I’m Gavrilo.
I’m a product guy and entrepreneur.
I build stuff most of the time. And sometime, I share some thoughts here.
You have to believe in your vision, even though it’s wrong
Your company vision is a bet on the future. As such, it is bound to be wrong. And yet, it is critical to have one and to believe in it. Here is why.
Why all great products start off looking terrible
Good ideas are commonplace. Good ideas that look terrible are rarer, but they are where the real value is: that's what your competitors are overlooking
Sylvia Plath on product management
Many companies get stalled by indecision when faced with lots of options. This can be fatal - but there are simple tools to get you out of that logjam.
Product management isn’t about the features.
In most companies, product discussions are about features. But features are bricks in a wall, a means to an end. What matters is what you build with them.
Startups as an r-strategist species
Most successful startups had near-death experiences. When listening to them, we should keep in mind that luck played a role in their success.
How to stop wasting time
Ever feel like you're doing stuff and yet not moving forward? Dwight Eisenhower has tips to help get out of that situation.
Paul Graham’s greatest advice for startuppers
For anyone thinking of starting a company, Paul Graham’s essays are must reads. Here is a list of my favorite ones, with some key insights.
One equation to rule all startups (and other stuff too)
The propagation of a product, an idea, or a disease, follows a well-defined trend. For startuppers, understanding it gives an edge when working to maximize growth.
What lean startuppers can learn from poker players
In startups as in poker, it’s all about knowing when to fold, call or raise. Even if startuppers don’t use these words, the world of poker has a lot to teach us.
4 investors whose money we had to turn down
In a tightening venture capital landscape, startups may be tempted to accept less-than-favorable terms. Watch out: this could mean trouble for your company. Here is why, with some examples from my own experience.
What we talk about when we talk about vision
In most cases, what we call “vision” is actually the myth: a rationalization made after the fact of what a company did in its past, that brought it where it is today. The difference matters, and helps understand why a vision can become a dangerous thing.
Why you shouldn’t expand your market, but narrow it down
Many companies are looking to expand to new markets, industries or geographies. If you're a startup, you shouldn't be doing that. Here's why
My top interview questions
After hundreds of job interviews, these are the questions that gave me the best insights into a candidate’s mind
How to stick to your new year’s resolutions, using startup tools
Most people fail to hold their resolutions, often because the resolutions are daunting. Simple start-up tools can help overcome this and stick to your goals
Worry-free project management using OKRs
Whether you’re in a startup or a large company, this simple tool will give your projects clarity
How to prioritize like a chess player
How to use the Elo rating system to easily rank large lists of features, ideas… or movies.
Who your (real) competitors are
You should be learning from more companies than just the ones doing what you do. Here is some help in figuring out who your real competitors are, and why you should learn from them.
The most unrealistic thing in Terminator
It's not time travel, it's how Skynet produces its robots: mass manufacturing is a 20th century human thing. Some thoughts about the future of manufacturing.
If Amazon were IKEA, Netflix would be a meatball shop
All of Netflix's business is for Amazon a mere customer acquisition channel. As such, bundling Netflix with the Amazons and Googles of this world makes no sense.
The case for a $188k Bitcoin
How Bitcoin should be valued if it were to become what is most natural for it: a store of value.