Question 1

What are the key takeaways from Ebi Atawodi's episode on Lenny's Podcast?

Accepted Answer

1. Product management is fundamentally about clarity and conviction - bring clarity to problems and have conviction about the solutions. Use frameworks like 'top 10 things you should know' to maintain problem clarity. 2. Use the 'once upon a time' storytelling framework to craft compelling visions: describe the problem world, the intervention, and how the world changed. Simple narrative structures are more memorable than complex decks. 3. Evangelize your vision in three concentric circles - first your core team, then stakeholders, then leadership. Go as big as possible and let people pull you back rather than limiting yourself. 4. A good vision should not need to be repeated every year - instead, progressively add fidelity through higher quality mocks, videos, and examples while keeping the north star constant. 5. Don't let lack of resources be an excuse - sketch your vision by hand, use post-it notes, mock up app store screenshots. The story matters more than polish, and designers will often improve rough ideas they connect with.

Question 2

What does Ebi Atawodi say about product-vision and storytelling?

Accepted Answer

"One of the most powerful skills of a product manager is storytelling. Because you look at generation after generation after generation, what people pass on as stories, they're not numbers, they're not stats, it's stories. And actually when you blend stories with numbers, the gap is so wide in stories alone." - Ebi Atawodi "Once upon a time, where were we? It's like what is the thing that we're trying to solve? Then one day, we launch the thing, and because of that, what did you change in the world? What's the dent in the universe that you made? It's very simplistic, but in its simplicity is the magic." - Ebi Atawodi "In writing the headline, you have to focus. Headline is not a PRD, right? It's a headline. So when I've done this, what is the impact of this going to be? What's the feeling you're leaving people with? And it forces you to get to that clarity of, okay, we solved this problem. This is actually going to be the painkiller that we're solving." - Ebi Atawodi

Question 3

What are Ebi Atawodi's views on product-vision, storytelling, clarity-conviction?

Accepted Answer

Ebi Atawodi: "One of the most powerful skills of a product manager is storytelling. Because you look at generation after generation after generation, what people pass on as stories, they're not numbers, they're not stats, it's stories. And actually when you blend stories with numbers, the gap is so wide in stories alone." Ebi Atawodi: "Once upon a time, where were we? It's like what is the thing that we're trying to solve? Then one day, we launch the thing, and because of that, what did you change in the world? What's the dent in the universe that you made? It's very simplistic, but in its simplicity is the magic."

Ebi Atawodi

Crafting a compelling product vision | Ebi Atawodi (YouTube, Netflix, Uber)

TRANSCRIPT

Ebi Atawodi

Crafting a compelling product vision | Ebi Atawodi (YouTube, Netflix, Uber)

Ebi Atawodi

Crafting a compelling product vision | Ebi Atawodi (YouTube, Netflix, Uber)

TRANSCRIPT

Ebi Atawodi

Crafting a compelling product vision | Ebi Atawodi (YouTube, Netflix, Uber)