I’ve discussed this before; I want to spend more time on it: Product Market Fit, also known as PMF.
In tech, especially in mobile you want to achieve something called PMF.
The way you do this is by offering your users a “frictionless experience”.
The more friction that the user is confronted with the less likely they are to use your product. If flights are 50% off then my desire is through the roof and I will tolerate an error 404 or “Time-out”, but unless you are offering something like 50% off you will lose me at that moment and possibly for life if I have to deal with friction en route to my goal.
What does building a user friendly mobile app have to do with getting ahead in life?
I’ve understood this principle intuitively even when I did not understand these terms.
Since I was very young, I have applied them to countless situations in my life: vacation, dating, partying, business partnership. I am regularly shocked how much friction is created by people who should be doing everything they can to make my experience in a given situation frictionless.
I have to fight through to reach goals.
My buddy used to be the king of friction when it came to partying – so much so that I stopped inviting him out.
I’d have 11 girls and text him “table Les Deux” he’d respond: “Time? How much will it be? OK I can spend this much. Can I bring this guy? How much will it be for him?” BLAH BLAH BLAH.
This would go on forever.
Hey you Ignorant jerk-off, You’ve gotten bottles 100 times before; you know what bottles cost. Back off with your questions. I’m setting up 100 girls right now, not playing administrator to your questionnaire.
This guy would do this EVERY SINGLE TIME.
Then, after we would go partying, I’d have to spend hours arguing over why he has to pay his fair share of bottle service.
Seems fun right? I stopped inviting him out, too much friction. He settled with an overweight annoying zero personality girl in BFE
Marina Del Rey. I got with 17,000 girls. Get in the Rocket and shut up or else.
I almost always know, if I’m being offered a seat, should/could I get away with asking questions?
WIll it annoy the person if I delay their life or make them work for me? What’s the easiest way to understand if you are creating friction or not?
Ask yourself, “Could this person achieve their goal without my existence”.
If that answer is yes- SHUT YOUR MOUTH!
The goal could be as simple as going to a bar, Vegas, Europe, or starting a business. I almost always know where I stand within someone else’s needs to meet a goal.
If his goal is women and he has 7 girls coming over to his house, I am not important. I SHUT THE HELL UP.
If I get a text, “With some hedge fund buddies you should meet.” I respond “where/when. In”.
Making him work for me by asking 100 questions is annoying. SIDE NOTE- Calling people to ask questions is unacceptable.
Under my government you would be publicly stoned to death for this crap.
Again, think of friends, partners, co-partiers as users. How can you deliver a frictionless experience? More importantly, be aware of the following: Am I crucial to this event?
If the answer is no, then shut the hell up and be happy that you have been offered a seat on a rocket ship.
Here is a perfect example: If I texted a smart guy, “We rented a boat this weekend, girls, Marina Del Rey. $400/head. In?” and this was the ONLY information he had, he would text, “IN”. The end. This is a frictionless experience for me. He has been offered a seat on a rocket ship and isn’t bothering me with seating arrangements.
The typical guy, on the other hand, would make me work for him. I don’t work for people.
If you make me work for you, or I believe that I will have to work for you, then I will not include you in my plans.
He would ask 100 questions. NEXT.
1. I have a boat
2. If I have a boat I probably took the time to make sure I have girls.
If I have a boat and girls I probably have cool dudes coming. I have a boat, girls, and cool friends; surely I can get another guy to come. If I can get another guy to come that won’t ask me 50 questions then why would I invite you? I am providing the rocket shit, just get in and SHUT THE HELL UP.
Im sure most of you are thinking, “Oh, I totally get it. Ya for sure” blah blah blah. NO. You don’t get anything. 99% of you are boring assholes making every person’s life around you one long friction-filled event.
Example 1: From Last night in NYC – I text a friend “I found your grey sweater at my place.”
He responds, “Save it for me.”
WTF? vs. what? I’m gonna throw it in the garbage?
Anyway, keep in mind I hadn’t spoken to him all day and we had no plans to go out. Its 11:20 pm and as usual, I have plans. I’m meeting with a buddy and a bunch of girls.
I always have a rocket ship.
Anyone who has been around me knows this, especially a friend.
Friday Night, NYC, and I have no plans? Nothing to do? Come on. And, if I don’t have plans I’m with a girl.
I will be ok; I always have a rocket ship. You can get in or not.
Moving along he texts me, “I’m in Hells kitchen.” – Remember, we have no plans and I’m en route to meet Luis and Girls.
Me “headn to 13th Step East Village rt now”. Right now implies a mm of urgency and explains I have plans, if you have a working brain. It also means you can join. I wouldn’t text a friend where I’m going if he wasn’t invited.
Him, “that sounds far.” He follows up with, “What’s 13 steps?”
UNBELIEVABLE. Ever heard of google bro? I HAVE PLANS; I HAVE A ROCKET SHIP. I am not your Google. Add to that I have 11% cell phone battery that I need to last another 4 hours!
I respond, “a bar. No juice. I have to save it”.
Sidenote: I also have girls at the Ace Hotel I need to meet so I can’t waste juice telling him the exact address.
I already told him “east village.” Him, “it’s a 20 min cab ride. Is it worth it? Should I meet you at your house?” WTF!?!? I said I’m going to a bar ‘rt now”. Why the hell would I go to my house AND I already explained I have no juice.
We are now 8 texts in about a bar!!! You just lost your seat buddy. Me, “I’m out partying all night, this is way too high maintenance. Are you drunk?” This is me saying “I won’t be home, I’m out for the night raging.”
Also, keep in mind, if i’m out partying, do I really want to be texting with you? NO. I have another friend i’ll call out in a minute who loves to ask 70 questions when you are
AT THE BAR. I’M OUT. COME OR DON’T. THE END.
Him, “Either meeting with you or going home. You have a table? Never been there before” WTFFF
1. I already said bar
2. East Village doesn’t have bottle service clubs
3. I have my own plans, come or don’t.
Me, “I cant text. Im here with people”
Him, “I have juice. Your place or bar”
Him again, “heading out in 10…let me know”
Him AGAIN, “In midtown right now”
Me, “Ace Hotel. Don’t text again. I can’t answer these questions”
WTF DOES HE DO?!?!
He CALLS ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I scream at him and hang up. I have now spent 20 minutes of my night and 30% of my remaining cell phone battery playing concierge to this asshole who needs to know everything about the seat on my rocket ship.
Short story: as usual the girls end up back at my place and we party till 6am.
He missed this because he had to know which seat he gets and refused to deliver a frictionless experience.
Cheers,
A Leverage moderator
