From Brian

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

Collection895 articles
How to Solve Your Worst Problem in 15 Minutes
February 18, 2016
How to Solve Your Worst Problem in 15 Minutes

Everyone feels like a fool sometimes when they just cannot solve a thorny problem. You know what I mean — the kind of riddle that keeps you awake at night and invades…

4 Qualities of Great Remote Teams
February 16, 2016
4 Qualities of Great Remote Teams

Remote teams are often better than their all-in-the-office peers. There, I said it. After working for six years on distributed, high-performance teams, it’s the truth.…

The One Thing Every Employer Wants to See On Your Resume
February 11, 2016
The One Thing Every Employer Wants to See On Your Resume

It’s tough out there in the job market. You are elbow-to-elbow with the competition, jostling for attention. To make matters worse, some companies are still hunting for…

Don't Make the Same Mistake Once
February 8, 2016
Don't Make the Same Mistake Once

Ideas have remarkable staying power. And it’s not just the good ones — bad ideas can grow like weeds, like the idea of “failing fast.”

It's Not Above Your Pay Grade
February 4, 2016
It's Not Above Your Pay Grade

I once worked with a Director of Operations who was famous for slipping out of meetings before he was assigned something to do. He often found numerous ways to avoid…

The One Soul-Crushing Mistake Leaders Make
February 1, 2016
The One Soul-Crushing Mistake Leaders Make

Get this. It’s a crazy story but true. A team heads into a meeting with the general manager of a division. He strolls in late, puts his feet up on the table, sneers at…

How Smart Employees Play Hard to Get
January 28, 2016
How Smart Employees Play Hard to Get

In every company there is always at least one of them. The one who has to be first at everything. You know who I am talking about — you might even be next to him in a…

Don’t Outsource Your Brain to Consultants
January 25, 2016
Don’t Outsource Your Brain to Consultants

If you have worked in a big company — you can almost smell it in the air. The big boss has some thorny problem or is afraid to actually make an important decision. And…

How Successful Product Managers Handle Feature Requests from VCs
January 21, 2016
How Successful Product Managers Handle Feature Requests from VCs

You just received another feature request, but this one is different. It’s a dumb idea like many of the others. But, it’s from one of your highly celebrated (and feared)…

Employees Don't Care About Your Office Perks
January 20, 2016
Employees Don't Care About Your Office Perks

My friend had it made right out of college. At least she thought so at first. She had joined a global firm in a tough-to-snag sales role. The break rooms on each floor…

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