The name of the game is feedback
New businesses - like software startups - thrive on feedback. They are essentially learning machines designed to turn feedback into revenue.
Where I’ve seen companies I’ve worked for run aground is when that feedback dries up or gets ignored - or when the folks designing the software disappear into design meetings among themselves instead of collaborating with customers.
Sometime, I’ll tell the story of the months-long “design sprint.”
Over the years, though, I’ve been a big advocate of getting engineers into the feedback loop very early.
When I worked at an advertising agency - long enough ago that we were building ads in Adobe Flash - I advocated for having our primary Flash developer on the creative calls at the start. That way they could steer the design to a path that was technically feasible.
When I’ve worked at software startups, I encouraged my engineers to hop on customer and prospect calls to soak in the feedback and context for their work.
I’ve switched my publishing schedule, so you can read more about this approach in today’s essay:
Everyone should talk to customers – even engineers
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Speaking of feedback!
When I first started off on my own, I made it out to a local coffee shop every weekday for a month.
Since then, I’ve been hunkered down with clients and writing and thinking.
And I feel that lack of feedback and connection.
So, if you’re up for coffee, beer, or lunch - or just want to grab 30 minutes of time to talk about managing software engineers, grab a spot.
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Speaking of coffee shops, I’m writing this from The Well in Fishers, Ind., on an early Sunday morning.
The coffee’s good, and the wifi’s fast, and it happened to open at 7 a.m. on Sundays.
It’s been fun to get here early and watch folks come and go. Earlier, in the corner armchair right in front of me was a young father with his younger son. They played a bit in the early morning light while Dad had his coffee.
Just about the cutest thing I’ve seen in a long while.
The experience has also reminded me of the wonder I find in early mornings.
On a recent family trip, we went to Edinburgh, Bruges and Amsterdam. I’ll always treasure being there with my wife and kids - but I also really still feel the draw of the early morning walks on my own.
Walking the cobbled, narrow streets of Bruges as the town woke up - making deliveries before the rush of day tourists invaded, and folks setting up for market day in the central square - and wandering through the Museumplein in Amsterdam at first light, are still etched in my mind.
The feeling of awakening, of a world coming alive around you, is powerful for me.
And as I close this, I want to thank you for being part of this awakening of sorts, and thanks for letting me share a bit of an early morning with you.
Take care out there.
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Past editions
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