Two Essential Strategies for Surviving The Great Digital Recession

1) Validity

Acid test: is validity a concern? is it talked about? is it ever challenged?

Usually no. Validity is never discussed, never a concern. Checkbox activity happens as validity is overlooked.

If Product teams do not consider validity, everything that is discussed, everything that is built, is at huge risk. You don't need that kind of stress, the business doesn't need that kind of risk or performance.

Tighten up validity and you tighten up performance - of the team and the product/service itself.

There's not much point talking about 'validating assumptions' or 'validating hypotheses' without considering validity because of the box checking activity it inevitably becomes.

2) Authenticity

With so much misinformation and bullshit in the world, authenticity becomes a much more valuable commodity.

Maintaining a front, a facade, a mask....of any kind is hard work, whether we're talking about individuals or brands.

Authenticity becomes part of new quality assurance behaviours, no longer will people just consume what they are fed - they will question it first, and they will question who is providing it.

Authenticity is a necessary hallmark of quality in a world of misinformation, make sure that you, your product, your team, your personal brand are authentic - or as authentic as reasonably possible.

These two factors need to be developing at scale in order for the recovery to accelerate. Start thinking now about how you can develop validity and authenticity across your spheres of life (home, work, love). Start thinking how you can apply them to the product or service that you're working on.

Make it authentic. Check validity. Good stuff happens.

Happy Monday 🤘