Running Lean by Ash Maurya

Introduction

The new world is traction oriented and requires:

1 - Model

• Your business model is the product
• Love the problem, not your solution
• Traction is the goal

2 - Prioritize

• right action, right time
• tackle your riskiest assumption in stages
• constraints are a gift
• hold yourself externally accountable

3 - Test

• Place many small bets
• Make evidence based decisions
• breakthrough requires unexpected outcomes

Chapter 1 - Design

Everyone gets hit with ideas when they least expect them (in the shower, while driving, etc.). Most people ignore them - entrepreneurs choose to act on them.

Ash Maurya, Running Lean

• deconstruct your idea on a lean canvas
• three business model archtypes
  • direct
  • multisided
  • marketplace
• direct is users are also customer
• multisided is users are not the same as customer
• marketplace is multi-actor buyers and sellers
• split your lean canvas if seeing multiple archtypes
• balance 3 types of risks: customer, market, technical
  • alternatively: desire (do customers want it), viable (can it be monitized), and feasible (is it buildable).

Chapter 2 - Stress Test for Desirability

A unique value proposition promises:

• a better desired outcome
• a better way of achieving the desired outcome
• both