From our CEO

Uncensored advice about product development and building a high-growth software company from Brian de Haaff, co-founder and CEO at Aha!

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Big Goal, Achieved — So Why Do You Feel Lousy?
November 12, 2019
Big Goal, Achieved — So Why Do You Feel Lousy?

Achievement is addictive. But it does not automatically lead to bliss. I am referring to what researchers call the arrival fallacy — the mistaken belief that once we…

8 Smart Tactics for Understanding Customer Pain Points
November 5, 2019
8 Smart Tactics for Understanding Customer Pain Points

Have you heard of the Wong-Baker FACES® scale? You may not know the name but I bet you would recognize it immediately. This numerical and visual pain rating scale shows…

How to Properly Scare Yourself (Into a New Role)
October 29, 2019
How to Properly Scare Yourself (Into a New Role)

Your co-workers would say you are a zombie. You have lost your motivation and it shows. There is no spark in your soul as you drift between meetings. You are in desperate…

The Founder’s Paradox: How to Make Time for Strategy in an “Agile” World
October 23, 2019
The Founder’s Paradox: How to Make Time for Strategy in an “Agile” World

“To get off the treadmill.” I once asked a friend why he moved from Silicon Valley a few years ago and this is what he said. But I am not sure there are many places you…

5 Questions Every Frustrated Product Manager Should Ask When Dates Slip
October 21, 2019
5 Questions Every Frustrated Product Manager Should Ask When Dates Slip

Busy is not always better. I have written before about the difference between busy work and meaningful work. Our time is finite, so it is important to be purposeful about…

9 excuses bosses use to keep people from working remotely
October 15, 2019
9 excuses bosses use to keep people from working remotely

I still cannot understand why companies do not want people working remotely. It has served us incredibly well at Aha! — but I also believe it is important to consider…

The Product Manager vs. the CEO vs. the CTO
October 8, 2019
The Product Manager vs. the CEO vs. the CTO

Do you like tennis? If you like watching it live, you know that it is best to sit behind one of the players. Because if you are at mid-court, you may get dizzy snapping…

Hey Product Managers: It Is Time to Set the Strategy That You Think Is Right
October 7, 2019
Hey Product Managers: It Is Time to Set the Strategy That You Think Is Right

“Vision.” What does this word mean to you? I define it as knowing what you want to accomplish and where you want to go. In business, it can be difficult to determine what…

6 Ways to Ensure Success When Your Product Is Built on a Platform
September 30, 2019
6 Ways to Ensure Success When Your Product Is Built on a Platform

Product management is rewarding. And it is also really hard work. I know a few product managers who have the toughest challenge out there — leading a product that is…

The Founder’s Paradox: The “Future You” Might Not Like the Choices “Today You” Is Making
September 23, 2019
The Founder’s Paradox: The “Future You” Might Not Like the Choices “Today You” Is Making

The guy with the laptop. This is how I am known by one of my kid’s soccer coaches. Let me explain. The kids need to be there before games 45 minutes to warm up. There is…

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