Is your product losing traction or failing to grow? You might be experiencing product-market drift—the silent killer of product success. In this episode, we are joined by David Nash, who helps us spot the warning signs and shows you how to realign with customer needs, market trends, and evolving technologies. Learn how to stay ahead of the drift with actionable strategies that ensure your product remains relevant and continues to deliver value. Don’t let your hard work go to waste—listen in and discover how to keep your product healthy, adaptable, and ready for growth.

Show Links

Dave Washa- Product Market Drift

https://www.mindtheproduct.com/fighting-product-market-drift-by-dave-wascha/

Find David Nash on Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dnashpdx/

Show Notes for Episode 13: Battling Product-Market Drift

[1:00] Welcome, David Nash!
David joins us to talk about product-market drift and how product managers can stay ahead of it.

[1:30] The Secret to Hiring Great Product Leaders
David shares his knack for building stellar product teams.

[2:06] What Is Product-Market Drift?
We dive into what this sneaky challenge is and why it matters.

[3:50] The 6 Causes of Product-Market Drift
David breaks down the top reasons products lose their way.

[5:30] David’s Big Contributions
How David’s work helps product managers keep their products relevant.

[9:00] When Startups Lose Focus
Ryan explains how a lack of focus leads to failed products.

[10:49] Customers Want More (and They’re Not Waiting)
65% of people expect better services now than just a few years ago.

[12:30] Joe’s Vegas Love Story
What online travel agencies after 9/11 taught us about market evolution.

[15:07] David’s Vegas Adventure
A fun story about a father-daughter trip and customer expectations.

[18:00] Southwest Airlines and Risks of Change
Joe questions Southwest’s decision to tweak its winning formula.

[21:06] Risk: The Biggest Organizational Mistake
David explains why avoiding risk can be deadly for products.

[24:00] AI Projects and Taking Risks
David shares lessons from his team’s first AI project.

[27:10] Todd’s Stakeholder Management Lesson
An unforgettable story about managing tricky stakeholders.

[29:55] Driving Risk Through Red Tape
David introduces his “risk register” to help product managers tackle organizational barriers.

[31:45] Job Description Drift
When roles shift, how do you stay on track?

[32:30] Todd’s Big Epiphany
What makes product managers such a unique and fascinating group?

[35:00] Key Takeaways
Learn how to spot and fix product-market drift before it’s too late.

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Battling Product-Market Drift

The Product Porch