Simple Solutions, Informally Delivered

Paul Graham shares his product development strategy in a wonderful essay:

Here it is: I like to find (a) simple solutions (b) to overlooked problems (c) that actually need to be solved, and (d) deliver them as informally as possible, (e) starting with a very crude version 1, then (f) iterating rapidly. When I first laid out these principles explicitly, I noticed something striking: this is practically a recipe for generating a contemptuous initial reaction. Though simple solutions are better, they don't seem as impressive as complex ones. Overlooked problems are by definition problems that most people think don't matter. Delivering solutions in an informal way means that instead of judging something by the way it's presented, people have to actually understand it, which is more work. And starting with a crude version 1 means your initial effort is always small and incomplete.

Paul suggests that his technique extends beyond startups to any type of creative work, and I'm inclined to agree. 

In the delivery of legal services, what are the overlooked problems that can be simply solved?  How many of us ask our clients (before, during or after they've engaged us) about the one thing we could change in our practices to improve their experience?  Is it something as simple as shifting our office hours to be available when our clients can see us?  Or, is it something more profound like changing the way we charge for our services?  No matter what that one thing is -- and it could be a different one thing for every client -- what's keeping us for trying it?  Just once.  To see if it works.

Comments

[Joshua Feinberg]

Thanks for introducing me to Paul Graham's product development technique. It seems very well thought out and efficient.

And you're right on the money with asking clients "about the one thing we could change in our practices to improve their experience".

In our niche (computer consulting for small businesses), that's been a survey question for a long time and has led to many, many additional spin-off projects and partnership ventures.

And there's a great side effect to all this: clients LOVE to be asked for their opinions. The mere act of showing them that you care enough to ask and LISTEN breeds incredible client loyalty.