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How Cooking Refined My Product Development Recipe

By Olu Bolarinwa
Published in Lean
October 26, 2023
2 min read
How Cooking Refined My Product Development Recipe

Introduction:

Introductory Image - Kitchen Ingredients
Introductory Image - Kitchen Ingredients
Despite my decade of experience in product development, cooking for my family taught me valuable lessons. I never imagined that preparing simple meals would become a feedback loop of experimentation and refinement, revealing the importance of understanding customers’ diverse needs and preferences.

By experimenting in the kitchen to discover my family’s favorites, I realized I was practicing the same principles of experimentation and feedback that are crucial to developing successful products. The relationship between the dinner table and the product world reinforced the importance of understanding your audience, embracing feedback, and accepting that everyone has different tastes.

The Culinary Conundrum

“The Recipe of Understanding: Navigating Diverse Tastes”

Culinary Conundrum Image - Variety of Spices
Culinary Conundrum Image - Variety of Spices
Cooking for my family is a culinary conundrum. I adore spices and exotic flavors, but my partner prefers milder flavors, and my toddler is too young for seasoned food but also very picky. Deciphering his culinary preferences is like decoding a complex algorithm.

Lesson One - Understanding Your Audience:

“Taste Testing: The First Step in Product Development”

Understanding Audience Image - Diverse Group of People
Understanding Audience Image - Diverse Group of People
To develop a successful product, you must first understand your target audience’s needs and preferences. Just as a cook must adjust spices and ingredients to cater to different taste buds, product developers must adapt their products to meet the needs of their users.

Experimentation is Key:

“The Spice of Experimentation in Perfecting Products”

Experimentation Image - Mixing Ingredients
Experimentation Image - Mixing Ingredients
I quickly realized that finding the perfect recipe required a willingness to experiment. Some days, the curry was too spicy. On other days, it lacked salt. But each meal was a step closer to culinary harmony. Similarly, iterating and refining your product based on feedback is crucial in the digital realm. It’s about finding the right ‘recipe’ that satisfies your audience’s appetite.

Lesson Two - Feedback is Your Compass:

“Cooking Up Success: How Feedback Shapes Product Development”

Feedback Compass Image - Person Tasting Food
Feedback Compass Image - Person Tasting Food
Each meal ended with a round of feedback, which became my guide to refining my next attempt. Similarly, customer feedback is invaluable in the product development process. The compass guides the iterations, helping mold your product to suit the market’s taste better.

The Joy of Satisfaction:

“Serving Satisfaction: The Reward of Meeting Audience Needs”

Joy of Satisfaction Image - Happy Family Eating
Joy of Satisfaction Image - Happy Family Eating
The day I whipped up a meal with my partner and son, asking for seconds, was a Eureka moment. It was a testament to the power of iteration and understanding your audience. Likewise, when a product resonates with the audience, the satisfaction is akin to serving a perfect meal.

Conclusion:

“Mastering the Menu: Key Takeaways for Aspiring Entrepreneurs”

Conclusion Image - Finished Dish and Digital Product
Conclusion Image - Finished Dish and Digital Product
The kitchen taught me that personal preferences often take a back seat when catering to a diverse palate. The lessons learned were instrumental in honing my approach towards educating budding entrepreneurs. The core principle remains the same - understanding your audience, iterating based on feedback, and striving for that perfect ‘recipe’ in product development. And remember, just as in cooking, the right blend of ingredients, topped with a dash of love and understanding, paves the way to success in the digital marketplace.


Tags

#audience#market#customer focus#strategy#feeback#experimentation

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Previous Article
The Art of the Pivot, The Unexpected Journey to Success
Olu Bolarinwa

Olu Bolarinwa

Entrepreneur

Topics

Audience
Lean
Improvement
Minimum Viable Product
Pivot
Planning

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