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Hey,

Welcome to the second issue of the Welcome to Productland series: Building a Product from A to Z, where we'll discuss why you should build a product from scratch.

Whether you're a founder, engineer, aspiring or experienced PM, or just someone curious, this is for you.

The Situation

We start a new job, want to build our own business, or want to try something new. Whatever we decide, it all starts with an idea.

In my work in digital transformation, the first phase we go through is bringing people to understand other ways to build products. The first workshop is about brainstorming ideas.

In this newsletter, I want to go through this challenge.

The Challenge

The problem is people think ideas are for creative or innovative people. They limit themselves, thinking it's not possible for them.

I can tell you everybody has ideas.

The challenge is to develop a sense to get it out of you. It's a muscle you have to develop. Ideas come to you on their own.

Remember one thing: IDEAS ARE WORTHLESS.

Here is an equation:

A Great Solution = Idea * Execution * The X-Factor

Execution matters more than the idea. There is a multiplier effect between the two. Finally, you need the X-Factor that I am going to explain.

The question stays. How do we find ideas and enter ProductLand? How do we do it alone or with our team?

The Solution

I improved last week's Handbook on building a product from A to Z.

I developed the part of finding ideas.

There are four things that you need to find ideas:

1. Self-awareness
2. Opportunity Mindset
3. Context awareness
4. Connecting the dots

Those four muscles are part of your path to mastering this adventure. It's important to understand that it only works by taking care into account the context you are in. (Read More about Mastering Context)

On top of those four muscles, you need to acquire Product Sense. It's a skill that will be useful in your journey. (Read more here)

Where can I start?

I created two GPTs this week while playing with the new features. You can try them by following those links:

• ​Startup Pathfinder​
• ​Idea Generator

Here is an exercise you can do to find ideas. First, answer the following questions:

• What was your upbringing (family history, past and work)?
• What are your interests?
• What are you good at?
• What do you do in your free time?

Then, write 50 ideas. Take everything you wrote down before and find ideas linked to it or at the intersection of it. Here are some questions to guide you:

• What can't you shut up about?
• Is there a particular problem that makes you want to leap out of bed and solve it?
• Is there something that bugs you?
• Is there something you have solved and think could be helpful for someone else?

What's coming next?

Next week, I will help you find out how to validate your idea:

Idea Validation - Research and Exploration.

Welcome to this new journey where we build this handbook together.

You can access the Updated Handbook here:

Thanks to all the people who have been giving me comments. I will start integrating them as I develop the handbook!

What Happened This Week?

1. Watch the new Digital Leadership Podcast Episode: Product Marketing and Selling Value with Andrea Saez.
   • Share the episode and tag us to get a chance to win the book Product Momentum Gap by Andrea.
2. Read: Mastering Context - Product Sense.
3. Act: What is your idea for a product, feature, to improve life?

There's so much more I'm eager to share with you. Stick around; you won't want to miss what's coming!

Want a quest topic covered? Reply and let me know what challenges you’re facing that you’d like to see transformed into a future quest.

Stay tuned.

Phil