Stop focusing on the next big thing - The Intercom Blog

Summary

The post criticizes the tendency of product people to fetishize emerging trends like AI, VR, and AR without stepping back and asking why, latching onto hype rather than focus. It argues that this ‘Next Big Thing-ism’ is rooted in short-term jostling and FOMO, not focus, leading to products that seek quick exits, as seen at CES or on Product Hunt. The author advocates for a humbler, more considered approach that treats product building as an opportunity to gradually influence the future, perhaps by kicking stones in its path, rather than leaping forward for a secret advantage. This involves designing the rudder, not the boat, and recognizing that there is no inevitable endpoint in design, only hypotheses about what could come next. As Brian Eno said, the aim is to make things that belong to the future we would like to live in, not to chase hype for competitive advantage.

Takeaways

1. 1

   The ‘Next Big Thing-ism’ in product design is driven by FOMO rather than focus, leading to products that seek quick exits.

2. 2

   A more effective approach is to treat product building as an opportunity to gradually influence the future, not to predict it.

3. 3

   Products are hypotheses, not predictors; the goal is to make things that belong to the future we would like to live in.

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