Des Traynor

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18 November 2016

Des TraynorRecommends 18 Nov 2016

Lovedrcmnd.app
Getting Real

Their words

The number one book I recommend any entrepreneur to read is Getting Real by Basecamp, named 37 Signals when they published. It is probably the most inspiring book on business I’ve ever read, and it made me realise that small teams can build huge successes.

intercom.com
Recommendsrcmnd.app
The Secrets of Consulting

Their words

A more left of field one would be The Secrets of Consulting by Gerry Weinberg. It’s not on many “Top 10 books for entrepreneurs” lists, but on an abstract level, consulting explains a lot of things, like interpersonal dynamics, and how larger companies can easily go off track.

intercom.com
Recommendsrcmnd.app
Revising Prose

Their words

I’d also recommend Revising Prose by Richard Lanham. I’ve rarely met a great CEO or founder who isn’t also a great writer.

intercom.com

+ 3 more

Lovedrcmnd.app
Managing Humans

Their words

For example Managing Humans by Rands (Michael Lopp) is a great book on management.

intercom.com
Likedrcmnd.app
It’s Not How Good You Are

Their words

For example, when I was starting my career, I definitely took a lot of much-needed motivation from Paul Aarden’s It’s Not How Good You Are, which Eoghan had given me a copy of.

intercom.com
Likedrcmnd.app
The Innovator's Dilemma

Their words

A decade later I took a lot of inspiration from The Innovator’s Dilemma for a similar reason – we were about to embark on this crazy Intercom thing and I needed to believe it was possible.

intercom.com

3 July 2013

Des TraynorKorrents 3 Jul 2013

From one piece Product strategy means saying no 3 beliefs · intercom.com

korrents.com
A real product decision says a proposal is a great idea and still turns it down for something else.

Their words

Real product decisions aren’t easy. They require you to look at a proposal and say “This is a really great idea, I can see why our customers would like it. Well done. But we’re not going to build it. Instead, here’s what we’re doing.”.

Product strategy means saying nointercom.com
korrents.com
Whether a feature is quick to build is a roadmap question, never a reason on its own to build it.

Their words

The main problem with this argument is that the scope of work should never be a reason to include a feature in a product.

Product strategy means saying nointercom.com
korrents.com
Building a great product means being great at saying no -- not maybe, not later, no.

Their words

If you’re building a product, you have to be great at saying no. Not “maybe” or “later”. The only word is no. Building a great product isn’t about creating tons of tactically useful features which are tangentially related.

Product strategy means saying nointercom.com

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