Maintaining market fit over time

Product-market fit isn't permanent. Markets evolve, competitors emerge, and customer expectations rise. MySpace had strong fit until Facebook offered a cleaner experience. Blackberry dominated until touchscreens changed user expectations overnight. Maintaining fit requires constant market monitoring and the courage to evolve your product, even if that means disrupting your current successful offerings before competitors force you to change.

Build systems to detect fit erosion early. Track leading indicators like feature request patterns, competitive win/loss reasons, and user satisfaction trends. When Netflix saw DVD rentals plateau, they invested heavily in streaming. They maintained fit by evolving with technology and user behavior rather than protecting their original model.

Create culture and processes that embrace change. Regular customer advisory boards, quarterly NPS deep-dives, and competitive analysis sessions help teams stay ahead of market shifts. Remember: your biggest risk isn't competition but becoming complacent about customer needs.