PMFT Digest 17 - Why Uber is Kicking Ass

2014 Jul 28, by David Kim



PM Reading Digest - Why Uber is Kicking Ass

Your weekly product management reading. Not too much, not too little, just right.

A friend at a legal startup Upcounsel recently shared an article about growth with me. I have shared it with others. It is a post about growth by a Silicon Valley personality, Andrew Chen.

There's only a few ways to scale user growth list

Now, here's something you should think about as a product manager. (Check out last week's post about coming of age for product managers.)

Notice that the list includes what you might think of as “growth hacks.” These ideas involve building or tapping into growth channels. Where's the product management here?

Clearly, Andrew is assuming growth post product development. But, isn't product leadership and innovation another means to massive growth?

Still, the article clarifies the end game as a product manager.

Suppose you are running a product team in a startup post product-market validation. These growth channels roughly outline your product roadmap, and where you might concentrate feature development, and how you prioritize them.

Or suppose you are running a product within a mature corporate team. You know the growth channels, but you don't influence them (for example, sales is run by a separate sales team).

What does product innovation look like for you? PMs, Comment!

Uber

Speaking of Growth, this is why Uber is winning. May I present exhibit A.

Exhibit A

Uber

photo credit: David's iPhone

They are winning, because somebody there is hustling. My mind was blown when I saw that!

It's not that the product innovation is getting on Google. But, makes you think, doesn't it? With partnerships does your product become something else? (How many ideas and attempts lead to this? Read innovation as a numbers game.)

Speaking of hustle, check out Hustlecon and take advantage of 40% discount with code “product.”

And on August 21, we have an opporutnity to learn from someone that Marc Andreessen once worked for. You read that right. Sign up for the Giant Pixel event.

Upcoming Events

Silicon Valley and SF

  • July 30: Money by Design by Products That Count ($25).

  • August 1: Hustlecon (40% off for PM Fast Track members with discount code “product”)

  • August 9: Sharing Economy Hackathon. (Hackathons are a great places to see the vibrant tech economy at work. Attend if you never have been to one. Free)

  • August 21: Masterclass: Why Your Project Is Failing and How to Fix It with John Cwikla ($20 - 35). 25% discount using “pmdigest”. Recommended for experienced PMs only. Special early access for PM Fast Track members.


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