Traffic flow fundamentals, MVP scope and timing
Where we get an opportunity to look at how I write flashcards, and learn about how minimal an MVP really is – and when is the right time to build one!
Hopefully back to the regular cadence of just one article per week now.
New articles
Traffic Flow Fundamentals Flashcards
I have never shared any sets of flashcards because I think a large portion of the value one gets out of them comes from being forced to think about how to make them. (This is a future article I'm planning to write, actually!) But when I read Traffic Flow Fundamentals in nearly one sitting, I had an excellent opportunity to do just that, interspersed with limited commentary. So I did. Maybe it was a mistake, maybe not.
Full article (5–30 minute read): Traffic Flow Fundamentals Flashcards
Flashcard of the week
In The Independent Consulting Manual the authors shared something that seems obvious in hindsight but I had not considered:
What is a common thing people want in an MVP that is not necessary?
The answer:
Self-serve sign-up.
The authors argue that at the stage of building an MVP, we should already have talked to potential customers and ideally also found buyers. We don't need self-serve sign-up to onboard them into the system: we just enter their details in the database directly, while we're on the phone with them.
If we're hoping for people we don't know to try our MVP, we have to be great at marketing or lucky or both. Better to build the MVP specifically for people we know because they experience the pain point we're addressing.
Your opinions
As always, I cannot improve without feedback. Reply to this email to share your thoughts on any of the topics above, or anything else!