Strategic focus and trade-offs

Effective product strategy requires saying “no” more often than saying “yes.” The discipline to focus on a few critical areas, rather than trying to be everything to everyone, separates successful products from failures.

Trade-offs are inevitable because resources are always limited. When you choose to build one feature, you're choosing not to build countless others. When you target one user segment, you may need to deprioritize others. These decisions feel uncomfortable because every option has merit, and stakeholders advocate for different priorities.

The key is making trade-offs deliberately rather than by default. Start by clearly defining your strategic focus areas, typically 3 major themes. Then evaluate every opportunity against these focus areas. If something doesn't strongly support at least one focus area, it should probably wait. Document what you're explicitly not doing and why. This clarity helps teams avoid scope creep and stay aligned. Remember, trying to do everything usually means doing nothing well.