korrents
Des Traynor

Des Traynor

@des-traynor · 3 positions · On ppll ↗

Co-founder of Intercom; writes on product and design at intercom.com.

Des Traynor did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

2 of Des Traynor's claims fit 2 mental models. Most often: Say no by default, Less, but better.

Models they name

Their own words name the idea.

Say no by default

Most good options have to be turned down, so make no the default and keep yes for what matters.

Used by 11 others

Building a great product means being great at saying no -- not maybe, not later, no.

Mental modelLess, but better

  1. Des Traynor Co-founder of Intercom If you’re building a product, you have to be great at saying no. Not “maybe” or “later”. The only word is no. Building a great product isn’t about creating tons of tactically useful features which are tangentially related. Product strategy means saying nointercom.com · 3 Jul 2013
    Their wordsIf you’re building a product, you have to be great at saying no. Not “maybe” or “later”. The only word is no. Building a great product isn’t about creating tons of tactically useful features which are tangentially related.

    ↗Product strategy means saying nointercom.com

    3 Jul 2013

A real product decision says a proposal is a great idea and still turns it down for something else.

  1. Des Traynor Co-founder of Intercom Real product decisions aren’t easy. They require you to look at a proposal and say “This is a really great idea, I can see why our customers would like it. Well done. But we’re not going to build it. Instead, here’s what we’re doing.”. Product strategy means saying nointercom.com · 3 Jul 2013
    Their wordsReal product decisions aren’t easy. They require you to look at a proposal and say “This is a really great idea, I can see why our customers would like it. Well done. But we’re not going to build it. Instead, here’s what we’re doing.”.

    ↗Product strategy means saying nointercom.com

    3 Jul 2013

Models we see in what they say

Our reading: their claim applies the idea without naming it. The claim is theirs; filing it here is ours.

Less, but better

Find the essence and cut the rest; simplicity is hard work, not the absence of effort.

Used by 59 others

Building a great product means being great at saying no -- not maybe, not later, no.

Mental modelSay no by default

  1. Des Traynor Co-founder of Intercom If you’re building a product, you have to be great at saying no. Not “maybe” or “later”. The only word is no. Building a great product isn’t about creating tons of tactically useful features which are tangentially related. Product strategy means saying nointercom.com · 3 Jul 2013
    Their wordsIf you’re building a product, you have to be great at saying no. Not “maybe” or “later”. The only word is no. Building a great product isn’t about creating tons of tactically useful features which are tangentially related.

    ↗Product strategy means saying nointercom.com

    3 Jul 2013