The Heretic Logo

By PASCAL FINETTE

The Heretic is a free dispatch delivering insights into what it takes to lead into & in the unknown. For entrepreneurs, corporate irritants and change makers. Raw, unfiltered and opinionated.

be radical.

Mar 20th, 2024 Share: Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn

Build Products That Don’t Suck (Or Risk Losing Everything)

John Lilly, my former boss and then-CEO of Mozilla, once offered a piece of advice so obvious it seems absurd: build products that don’t suck. This was back when Firefox was running circles around Internet Explorer, delivering a vastly superior web browsing experience. Simple, right?

Apparently not. In the relentless pursuit of profits, countless companies have forgotten this fundamental rule. They cut corners, skimp on quality, and prioritize short-term gains over long-term customer satisfaction. It’s a recipe for disaster.

The Slippery Slope of Suckiness

Once you start compromising on product quality, you’re on a downward trajectory that’s hard to recover from. It starts with a few minor issues that you convince yourself aren’t a big deal. But those small problems compound over time, eroding user trust and loyalty.

Before you know it, you’re in a death spiral. Your once-happy customers start looking for alternatives, and your reputation takes a nosedive. You may try to course-correct with hasty improvements, but by then, it’s often too late. The damage is done.

The Temptation of Quick Wins

So why do companies fall into this trap? It usually comes down to the allure of quick wins and easy money. In a world obsessed with rapid growth and quarterly earnings, it’s tempting to sacrifice product quality for a temporary boost in profits.

But this shortsighted thinking ignores the long-term consequences. Sure, you might get a brief surge in revenue by cutting corners, but you’re also setting yourself up for future failure. It’s like eating junk food every day—it might taste good in the moment, but it’s ruining your health over time.

Staying True to Your Principles

The solution is simple, but not easy: stay true to yourself, your product, and your customers. This means investing in quality, even when it’s not the fastest or cheapest option. It means prioritizing user experience over short-term metrics. And it means having the courage to say no to tempting but ultimately harmful decisions.

Will this approach lead to explosive growth overnight? Probably not. But it will build a solid foundation for long-term, sustainable success. You’ll cultivate a loyal user base that trusts your product and evangelizes it to others. You’ll foster a reputation for excellence that attracts top talent and partners. And you’ll be able to sleep at night knowing you haven’t sold out your principles for a quick buck.

In a world where mediocrity is the norm, building products that don’t suck is a powerful differentiator. It’s not just good business – it’s the right thing to do. So take a stand against the tide of suckiness, and commit to creating something truly exceptional. Your users (and your future self) will thank you.


1,289 Posts and Counting.
Don't miss the next post. Sign up now!


Mar 14th, 2024

The Power of Simple Stories

In a world saturated with information and distractions, the ability to communicate a clear, compelling narrative is a superpower. As an entrepreneur or business leader, crafting the right story can make all the difference in winning over customers, investors, and the public.

This insight was pithily expressed by political consultant Arthur Schmidt in his advice to General Electric in the early 20th century: “Campaigns are won not by the candidate or company with the best character or product, but by the one with the simplest and most clearly told story.” Or as his colleague Comstock summarized it decades later: “Pick...

read more…


Mar 6th, 2024

The Brainstorming Delusion

The beloved brainstorm. The darling child of corporate innovation. The magic bullet that will solve all our creative woes.

Or so we’ve been told.

Brainstorms are a colossal waste of time.

They’re the equivalent of trying to catch fish by throwing a bunch of hooks into the water and hoping something bites. It’s inefficient, ineffective, and frankly, a bit delusional.

So why do brainstorms fail so miserably? Let’s break it down:

Production Blocking: The Waiting Game

In most brainstorms, only one person can speak at a time. While others wait their turn, their ideas evaporate faster than a puddle in...

read more…


Feb 26th, 2024

The Bozo Explosion Lives On

To the day a dozen years ago, Silicon Valley legend Guy Kawasaki published a blog post lamenting the all-too-common phenomenon of what he called the “bozo explosion.” A company experiences a bozo explosion when a formerly brilliant team, consisting of A-players, makes the strategic mistake of hiring their first B-player (often in the name of growth… need those warm bums in seats!) and lets those B-players hire their own people.

The problem with B-players is not that they are “less than” A-players; the issue is that B-players, usually driven by the deadly combination of fear and ego, start hiring...

read more…


Feb 20th, 2024

On Serendipity

Serendipity – that magical, almost mystical phenomenon that seems to lurk around corners, waiting to spring upon us when we least expect it. But what if I told you that serendipity isn’t just a happy accident but a process that can be dissected into three core characteristics?

First comes the serendipity trigger, that moment of stumbling upon something unusual or unexpected. Picture yourself walking through a forest and finding a rare flower you’ve never seen before – that’s your trigger. It’s the universe’s way of saying, “Hey, look here! There’s something worth your attention.” Kindle your curiosity, and you will...

read more…


Feb 15th, 2024

We Stand for Each Other's Success

In a world that often feels like it’s every person for themselves, a recent conversation threw me a curveball that’s been bouncing around in my head ever since: “We stand for each other’s success.” This isn’t your garden-variety corporate platitude. It’s a philosophy, a mindset shift, a radical way of redefining success not as a solitary sprint but as a collective marathon.

Let’s face it, the default mode in many professional environments is to claw your way up the ladder, sometimes at the expense of others. But what if we flipped the script? What if, instead of viewing our colleague’s...

read more…


Jan 19th, 2024

Edison’s Paradox: It’s Not Just in Your Head

Thomas Edison, the genius inventor, threw a curveball when he somewhat famously said, “I never had an idea in my life.” Wait, what? The man behind the light bulb, phonograph, and a gazillion other things never had an original idea? Yes, that’s what he said…

Here’s what he meant: everything he invented was already floating around in the environment. He just connected the dots. Think about it. Edison, Mr. Innovation himself, basically said the whole concept of ideas popping out of thin air is hogwash. That’s like saying the secret ingredient in your grandma’s famous recipe is actually from a...

read more…


Dec 20th, 2023

The Epidemic of Proving We Work

Let’s end this year with a bit of truth serum, shall we? I’ve seen a disturbing trend in companies lately. It’s like a virus, but no, it’s not the one you’re thinking of. This one’s called “Prove-I-Actually-Work-itis.” And, oh boy, is it contagious!

Here’s the deal: Too many folks are busy creating work to prove they’re working. It’s like watching a dog chase its tail – entertaining but ultimately fruitless. For instance, take our friend, the social media manager. They’re knee-deep in analytics, drowning in PowerPoint slides, just to show that their latest tweetstorm brought in some eyeballs. The irony?...

read more…


Dec 14th, 2023

Daring to Dream: Why Betting on Optimism Wins

In the realm of entrepreneurship and leadership, a battlefield of ideas and ambitions, a quote by Andrew Ng resonates deeply: “I’d rather side with the optimist who wants to give it a shot and might fail than the pessimist who doubts what’s possible.” This statement isn’t just a feel-good aphorism; it’s a strategic choice, a lens through which we can view potential and progress.

The Courage to Fail

Optimism in business isn’t about wearing rose-colored glasses. It’s about having the courage to fail. Yes, the courage to embrace the messiness, the uncertainty, and the sheer thrill of the unknown. Entrepreneurs...

read more…


Dec 8th, 2023

“Why” – The Key to Innovation and Startup Success

Welcome to another day in the life of a startup heretic, where we toss the conventional playbook out the window and thrive on the audacious. Today, let’s dive into a lesson from an unexpected source – a scene from the BBC show “SAS Rogue Heroes.”

Picture this: In the scorching heat of the desert, Paddy Mayne, a character known for his unconventional methods, challenges the Free French to build two 30-foot scaffolds with no plan, just raw materials. As they scramble, confused and unguided, Mayne throws a curveball – why are they doing this seemingly nonsensical task? The revelation is...

read more…


→ Explore all 1,289 Posts in the Archive!


1,289 Posts and Counting.
Don't miss the next post. Sign up now!