Working backward

Working backward begins by "[trying] to work backward from the customer, rather than starting with an idea for a product and trying to bolt customers onto it."

<aside> 🧠 For new initiative, the process begins with a formidable task: A product manager must write an internal press release announcing a finished product.

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"Internal press releases are centered around the customer problem, how current solutions (internal or external) fail, and how the new product will blow away existing solutions. If the benefits listed don't sound very interesting or exciting to customers, then perhaps they're not (and shouldn't be built)." - McAllister

Keep revising the press release until you come up with something better. This sounds like a lot of work for an idea that may never be implemented, but it's a lot less expensive and way more quicker than iterating on a product itself.

How to create a press release

Use the template provided here ⤵️

Once created, move the page into your Notion

A few things to keep in mind while creating your press release:

• Keep it simple (a page and a half or less)
• Use paragraphs made up of no more than three to four sentences
• Write for mainstream customers (the Oprah-speak technique)
• Use the press release as your touchstone while developing the product (in order to avoid the "scope creep" problem)

How working backwards can help you

Working backwards is **smart (**because of what explained above) and emotionally intelligent. Instead of spending time on mediocre ideas, get attach to them and having hard time to let them go, you'd still have the chance to work on your idea and flesh it out. By doing that, you're forced to put your idea to test. After writing and rewriting, it will become clear if the idea is really worth pursuing.