From finance to product: three lessons
Apr 17, 2025
Numbers first
If the value story is fuzzy in a spreadsheet it will stay foggy in code; rigor early inoculates the roadmap against expensive surprises later. Data-driven candor cuts politics out of prioritization. Metrics give intuition edges.
Cash flow beats features
Roadmaps tied to payback keep every sprint moving the business needle; nice-to-haves slip when invoices do not. A cash-flow lens forces trade-offs that hurt today but save tomorrow. Healthy finances buy creative freedom.
Risk never sleeps
Ship in slices, learn fast, and preserve options; prudence from finance pairs well with momentum in product. By limiting blast radius you earn the right to iterate boldly. Optionality is the cheapest insurance.
