Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career Failure
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Dec 13, 2023 
In this thought-provoking discussion, Paul Adams, Chief Product Officer at Intercom, candidly recounts his public speaking struggles and product failures at Google. Tom Conrad, CEO of Zero Longevity Science, shares valuable lessons from infamous flops like Pets.com and Quibi. Meanwhile, Gina Gotthilf, COO of Latitude, emphasizes the importance of sharing both successes and failures to foster growth. Together, they highlight how embracing setbacks can lead to innovation and deeper understanding in careers and product development.
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The Airbnb Design Team Rebellion
- Katie Dill faced a design team rebellion at Airbnb after coming in "swinging" and trying to change things too quickly.
- She learned to prioritize building trust and listening before implementing changes, resulting in improved team engagement.
Freezing on Stage at Cannes
- Paul Adams froze on stage at Cannes, walked off, cursed on a hot mic, and then returned.
- He recovered, finished the talk, and learned that even the worst failures can be overcome.
Lessons from Google's Failed Social Projects
- Paul Adams worked on Google Buzz and Google+, both considered failures due to fear-based motivations.
- He learned how not to lead and emphasized the importance of positive motivation over fear in product development.