The Lean Product Playbook: How to Innovate with Minimum Viable Products and Rapid Customer Feedback
Uncover why most products fail and how a counterintuitive, customer-first approach transforms innovation into a repeatable process for building products people actually love
About This Book
Embark on a practical journey that equips you with the tools to systematically build products people genuinely love. You’ll move beyond random guessing to a process-driven method rooted in real customer needs, iterative testing, and smart prioritization. Through vivid case studies and actionable frameworks, discover how to identify hidden opportunities—even in crowded markets—map out customer pain points, and use lean, rapid experimentation to maximize value while wasting less time and money. Unpack the secrets behind breakthrough products and learn how to apply proven strategies used by leading innovators step-by-step, so that you can create impact whether you’re launching a startup, improving an existing product, or transforming a legacy business.About the Author
Dan Olsen is a veteran product leader and expert in lean startup principles, with a track record spanning groundbreaking startups and giants like Intuit. Renowned for translating technical complexity into practical business success, he’s coached teams worldwide and spoken at major conferences on product innovation. Olsen’s blend of hands-on engineering, MBA rigor, and Silicon Valley product experience makes him a trusted mentor for those seeking to master the art and science of building successful products—especially in fast-changing, high-stakes environments.
Biggest Takeaway
By applying these methods, you’ll learn to reduce product failures, make smarter decisions rooted in real data and customer insight, and iterate faster without costly rework. Expect to sharpen your ability to spot true market gaps, focus your team on what matters most, and delight your customers with experiences that solve real problems. You’ll gain clarity, confidence, and a bias for action—leading to more successful launches and greater satisfaction for your users and your team.
Key Insights from This Book
Explore the most important ideas and learn how to apply them in your life.
Why Most Product Teams Get Customer Needs Wrong Even When Listening Closely
Unlock the Power of Needs-Based Segmentation Instead of Demographics
The Hidden Cost of Ignoring Hierarchies in Meeting Customer Needs
Turn Opportunities into Precise Actions with Importance vs. Satisfaction Analysis
Focus Your Product Strategy by Saying 'No' to Good Ideas
Iterate Rapidly, Not Randomly: The Hypothesize-Design-Test-Learn Loop
Why Fast, Small Experiments Outperform Big-Batch Planning
Stop Relying on Statistical Significance Alone—How to Make Confident Decisions with Limited Data
Don’t Blindly Trust Your User Persona—Continual Customer Conversation is Key
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