How to Avoid "The Build Trap" in Your Product-Led Business

Melissa Perri, the author of the book "The Build Trap" joins Wes Bush to talk about the concept of the build trap, which is when organizations become stuck measuring their success by outputs rather than outcomes. They chat about the importance of focusing on products' value rather than just shipping features.

Melissa also shares the signs that indicate a company is in the build trap, such as not knowing the expected outcomes of their products and lacking a product strategy. Melissa provides insights on escaping the build trap, including the need for a good organizational design, a strong product strategy, and effective product operations. She emphasizes the importance of a cultural shift and the need to practice new behaviors to build a product-led culture. 

Key Takeaways: 

[3:00]: Discussion on the concept of the build trap and its scariness and signs that indicate a company is in the build trap. 

[10:00]: How to address the build trap and escape it. 

[18:30]: Importance of a cultural shift and practicing new behaviors. 

[22:00]: What a simplified version of a strategy for early-stage companies looks like.

[30:00]: Introduction to the concept of Product Ops and its importance for product-led companies 

[39:00]: Why transparency matters in product-led companies. 

[42:00]: Benefits of developing good habits early on in a company's growth. 

Links: 

Melissa Perri’s LinkedIn

Melissa Perri’s Twitter

productinstitute.com 

melissaperri.com 

produxlabs.com