Here, the journey is more important than the method. The solutions presented—incomplete, partial, inevitably imperfect—are valuable less for their accuracy than for the approach they reveal: observe, test, learn, correct. “Impact Factories” weaves together, in the form of fiction, a continuous thread of experiences: my own, those I have observed closely, and those that peers have confided in me. By weaving them together into a living story, I want to allow everyone to grasp the complexity of the entrepreneurial world and product management, to glimpse the invisible dynamics that drive it and, above all, to equip themselves mentally before embarking on their own adventure. If these pages can offer a little perspective and a framework for understanding, then the goal will be achieved: to convey not definitive answers, but a way to come up with them yourself.
Depending on how much time I have to devote to writing, there could be six parts, each focusing on a key artifact specific to the maturity of a company or product:
Through the story of Sophie and Julien, founders of MelonsNet, you will dive into the daily life of a startup in the making, with a focus primarily on the “product.” You will discover the behind-the-scenes of product management in a real-world context, without filters or unnecessary jargon: difficult decisions, unclear priorities, costly mistakes, bold bets… and above all, a fierce determination to create a product that matters.
But this book is not a guide. The tools used throughout the story are not the heroes. What matters in this book is the experience and the philosophy with which each challenge is met, the way decisions are made, the experimentation…
In each chapter, you will be invited to reflect on your own situation:
- How can you avoid building a product that no one wants?
- How can you choose between two strategies without giving in to instinct or fear?
- What should you do when your vision becomes blurred?
- What criteria should you use to recruit the first members of a product team?
- And above all: how can you make an impact without losing sight of what really matters?
This book is here to help you take action. Whether you’re a CEO, CTO, Product Manager, or simply someone with an idea, my goal is to help you make better decisions, collaborate more effectively, and build better, based on your own personality and context. So, are you ready to roll up your sleeves and go behind the scenes of a product in the making? Welcome to Impact Factories.