and present a clear choice to your customers.

7. Do things that don't scale: Putting in manual work may seem counterintuitive in the age of automation, but doing things that don't scale can actually be a faster path to learning. It allows you to get closer to the problems and customers you are building for, potentially uncovering hidden opportunities.

8. Understand the real pain point: The key to effective product positioning and selling lies in identifying the real pain point your product solves. By understanding the problem your product addresses, you can better communicate its value to potential customers.

9. Identify the trigger: Alongside the pain point, it is crucial to identify the trigger that causes the problem. Understanding what triggers the pain point allows you to position your product as the solution when customers encounter that trigger.

10. Reduce bottlenecks: Identifying bottlenecks in your product development process and working to reduce or remove them can significantly improve overall throughput. By streamlining your workflow, you can enhance efficiency and deliver better results.

Combining the insights from the brain's tendency to rewrite history and the ideas that shape product development, we can see the importance of understanding how our memories influence our actions, decisions, and perception of products. Being aware of schema-driven memory can help us recognize potential biases and make more objective assessments. Similarly, the key ideas in product development provide actionable advice to improve our approach and create products that truly resonate with customers.

In conclusion, our brains have a remarkable ability to rewrite history, emphasizing our own contributions and distorting our recollection of events. This phenomenon, known as schema-driven memory, can impact various aspects of our lives, including product development. By understanding the underlying principles and strategies in building products, we can overcome biases and create products that address real pain points, delight users, and drive positive outcomes. Remember to prioritize, say no to non-strategic tasks, and make reversible decisions based on thorough information gathering. By incorporating these actionable advice, you can navigate the complexities of product development and build products that stand the test of time.