Big companies have trouble with innovation. Innovation is about bad ideas, or ideas that look like bad ideas. That's the fundamental thing.
Ben HorowitzRead
It turns out that is exactly what product strategy is all about—figuring out the right product is the innovator’s job, not the customer’s job.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Product strategy involves innovators determining what products to create instead of relying on customers to dictate their needs.
In the quote, Ben Horowitz emphasizes the crucial role of innovators in product strategy, stating that it is their responsibility to identify and develop the right products based on insight and vision, rather than waiting for customers to express their desires. This perspective shifts the focus from customer-driven development to innovator-led exploration, suggesting that true innovation requires proactive decision-making and creativity from those in charge.
Themes
Product StrategyInnovationCustomer NeedsBusinessVision
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a presentation about product development strategies.
More from Ben Horowitz
All quotes →As a company gets big, the information that informs decision-making gets massive. Depending upon the prism through which you view the business, your perspective will vary. If two people are in charge, this variance will cause conflict and delay.
Ben HorowitzRead
You read these management books that say, 'These are the hard things about running a company.' But those aren't really the hard things. The hard things are when you have to layoff half your company, or you have to fire your best friend. Or you have to figure out a way not to go bankrupt.
Ben HorowitzRead
Look - this is the terror of being a founder & CEO. It is all your fault. Every decision, every person you hire, every dumb thing you buy or do - ultimately, you're at the end.
Ben HorowitzRead
Nobody knows how to be a CEO. It's something you have to learn. It's a very lonely job.
Ben HorowitzRead
As long as people are clear on what they need to do and what's going on, you're very likely to succeed. When nobody is clear, then you're guaranteed to fail.
Ben HorowitzRead
Similar quotes
There's nothing worse that you can do than create an aura about a company that's not substantiated by fact. It's not only ineffective but actually harmful to the company. You can create an image or whatever, but it won't stick.
Saul BassRead
Business isn't some disembodied bloodless enterprise. Profit is fine - a sign that the customer honors the value of what we do. But "enterprise" ( a lovely word ) is about heart. About beauty. It's about art. About people throwing themselves on the line. It's about passion and the selfless pursuit of an ideal.
Tom PetersRead
Screw the competition - focus on good customer service.
Richard BransonRead
Customers first, employees second, and shareholders third.
Jack MaRead
I think any company should compete on the quality of their products, their prices, the novelty they can produce, their services, because that would be fair competition.
Margrethe VestagerRead
Mastering the paradox of star brands is very difficult and rare - fortunately.
Bernard ArnaultRead