My Daily Emails

Stanley Black & Decker has been up to something that reminds me of a massive issue most brands dangerously ignore: The crippling impact of poor product content management. (Bet you glazed

Over the past three emails, I’ve explored the critical success factors that separate winning products from also-rans: consistent outcomes, meaningful advantages, and intuitive ease of use. Today, I’m tackling the

In my last couple of emails, I’ve explored how consistent outcomes form the foundation of successful products, while meaningful advantages help them overcome market resistance. Today, I’m discussing perhaps the

In my last email, I explored how consistent outcomes are the foundation of any successful product. Today, I’m tackling the second crucial success factor from Chapter 15 of I Need That:

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what separates market-dominating products from those that merely survive — or worse, fail outright. In Chapter 15 of I Need That, I outline the

I’ve been thinking about how even the most utilitarian products succeed or fail on personal factors. Take construction reinforcement materials, like one of my clients sells. On paper, these should

A couple days ago a prospective client showed me their new product page. Specs. Features. Bullet points. All technically perfect. … Aaaaand completely missing the point. Because NO ONE EVER

I have a favorite local restaurant. It’s a delightful place run by a husband and wife team. They and the staff recognize my family. They remember we were among their

So many “expert” predictions lately ’bout how all these wild world events are going to play out. I guess SOMEONE will have to be right. Reminds me of a concept

I had an all-too-familiar experience yesterday at a drive-through oil change shop. It started with just an oil change — the service I’d actually come for. Then came the suggestions:

I’ve been working with a client who makes a product that, technically speaking, consumers could create themselves. With some time, the right components, and a bit of trial and error,

When I was a kid, my favorite April Fools prank was elegantly simple: wrapping electrician’s tape around the black plastic sprayer at our kitchen faucet. The beauty was in its

I’ve been skeptical about some of the grandiose claims surrounding AI implementation in the product world. (I mean, aside from the stuff we see daily, like new ChatGPT competitors, and

I’ve been working with a B2B startup lately that launched with beautifully crafted Ideal Buyer Profiles. They had the works: detailed personas with photos, fictional names, job titles, goals, pain

Let’s play a quick game. What were your last three online purchases? Now, here’s a harder question: what were your last three purchases that you made after seeing an ad?

Yesterday I wrote about how I almost ripped my bumper off on a fire hydrant, despite 4 decades of driving experience and a vehicle equipped with sensors and cameras. That

I did something embarrassing a few weeks ago. Despite a solid driving record for 40 years (not a single multi-vehicle collision), I managed to rip my front bumper nearly clean

I came across a case study about Tyson Foods that illustrates something I discuss in I Need That: The most powerful innovations often happen behind the scenes, invisible to customers, yet transforming their

I just read a new report about plans for the Apple Watch — and it might reveal clues about the future of AI. Despite the general failure of standalone AI

Yesterday I shared the George Foreman Grill‘s remarkable journey from rejected “Fajita Express” to billion-dollar empire. But there’s something I maybe didn’t emphasize enough: the perseverance required. Remember those inflatable

Yesterday I learned that George Foreman had passed away at age 76. The former Olympic gold medalist and two-time world heavyweight champ left a mark not only on the boxing

I recently wrote about the swift rise of ON running shoes in a market historically dominated by Nike and Adidas. Today brings news that perfectly illustrates what I’ve been exploring

I have a special interesting products that transcend generations, and none has done it quite like the Rubik’s Cube. This simple, “low-tech” object celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. The sales

Satisfy customers much? I just read a fascinating report on online retail customer satisfaction trends. While satisfaction scores are falling across the board, ONE company stands out. Chewy (yes, the

I’ve been a Peloton devotee for over five years — I wrote about the company’s origin story and how it slotted into my own fitness and product journeys in I Need

I recently discovered SawStop at a woodworking store I love, and while I’ve not seen their famous safety demo in person, the videos are absolutely arresting. Picture this: A hot dog —

Happy St. Patty’s Day to my Irish (and Irish-lovin’) readers! I’ve been thinking about what traditional Irish pubs can teach us about creating products people strongly crave. Many of these

It’s that time again — Sunday morning. And for about 80% of professionals, the Sunday Scaries are already lurking. That sinking feeling that your brief taste of freedom is ending.

I just learned the story behind BoldHue — a new beauty device that creates custom foundation in one minute — and it perfectly illustrates something I call “the recognition moment.” This

The first time I saw a Dyson Cool, I had a strange reaction. The tall bladeless fan looked alien enough to seem innovative, but familiar enough that I could imagine using

I just read about a study that perfectly illustrates how companies can use neuroscience to reshape our perception of everyday products. Clorox recently partnered with neurotech company Emotiv to scientifically measure

I’ve been deep in positioning this week, thinking about a client’s new product. You know that feeling when a product team has 37 features they’re absolutely certain users need from day one?

I keep seeing celebs launching “their own” liquor brands — except they’re not really their own. Ricky Gervais with Dutch Barn vodka. Margot Robbie with Papa Salt gin. The Rock

Your tank brain freakin’ LOVES this saying. It feels wise. Safe. Fiscally responsible. It’s also a perfect trap. I wrote recently about the Einstellung Effect — how our brains get

Last week a few people unsubscribed from these emails. My first reaction? That familiar sting we all feel when someone opts out. I immediately dove into my latest messages, hunting

A Rolex Cosmograph tells time LESS accurately than the phone in your pocket. A Lamborghini Huracán is one of the LEAST convenient or efficient ways to reach your destination. A Mont Blanc Meisterstück won’t help you

Photo: Volkswagen Volkswagen just revealed a concept car that could finally solve the electric vehicle industry’s biggest achilles heel: price. The adorably-named “ID.Every1” showcases VW’s upcoming entry-level electric car, expected

IKEA just announced they’re expanding their second-hand furniture marketplace all across Europe. This is almost weird, because IKEA doesn’t NEED to do it. Their core business is thriving. Their margins on

I just released a new episode of Product: Knowledge that might save you from one of the most expensive mistakes product makers can make. Here’s the scenario I see over

This time last year, we took the kids to Disneyland. One resounding memory is how each day ended with an incredible parade and a fireworks show. That standout memory is

I was driving with my teenage daughter when she pointed out a Fisherman’s Friend billboard. “Those are big now,” she said. “All my friends know about them.” The last time I’d thought

Ever notice how the old Milwaukee Brewers logo isn’t just a ball and glove? Look closer: It’s an ‘m’ and ‘b’ cleverly combined into baseball gear. Once you see it, you never

The Fender Stratocaster hasn’t changed a bit since 1954. Think about how rare that is. With constant upgrades and innovations being the absolute norm, here’s a piece of technology that’s basically identical

Yesterday I wrote about embracing your haters. Here’s a real-world example of how that can work: I was running social media ad campaigns for a premium pillow brand when we

Tourists recently called Vienna’s famous Schönbrunn Palace “just a huge, boring, yellow building.” and “Dull as dishwater.” The Vienna Tourist Board loved that review so much, they made it the centerpiece of

IKEA dropped the perfect example of product marketing that aligns with both customer needs and values: Three steps. Twenty years. Dunzo. What they’re selling you isn’t a light bulb. It’s

I just read something that perfectly illustrates how innovative companies stay ahead of rapidly shifting consumer needs. Dawn dish soap has been totally reformulated because … Americans are eating SO much

If you buy digital ads, you know that feeling when you see a $0.12 average cost per click. For a brief moment, it feels amazing. Then you drill down. Almost

Seven lousy seconds. That’s all you get. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but how’s this: The process starts even faster. Here’s how your customer’s brain processes a new