Would You Leave 90% of Your Roadmap Behind?
The Counterintuitive Path to Outperforming Your Competitors
I spotted something fascinating in Notion's early roadmap document.
Not what they planned to build. What they chose to *never* build.
The features they deliberately left behind became just as important as the ones they created.
I always advise that the Won't Haves of any MoSCoW prioritization are the most important part. Let's discuss.
The Roadmap Trap
Most founders fall into a predictable trap:
1. See competitor's feature list
2. Add those features to roadmap
3. Feel constantly behind
4. Build frantically
5. Burn out
6. Repeat
Here's what nobody talks about: Your roadmap is probably killing your product.
The 90% Rule
The most successful indie products aren't built by completing the roadmap.
They're built by deliberately abandoning 90% of it.
This isn't about being lazy. It's about being brutal.
Why This Works
Every feature you add:
- Divides your energy
- Splits your focus
- Confuses your message
- Dilutes your expertise
- Drains your resources
Every feature you deliberately don't build:
- Concentrates your power
- Clarifies your purpose
- Strengthens your message
- Deepens your expertise
- Preserves your resources
The Math That Changes Everything
Let's be brutally honest about your resources:
If you have 40 hours a week:
- 10 features = 4 hours per feature
- 5 features = 8 hours per feature
- 1 feature = 40 hours per feature
Which version of your product wins?
The Power of Deliberate Abandonment
Strong products aren't built by adding features.
They're sculpted by removing everything that isn't essential.
Think about:
- Superhuman: Just email, but lightning fast
- Linear: Just issue tracking, but incredibly smooth
- Fathom: Just analytics, but privacy-focused
They're not trying to do everything. They're trying to do one thing perfectly.
Your Real Competition
You're not competing with big tech's feature list.
You're competing for user attention and loyalty.
And here's the truth: Users are drowning in features they never use.
They're desperate for products that do less, better.
The Hard Part
Learning to say no to "good ideas" is painful.
Every feature request feels like an opportunity.
Every competitor's release feels like falling behind.
But that pain is the price of focus.
Your Next Step
Look at your roadmap.
Now ask yourself:
- Which 90% would you cut if you had to?
- What one thing would you perfect with that freed-up energy?
- What could you build if all your resources focused on one problem?
The Real Secret
Big tech has to be everything to everyone.
You don't.
Your size isn't a weakness.
Your constraints aren't limitations.
Your focus isn't a compromise.
They're your secret weapons.
What Now?
1. List every feature you've planned.
2. Ruthlessly eliminate everything that isn't core and delivering the most value to your users.
3. Pour that energy into what remains.
Remember: The goal isn't to build more.
It's to build what matters, perfectly.
What will you stop building today?
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Until next time,
Mark
P.S. The hardest part of this approach isn't the cutting - it's staying firm once you've cut.