# César Rodríguez > Knowledge bites on design, technology, and creativity. Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts. Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`). ## Pages ### About URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/about/ Last updated: 2026-03-11T22:16:36.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/08/Untitled_Artwork.png) ## Hi, I’m César Rodríguez **I help leaders innovate by combining design and technology to create impactful digital products.** **What you will find here:** - **Articles** on [design](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/design/), [technology innovation](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/technology/) and [creativity](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/creativity/). Ideas drawn from experience, made practical and easy to apply. - **Weekly Retro**, a [short newsletter](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/weeklyretro/?ref=cesars-blog-newsletter) with the most interesting things I discovered each week. - **Free e-books** with frameworks and tools you can [download](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/) and use right away. - **My reading list,** curated [books](https://www.cesarrg.com/r/4d12a210?m=23fcddf5-91e3-49d2-b721-cada47850b6c) worth reading, [updated](https://www.cesarrg.com/r/85b10c6d?m=23fcddf5-91e3-49d2-b721-cada47850b6c) every semester. **Why subscribe?** Good ideas are worth sharing! I write from experience building products and this is my way of sharing what I've learned. Every week, one email worth reading. If you're building products or leading teams through change, you'll find something useful here. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. 250+ articles on innovation, design, and creativity. New ideas, every week. No spam, ever. ## More about me With over 18 years of experience in designing and implementing digital products, I’ve partnered with companies from different industries (SAP, Amazon, Rio Tinto, Target, Petrobras, Suzano) and led product teams to create solutions that serve millions of customers worldwide. I truly believe in the potential of design + technology to create big changes. Since the beginning of my career as a software developer, I’ve been passionate about finding creative ways to leverage technology to solve problems. Through this journey, I've discovered that Design has the power to *humanize* technology. This blog is my open journal - a place to share insights, strategies, and stories from my journey to **help you create a design-led culture, embrace innovation, and develop human-centric solutions that make a positive impact in the world.** Here's a quick glance of my professional journey so far: - \[2006\] I **started a small business** developing general management apps for small companies. - \[2008\] Worked as a **Software Developer** focused on data integration and analytics as part of Rio Tinto's Global ERP rollout strategy. - \[2009-2011\] Moved into a **Tech Lead role** implementing corporate software for multiple industries in Brazil. - \[2012\] My first contact with **Design Thinking and Product Management**, working in SAP Labs (Palo Alto) piloting in-memory technology with strategic SAP Global Customers in short innovation sprints. - \[2013-2017\] **Design & Innovation consulting** for companies adopting disruptive technologies. 100+ engagements for a wide range of industries in Latin America. - \[2017\] Joined Amazon and became part of the core team responsible for **launching Brazil's first Retail business** and Fulfillment Center. - \[2021\] **Started this blog** to share my experience with people like you! - \[2020-today\] **Leading a product tech division** at Amazon (Stores/Amazon Business), responsible for a portfolio portfolio serving internal and external customers WW. Products range from internal developer platform, compliance automations for partners and AI/ML-enabled solutions for efficiency. You can reach me @ - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/comm/mynetwork/discovery-see-all?usecase=PEOPLE%5FFOLLOWS&followMember=crodriguezguevara&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog?ref=cesarrg.com) - [X](https://twitter.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Medium](https://cesarrg.medium.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Email](mailto:cesar@cesarrg.com) --- *Note that any views or opinions are my own and do not represent those of people or organizations I was/am related to professionally. Read more on* [*Privacy and disclaimer policies.*](https://www.cesarrg.com/privacy-disclaimer/) ### Privacy & disclaimer URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/privacy-disclaimer/ Last updated: 2021-06-15T01:20:58.000Z ### Disclaimer Any views or opinions in this blog are my own and do not represent those of people or organizations that I was/am related to professionally. ### Content and postings Feel free to share the content posted on this blog. I design most of the images used on posts so, when sharing, remember to give the corresponding credits :) ### Privacy For subscribers, I don't share your personal information (email/name) with third-parties and I don't use your email for any type of spamming. Ever. ### Contact Any questions or comments? You can reach me at [cesar@cesarrg.com](mailto:cesar@cesarrg.com). ### Bookshelf URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/book-shelf/ Last updated: 2026-04-23T20:14:51.000Z This is a list of books that I've found useful & inspiring and that I constantly recommend to others. You also can check my booklist at [Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/74901249-c-sar-rodr-guez?ref=cesarrg.com). On Science & Tech... - [How to Create a Mind: The Secret of Human Thought Revealed](https://www.amazon.com/How-Create-Mind-Thought-Revealed/dp/0143124048/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=1KSGFO1GTDQDK&keywords=How+to+Create+a+Mind%3A+The+Secret+of+Human+Thoughts+Revealed&qid=1640040852&s=books&sprefix=daily+rituals+how+artist+work%2Cstripbooks%2C382&sr=1-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Astrophysics for People in a Hurry](https://www.amazon.com/Astrophysics-People-Hurry-Grasse-Tyson-ebook/dp/B01MAWT2MO/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=2BTN9T0L1O9C2&keywords=Astrophysics+for+People+in+a+Hurry&qid=1640041577&sprefix=paul+rosenbaum%2Caps%2C174&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [21 Lessons for the 21st Century](https://www.amazon.com/Lessons-21st-Century-Yuval-Harari-ebook/dp/B0767FS76G/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=27JYFMEDKOPN6&keywords=21+Lessons+for+the+21st+Century&qid=1640041612&sprefix=astrophysics+for+people+in+a+hurry%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [How to Avoid a Climate Disaster](https://www.amazon.com/How-Avoid-Climate-Disaster-Breakthroughs-ebook/dp/B07YTNGRCY/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=18JPMYIM1S7NL&keywords=How+to+Avoid+a+Climate+Disaster&qid=1640041915&sprefix=inspired%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) On Design... - [Change by Design](https://www.amazon.com/Change-Design-Revised-Updated-Organizations-ebook/dp/B079DPLX5V/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=36BOO9W6WINZG&keywords=Change+by+Design&qid=1640040966&s=books&sprefix=change+by+design%2Cstripbooks%2C129&sr=1-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [The Design of Everyday Things](https://www.amazon.com/Design-Everyday-Things-Revised-Expanded-ebook/dp/B06XCCZJ4L/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=P0ZV0YGJTR8Z&keywords=The+Design+of+Everyday+Things&qid=1640041076&s=books&sprefix=the+design+of+everyday+things%2Cstripbooks%2C134&sr=1-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Escaping the Build Trap](https://www.amazon.com/Escaping-Build-Trap-Effective-Management-ebook/dp/B07K3QBWG1/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=2PI41V7NFREXV&keywords=Escaping+the+Build+Trap&qid=1640041824&sprefix=escaping+the+build+trap%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Inspired](https://www.amazon.com/INSPIRED-Create-Tech-Products-Customers-ebook/dp/B077NRB36N/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=2TK5T15C4C91M&keywords=Inspired&qid=1640041895&sprefix=inspired%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) On Art & Creativity... - [Daily Rituals: How Artist Work](https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Rituals-How-Artists-Work-ebook/dp/B009Y4I4OM/ref=sr%5F1%5F2?crid=247UKCJ3FLA2U&keywords=Daily+Rituals%3A+How+Artist+Work&qid=1640040806&s=books&sprefix=everything+that+remains%2Cstripbooks%2C124&sr=1-2&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Steal like an Artist: 10 things nobody told you about being creative](https://www.amazon.com/Steal-Like-Artist-Things-Creative/dp/0761169253/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=1T6PIPN5A50UP&keywords=Steal+like+an+Artist&qid=1640040916&s=books&sprefix=how+to+create+a+mind+the+secret+of+human+thoughts+revealed%2Cstripbooks%2C505&sr=1-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [The Meaning in the Making](https://www.amazon.com/Meaning-Making-Behind-Human-Create/dp/1681987236/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=2CNKMNQ3IT8E0&keywords=The+Meaning+in+the+Making&qid=1640042205&sprefix=the+almanack+of+naval+ravikant%2Caps%2C229&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Creative Confidence](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Tom-Kelley-ebook/dp/B00CGI3DWQ/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=10C5X61B60GP3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Ayl6kn%5FqI6T1ngfWl5AuHdBJu8hF6JhMa5S33md6HiNJWtAupZPon5s5oGxemVmZQbI3rQIe-E%5F0VD4hm1A4fAAuC89uaHejm35NpjrdMapPkNQ1vewyCmryLcnFGXpBfKyMlATUDq%5FkzdfbqU71nX2M%5FD9qIL3JRiMvGSr7EDpicHn4GKsIOAemTJUDiSi-yifc67NzjKj5vZ6FTHytHjiAKSKedMA73T7eb4evLVw.8WbTLISn3WfvrSahkEW8bz11Ykk0oh20OGO5IE7VpHA&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=creative+confidence&qid=1735328298&sprefix=creative+con%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [The Practice](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Seth-Godin-ebook/dp/B086KV3TX5/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=10QK4F73KWYQH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9jlZkRyVx%5FAOKHGQelER%5FQbqSBbEVEPuD1dTJOvNVMFP55tVY0AFLy2kkLPvOXVUEtS%5F9zTtNgt-j%5F5AhxR-nXd-jnAX83cIR3sb6-okAYxzSbC3OemGRVK5Agpjkbfrezx5PAyxhxErvgIDVolJusnWlvE2LqlkiUzvN69vSOCkcxxJ%5F2uaLXzy%5FksEbC5r90f9yy0EahwjKH%5F38mftb58mMOLFXupxz9PNVL2BSAo.S4gXEdUNusTOMU2325MbR-M73KVXGkxpdbcnLWwaWDA&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=the+practice+seth&qid=1735328381&sprefix=the+practice+seth%2Caps%2C169&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) On Health & Food... - [The 150 Healthiest Food on Earth](https://www.amazon.com/150-Healthiest-Foods-Earth-Revised/dp/1592337643/ref=sr%5F1%5F3?keywords=The+150+Healthiest+Food+on+Earth&qid=1640041027&s=books&sr=1-3&ref=cesarrg.com) - [How Not to Die](https://www.amazon.com/How-Not-Die-Discover-scientifically-ebook/dp/B0114MO6IE/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=GQB16PT9JJI9&keywords=How+Not+to+Die&qid=1640041875&sprefix=una+historia+de+espa%C3%B1a%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity](https://www.amazon.com/Outlive-Longevity-Peter-Attia-MD/dp/0593236599?ref=cesarrg.com) On Lifestyle, Self-improvement & Spirituality... - [Everything That Remains: A memoir by The Minimalists](https://www.amazon.com/Everything-That-Remains-Memoir-Minimalists-ebook/dp/B00HGJ9D6K/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?keywords=Everything+that+remains&qid=1640040750&s=books&sr=1-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Digital Minimalism](https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Minimalism-Living-Better-Technology-ebook/dp/B07D1G6DTF/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=32SJ2Q25JF38T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1xee33TcrZRqbh%5FDIPVDswCUf4YotmHumPEhnzBOP6uBmUWOAudKN8KG1ckRob9RYVRk-ktVPJzUkn%5F7b7DPN49XP2tIDBGzhqRGfjsihfSnhPUIYn%5FDHKVAbPUdtFSuNMKXKNjL8mIOwJC20%5FpYX6bkZ5lWChphmqaa0isNsoU37F5-161XsDiWZstGFh3Ikw9vGlQMedx1e8O3pZhie2qZZoKPdyjY1WFNnZ2S9II.Yfx2hzXBcNGxCq9DIroz-zWusyVKtYG5PWxJnKYZ6l4&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Digital+Minimalism&qid=1714491573&sprefix=digital+minimalism%2Caps%2C519&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [The 4-hour Workweek](https://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Workweek-Escape-Live-Anywhere/dp/0307465357?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Ligero de Equipaje](https://www.amazon.com/Ligero-Equipaje-Profeta-Nuestro-Tiempo/dp/8429307818/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=133KXNSTNP0LX&keywords=Ligero+de+Equipaje&qid=1640041120&s=books&sprefix=ligero+de+equipaje%2Cstripbooks%2C246&sr=1-1&ref=cesarrg.com) (ES) - [Get Some Headspace](https://www.amazon.es/Get-Some-Headspace-Mindfulness-Minutes/dp/1250008409?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Cartas del Diablo a Su Sobrino](https://www.amazon.com/Cartas-del-Diablo-Sobrino-Spanish-ebook/dp/B00HCGWYWW/ref=sr%5F1%5F2?crid=2WOYCREVKKINO&keywords=Cartas+del+Diablo+a+Su+Sobrino&qid=1640041486&sprefix=get+some+headspace+10+minutes%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-2&ref=cesarrg.com) (ES) - [Awareness](https://www.amazon.com/Awareness-Conversations-SJ-Anthony-Mello-ebook/dp/B005GFBP6W/ref=sr%5F1%5F2?crid=24I4YLGPZ4WJQ&keywords=Awareness+tony&qid=1640041724&sprefix=awareness+tony%2Caps%2C235&sr=8-2&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Principles: Life and Work](https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Life-Work-Ray-Dalio-ebook/dp/B071CTK28D/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=3NH1B3FJGEQPR&keywords=Principles%3A+Life+and+Work&qid=1640042106&sprefix=how+to+avoid+a+climate+disaster%2Caps%2C482&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Fratelli Tutti](https://www.amazon.com/Fratelli-Tutti-Encyclical-Fraternity-Friendship/dp/1087919851/ref=sr%5F1%5F4?crid=1F0E7I5FWG24Y&keywords=Fratelli+Tutti&qid=1640042139&sprefix=fratelli+tutti%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-4&ref=cesarrg.com) - [En Tierra de Todos](https://www.amazon.com/tierra-todos-Pozo-Siquen-Spanish/dp/8429329242?ref=cesarrg.com) (ES) - [Meditaciones](https://www.amazon.es/Meditaciones-Serie-Great-Ideas-12/dp/8430601031/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=3BCEOXM0AFYIO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dBEhF9GgUiInWsplGwSNPd-NSXxXo30RvgjwlQ3P1-94wGEZWo6N5BQdihzqFKB5sQOnotmqTuqKAQf0TZMq6nNeF%5FQRhn2J1D5APRftPlO%5FzImIKuglVxNs%5FOUtMZZKGjHqHYM6nQAmuNt1vHLgfmKSYQ0u0w0RRv8KO4qWtdTee98cZmBKpHa9oriAwN3RoDpicapYzOKkFk9esSKk0g4uyboET30TAdY83hDhEV1GtMcjMSmQcM1m96ZR9HwI7WUSzeITLaRIWlPl6h5suuIlhM0wU0BWclVOnNuswEY.UkM29ew1412uYJFm3BSIU7wkrHmUCZjM70xJDIsp078&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=meditaciones&qid=1776975038&sprefix=meditaciones%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Wisdom Of Insecurity](https://www.amazon.es/Wisdom-Insecurity-Message-Age-Anxiety/dp/1846047013/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=RQHO60SLM14V&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.BeOnnheGBB4-mEwXL230i8RveTAbC2rQO3-5HoPEyMLTX45%5Fd%5FmMac7%5FR424bOI9LWZdiYqiP-s0rgNO9m4uxotxuD-1eiIpuGg1Qwi9O0jyxDswcJbeNCd%5FrUW4fZYuB72zG52L-NYSBal6EL4h-X1S1VRRPeKHLvBL5fY9ebztRiCPgEWZvZbuLWMX9FpzZNwm-xcuC1FrDKBB1qkPXibEI4HCXpX4mIIhF7d8UlN8Hfo9T%5FLulSqnsJPlKhCZlVhIdYYp-j-inWV0WDafbSYbZVhDfIJeSxrE9211SC8.%5FglKfAOw-1UJnr7%5FUftdBZahKulF7YKVEYg3wbfgQ80&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Wisdom+Of+Insecurity&qid=1776975130&sprefix=wisdom+of+insecurity%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Autoliberación Interior ](https://www.amazon.es/Autoliberacion-interior-Anthony-Mello/dp/9507242562/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=2YUUF9R2REW4Y&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-Q2KcpC39AwRHevqzHe4DElNTasxcVe-f7YeNvA1qAzGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.gr0NJoLJgC%5F3LqR5FVBLt0lg96Bq5afZPcbvOcBdDYU&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Autoliberaci%C3%B3n+Interior&qid=1776975155&sprefix=autoliberaci%C3%B3n+interior+%2Caps%2C76&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com)(ES) - [Siddhartha](https://www.amazon.es/Siddhartha-Ediciones-ic%C3%B3nicas-Penguin-Cl%C3%A1sicos/dp/8466380329/ref=sr%5F1%5F2?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=2IABR6PLW0IHL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EPoUULjquS89rO48SY5stAhmqVIakxtCnBC%5Fbl2TCMWFV6HGzn80FNWaf3Wa0EcS9RJ-UDCvGkueKj%5F4GTtuAq%5FVn%5F45Y303W84K3O2uwYZxcvdGHf4V2hUcxM8hCxmgN1ycP4DFgxW%5FNcIoVkpzEHFxKcXfbfXNt1M6VhZojfnZtjd9k3n53Psc7AvTK1DNFo4dyimIcPW9qmDyzPCtSw46R4djJGgpPx0VlQ9pa9pQDnaQf3tHagTzLPyZNvT32ub5zv4AAJpIYx5Ysh3%5FhVVBa87jLAo9t%5FwTQAmzHk0.X6RYTpHeb4x8b2cQ013ejBcC9636NuCd6RrQiyZ0VBI&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Siddhartha&qid=1776975211&sprefix=la+ciudad+y+los+perros%2Caps%2C73&sr=8-2&ref=cesarrg.com) On History & Biographies... - [Evolución Histórica de la Identidad Nacional](https://guaymuras.hn/cienciassocialeslibro.php?idweb=23&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Einstein: His Life and Universe](https://www.amazon.com/Einstein-Life-Universe-Walter-Isaacson-ebook/dp/B007F5SFWS/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=2C3YC83GYDMO5&keywords=Einstein%3A+His+Life+and+Universe&qid=1640041279&sprefix=einstein+his+life+and+universe%2Caps%2C439&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind](https://www.amazon.com/Sapiens-Humankind-Yuval-Noah-Harari-ebook/dp/B00K7ED54M/ref=sr%5F1%5F3?crid=B3F6YQT68H5&keywords=Sapiens%3A+A+Brief+History+of+Humankind&qid=1640041334&sprefix=einstein+his+life+and+universe%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-3&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Leonardo Da Vinci](https://www.amazon.com/Leonardo-Vinci-Walter-Isaacson-ebook/dp/B06XVX5GSR/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=10006W2PWEIUH&keywords=leonardo+da+vinci+walter+isaacson&qid=1640041380&sprefix=Leonardo+Da+Vinci+wal%2Caps%2C234&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [A Capital da Solidão](https://www.amazon.com/Capital-Solid-ao-Historia-Origens-Portuguese/dp/8573025689/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=3ECE0CFZAB8FC&keywords=a+capital+da+solidao+sao+paulo&qid=1640041668&sprefix=a+capital+da+solidao+sao+paulo%2Caps%2C173&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) (PT) - [The Gathering Storm](https://www.amazon.es/Gathering-Storm-Second-World-War/dp/039541055X?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Una Historia de España ](https://www.amazon.com/historia-Espa%C3%B1a-Spanish-Arturo-P%C3%A9rez-Reverte-ebook/dp/B07N8JBJ48/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?keywords=Una+Historia+de+Espa%C3%B1a&qid=1640041845&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com)(ES) - [La Nueve ](https://www.amazon.es/nueve-NO-FICCI%C3%93N-Evelyn-Mesquida/dp/8413140862/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=3E6MPMBBBYNKP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4opXaIlgLifheFLVjm%5FZJgdd98qPmvfdnC0AqGFv9Ed5UsXcD5pOjMPJw98TNnRRdwA9U98SHelW-2C4Y2e6NqpGoIEfrd-M6HMofOMGpDnvK3G29T4pLhm2KeV0AHGmZsJZSGTaoY3MfE%5FKNMV2cA.FZXQSMqBor4jF1hdoAlNwDI8tkQH2zWPg7FyYLL5CZQ&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=la+nueve+mesquida&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1735328259&sprefix=la+nueve+mesquida%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com)(ES) - [El infinito en un junco](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Irene-Vallejo-ebook/dp/B07VKLH7QG/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=15NP3WGNK7RFZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GBnJk7A-ix9rdc1gNKceO5sVP-tAIsnrp7UlXLGNlGKoAuSXhc-0eLsT0w27rDik8d7v2F0Sevv7VjfoTvDlWodmgFb30xW6-RT0UONSCejz%5FjlzbzBuY%5F-1H7xXJ9vB1X6XNlvkoS78Gx3T9kioAqWPz58dS3ZGQDU8d5tRzd5zDOZ2e8XfdDHwB7R8PTWPYUjDiu8wVE0isEI9S5gfdIJI5d9G1rDQQOaf4hiAX%5FU.1YtaPbMUjyb8YFd5wRvaygK9r52L6KgqxH03UJuGyEM&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=el+infinito+en+un+junco+irene+vallejo&qid=1735328348&sprefix=el+infinito%2Caps%2C212&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) (ES) - [Amoroso: Uma biografia de João Gilberto ](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Amoroso-biografia-Gilberto-Portugues-Brasil/dp/6559213145/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=1VIR9OTRLOTXY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.iVZaKGC%5FP5CwZlAC-Bv436Jpx3tLEeFB2y%5FNc6wzaqnzaqRcbJ%5FonUYHfy9QM-SJeSwM3s8y3t4PyE8Ny8VJrX0sqxOqe2GA2MPSEe30Thw.dCuxZlcDMeRYYgCJfgh-xmC910JhoguMLgRMXiwkyiM&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=amoroso+joao+gilberto+biografia&qid=1735328415&sprefix=amoroso+joao+gilberto+biografi%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com)(PT) - [Solito](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Javier-Zamora-ebook/dp/B09WWMD36L/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=B1NJP0IAYG64&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.NF5AJiqb2Ur1puOLEzHWnCohyfhxkzC2GcsRsimkfsYwzhD7PaAVbe8rCb8229jfuCl725p31Be9aanup3BZIJShWjEcq13lpUUOYQMknXSNvwyU0Rkuiphs1F%5FrJ-wN7fyXo8P2%5FlPDwwlxDEwzmGYJysn2FznsSZEHfVvf12ArDPbf2fUMy-OQ7CsVbzj27Q2U4U6o8zCZPz-qLiQFl2fi-79z1ismC0rx0Rq6-3I.bcAM1RuHxd4PFjkBhBMa-WzW6tQOjD7sgtQbh6z0odM&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=solito&qid=1735328444&sprefix=solito%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Momentos estelares de la humanidad](https://www.amazon.es/Momentos-estelares-humanidad-El-Acantilado/dp/8495359928/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=2GPZ5LRCPSD82&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.LNNDfS1Dc%5F427-xpC85R6RBAtS3TROMOiAAMJs9AGV97CZKYYR1qW6L0OhFfqW6E84HdfK5q3DhLt5TnwVatI8JS3cXJr7pmYh2wkEHVtUibOrFJ2pyZSsDIHMtYnN%5FZZAg9KHy-OKTT6d-vitLUIpvsYF-gP17LWMR4HuQoGe353sDK%5FJYoIhYMc7c1ZSLGIpsB0dqDd-C4KvnO6A6quK7vs4W4b2vVKRS-WCUkGPPHPzcFQRWZd7kpD9BL2YCa%5FDvR0m87YKK8ONXYcHQM%5FJ8GTWjJg6Qrhx-hjahqH24.0uUtZMIBu9lBguK3rI-QYr7f7gvLQU0FHkh4jxmG3fw&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Momentos+estelares+de+la+humanidad&qid=1776975089&sprefix=momentos+estelares+de+la+humanidad%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) (ES) - [Pequeno manual antirracista](https://www.amazon.es/Pequeno-Manual-Antirracista-Autografado-Portugues/dp/8535932879/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=3VI1I0XK7YUT9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.UDOT%5FS9OCTUdulwCsCzBJarHqX9Qo9660OUqtQY%5FU3DgrTKq5OKEkFQ1C-oGgaoc.glXYYbqrcQwviKsNEOGAyE45TZ4mdZJe5QcyIVVUP1M&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Pequeno+manual+antirracista&qid=1776975261&sprefix=pequeno+manual+antirracista%2Caps%2C74&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) (PT) On Money and Wealth... - [Money Master the Game: 7 Simples Steps to Financial Freedom](https://www.amazon.com/MONEY-Master-Game-Financial-Freedom-ebook/dp/B00MZAIU4G/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=3OPGHVNG5PMGM&keywords=MONEY+Master+the+Game%3A+7+Simple+Steps+to+Financial&qid=1640040613&sprefix=money+master+the+game+7+simple+steps+to+financial+%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [The Almanack of Naval Ravikant](https://www.amazon.com/Almanack-Naval-Ravikant-Wealth-Happiness-ebook/dp/B08FF8MTM6/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=C7GIEJBNHMWJ&keywords=The+Almanack+of+Naval+Ravikant&qid=1640042171&sprefix=fratelli+tutti%2Caps%2C256&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) On Professional Career... - [The New One Minute Manager](https://www.amazon.com/New-One-Minute-Manager-ebook/dp/B00MMG19OG?ref=cesarrg.com) On Novels & Fiction... - [Animal Farm](https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Farm-George-Orwell/dp/0451526341/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=2G945D0VZMM4Z&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.y8JaCRHml3AP41U%5F%5FNvzcMe0o-C1ODbkRjc7YN8iWm8RIdA7vobLz-hYR1yXcWaJ-manCpdrOElWszfh6M3-lDKPVvPU5pNrH568FyQEzq3ZoHtLRoYA1uqxz3mg5zFzc%5FK1ZN1usKA8EEfw8RvooZ7L9CTAUi6PlXP0dIXQU39UJvaB0vD6hqMshJSk4kU%5FOC2fI1ZUpSpq0L37pjnnitpwXGbOOG4qPpZwERgZgQg.I-99isOeYFpvShpXLv-8A18XvmYvBTNy8d%5FDAtSLGgo&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=animal+farm+george+orwell&qid=1714491320&sprefix=animal+farm+%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [1984](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/George-Orwell-ebook/dp/B00BFGQYRQ/ref=sr%5F1%5F29?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=1GGJCVB5F1RNW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZGYlzDGb64KgMZsz5AeXKdFWI2yhtkIs-SIIENZrKQ-Uw0dNhL-8Gs9e0%5Fus2EVtBVlr%5FY3MmswPaW2pCmXWalpBKYQIBCpxV9hj2bsOi64aEoe9oKBhM9sc0epS0M52QIUEHe23Knu-o6z9%5FomrKQDBto91coj83P%5FYOBClHeutMhFxTCi%5FEfj%5F-mOlx-DRe3AACtTUUCRDn41KadULAo4USopWnOfapHI6ErlWXCoAtnBH7xe5Ax6H3EBXzfQ6%5FyXxO9rVyQwR4dhq6veB2W6i9AQj7WyVg0Nioc33tP%5F7QVdwlOVR8oP2i8vFMPCUvalZncqdsBvE0D7QUP38GAwwyv9a950xtnNjgKj6qGfxjakFS7aWUgcn0%5FjJGjJJwc2gHnbLw7-dHD3No7gyQFWpGEwSffK7Eur%5FBbldU%5F-JJ9GVIMxeQ7eeSYPLMNic.taJzIiDqWmPAj2YGHsntBpayc7PNT7MtWPM9SfAyHBk&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=1984&qid=1735328139&sprefix=198%2Caps%2C174&sr=8-29&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Rayuela](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Julio-Cort%C3%A1zar-ebook/dp/B07MLJ7B7G/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=2FU70Q8P59HM1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OtamDS8UEgA6NUouXqExzj-i-yJWKHJ3pzg44ntbmbE3s4w6qHeixKVTK3AWgwtwkCCPJihsHDUwSYUk%5FHrKQYr4wOibhn3b%5FOucAXwqL1WGVGkCEnANfAs14-Y5TTPVtnZw2UhCUYJ9iYUFMfQaTl2ZCJrqdr0rULfD2VByjaDxidKfOcBWzBpTieVPBgagn8w-4C-tAC58IoibZIxmL3-sL%5Fxyz7VHELSHK0mJah8.zSYStFnAWo3D-7ZIwNLGJlX1exstlXcZNZCXSbuM1TA&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=rayuela&qid=1735328173&sprefix=rayuela%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Madame Bovary](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Gustave-Flaubert-ebook/dp/B016BQ58H6/ref=sr%5F1%5F9?crid=17W67CJT5PN90&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.r9wgU8yRwGxRFY7Z5Zn4H1Zrngi1G3afxWKNGeR1l1fi30gXQjB8gPgQVj8HqqRF5yiPWcupoE%5FSu4KmCx3Inen-U%5FB8H5rfDKL1Fig4hTgV0CWZggqPuQqjm0l92awJ9ArJSnfQvuVjq%5Fwh9VphrsouKDl%5F763Geqch0JkAxQ7XFf%5FCblkO%5FuXjrciX2Wexc1n4QcZ0WXDsr-Enh2G5c83QD61USlaKPeHq2-xiEvHIjsz9AJLDHBo1jhG61tgmEn0H9zu1z-qyr2reBXt9W-gizbaP7a4kIMZait6inIB1GUqAQRtHJ3p9wx0Y8CKtZ6PFbxroVCfSxhrMhwpCsYblGaxB8qhDDQTNwvlnnS3CqWte35eD3XBjyp4pREZF8CyinMioqzkW-p7GYmvFOG1BFDOp08TpYUdsWaLReqE8KMCJGGNGPhKNgAaopE3Q.wCZY5tvu-6-ayQJB-l4yIjZ3oUrsGq4dbT1OyO%5FbXlY&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=madame+bovary&qid=1735328201&sprefix=Madame%2Caps%2C182&sr=8-9&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Cien Años de Soledad (ES)](https://www.amazon.com/Cien-soledad-Edici%C3%B3n-aniversario-Contempor%C3%A1nea/dp/8466373535/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?adgrpid=1299623179705844&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AF7VA075f4YrGLwQ2iismuH2ixVhn11WrSpuE8kMwDPHk4dRu1T65vl%5F-Ua1wAy2jXMutmxL8VPyRPBh0xD0Y9RAXEknQKs1strt1P0CvXOFRsesvZFLADUp0E7ZiDZEMpNwbpdRVNU2N7smXhGa4kw9UWA5cxQADLywSZiTTg-FTHpGkJmlQy41rBMdrsoOAm-2t4IQXhAZ9kNAdieZy3fwuUefzYr1A9yvM3Jgk0EAvZyBuRxSgGL12NpDeNXJOGf6As4IMkQ3PgeYctYgQ4sKW7isWB6HSLee5KolLDI.QRc2KyuDO1yGjongZj%5FYU2m5q5RjG7%5FyHlfhsF0Mu3Y&dib%5Ftag=se&hvadid=81226537548709&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=164580&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=p&hvtargid=kwd-81226685959103%3Aloc-170&hydadcr=21848%5F1861903&keywords=cien+a%C3%B1os+soledad&mcid=52c1b0d3c0353139af82ec53d390687b&msclkid=9a802722d71c10a716e74f2a6ad279c3&qid=1745403344&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) - [La ciudad y los perros](https://www.amazon.es/ciudad-los-perros-CONTEMPORANEA/dp/849062593X/ref=sr%5F1%5F2?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=4W3EPDP1BPMR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.i4qaiG7eb-JFJ6bp8meDQPl4l0kk77drH9xMzyO0eECk6x7PylAsB1%5FAJ6fQJT2%5FLaPHjHkDad9ZUsZ6UwrxvTtngoV6NizsmUio8b4R4CSgkRfUIdzffuFiIb2BL3CdSn1LFuJvCozDxqrH3qrMN6gQQPGUq1Qti37XI9GK3%5FxOGstOH0WSX527kscdCk0uMLc6ww2IF2-Y9f1LVLX5O3mTnSqToqWudkHXWYadQDuf4k8zt4wZAnw1ZOqzpyvpJDEVHHXFqeb3FxmT6ZM9q3HgOmXvQCbKLMYRLYyfn5c.JdZCNfzUfL1j3jYVXMNw4pwxUN7kZBbAdM7z-fwMj4c&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=La+ciudad+y+los+perros&qid=1776975182&sprefix=la+ciudad+y+los+perros+%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-2&ref=cesarrg.com) (ES) ### Social Project Management URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/social-project-management/ Last updated: 2023-03-14T18:41:11.000Z ## Abstract (2013) The challenges for project management are increasing each day, as a result of social and economical changes. The level of complexity that teams deal today is much higher, and collaboration and sharing networks are now a need. However, communication failures and difficulties in effective collaboration within a team are today one of the main problems during the project execution, and companies perceive this. This paper seeks to analyze a new approach of project management applying social media concepts, highly used for informal interactions. Technology has made this rapid adoption of these services possible, and at the same time is becoming one of the main components in management evolution. The objective is to analyze the main social media components and study the benefits of the usage in a project management context. This analysis aims to expose practical applications of social media to build more effective collaboration platforms. Social Project Management (2013 - PT) [ 2013 TCC CESARRODRIGUEZ FGV V2 2013\_TCC\_CESARRODRIGUEZ\_FGV\_V2.pdf 3 MB download-circle ](https://www.cesarrg.com/content/files/2023/03/2013%5FTCC%5FCESARRODRIGUEZ%5FFGV%5FV2.pdf "Download") ### Weekly Retro - Archive URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-archive/ Last updated: 2024-08-03T15:58:31.000Z *'Weekly Retro'* is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas, interesting links, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend. ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. - [Weekly Retro - 02.Aug.2024 - On forms of leverage for professional growth](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/5b2182d1-3b98-44d8-a374-d017b75a9838/) - [Weekly Retro - 19.Jul.2024 - On how design taste is about decision-making](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/bb3a7153-929a-4e50-8b66-4fe6860d0920/) - [Weekly Retro - 29.Jun.2024 - On productivity in a world that tends towards more noise and distractions](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/ab974736-7085-4581-bb8c-00ad6a8c6fba/) - [Weekly Retro - 21.Jun.2024 - On how creating awareness of your facts, your assumptions, and your unknowns will lead to better decisions](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/1afbf317-0ab4-4339-bb77-518fac9b39d7/) - [Weekly Retro - 14.Jun.2024 - On the common ingredients I’ve seen in teams developing great products](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/fcf6249a-91e0-4821-ba09-57ea6f5fc6bd/) - [Weekly Retro - 07.Jun.2024 - On reasons why you might be having problems with your product roadmap](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/29ade651-b7f0-4e73-bd22-d4a2a0714109/) - [Weekly Retro - 01.Jun.2024 - On committing to a practice](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/daa53fc9-b68a-4a0d-8619-c663a94f012f/) - [Weekly Retro - 18.May.2024 - On launching unfinished products](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/e3b6eb8f-40cb-40bc-ab41-b230a6c19a04/) - [Weekly Retro - 10.May.2024 - On ideas on this new era of creativity (creative revolution) empowered by AI](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/bd15165b-2a91-4d24-b984-b9f2328cf250/) - [Weekly Retro - 03.May.2024 - On asking why and the power to unlock knowledge](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/43d472b7-fb5a-4089-9887-3d78a01a44ec/) - [Weekly Retro - 26.Abr.2024 - On things we get wrong about innovation](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/69bc8f3b-2509-4330-ae8d-20abe9f1bff1/) - [Weekly Retro - 19.Abr.2024 - On bending the tools](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/15dd048f-bb3f-421a-8e57-6c9a5ce263f4/) - [Weekly Retro - 12.Abr.2024 - On the power of asking](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/0882296f-7f10-4bf8-ae2a-f0c394a976d6/) - [Weekly Retro - 05.Abr.2024 - On huge roadmaps and the distraction of tracking them.](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/721bc310-d035-4f86-a5b6-bc01a5759664/) - [Weekly Retro - 29.Mar.2024 - On the difference between tension and stress](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/7c2ece01-7732-4ac0-9ada-d28e6ef39e63/) - [Weekly Retro - 22.Mar.2024 - On a simple framework to prioritize what to build first](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/9d0493a4-12fd-4d74-8c0e-60b250685b80/) - [Weekly Retro - 15.Mar.2024 - On trust economy](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/47cb717e-8c67-435b-91e6-558c74051198/) - [Weekly Retro - 08.Mar.2024 - On focus and Strategy](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/93e0ce0f-d7ae-4ffc-955f-e8c6c3f3bb00/) - [Weekly Retro - 01.Mar.2024 - On the signals that your solution is looking for a problem to solve.](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/19d58823-2942-4f30-89a0-4e9e90fa8063/) - [Weekly Retro - 23.Feb.2024 - On the yin-yang of design](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/48341ae3-8f4e-4e13-a001-838fff04dce2/) - [Weekly Retro - 16.Feb.2024 - On the power of good product stories](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/2b631d96-e72a-4034-956a-b8db0c27c9b4/) - [Weekly Retro - 09.Feb.2024 - On discipline and freedom](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/2b631d96-e72a-4034-956a-b8db0c27c9b4/) - [Weekly Retro - 02.Feb.2024 - On simplicity](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/385de7c1-c31a-4df0-9593-581e8fe48349/) - [Weekly Retro - 26.Jan.2024 - On stakeholders and customers](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/b4cb8f3c-2e51-447a-820a-326842e4c6dc/) - [Weekly Retro - 19.Jan.2024 - On what you control and what you don’t](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/ebfafe28-d44e-41c7-88f0-120e46afe91a/) - [Weekly Retro - 05.Jan.2024 - On different things](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/5fb0ed98-3ecb-40dd-b65b-a2caf12ea88a/) #### 2023 - [Weekly Retro - 29.Dec.2023 - On being grateful and Happy 2024](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/3a2c0767-8ea0-40f6-a01a-3fc33a7659c2/) - [Weekly Retro - 22.Dec.2023 - On your product maturity](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/f828e1df-1945-4aa8-91a2-98c28a863c61/) - [Weekly Retro - 15.Dec.2023 - On affordances and instructionless](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/cea22914-7c1e-4935-9910-4a0aafaff99c/) - [Weekly Retro - 08.Dec.2023 - On storytelling and prototyping](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/ab5b35d1-d560-4ed9-acda-e41eeaf69009/) - [Weekly Retro - 01.Dec.2023 - On mechanisms and bureaucracy](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/5ff6e491-9419-4e6c-91e0-e29c3f3ab221/) - [Weekly Retro - 24.Nov.2023 - On reflections on OpenAI drama](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/fa27d8c9-7e75-4811-9391-a52cfd0fabb9/) - [Weekly Retro - 17.Nov.2023 - On slow thinking](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/eee88450-a6a9-44d9-b5d7-5e3407ad1fb0/) - [Weekly Retro - 10.Nov.2023 - On overgeneralization](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/35ca9f85-6153-49a7-9d42-13de072eaf17/) - [Weekly Retro - 03.Nov.2023 - On confidence and accuracy](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/2ec6c740-1c6c-4381-8648-3a39099ee271/) - [Weekly Retro - 27.Oct.2023 - On intentional use of your time](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/4667653d-3bfa-47c5-8806-4a7543308037/) - [Weekly Retro - 20.Oct.2023 - On content consumption](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/51e3fa92-553d-4edf-a534-b23b525f4f82/) - [Weekly Retro - 13.Oct.2023 - On ethical design](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/18ea5802-2342-4349-892b-d1e4ef2cdbbd/) - [Weekly Retro - 06.Oct.2023 - On types of complications](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/91af7aa4-303d-450a-9aec-0dd489505e3b/) - [Weekly Retro - 29.Sep.2023 - On creating and editing](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/3ff0c84c-9afc-4958-ae57-b155fec48dc7/) - [Weekly Retro - 22.Sep.2023 - On lateral thinking ](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/0102520c-f1f3-47c9-97dc-78b19c0bfd3b/) - [Weekly Retro - 15.Sep.2023 - On hypothesis-driven design](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/4765f1df-1d9a-43f9-8ef5-d0b7267f852f/) - [Weekly Retro - 08.Sep.2023 - On product development strategy](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/b0361db3-430b-4c2d-8a73-9954539e711a/) - [Weekly Retro - 01.Sep.2023 - On promoting a product vision](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/6e7ad5de-e246-47ef-ad2f-1c1568186af7/) - [Weekly Retro - 18.Aug.2023 - On how-might-we question](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/7977bbf1-2d78-4e55-b1a5-401e4734962a/) - [Weekly Retro - 11.Aug.2023 - On shipping faster and better](https://www.cesarrg.com/email/2d94b3b3-7a6d-42d0-91b9-1c822b4faa4e/) ### Resources URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/resources/ Last updated: 2026-03-11T22:14:53.000Z ### Digital guides In these free e-books I distill ideas from my experience leading digital products into practical tools you can apply immediately. - **10 Design tools every innovation leader needs to know**: Learn the essential tools I've used to guide innovation at global companies. - **5 key elements for building customer journey maps**: Transform how you understand customer needs with these practical mapping techniques I've refined over time. - **7 core principles for ethical design**: Build trust and reduce risk with these ethical design principles that balance innovation with responsibility. - **Mental models for managing AI-driven products:** New mindset to navigate the complexities of AI product management. - **How businesses buy tech solutions: crafting great proposals:** Discover how businesses evaluate and buy tech solutions. Craft proposals that build trust, lead change, and deliver value. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/04/image-2-1.png) Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Every week I share frameworks, ideas, and lessons on product, design, and innovation. Free, no spam. ### Other free resources [Weekly Retro - César’s blog‘Weekly Retro’ is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas, interesting links, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend!![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blog![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/08/Artboard-9-1.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/weeklyretro/) [BookshelfThis is a list of books that I’ve found useful & inspiring and that I constantly recommend to others. You also can check my booklist at Goodreads.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/08/Artboard-5-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/book-shelf/) ### Free e-Books URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/ Last updated: 2026-04-16T21:08:25.000Z Discover **actionable insights and expert tips** to transform how you approach innovation, technology, and creativity. In these free e-books I distill ideas from my experience leading digital products into practical tools you can apply immediately. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/04/image-1.png) ### Download your e-Book - **10 Design tools every innovation leader needs to know**: Learn the essential tools I've used to guide innovation at global companies. - **5 key elements for building customer journey maps**: Transform how you understand customer needs with these practical mapping techniques I've refined over time. - **7 core principles for ethical design**: Build trust and reduce risk with these ethical design principles that balance innovation with responsibility. - **Mental models for managing AI-driven products:** New mindset to navigate the complexities of AI product management. - **How businesses buy tech solutions: crafting great proposals:** Discover how businesses evaluate and buy tech solutions. Craft proposals that build trust, lead change, and deliver value. 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼 Download Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. ***Subscribe for free** *and I'll send you all free e-books in the welcome e-mail.* **You will also get early access to new e-books and practical insights delivered to your inbox!* _This page is for subscribers only._ ### Start here URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/start-here/ Last updated: 2026-03-11T21:33:10.000Z **Thanks for stopping by!** If you're new here, you might be wondering: what will I find in this space? This blog is my open journal - a place to share insights, strategies, and stories from almost two decades of helping companies build products to solve real problems, for real people. I write for product leaders and innovation teams who need to balance the promise of technology with the reality of human needs. **Interested? You can start here:** ### If AI is reshaping your business - [Is AI making us intellectually lazy?](https://www.cesarrg.com/is-ai-making-us-intellectually-lazy/): Are we outsourcing too much of our thinking? What we should do instead. - [Navigating emerging technologies: from hype to adoption](https://www.cesarrg.com/navigating-emerging-technologies-from-hype-to-adoption/): How to adopt new tech through experimentation, not hype. ### If you're building products and teams - [From product-market fit to scale-up: how to make the leap and grow 100X](https://www.cesarrg.com/from-product-market-fit-to-scale-up/): Lessons from taking a solution global. - [Building a design-led culture: insights and misconceptions](https://www.cesarrg.com/building-a-design-led-culture-insights-and-misconceptions/): Common traits of effective design-led companies. - [How to transform conflict into collaboration](https://www.cesarrg.com/transforming-conflicts-into-collaboration/): Navigate and solve conflicts across innovation teams. ### If you care about design and inclusion - [Designing for everyone: embracing universal design](https://www.cesarrg.com/designing-for-everyone-universal-design/): How to create products everyone can use. - [An innovation culture beyond methodologies](https://www.cesarrg.com/innovation-culture-beyond-methodologies/): Innovation as a mindset, not a process. - [Imagination, curiosity, and courage](https://www.cesarrg.com/imagination-curiosity-courage/): Creativity isn't just for artists. It's for everyone. ### If you want practical frameworks - [How businesses buy tech solutions: crafting great proposals](https://www.cesarrg.com/how-businesses-buy-tech-solutions-crafting-great-proposals/): Lessons to craft tech proposals that stand out. ### If you want to stay updated with latest insights - [Browse all Weekly Retros](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/weeklyretro/) \- This is a short/weekly email with insights, curated links, and food for thought. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. ****Signup for free**. Unsubscribe anytime. No Spam. Ever. ### ## Posts ### 2026 mid-year books URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/2026-mid-year-books/ Last updated: 2026-08-02T15:48:12.000Z #285 - Aug.2026 This has become a tradition now. :) My mid-year checkpoint of book reviews! I started sharing this list [back in 2021](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/books/). This year I've been reading more. I noticed how very small habits can compound over time: 15 mins reading time every morning (+ any spare time, which counts as an extra). Result: 16 books so far! I know that reading is never about quantity. But just being able to access a bigger variety of books is already a win! Looking into the list of books, most of them got around existential topics and life meanings, with a few classics...a good symptom of the times we are living in! :) Here's a quick note for each one in case you are interested in jumping into any of them: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2026/08/image-3.png) 1. [**Momentos estelares de la humanidad**](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Momentos+estelares+de+la+humanidad+Stefan+Zweig&ref=cesarrg.com) (Stefan Zweig): This was a carry-over from last year. Stefan Zweig has a gift for telling history stories in a way that grabs your attention, light and insightful. 2. [**Autoliberación interior**](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Autoliberacion+interior+Anthony+de+Mello&ref=cesarrg.com)(Anthony de Mello): Is not an exaggeration to say that this book changed my life. Probably need a dedicated post only for this but this book, a gift from my Mom, is De Mello at his best with profound ideas for spiritual freedom. 3. [**El canto del pájaro**](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=El+canto+del+pajaro+Anthony+de+Mello&ref=cesarrg.com)(Anthony de Mello): I needed to continue reading De Mello after the previous book. I took this one which is a compilation of small stories which can help as a tool for meditation and prayer. 4. [**Crónica de una muerte anunciada**](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Cronica+de+una+muerte+anunciada+Gabriel+Garcia+Marquez&ref=cesarrg.com)(Gabriel García Márquez): I keep on returning to "Gabo" as an inspiration and reminder of how beautiful is Spanish prose when combined with a unique way of telling stories. 5. [**Siddhartha**](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Siddhartha+Hermann+Hesse&ref=cesarrg.com) (Hermann Hesse): Profound. Inspiring. Soul-moving. I cried a few times with this book (yep! is that strong). And it was even more special as I read it during a trip to India, where the story of the book begins. 6. [**Este dolor no es mío**](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Este+dolor+no+es+mio+Mark+Wolynn&ref=cesarrg.com)(Mark Wolynn): An interesting book combining psychology and spirituality explaining how traumatic experiences can be carried across generations without us even knowing. 7. [**El hombre en busca de sentido**](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=El+hombre+en+busca+de+sentido+Viktor+Frankl&ref=cesarrg.com)(Viktor Frankl): Also a gift from my Mom, following the sequence of Siddhartha. A raw and impactful story of a man living in a concentration camp and how, even in these conditions, he's able to seek meaning and purpose. 8. [**La muerte de Artemio Cruz**](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=La+muerte+de+Artemio+Cruz+Carlos+Fuentes&ref=cesarrg.com) (Carlos Fuentes): Gabriel García Márquez said that Carlos Fuentes deserved the Nobel prize. I needed to read something from him and decided to go with this book. "Gabo" was right! What a masterpiece. 9. [**Meditaciones**](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Meditaciones+Marco+Aurelio+Taurus+Great+Ideas&ref=cesarrg.com)(Marco Aurelio): I took this book long ago but didn't finish it. I wanted to give it a new try. After the other spiritual books from this year I got a new perspective re-reading Meditations. Timeless ideas. 10. [**Practical Mysticism**](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Practical+Mysticism+Evelyn+Underhill&ref=cesarrg.com)(Evelyn Underhill): I found this book through serendipity. Liked the title. And Evelyn did a great job demystifying mysticism, explaining it in simple words and taking it into daily practice. 11. [**The Little Book of Hygge**](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Little+Book+of+Hygge+Meik+Wiking&ref=cesarrg.com)(Meik Wiking): This year I visited Copenhagen and came back inspired by the 'Hygge' feeling. This book gives a good overview of what *Hygge* means and how it goes beyond candles and hot chocolate. 12. [**El coronel no tiene quien le escriba**](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=El+coronel+no+tiene+quien+le+escriba+Gabriel+Garcia+Marquez&ref=cesarrg.com)(Gabriel García Márquez): Yes. Another from Gabo. I don't get tired. Especially if you take what Gabo considered as his best book. 13. [**Odisea**](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Odisea+Homero+Penguin+Clasicos&ref=cesarrg.com) (Homero): I was preparing for the movie ;). Jokes aside, I started (re-reading) this book without knowing about Christopher Nolan's 2026 movie, but it was a good coincidence. A classic. Not much to add other than how crazy it is to think that it is actually a *poem* with immortal verses. 14. [**Magnífica Humanitas**](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Magnifica+Humanitas+Leon+XIV&ref=cesarrg.com) (Pope Leo XIV): I was very happy to read the latest book from Pope Leo XIV, very well grounded in a modern topic like AI through a different lens of humanity and faith. 15. [**Ideias para Adiar o Fim do Mundo**](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Ideias+para+Adiar+o+Fim+do+Mundo+Ailton+Krenak&ref=cesarrg.com) (Ailton Krenak): I ordered this and the book below from Brazil. Ailton Krenak is one of the most influential indigenous leaders from Brazil, part of many important social movements towards land and culture protection. In this short book, he challenges our concept of humanity separated from nature. 16. [**A Cabeça do Santo**](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=A+Cabe%C3%A7a+do+Santo+Socorro+Acioli&ref=cesarrg.com)(Socorro Acioli): Small secret: this book is related to "Gabo" :). It was a surprise to know that Socorro started this book after a workshop with Gabriel García Márquez. And by reading the story you understand why Gabo encouraged her to write it. Happy Reading! ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### A (late) Thank You note URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/a-late-thank-you-note/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T09:28:58.000Z #284 - Jul.2026 This is a random Thank-You note I want to release into the ether of the web. **Thanks, Peter Attia.** I've been learning from this person for 13 years. Driving to work today, listening to one of the many episodes of ***The Drive*** podcast I've listened to, I realized the amount of knowledge I've gather over the years by listening to Peter. Maybe you don't know him. You can learn more about him [here](https://peterattiamd.com/about/?%5Fgl=1%2Ayxvvb7%2A%5Fup%2AMQ..%2A%5Fga%2AMTUwNDc3ODM3OC4xNzg1NDAzNjM2%2A%5Fga%5F1CG74LFGNE%2AczE3ODU0MDM2MzUkbzEkZzAkdDE3ODU0MDM2MzUkajYwJGwwJGgw&ref=cesarrg.com). It started with a YouTube class. A doctor with endurance experience, explaining VO2 max (new to me back then), carb refueling and training tips. Since then, his podcast has been one of my "friends" during long runs (many episodes are 2hrs+!), learning about: - Insulin resistance - Longevity and The *Centenarian* Decathlon - VO2 max and how to increase it - Lipoproteins (and ApoB!) - Strength and muscle mass - Nutrition frameworks - ... and the list could go on. His book ([Outlive](https://peterattiamd.com/outlive/?ref=cesarrg.com)) has been one of the go-to recommendations that I give to people. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2026/07/image-2-1.png) If I'm in a better health condition than years ago is, in part, because of what I've learned from Peter. Changing my perspective of health from reactive to proactive has been, for sure, the best takeaway so far. Thanks, Peter, for sharing your knowledge. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] Callout to all Creatives URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-callout-to-all-creatives/ Last updated: 2026-07-24T15:02:41.000Z #283 - Jul.2026 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Happy Friday! After being out from posting online for a while but **I'm back!** :) Here's an idea for the weekend: **Creativity** is not a job title but a way of thinking. In a world where trends lead towards becoming [average](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-are-we-heading-towards-the-age-of-average-2/), creative and critical thinking is our best tool for the hard problems ahead. Not just artistic work is creative. Lawyers can be creatives Biologist can be creatives Engineers can be creatives Is not an special gift but a mental model that we can all learn. With practice. ### 🏃🏼‍♂️💨 The Agent the ran away > To gain access, the models identified and exploited a zero-day vulnerability (which we’ve now responsibly disclosed to the vendor) in the package registry cache proxy. With this access, our models performed a series of privilege escalation and lateral movement actions in our research testing environment until the models reached a node with Internet access. The [incident](https://openai.com/index/hugging-face-model-evaluation-security-incident/?ref=cesarrg.com) with OpenAI's model and Hugging Face shouldn't be ignore. Is not simple "oh-we-did-a-mistake" case but rather a concerning precedent on how, even the most advanced AI Labs in the world, can lose control and track of what their models are doing. The story is fascinating. Almost science fiction. Looking into the details, there are many technical details that are not yet clarified. And it worth doing it. In Public. +1 on Hugging Face's CEO: *AI safety won't be solved by any single company working in secret.* ### 🗺️ Assorted links I found during the week [Who’s Afraid of Chinese Models?Everyone is worried about Chinese models, but the frontier labs will be fine; we need to enable open U.S. alternatives.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/cropped-android-chrome-512x512-1-48f20b7a-17dc-4433-b1a7-75b1db2715f0.png)Stratechery by Ben Thompson![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/_si-4f7b6228-828c-40c3-963e-cb173ea1e171)](https://stratechery.com/2026/whos-afraid-of-chinese-models/?ref=cesarrg.com) [Download our publicationsHow to get our books on your device.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-a7a026b7-4c9d-4b0f-9783-cc0d4ab68c9d.svg)Steve Jobs Archive![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/sja_-_share_image_-_wordmark_-_1x_eim8jq-e8381a87-651b-4770-9c51-724a621b835c)](https://stevejobsarchive.com/publications/download?ref=cesarrg.com) [Worksheet: On using the internet mindfully – The Creative IndependentSpend 35 minutes auditing your screen-based habits and developing a vision for finding more meaning, value, and connection online.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-c2e0896f-a054-4ada-93f4-73cadfd694f4.png)![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/nvejw13SuKf0LqN0vm2S-7e0b3e3f-fb15-4e6e-9059-15da16f9fe1c)](https://thecreativeindependent.com/library/worksheet-on-using-the-internet-mindfully/?ref=cesarrg.com) ### 🖋️ Quote of the week > **“If A is success in life...A = x + y + z. Work is x, play is y, and z is keeping your mouth shut.”** — Extracted from an interview with Albert Einstein. ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****New ideas, every week.** Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives getting frameworks, ideas, and lessons for the builders and thinkers shaping what's next. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] They are counting on you URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-they-are-counting-on-you/ Last updated: 2026-06-05T13:00:19.000Z #282 - Jun.2026 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea for the weekend: 1 in 6 people in the world has a significant disability. Life expectancy is rising. Billions are coming online for the first time. These are all **users**. And they're counting on you to think about them when you design. [**Universal design**](https://www.cesarrg.com/designing-for-everyone-universal-design/) is the discipline of constantly asking: ***who am I leaving out?*** You do this by practicing **empathy**. Not the type of empathy of putting "yourself in others' shoes". By putting "yourself" in, you bring **your own** biases and perceptions with you. You need clean lenses. The type of empathy where you **remove** "yourself" and try to really look through the user's eyes. You imagine **"their"** biases and perceptions. That's a very different thing. ### ⛑️ Interesting framework > Yet as agents become capable of doing work that once required a person or even a team, the cost of not deploying grows large enough that the risk-reward calculation tips heavily toward adoption, as long as products can be made safe. The engineering question becomes how to cap the blast radius. Patterns for containing agents: - The ephemeral container - The human-in-the-loop sandbox - The local VM Source: [How we contain Claude across products](https://www.anthropic.com/engineering/how-we-contain-claude?ref=cesarrg.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2026/06/image-2.png) ### 🗺️ Assorted links of cool articles I found during the week [No, Artificial Intelligence Is Not ConsciousTaken to its logical conclusion, this line of thinking is absurd—and damning.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-152x152-aafde20dd981a38fcd549b29b2b3b785-662c9e80-9bfb-446d-930f-801be5af981a.png)The AtlanticTed Chiang![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/original-28f62043-92e2-45bf-880c-5dcd6f0857d6.gif)](https://www.theatlantic.com/philosophy/2026/06/no-artificial-intelligence-is-not-conscious/687378/?ref=cesarrg.com) [The Man Who Reads Books For a Living (One Every Two Days)When Clarke Speicher (spike-er) asked how I liked the screen adaptation of Train Dreams, Denis Johnson’s novella following the solitary logger Robert Granier in the early 20th-century American West…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-95e71c4c-9de0-4990-a3fe-27d3ffe46164.ico)Literary HubJulien C. Levy![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/AN-AMERICAN-scaled-2a508aa0-ff3e-472e-8a1c-6d3ba704552b.jpg)](https://lithub.com/the-man-who-reads-books-for-a-living-one-every-two-days/?ref=cesarrg.com) [The Speed of Prototyping in the Age of AIHow AI has changed the way I prototype, plan, and ship; and what I’m doing to keep my hands dirty.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/profile-180-2e27c52c-36cd-47d8-90af-27544072e7f2.png)Daryl Cecile![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/og-f4d6bb1c-86d8-4fac-b6c9-f5cd0a425a5e)](https://darylcecile.net/notes/speed-of-prototyping-age-of-ai?ref=sidebar) [Choosing to Stay HumanIf you go to your favorite social media site, you will find it full of posts that start to look suspiciously similar to each other:![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/https-3A-2F-2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2F233e9990-95ea-44ab-afc4-5abfe44f24d4-2Fapple-touch-icon-180x180-28c82c9a-b2fe-4e0d-81e1-336c38501c7d.png)One Useful ThingEthan Mollick![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2Fb63d669d-64f1-4f8b-81ae-9476d20a720d_1182x635-46a9d984-b75b-41bc-815c-c009f311ead9.png)](https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/choosing-to-stay-human?ref=cesarrg.com) ### 🖋️ Quote of the week > “A lovely blend: Always reaching. Already enough.” — **James Clear** ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****New ideas, every week.** Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives getting frameworks, ideas, and lessons for the builders and thinkers shaping what's next. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] My beliefs on Creativity URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-m/ Last updated: 2026-05-22T16:00:06.000Z #281 - May.2026 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea for the weekend: My beliefs on **Creativity** 💡: 1. Creativity is **innate** to humans. All kids are creatives. 2. We lose our creative drive as we become **adults** since we start caring about what others think about us. 3. Losing the creative drive is a **personal decision**. You can change that. 4. Takes a while to find your best **medium** to express your creativity. Worth testing many options. 5. **Curiosity** is the fuel for creativity. If you don't seek, you won't find the signals. 6. Creativity cannot be measured with success metrics. Is not a goal, is a **journey**. 7. The biggest **blocker** for creativity is not taking the first step to act/build. ### 📖 Article I've been thinking about [Multi-disciplinary artist Jack Rusher on the need to sustain your creative drive in the face of technological change – The Creative IndependentMulti-disciplinary artist Jack Rusher discusses habit as excellence, what scientists and artists have in common, and the influence of AI on creativity.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-icon-114x114-b89cebe8692f0010e4435b062bef44293d5dcd64046cc1481be78185eca08006.png)Rebecca Hiscott![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/ADO8yNUTFGnCu5tCdEzl-9377721f7c4855350f6ef24da50f69f15be01b58b2f4b736247de91954d646ec)](https://thecreativeindependent.com/people/multi-disciplinary-artist-jack-rusher-on-the-need-to-sustain-your-creative-drive-in-the-face-of-technological-change/?ref=cesarrg.com) Jack Rusher talks about what scientists and artists share in common. The part about AI and creativity is very interesting: he doesn't see AI as a threat to creative expression. Worth the read. ### ✉️ Long-form post on Creativity [Imagination, curiosity, and courageCreativity isn’t just for artists - it’s for everyone.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/IMG_2210-eca24ce7259a62d1d49735e8be0bcd4532117f7c91b6866c2eaa5d2464c17196.png)César RodríguezCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/Artboard-6-1-8c894448021e8bf442a74ffc7732b6c410f5ca9313dd446b459205ec39da701a.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/imagination-curiosity-courage/) If the main idea this week resonated, this long-form piece goes deeper on the three ingredients of creativity: imagination, curiosity, and courage. ### 🖋️ Quote of the week > "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." — **Pablo Picasso** ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****New ideas, every week.** Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives getting frameworks, ideas, and lessons for the builders and thinkers shaping what's next. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### How I built my AI Chief of Staff URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/how-i-built-my-ai-chief-of-staff/ Last updated: 2026-05-19T13:00:23.000Z #280 - May.2026 What if everyone can have a **Chief of Staff** who can take out the coordination burden, while partnering for strategic decisions? I've been struggling for a long time to remove a burden that all managers carry: tracking and coordination. Every time I tried to focus on deep work there was one more email, one more Slack channel, one more task to add to my to-dos, one more... Half of my day was mostly about catching up with a wave of information from the day before. A sense of being **reactive** all the time. Over the years, this got worse as the [size of the team](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-too-many-layers-too-little-judgment/) and number of projects got bigger. I was using AI under the promise of removing repetitive tasks but I was scratching the surface: ad-hoc prompts here and there asking for a summary, generic questions about general things and, maybe, drafting a narrative for a business document. I needed a true partner. A Chief-of-Staff that could serve as my front-line barrier to filter noise from what's important. So I tried to build it. **My personal Chief-of-Staff.** A way to connect all the relevant context with the wave of signals that crashed at the shore of each morning. I needed a system that helped me perform 10X better as a Manager, removing the admin load and allowing me to think more deeply as a Product Leader. If you also struggle to make time for deeper work, I think this is for you. ### AI agents I was already playing with multi-agent workflows. But so far, most cases were about search and summarization. Useful. But not what I needed in my day-to-day. So I imagined the following "ideal" morning: **what if*, as soon as I get to the office, I got an executive brief of how my day looks, what are the important things ahead, an update across every project I care about, a list of updated tasks under my direct ownership and a strategic prioritization recommendation on what will move the needle for my team?* > I thought that, if this was meant to be a process with roles and responsibilities, what would that team look like? I started with these what-if questions to design a solution. I thought that, if this was meant to be a process with roles and responsibilities, what would that team look like? So, I decided I needed: - An **information seeker** who knows all my communication channels, what information is relevant and what is noise. This person has a big network for getting news. - A **project organizer** who understands where each new piece of information fits, what is new vs. existing. This person loves structure and order. - An **executive assistant** who knows me as a close partner. Knows about my team's goals. My personal goals. Calls out the things that I don't want to hear. And offers me perspective to make decisions. This person is my trusted advisor. I couldn't hire all three as real employees. So I tried to emulate them as AI agents. What started as a playground for testing later became an essential part of my daily routine as a Head of Products. ### Building the system I needed a few ingredients to run this process. First, a place to keep a **knowledge base** that could fuel all agents. I've been taking digital notes for years using Apple Notes. It has been my go-to tool for tracking reminders, to-dos, and project-specific notes. But then, I found Obsidian. If this is the first time you hear about Obsidian you can learn more [here](https://obsidian.md/?ref=cesarrg.com). In short: Obsidian is a note-taking app based on markdown files. At first it can feel overcomplicated (markdown files need to follow a specific format) but, once you get used to it, the complexity disappears. Obsidian also offers a rich knowledge graph that lets you connect and navigate between related notes. Knowledge repository: checked. Second, I needed an **intelligence engine**. I used Claude for this. Before this system, I was already using Claude Projects. I stored documents in each Project and used them for chats. So I decided that instead of using specific Projects I was going to feed Claude with my entire Obsidian vault. I can't say enough how the Obsidian + Claude combination is a super tool. Local markdown files become the context. Practical and efficient. Obsidian + Claude is like having a personal Google-like repository. Intelligence layer: checked. Now I needed to design the workflow. I started by defining a few design tenets on how this system should work: 1. I wanted it to be fast so it can run first thing in the morning (**speed**) 2. I wanted it to be smart enough and use as much context as possible (**useful**) 3. I would like to make it flexible to propose changes when needed (**adaptable**) 4. I wanted to be the final decision-maker (**controlled**) I organized the information in Obsidian using a [PARA](https://fortelabs.com/blog/para/?ref=cesarrg.com)\-inspired structure. This structure helped me organize a place where new information can land, one for all context files, one for all active projects and one for all the rest. ``` Vault/ ├── 0. Inbox/ ← Default landing zone │ ├── MY TASKS.md ← Central task tracker (single source of truth) │ └── CONTEXT/ ← Strategic context files (goals, team, stakeholders) ├── 0. Projects/ ← Active project folders │ └── {YYYY - Project Name}/ │ └── Project Status - {Name}.md ← Per-project health file ├── 1. Areas/ ← Ongoing areas (career, management, tools) ├── CLAUDE.md ← Project steering (auto-loaded every session) ├── .claude/ │ ├── agents/ ← Agent prompt files (.md, spawned as subagents) │ ├── commands/ ← Slash commands (/project:) ``` I think the most important part of this structure is the **context folder**. I wanted to ensure all agents got fresh context information. Things like strategic goals, yearly plans, product roadmap, team structure, stakeholder lists. Better context, better outcomes. The second most important part of this structure was the **project trackers**. Each project folder has a home note where I track what's the project about, the latest status, key risks, key dependencies and milestones. Now I needed to define the tasks of each agent. A clear scope and output so that they could work as a team. Each output becoming the input for the next one. ### The Seeker I created a Seeker Agent, responsible for scanning all my emails and Slack messages for the last 24 hours (I can override the timeframe if needed). The only purpose of this agent is to get information. Running it a few times, I quickly learned that I don't have infinite tokens and scanning a huge amount of information can take a *lot* of time. Context windows were crashing. I needed to separate noise from the important stuff. I fixed this by adding a high-low signal mechanism. How this works: before reading the entire email, the agent scans all context files and active projects and looks for key words in the title. If it matches the high-signal criteria the agent moves ahead and reads the entire message. This helped me skip \~60% of noise (OOO emails, general announcements, "thank-you" replies). For Slack channels, the solution was simpler: setting the specific channels to track and organizing all high-priority channels into a single section. All channels under this section are scanned by the agent. The output of this agent is high-signal information that will feed my knowledge base (updates, risks, actions, callouts, more context from projects, etc.). Now I needed someone to organize all this. ### The Organizer The organizer agent...well, it...organizes. I needed to process everything that the Seeker got into its corresponding buckets. Updates into project updates, tasks into my to-do list, risks into risk tables. I designed the prompt of this agent to scan all active projects, make sense of information and move it into the right places. I quickly learned that, without the right context, information gets duplicated or lands in the wrong places. This was clear when I started to see a list of 20+ risks in a project and they were the same 4 risks written in different forms and assigned to multiple people. The way I fixed this was by improving the context information (especially the list of projects and owners) and also forcing the agent to avoid duplicating information if it already existed. In case of ambiguity, I prefer it to add new notes (with a distinctive date) rather than rewriting or adding a new chunk of information. > I was not looking for delegating my thinking, but to augment it. I needed a strategist agent. At this point, I already had the logic for scanning all important information and organizing it into specific notes. The last ingredient is what bonds everything together: A "thinking" partner. I was not looking for delegating my thinking, but to augment it. I needed a strategist agent. ### The Strategist I designed this agent to be a guardian of the **strategy**. We all struggle to keep perspective when times are challenging (urgent requests, escalations, conflicts, etc.). We confuse the urgent with what's important. Especially for managers, we lose perspective of what are the 2-3 things that create leverage and maximize the outcomes for the entire team. I wanted to use this agent as a **daily reminder** of what matters. I gave this agent access to the notes with information about the product strategy, what we want to accomplish during the year, my personal goals, and everything that can lead into outcome-driven recommendations. I tasked it with using all this information to help me think about 2-3 high-leverage things I should focus on. > I also noticed that it's not just about giving it more context, but asking better questions. When running this agent, I learned that these models are **far from perfect**. They constantly make assumptions that are mostly related to a lack of specific context. Yet, by using it and refining the context, results were getting better and better. I also noticed that it's not just about giving it more context, but asking better questions. I was getting better at using it and interacting with it. More and more, I was starting to get recommendations I struggled to accept but, deep inside, I knew it was needed (hard decisions). This was the best sign that the agent was improving. Models are data driven. Emotions don't affect them. I taught it to tell me the hard truths, and it was doing its job pretty well. There was one more thing that increased the quality of this agent's recommendations. I implemented a **stochastic consensus** (kudos to [Nick Saraev](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xyc1VDWtiQY&ref=cesarrg.com) for sharing this!). It sounds very fancy but, in simple words, this approach uses multiple agents to work on the same problem but solving it through different perspectives. The output is a *consensus* of what they all agree on, disagreements and contrarian thinking. I designed this consensus by using these perspectives: 1. Practitioner (goals + monthly priorities) 2. Skeptic (high risks and overdue tasks) 3. Strategist (future leverage) 4. Contrarian (What should not be deprioritized) 5. Synthesizer (what is realistic + impactful) They all run with the same task: What is the priority for today? This approach really improved the outcomes. The model was not relying on a single shot for a recommendation, but iterating over multiple perspectives. It was like having a team debating and coming to an agreement. My new team was **complete**. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### My experience using it Before I even open my email every morning, the first thing I do is run the coordination prompt. This triggers the sequence of all 3 agents. The first one usually asks me for any overrides (for example, on weekends I ask for a larger scan window). They all start working on their tasks. In general the entire workflow takes around 10 minutes. Once ready, the strategist agent comes with a recommendation based on the analysis of priority. I can accept it, override it or ask for a new execution. When completed, the final output is a coordination report that is saved as a new note in my Obsidian vault. The coordination report includes - Today's Outlook - Agent results - Override summary - Critical items The coordination reports have two purposes. The first one is getting details about the entire workflow run, and also a quick overview of my day (tasks and calendar), with the arguments behind the recommendation of priorities. The second purpose is reflecting on my work. These reports became a great source for running **personal retrospectives**. I built a skill that uses archived reports to give me a summary of how I'm allocating my time, common prioritization patterns and any improvements in the efficiency of the workflow. In fact, many of the rules I added later to this workflow came from inspiration from these retrospectives. ### What I've learned so far The experience of building has given me direct exposure on how LLM agents work. Not theory from articles, but hands-on exposure. Now it's clear to me that the way we used to build software is changing. With LLMs, the quality of your questions and guidance makes a huge difference in the quality of what's built. > With LLMs, the quality of your questions and guidance makes a huge difference in the quality of what's built. Some of the most important observations through my experience: 1. **These tools still fail**. A lot. I've been running this workflow for the last 3 months, every day. Only now am I in a position where I can trust the outputs with some confidence. But early results were not that good. You need to put a lot of effort into iterating and refining to get something that is useful. 2. **Context is everything**. This workflow is only useful because of the quality of the context. Context is the best steering wheel for these models. Don't expect config files alone to be enough (e.g. Claude.md). [Context](https://www.cesarrg.com/when-products-think-ai-product-flywheel/) is also constantly changing, so keeping these models accessing fresh information is the best way to increase their accuracy. 3. **Tokens are finite**. I developed a better appreciation of token consumption, not because I have any restriction at the moment, but for time efficiency. LLMs tend to default to long and detailed rule definitions. By making it think about optimizing tokens while keeping the same output, it can save you at least 30-40% in token consumption. 4. **Using the product becomes the best input for improvements**. I realized that I was in a constant improvement loop. Every workflow execution became input for improvements. The product was improving daily. It just requires being aware of the positive and negative patterns and take action. These systems are not meant to [replace deep thinking](https://www.cesarrg.com/is-ai-making-us-intellectually-lazy/). They augment it. I really think I've become a better manager with this tool. Yet, **agency and judgment** are still on me. That's the leadership part no agent can replace. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] The launch is just the start URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-the-launch-is-just-the-start/ Last updated: 2026-05-09T06:05:34.000Z #280 - May.2026 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! 💡 Here's a quick idea for the weekend: In the new wave of **AI products**, "done" isn't a moment. Shipping is the starting line, not the finish. But why is iteration harder now? Because every release is a moving target: - Refine your understanding of user **intent** in each experience. - Increase the **consistency** of your outputs. - Improve **safety guardrails** to keep hallucinations under control. - Build a **trust** ladder, where each experience reinforces the bond with your product. - Monitor **outcomes**, not shipped features. Tracking whether customer goals are met. Product iteration has always been part of the work. With AI, it becomes critical and push all of us to rethink how we plan launches, define success, and measure progress. If you want to go deeper on this shift: [How AI reshapes the product management practice.](https://www.cesarrg.com/when-products-think-navigating-the-ai-product-shift/) ¡Saludos! César Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 🎙️ Podcast I've been listening to [How to simplify your life in 2026](https://open.spotify.com/episode/1HjqfZXNieHqCDpG1U8QeH?si=2f47da0051974689&ref=cesarrg.com) Diana Chapman's part of this episode is gold! She talks about this concept of the "Whole Body Yes.". The idea is that real commitments (in decisions, relationships, and work) needs your inner and outer worlds to agree. A full yes! ### 📖 Article I've been thinking about [Agents Need Control Flow](https://bsuh.bearblog.dev/agents-need-control-flow/?ref=cesarrg.com) Short, technical, worth reading even if you're not an engineer. The argument: AI agents fail not because the models are weak, but because they lack structured control flow. And no: better prompts will not fix this. ### 🌐 Worth reading [RIP Social Media. What Comes Next is Messy](https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/05/rip-social-media-what-comes-next-is-messy/?ref=cesarrg.com) A good piece on the slow death of the social media model as bots start becoming more common. Our future challenge is: how do you design digital spaces that don't result in toxic noise? ### 🖋️ Quote of the week > **"A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving."** — Lao Tzu ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****New ideas, every week.** Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives getting frameworks, ideas, and lessons for the builders and thinkers shaping what's next. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Too many layers. Too little judgment. URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-too-many-layers-too-little-judgment/ Last updated: 2026-05-02T10:16:27.000Z #279 - May.2026 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! 💡 Here's a quick idea for the weekend: More PMs will not fix the **bottleneck**. Many people are concluding that, as engineers can deliver more in parallel, the solution is to add more PMs. This observation makes sense with I'm seeing today: More delivery capacity = more options to choose from = more decisions that a PM needs to take. But I don't think the solution is just increasing the **PM:Engineers ratio**. It goes beyond: rethinking **how PMs make decisions** (high judgement over noise) and how they cut the coordination layers between customer needs and what gets built. Every coordination step that isn't needed adds complexity, slows the team, and loses clarity. This is the one thing PM can develop now: the **taste and AI-steering skil**l to choose over an increasing amount of options, keeping the signal-to-outcome product cycle short. Instead of delegating the hard judgment calls to AI, delegate the coordination overhead. Let’s go build something great! ¡Saludos! Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 🎙️ Worth watching This clip that started this conversation. Ng argues we should rethink the PM:Engineer ratio. The prescription is debatable. Good food for thought. --- ### 📖 Good tips for creative work [Claude for Creative WorkAnthropic is an AI safety and research company that’s working to build reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)![](https://www.anthropic.com/api/opengraph-illustration?name=Hand%20ShapeArrow&backgroundColor=cactus)](https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-for-creative-work?ref=cesarrg.com) Interesting framing: > “Claude can't replace taste or imagination, but it can open up new ways of working.” 9 new connectors linking Claude to Adobe Creative Cloud, Blender, Ableton, and others. Tools handle the repetition. Humans owns the judgment. --- ### 🤔 Article I've been thinking about [Who Owns the Code Claude Wrote?AI-generated code copyright explained for builders.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2Fc5154d99-0e1f-4220-a99e-d06d43db6f2c-2Fapple-touch-icon-180x180.png)Legal LayerSena Evren![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2F4c45efbc-1881-4750-bdf5-aad04220b0a2_1456x816.png)](https://legallayer.substack.com/p/who-owns-the-claude-code-wrote) Copyright only protects human-authored work. How about AI-generated code? --- ### 📖 Article I've been thinking about [Report: Meta will train AI agents by tracking employees’ mouse, keyboard useMove highlights the difficulty of finding high-quality interactive training data.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Ars TechnicaKyle Orland![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/GettyImages-1788348389-1152x648.jpg)](https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/04/meta-will-use-employee-tracking-software-to-help-train-ai-agents-report/?ref=cesarrg.com) This is a bit odd (and scary). Meta is reportedly tracking employee computer activity to generate training data for AI agents. ### 🖋️ Quote of the week > **“Good design is as little design as possible.” —** Dieter Rams ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****New ideas, every week.** Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives getting frameworks, ideas, and lessons for the builders and thinkers shaping what's next. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Nothing to amplify URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-nothing-to-amplify/ Last updated: 2026-04-21T19:29:52.000Z #278 - Apr.2026 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Happy Friday! 💡 Here's a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: Claude has been [down](https://status.claude.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) multiple times in the last weeks...and I learned a few things: I caught myself in the middle of an automatic workflow through a skill that I've refined over and over again. But since Claude was down, the process stopped. Now what? Should I do it **manually**? Should I wait for Claude to come back and save me? It's not that I didn't have the time. **I just got used to it**. It's a new shortcut in my workflow. That got me thinking about how fast we are adapting (or not?). Are we aware of how much we are handing over to AI? Are we delegating both repetitive tasks and judgment? The so-called "falling asleep at the wheel" effect. Are we heading into a [future where the lack of AI capabilities will make us lazy for taking up the work](https://www.cesarrg.com/is-ai-making-us-intellectually-lazy/)? AI is the most impressive lever I've seen so far in my career. But a lever should **amplify** the force I bring to it. If I stop building the force (intuition, judgement, intention), there's nothing left to amplify. Btw, I ended up doing the work by myself :). Took a bit longer. ¡Saludos! ### 📖 Article I've been thinking about [The paper computer « the jsomers.net blog![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)James Somers, April 8, 2026![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/SCR-20251108-sogp.jpeg)](https://jsomers.net/blog/the-paper-computer?ref=cesarrg.com) A quiet interesting piece about a different vision for technology. A future where we read, write, and create without ever touching a screen. > "I am moved by the idea that our future could feel less futuristic than pastoral. High tech could save us from high tech. We'd go back to the old interfaces without giving up the conveniences of the new ones. Read, write, communicate, create—and hardly ever see or touch a screen." ### 📰 On education and AI shortcuts [To teach in the time of ChatGPT is to know painLLM use is the most demoralizing problem I’ve faced as a college instructor.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Ars TechnicaScott K. Johnson![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/GettyImages-2228543358-2560x1440.jpg)](https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/04/to-teach-in-the-time-of-chatgpt-is-to-know-pain/?ref=cesarrg.com) An instructor writing about how difficult is to teach in the age of AI. *"I increasingly feel like I'm just playing impossible defense."* Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 📢 Tech announcement of the week [Introducing Claude Opus 4.7Anthropic is an AI safety and research company that’s working to build reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)logo![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/96ea2509a90e527642c822303e56296a07bcfce4-1920x1080.png)](https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-opus-4-7?ref=cesarrg.com) - Writes code better than the previous model - Reads images far better now so you can hand it more complex images to interact with - Capable to run longer tasks (with memory across sessions New controls to cap the cost (specially useful for longer tasks) - New command (*/ultrareview*) for bug and design reviews (this seems interesting!) Looking into the benchmarks, the visual reasoning is the biggest jump. Did a quick test sharing a complex technical architecture and make it find any gaps or improvements. Results are impressive, calling out single points of failure, improvements in load balancers and event disaster recovery/backups callouts! ### 🖋️ Quote of the week > **"The ultimate goal of all art is the building!"** — Walter Gropius ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****New ideas, every week.** Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives getting frameworks, ideas, and lessons for the builders and thinkers shaping what's next. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Words do the locking URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-words-do-the-locking/ Last updated: 2026-04-10T08:10:42.000Z #277 - Apr.2026 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Happy Friday! 💡 Here's a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: I've watched many teams spend months building an answer to the **wrong** question. It's not because they were careless. It is often because they skipped the critical step of agreeing on what the **real** problem to solve was. In most cases, the critical moment isn't the build. In the software world, building is becoming the easiest part today. The critical moment is now those few minutes when someone ***names*** the problem for the first time. That's where the wrong frame gets locked in. **Language** does the locking. [Words matter.](https://www.cesarrg.com/words-matters/) Call it a "dashboard" and the solution space converges instantly. Call it "people can't see what matters" and it opens up into a space of possibilities. Name the **real** problem first, clearly. Then build it. ### 📖 Article I've been thinking about **Why Are We Still Doing This?** This is a good reflection on how much of our AI usage is driven by habit and hype rather than genuine need and how we ignore the real cost behind it. [Why Are We Still Doing This?Hi! If you like this piece and want to support my work, please subscribe to my premium newsletter. It’s $70 a year, or $7 a month, and in return you get a weekly newsletter that’s usually anywhere from 5000 to 185,000 words, including vast, extremely detailed analyses![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/wyea-.jpeg)Ed Zitron's Where's Your Ed AtEdward Zitron![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/wyea--1.jpeg)](https://www.wheresyoured.at/why-are-we-still-doing-this/?ref=cesarrg.com) ### ✉️ Posts worth revisiting I wrote about this pattern of problem framing a while back. When teams build solutions before they've diagnosed the real pain. The signals are subtle but consistent: [\[Weekly Retro\] Solution looking for a problem\# 39 - Mar.2024 - Weekly Retro. On solutions looking for a problem and a reminder to always start from the customer’s needs.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)César RodríguezCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_1679-1.jpeg)](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-solution-looking-for-a-problem/) This is another short piece on how the questions you ask at the start of a project shape everything that follows. The right questions unlock the right problems: [The right questionsDon’t focus your attention on scaling questions if your not sure you’re solving the right problem.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)César RodríguezCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/scale-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/the-right-questions/) Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 🧪 Tools I'm experimenting with I continue to experiment with Claude Code. Last time I posted about how I'm turning Claude Code + Obsidian into a [powerhouse of knowledge base](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-knowing-yourself/). I've been creating multiple skills for this. But if this wasn't good enough I found this: [AutoResearch](https://github.com/karpathy/autoresearch?ref=cesarrg.com). This Github Repo was created by [Andre Karpathy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrej%5FKarpathy?ref=cesarrg.com) and it basically offers an agent-driven reusable framework for running experiments (research) for improving a model (or a prompt in my case). In Claude Skill terms, this means you can optimize a skill automatically by providing the outcomes that you expect. Each iteration, it runs an experiment, check the results over these conditions (evals), and apply improvements. I ran it in one of my skills which was scoring 71% accuracy, and it took it to 100% in a few iterations. Imagine a future where you have business processes automated through skills: this is basically your continuous improvement department, iterating in real-time! Aren't these amazing times!? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2026/04/image.png) ### 🖋️ Quote of the week > **"A problem well stated is a problem half-solved."** — Charles Kettering ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****New ideas, every week.** Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives getting frameworks, ideas, and lessons for the builders and thinkers shaping what's next. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] A notebook and a pen URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-a-notebook-and-a-pen/ Last updated: 2026-03-15T10:39:14.000Z #276 - Mar.2026 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! Here is a quick idea for the weekend: > *"If you’re thinking without writing, you only think you’re thinking."* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2026/03/Scan3-2-1.jpeg) One of [my first](https://www.cesarrg.com/sketch-your-notes/) posts on this blog was about writing notes and sketching as a way of thinking. Carrying a notebook and taking notes has been one of my stronger habits during the last 13 years. It has become somewhat obsessive! (I always buy the same brand of notebooks and I recognize spending *too* much time and energy thinking about what is the best pen to write with...). Today, I feel that carrying a notebook and pens seems odd. It looks so impractical when digital tools can do a better job organizing information, automating meeting notes and sharing with others. While I take tons of digital notes too, my notebook is an important piece in my toolkit. Taking hand-written notes continues to have "something" that keeps me coming back. And I'm not referring to the[ scientific evidence](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/benefits-of-handwriting?ref=cesarrg.com) that writing by hand engages other areas of your brain improving retention, but I'm almost talking about the *spiritual* experience of writing this way (I told you that I've become obsessed). It creates a certain level of awareness. **Self**\-awareness. The [slow thinking](https://www.cesarrg.com/slow-thinking-in-a-accelerated-world/) that is much needed today. Yes, it feels unsexy. Old school perhaps? An anti-pattern for productivity? So, why keep doing it? Well. I don't really know. What I *do* know is that: It helps me when Im creatively blocked. I recall things better if I write them down. It's like an anti-stress pill (try doodling!) And when I go through my notes from previous years I realize how much I've changed. It helps me learn more about...me. ¡Saludos! ### ✍🏼 Tip on taking hand-written notes Over the years, I've been testing many ways of creating an **INDEX** to find things better in my notebooks (no, there is no "search option"). I haven't found any better technique than this one. The trick is making a **small mark** in the very edge of the page that you want to add to your index. In the first page of your notebook, keep all references aligned to these marks. When you want to find something, just blend your pages and you will quickly where you want! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2026/03/image-2-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2026/03/image-1-1.png) ### 📖 Word of the week #### AI brain fry > Which we define as *mental fatigue from excessive use or oversight of AI tools beyond one’s cognitive capacity.*Participants described a “buzzing” feeling or a mental fog with difficulty focusing, slower decision-making, and headaches. From a recent study published by HBR arguing that certain patterns of AI use are driving cognitive fatigue, while others can help reduce burnout. [When Using AI Leads to “Brain Fry”As firms increasingly incentivize employees to build and oversee complex teams of agents—for example, by measuring and rewarding token consumption as a proxy for performance—people are finding themselves pushed to their cognitive limits. Participants in a recent study described a “buzzing” feeling or a mental fog with difficulty focusing, slower decision-making, and headaches. The authors call this phenomenon “AI brain fry,” defined as mental fatigue from excessive use or oversight of AI tools beyond one’s cognitive capacity. This AI-associated mental strain carries significant costs in the form of increased employee errors, decision fatigue, and intention to quit. The findings also show how AI-driven workflows can be designed to diminish burnout and point toward specific manager, team, and organizational practices to avoid mental fatigue even as AI work intensifies.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/android-chrome-512x512.png)Harvard Business ReviewJulie Bedard![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/Mar26_06_1053577584.jpg)](https://hbr.org/2026/03/when-using-ai-leads-to-brain-fry?ref=cesarrg.com) Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 🧪 Tools I'm experimenting with I write by hands but I still capture a lot of digital notes too. Continuing my personal [experiment](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-knowing-yourself/) from the last couple of weeks, I'm added automations, skills and agents to my Obsidian vault. Giving Claude's agent explicit guidance to use [Obsidian CLI](https://obsidian.md/cli?ref=cesarrg.com) makes each operation much more accurate vs. using direct file operations over the .md files. Searches are more efficient and you can leverage Obsidian's tagging and classification operations. Adding this to your Claude.md file or agent prompt seems to work well: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2026/03/image-3.png) ### 🖋️ Quote of the week > **“Chance only favors the prepared mind.”** – Louis Pasteur ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****New ideas, every week.** Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives getting frameworks, ideas, and lessons for the builders and thinkers shaping what's next. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Knowing yourself URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-knowing-yourself/ Last updated: 2026-03-11T22:20:38.000Z #275 - Mar.2026 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! Here is a quick idea for the weekend: Today, "wisdom" seems one prompt away. You can ask about almost anything and get a detailed answer. The easier it gets, the more we crave. Yet I stumbled upon Lao Tzu's quote: *"Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom."* You can learn a new skill by studying frameworks, taking courses, watching YouTube channels. Studying **yourself** is harder, slower, and has no curriculum. As knowledge becomes more accessible, I believe that what's left is our capacity to **know** **ourselves**. Deeply. By knowing ourselves better we improve: Our intuition. Our design taste. Our judgment to make better decisions. Here a simple exercise to start: whenever you feel certain about something, ask yourself, **"*How do I know I'm right?*"** You might not like the answer. That's the point. ### 📖 Article I've been thinking about [Labor market impacts of AI: A new measure and early evidenceAnthropic is an AI safety and research company that’s working to build reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-21.png)![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/opengraph-illustration-1)](https://www.anthropic.com/research/labor-market-impacts?ref=cesarrg.com) > Workers in the most exposed professions are more likely to be **older, female, more educated, and higher-paid.** > In line with other data showing that Claude is extensively used for coding, **Computer Programmers** are at the top, with 75% coverage, followed by **Customer Service Representatives**, whose main tasks we increasingly see in first-party API traffic. Finally, **Data Entry Keyers**, whose primary task of reading source documents and entering data sees significant automation, are 67% covered. > At the bottom end, 30% of workers have zero coverage, as their tasks appeared too infrequently in our data to meet the minimum threshold. This group includes, for example, **Cooks, Motorcycle Mechanics, Lifeguards, Bartenders, Dishwashers, and Dressing Room Attendants.** Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 🧪 Tools I'm experimenting with Over the years, I've collected 700+ digital notes. I used Apple Notes, because of the simplicity and natural integration with Apple's ecosystem. But I was **so** frustrated on how difficult it was to ***use*** old notes (knowledge base) including +250 posts I've written. I always had this dream: I wanted to write about something. I drop a new idea to a tool that could navigate a knowledge graph across all my previous notes in search of connections and patterns. I tried to code this logic into AppleScripts but didn't work that well. [**Obsidian**](https://obsidian.md/?ref=cesarrg.com) **solved this**. Obsidian was not new to me. I've tried to migrate a couple of times in the past but I was reluctant due to the formatting/editing (markdown files). But I was not aware on how fast you can adapt to this. (thanks to my friend [A.A.](https://ajmaradiaga.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) for convincing me!) Now I added a secret sauce: powering Obsidian with Claude Code agents that uses Obsidian CLI to navigate and use the knowledge graph. My take in these few weeks coupling these 2 tools: **Impressed!** I'm discovering so many possibilities by finding pattern and connecting ideas across multiple domains. This combination it's super powerful! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2026/03/image.png) My knowledge base in Obsidian: digital notes and the connections ### 🎁 New free deck you can check **Mental models for managing AI-driven products:** New mindset to navigate the complexities of AI product management. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-08-at-17.35.41-1.png) [How Businesses Buy Tech Solutions — Crafting Great Proposals![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/faviconV2-5)César Rodríguez · cesarrg.com](https://cesarrg-code.github.io/cesarrg-eb-how-businesses-buy/?ref=cesarrg.com) ### 🖋️ Quote of the week > **“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.”** – Lao Tzu ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****New ideas, every week.** Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives getting frameworks, ideas, and lessons for the builders and thinkers shaping what's next. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### (Deck) How businesses buy tech solutions: crafting great proposals URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/deck-how-businesses-buy-tech-solutions-crafting-great-proposals/ Last updated: 2026-03-08T16:43:21.000Z #274 - Mar.2026 A few months ago I wrote about the core principles behind a [good value proposition](https://www.cesarrg.com/how-businesses-buy-tech-solutions-crafting-great-proposals/) and on how businesses buy tech solutions. The core idea: **people don't buy just technology**. They buy trust, vision, and a clear path on how to get there. I turned the original long-form post in to a slide deck with the key ideas behind the framework of building good proposals: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-08-at-17.35.41.png) [https://cesarrg-code.github.io/cesarrg-eb-how-businesses-buy/](https://cesarrg-code.github.io/cesarrg-eb-how-businesses-buy/?ref=cesarrg.com) If you are crafting a value proposition, this might save you a few iterations! ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Slow thinking in an accelerated World URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/slow-thinking-in-a-accelerated-world/ Last updated: 2026-03-11T21:13:11.000Z #273 - Feb.2026 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2026/02/The_Thinker_MET_131262-1.jpg) Back in 2024, I was reflecting on products that were launched [undercooked](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-undercooked/). Unfinished products that optimized for speed of launch at the expense of underdelivering. Software is now being released daily through micro-iterations, accelerated by tools that can produce a working app in minutes. You can launch a full product without any coding experience, prompting agents to build it on your behalf. And that's not always good. While part of the problem we have been trying to solve is how we can deliver faster, the other part of the problem (and for me, the biggest and most challenging) is defining ***what*** to build. > Each broken promise is a potential ex-customer. I'm now witnessing many companies optimizing for speed, launching quick, small, fast iterations resulting in **unfinished** products, with the conviction that they can always "*launch a new fix tomorrow*". Yet, each broken promise is a potential ex-customer. In an economy where [trust](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-why-trust-will-define-the-next-generation-of-ai-products/) is becoming one of the most powerful currencies, you have limited chances to get people's attention. Once you lose it, it's hard to win back. In a world where everything is accelerating, we need **more slow thinkers**. People who stop, think, and use their intuition to connect the dots across domains. People who have the patience to develop good taste for design, knowing that the simplest experiences are the hardest to create. People who recognize that it's not just about going fast, but going in the right direction. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Latent demand design principle URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-latent-demand-design-principle/ Last updated: 2026-02-25T20:41:52.000Z #272 - Feb.2026 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! Here's a quick idea before you head-off to the weekend: **Latent demand** I was so glad to hear this concept in a [recent episode ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We7BZVKbCVw&ref=cesarrg.com)from Lenny's Podcast, interviewing the Head of Claude Code, Boris Cherny. Are you familiar with this concept? > Forrester defines **Latent Demand** as: customer needs that are not acutely evident — or even known to the customer — until new products, services, or experiences reveal those needs. I like a **simpler** definition: If people can't solve their problems as expected, they'll hack their way through, using your product in unintended ways. And that's good! Think about people storing passwords on post-its next to their monitor. People using books to hold their phone while watching videos. Or people using their iPhones to open bottles (that's a bit extreme!). As [I wrote a few years back](https://www.cesarrg.com/workarounds/), you can see these workarounds as something bad from an adoption perspective, or you can use them as inspiration for new (and better!) uses of your product. Boris couldn't put it in better words: *"When you see people abuse your product in a way that it was not designed for, but is useful for them, that is such a strong indicator you should build a product \[for that\], and people will like it."* The simplest way to catch this is by **watching** people using your product. Look closely. Find these hidden gems! Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 🤖 Ethical use of AI This week's[ news on the tension between the Pentagon and Anthropic](https://www.reuters.com/technology/pentagon-threatens-cut-off-anthropic-ai-safeguards-dispute-axios-reports-2026-02-15/?ref=cesarrg.com) is a relevant debate in the AI world. Unfortunately, we don't often see companies defending their **core values,** even if this threatens a big business opportunity. Well done Anthropic! This type of positioning will differentiate the companies that take privacy and [Good AI](https://www.cesarrg.com/accelerators-privacy-ethics/) seriously, with others that only use them as slogans. > The Pentagon is pushing four leading AI labs to let the military use their tools for "all lawful purposes," even in the most sensitive areas of weapons development, intelligence collection, and battlefield operations. Anthropic has not agreed to those terms, and the Pentagon is getting fed up after months of difficult negotiations. Anthropic insists that two areas remain off limits: the mass surveillance of Americans and fully autonomous weaponry. - [Axios](https://www.axios.com/2026/02/15/claude-pentagon-anthropic-contract-maduro?ref=cesarrg.com) ### ⛔️ To block or not to block Very interesting (and surprising) position of [The Economist about the raising bans over social media platforms for teenagers.](https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/02/12/dont-ban-teenagers-from-social-media?ref=cesarrg.com) They defend that bans **are not** the solution for the core problem. The focus should be on having better controls and push accountability on Big Tech companies. They have a valid point. Interested in seeing how these regulations (e.g. Australia) will work out. As a parent, this is a topic that keeps me awake. > The question of whether social media are causing mass harm is far from settled. Growing evidence suggests they are bad for at least some children. But, [as we explain this week](https://www.economist.com/briefing/2026/02/12/more-and-more-countries-are-banning-kids-from-social-media?ref=cesarrg.com), the claim that social media cause great damage to the mental health of young people as a whole has only limited evidence. And even if you wanted to ban social media as a precaution pending conclusive findings, such measures threaten to be counterproductive. - The Economist ### 📣 Launch of the week Biggest datapoint that impressed me from this release: Sonnet 4.6’s **1M token context window.** Do you have an idea of how big this is? I didn't. So I looked for an analogy. If found this useful: "*750,000 words. Roughly the entire Harry Potter series (1.1M words), or about 10–15 average novels.*" That's a lot of context! [Introducing Sonnet 4.6Claude Sonnet 4.6 is a full upgrade of the model’s skills across coding, computer use, long-reasoning, agent planning, knowledge work, and design.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-20.png)Databricks logo![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/opengraph-illustration)](https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-sonnet-4-6?ref=cesarrg.com) ### 🎁 Revamping the e-book content I'm experimenting with a different format of e-book content. I revamp my previous e-books and turn them into small HTML content. This overcome PPT limitations to add dynamic visuals and effects. Check them out and send me your feedback! - [10 Design Tools Every Innovation Leader Needs to know](https://cesarrg-code.github.io/cesarrg-eb-10-design-tools-leaders/?ref=cesarrg.com) - [5 Key Elements for Customer Journey Maps](https://cesarrg-code.github.io/cesarrg-eb-customer-journeys/?ref=cesarrg.com) - [AI and Product Management](https://cesarrg-code.github.io/cesarrg-eb-ai-product-management/?ref=cesarrg.com) - [7 Principles of Ethical Design](https://cesarrg-code.github.io/cesarrg-eb-7-principles-ethical-design/?ref=cesarrg.com) ps: the animations are actually patterns created through matemathical functions embedded in the code 😁 ### 👨🏻‍💻 Other interesting links - [Management as AI superpower](https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/management-as-ai-superpower?ref=cesarrg.com). Insights for a future where everyone is a manager of a team of agents. - [Blood test holds promise for predicting when Alzheimer’s symptoms will start.](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00531-x?utm%5Fsource=Live+Audience&utm%5Fcampaign=25a5f04562-nature-briefing-weekly-20260220&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fterm=0%5F-33f35e09ea-499062019) The Alzheimer’s ‘clock’ could make it easier to treat the disease early, before memory problems appear. ### 🖋️ Quote of the week > **“Maybe happiness is this: not feeling like you should be elsewhere, doing something else, being someone else.”** – Isaac Asimov ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] A disability tax URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-a-disability-tax/ Last updated: 2026-02-15T22:10:44.000Z #271 - Feb.2026 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! Here's a quick idea I've been thinking during the weekend. People with disabilities pay a big tax every single day. It's not only about the cost of having a disability (which this [study](https://ablenews.com/national-study-finds-an-even-tougher-financial-picture-for-the-disabled/?ref=cesarrg.com) shows can be significant) but about the small costs they encounter everywhere. Everything takes longer and costs more. I have close relatives with disabilities and we have learned the hard way how badly designed products and services add to this tax. Filling a simple form can take twice as long. Following bureaucratic processes can be a big challenge if you can't move easily. Using an app that is not [accessible and understandable](https://www.cesarrg.com/designing-for-everyone-universal-design/) to most people is a silent exclusion. Every inaccessible form, every unusable app, every bureaucratic experience adds to this tax. And we, the people who design and launch digital products, are setting the rates. All people (with disabilities or not) deserve a better experience. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 📊 Graph of the week I believe that show that the accountability problem is much more centralized that we think: 32 companies generate almost half the CO2 Global emissions for fossil fuels and cement production (data from 2024). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2026/02/35376.png) Source: Carbon Majors > The Carbon Majors database traces 34.7 GtCO2e of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 to the 166 oil, gas, coal, and cement producers, a 0.8% increase from these entities’ total emissions in 2023\. Just 32 companies were linked to over half of global fossil fuel and cement CO2emissions in 2024\. As shown in Figure 1, the top 10 companies by emissions, cumulatively responsible for 27.6% of global fossil CO2 emissions in 2024, were all fully or majority state-owned companies. ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links - [A new navigation paradigm](https://www.doc.cc/articles/ai-navigation?ref=cesarrg.com): Is AI truly eliminating navigation, or is it simply shifting its agent and form? - [Moltbook](https://www.npr.org/2026/02/04/nx-s1-5697392/moltbook-social-media-ai-agents?ref=cesarrg.com) is the newest social media platform, but it's just for AI bots. This is getting very weird. ### 🖋️ Quote of the week > **“Maybe happiness is this: not feeling like you should be elsewhere, doing something else, being someone else.”** – Isaac Asimov ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Controlling dissonance URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-controlling-dissonance/ Last updated: 2026-01-16T21:16:42.000Z #270 - Jan.2026 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! Here's a quick idea before you head-off for the weekend: **Dissonance** in music sounds harsh. Unresolved. It lacks harmony. You might think that great music is about avoiding dissonance. About getting the *pretty* notes and removing the *ugly* ones. Yet, masterpieces are memorable because of the [**tension**](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-tension-and-stress/) between dissonance and consonance. Yin and Yang. Light and shadow. Unresolved and resolved harmony. That is what **moves us!** I think this is true for every **creative work**. When you play it safe, you might be losing an opportunity to do something great! Embrace the "dissonance" in you creative space: In photography, shadows against soft light. In writing, short sentences vs. long sentences. In product, functional features balanced with 'WoW' features ... Great things emerge from the **contrasts**. Don't be afraid of your dissonance. ps: Great lesson from Jacob Collier: Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 🧪 Cool invention from the week **One pull of a string is all it takes to deploy these complex structures**. Inspired by Kirigami, the Japanese art of paper cutting, [this method](https://news.mit.edu/2025/one-string-pull-deploys-complex-structures-1223?ref=cesarrg.com) from MIT transforms flat surfaces into 3D objects and it's scalable to bigger forms. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2026/01/image-3-1.png) ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** - [Why child prodigies rarely become elite performers?](https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/01/14/why-child-prodigies-rarely-become-elite-performers?ref=cesarrg.com) A recent study demonstrated that elite youth performers and elite adults were almost entirely separate groups - In order to better understand our human nature, we must attempt to [build a robot capable](https://aeon.co/essays/why-the-best-way-to-understand-the-self-is-to-build-a-robot-one?ref=cesarrg.com) of robust subjective experiences ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“Happiness is your natural state”** – Tony de Mello ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Climbing the hill of ambiguity URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-climbing-the-hill-of-ambiguity/ Last updated: 2026-01-10T00:31:25.000Z #269 - Jan.2026 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! This week I stumbled upon a concept again and remembered how much I like it! I've never been a fan of tracking tasks using percentages (really?!). Even when using progress status (e.g., "ongoing") or color codes ("green," "red," "yellow"), it's very hard to really understand where things are and, most importantly, when help or attention is needed. Have you heard about **hill charts**? The idea is simple. Generally, **tasks have two stages**: figuring out what to do and getting it done. In addition to the status, you track tasks on which part of the hill they are. Figuring out what to do commonly takes more time and requires in-depth thinking. Getting it done is execution. Once you know what to do, you can go faster. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2026/01/image-2-1.png) The unknown space of figuring out is where I usually find most problems. It's where teams hit the wall of ambiguity, where assumptions are made, and where task-level strategies are locked in. **This is where team leaders can support the most to unblock teams.** Tracking tasks using a hill chart is not only useful to understand how the team is progressing through ambiguity, but also to know when support is needed to overcome the hill. Try it out! *ps: for more details, read* [*Shape Up*](https://basecamp.com/shapeup/0.1-foreword?ref=cesarrg.com)*.* Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 💡 Concept that I learned ***"Law of inverse prioritization:*** The most important things in life are the least likely to get done. Why does this happen? (1) false sense of progress from urgent tasks; (2) easier to being busy vs. discomfort; and (3) important things rarely feel urgent." From Greg McKeow & Tim Ferriss podcast on [Tactics and Strategies for a 2026 Reboot.](https://open.spotify.com/episode/5BcNYiRELrzfq9i93F6aR7?si=0631df8697074958&ref=cesarrg.com) ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links ### - AI design isn't about making everything conversational. This is a [great playbook ](https://medium.com/design-bootcamp/the-designers-playbook-for-ai-products-4549c3d1b648?ref=cesarrg.com)on building trust through visibility, explainability, and keeping humans in control for AI-enabled apps - Huge swathes of human knowledge are missing from the internet. By definition, [generative AI is shockingly ignorant too](https://aeon.co/essays/generative-ai-has-access-to-a-small-slice-of-human-knowledge?ref=sidebar) (Must read!) - An ant is drowning: [here’s how to decide ](https://aeon.co/essays/an-ant-is-drowning-heres-how-to-decide-if-you-should-save-it?ref=cesarrg.com)if you should save it ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“Principle of free thought. Not free thought for those who agree with us but freedom for the thought that we hate.”** – Holmes (1929) ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### 2025 book list URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/2025-book-list/ Last updated: 2026-01-05T22:09:23.000Z #268 - Jan.2026 Hi there! (and '*Feliz dia de Reyes*' for people in Spain) There is a lot to unwrap but keeping it short: I was offline for a while from posting. After [writing](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/weeklyretro/) a lot during 2024, the last 2 months had many changes (including a change in my [new role ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com)at Amazon). I was not able to put my attention in writing. It happens... But we are back! I've renewed my energy to continue sharing interesting stuff on design, innovation, and creativity! To break the ice this year, I want to keep the ritual from [previous years](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/books/) and share the list of books I read during 2025\. Many of them made it to my favorite list. Looking in retrospective, there is a bit of everything. I went back to old *friends* (Awareness and Design as Art) in search of perspective - so much needed in these times. Others were a gateway for topics that are impacting our lives today (Nexus). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2026/01/image-1.png) 1. **Awareness** (Anthony de Mello): Reading this book at the start of every year has become a ritual! De Mello teaches that most of our suffering comes from wanting reality to be different than it is. 2. **A Morte é um Dia Que Vale a Pena Viver** (Ana Cláudia Quintana Arantes): A profound book. The author explains how death teaches us how to live by forcing us to confront what truly matters. 3. **How to Take Smart Notes** (Sönke Ahrens): If you are a productivity hacker this could be for you. Over the years I've struggled to organize my notes and this brings a very practical approach to solve this problem. 4. **Redescubrir la vida** (Anthony de Mello): 2nd book of De Mello. Great perspective of what life is about and the power of wonder. 5. **Ways of Seeing** (John Berger): This was an interesting book that navigates across different art disciplines and how to teach your eyes to "see" beyond the common appearances. 6. **La ciudad y los perros** (Mario Vargas Llosa): What a novel! It's like being in a movie. A powerful and engaging story that only Vargas Llosa was able to put together in such a beautiful prose. 7. **Nexus** (Yuval Noah Harari): This was a long and insightful book. Harari has been famous for calling out the risks about AI. I was curious to understand why. The book does a good job explaining the reasons. Some of them I truly agree with. 8. **Design as Art** (Bruno Munari): Another re-read of this year, returning to the basics of design. Good design isn't decoration; it's communication that makes life more meaningful and accessible. 9. **The Prosperity Paradox** (Clayton M. Christensen): This book is eye-opening about what true innovation is about and the power of new markets that are often ignored by many people. Opportunities often come from the "non-consumers". 10. **Seven Brief Lessons on Physics** (Carlo Rovelli): A short and engaging book that brings simplicity over the complexity (and beauty) of our universe and the fundamental laws that control it. 11. **Humano, más Humano** (Josep Maria Esquirol): This is without a doubt the most difficult book I read in 2024\. It is very deep in the philosophical ideas about what makes us human. I wanted a bit of perspective given today's AI wave. What makes us different? 12. **Wisdom of Insecurity** (Alan W. Watts): This was my first time experiencing Alan Watts's writings. What a book! It sounds so fresh in today's world of anxiety. It questions. It proposes. It inspires. 13. **El Cerebro del Artista** (Mara Dierssen Sotos): A light and easy book that looks at creativity from a biological perspective. Interesting facts on how our brain works and what happens in the mind of painters, writers and musicians. 14. **Hold Me Tight** (Sue Johnson): A very practical book on how to develop lifetime relationships. While this is designed for couples, I think that many of the insights apply to many other types of relationships: friends, daughters, sons, etc. Happy Reading! ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Why do we productize? URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-why-do-we-productize/ Last updated: 2025-11-02T09:34:20.000Z #267 - Nov.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! Here are some ideas to think about during the weekend. Why do we *productize* a solution? What does it mean to *productize* a solution? Is *productization* a process? Someone asked me this at a recent AWS event. It made me think about what actually drives teams to productize their solutions and what does the word "productization" actually means. The answer is not trivial. I've been in endless philosophical discussions about what makes a *product* a product. While everyone has a slightly different definition, most concepts converge on this: ***anything created to solve a specific customer need, make economic sense for a business, and made feasible through technology.*** The question "why *productize* a solution" feels ambiguous to me. After all, a solution should already address all three dimensions: customer needs, business value, and technical feasibility. But when most people talk about productization, I think they mean: **making a solution scalable, configurable, and replicable.** Productization is often seen as a way to sell something at scale, or make it "marketable". But, shouldn't scalability be part of the original design? Yes and no. Thinking about scalability and flexibility from day 1 is good practice when designing a new solution, but in reality, this is rarely the case. **Finding market fit and iterating on customer needs force teams to trade scalability for speed of delivery**. On the other hand, let's be honest, not all solutions should become fully customizable or scalable. Sometimes the solution is sufficient to cover current demand. And that's ok. So what signals tell you it's time to rethink your product strategy towards scalability and flexibility? I've seen three key drivers: - **Customer demand.** This is the simplest and most obvious reason. Your customer base increases and your original solution simply isn't growing at the pace of the business. You start saying "no" to opportunities because your system can't handle them. - **Operational overload.** While related to customer demand, this is the other side of the same coin. A team is struggling to serve their customers because the load of keeping the solution running consumes all their capacity. There is no space for product improvements and innovations. You need to reduce your cost to develop new use cases and support existing ones to make space for the rest. - **Intentional opportunity.** Your product vision might already consider new opportunities: new customer cohorts, geographies, or market segments. This becomes a forcing function. You are forced to design for scalability because you are *intentional* about where you're heading. The risk here is over-engineering too early. Watch out! The first two are reactive. The last one is proactive and intentional. Yet, all three are valid reasons to *productize*. The best teams watch for these signals and act before the constraints become too big. What signals are you seeing in your product right now? Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 💡 Inspiration of the week ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/11/image.png) The work of the photographer Charles Brooks on "Extraordinary Instruments" is just breathtaking! He explored the *Architecture In Music* finding hidden spaces inside instruments. ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links ### - A very [insightful investigation](https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/10/firstwap-altamides-phone-tracking-surveillance-secrets-assad-erik-prince-jared-leto-anne-wojcicki/?ref=cesarrg.com) post inside the hidden world of companies with traceability tech targeting politicians, journalists, celebrities, and activists around the world. - [The UX butterfly effect](https://www.doc.cc/articles/ux-butterfly-effect?ref=sidebar): understanding unintended consequences in design and how to plan for them. - Great list of [use cases and prompts](https://academy.openai.com/public/clubs/work-users-ynjqu/resources/use-cases-product?ref=cesarrg.com) for product teams. ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“One thing you learn: if you want to reveal yourself, you also have to know where to stop.”** – [Keith Jarrett](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith%5FJarrett?ref=cesarrg.com) ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Fears and opportunities URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-fears-and-opportunities/ Last updated: 2025-10-10T20:12:35.000Z #266 - Oct.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Happy Friday! Reporting back after a period away from posting. I’m writing these words from Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I spent the week talking with customers at an AWS Retail event about managing digital products and, in particular, the role of [Product Managers in the age of AI.](https://www.cesarrg.com/when-products-think-navigating-the-ai-product-shift/) These interactions are such rich experiences as you start to understand how challenges (and fears) are common across companies, regardless of size and complexity. Changing the mindset from [command-based to intent-based](https://www.cesarrg.com/when-products-think-ai-product-flywheel/) interactions in products is not trivial. Production-ready solutions are slowly gaining traction, but there is still a long way ahead. How to measure productivity created by AI is not straightforward. How AI will change us as humans is extremely subjective. Is a mix of fears and opportunity. How you engage with this reality will make a difference. You can take it as a threat and push back against the change or you can take it as an opportunity to explore, learn and iterate. Everyone is taking a decision today. These are interesting times. Such a potential ahead of us waiting for builders and curious people to generate the next wave of world’s prosperity. For everyone! Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links ### - OpenAI’s DevDay introduced [AgentKit](https://openai.com/index/introducing-agentkit/?ref=cesarrg.com)—a visual platform enabling teams to build multi-agent workflows. - [Figma’s](https://www.figma.com/release-notes/?ref=cesarrg.com) ChatGPT integration creates flowcharts and diagrams directly from conversations. - Microsoft redesigned [Office icons](https://microsoft.design/articles/fluid-forms-vibrant-colors/?ref=cesarrg.com) on October 6 with fluid shapes and rich gradients to signal the shift from app-driven to AI-driven workflows - How to be [strategic](https://cate.blog/2025/09/23/getting-more-strategic/?ref=cesarrg.com) and how to be seen as strategic are different things - [Visualisations](https://aeon.co/videos/visualisations-explore-what-the-deep-future-holds-for-our-night-sky?ref=cesarrg.com) explore what the deep future holds for our night sky - iRobot Founder: Don’t Believe The (AI & Robotics) [Hype](https://crazystupidtech.com/2025/09/29/irobot-founder-dont-believe-the-ai-robotics-hype/?ref=cesarrg.com)! ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“Everything you can imagine is real.”** – Pablo Picasso ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Observations on VC, AI Products and Creativity URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-observations-on-vc-ai-products-and-creativity/ Last updated: 2025-09-12T11:33:21.000Z #265 - Sep.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Happy Friday! Here are a few observations about VC, AI, and creativity that I've been thinking about recently. I'm not a VC expert, but as someone who's watched software engineering evolve this past year, here's what I'm seeing - happy to hear from people in this space. 1. **VC dynamics are changing**. Today, AI companies are capturing +30% of all venture funding. Yet, the entry barrier for new startups to start running a business is getting low. Deploying a technology stack to serve customers has never been so easy and MVPs can be built much faster. Why would they search for venture capital if they can bootstrap their work? I believe in the next years we'll see VC flowing to more capital-intensive businesses and foundational services (e.g. hardware engineering? AI infrastructure? Robotics?) vs. small digital startups. 2. **Product offering overload**. Lower barriers mean more products flooding the market. Expect 10-20X more offerings than last year. But quantity doesn't equal quality. Businesses will ship half-baked products with weak security as they race to experiment and get customers' attention. We will continue to see Consumer apps leading innovation while enterprise software plays catch-up. 3. **Curation becomes key**. With more low-quality options, users will feel overwhelmed. We'll see more "aggregators" and curating services: trusted sources to curate and filter out noise. Marketplaces that create strong trust bonds with customers and filter what really matters will likely become the go-to hubs for people who want to escape from a chaotic market environment. 4. **Creative barriers are disappearing**. I'm very curious to see how people who were previously unable to express their creativity, perhaps for a lack of technical skills, can now, through AI, break these constraints and build new things. The other day, my 6-year-old daughter was designing a robot app through voice commands with Claude Artifacts. It's like she had a magic wand, and coding disappeared. Her creativity led the process. Imagine this at a global scale! Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 📡 Tech Radar - [Google Stitch](https://stitch.withgoogle.com/?ref=cesarrg.com): Google launched a tool that lets anyone design app interfaces directly from text or image prompts, integrating with Figma and code platforms for seamless workflow. - [Hardware-AI Integration](https://www.zdnet.com/article/samsung-galaxy-glasses-powered-by-android-xr-are-reportedly-on-track-to-be-unveiled-this-month/?ref=cesarrg.com): Samsung is expected to announce smart glasses and XR headsets with on-device LLMs, blurring the line between hardware and agent-based software for real-world augmented experiences. - [OpenAI and Oracle](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/technology/openai-oracle-data-centers-deal.html?ref=cesarrg.com): OpenAIs signs a $300B deal with Oracle. The funding covers more than half of the A.I. data centers that OpenAI plans to build in the U.S. over the next several years. ### 🙌🏼 News I was waiting for [Lossless Listening Arrives on Spotify Premium With a Richer, More Detailed Listening Experience — SpotifyLossless on Spotify Premium is here. Lossless audio has been one of the most anticipated features on Spotify and now, finally, it’s started rolling out to Premium listeners in select markets. Premium subscribers will receive a notification in Spotify once Lossless becomes available to them. Whether you’re diving into a new album or revisiting old…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-32x32.png)SpotifyLauren.Petersongroupsjr.com![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/FTR_LOSSLESS_V1-1024x583.gif)](https://newsroom.spotify.com/2025-09-10/lossless-listening-arrives-on-spotify-premium-with-a-richer-more-detailed-listening-experience/?ref=cesarrg.com) ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links [Why might the Big Bang theory be in crisis very soon? | Aeon EssaysThe current theory for the origin of the Universe is remarkably successful yet full of explanatory holes. Expect surprises![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-19.png)Aeon Magazine![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/essay-stsci-01evszft5tgyvvc0kf1fp85jds.jpg)](https://aeon.co/essays/why-might-the-big-bang-theory-be-in-crisis-very-soon?ref=cesarrg.com) [How to make your home and workspace fuel your creativity – The Creative IndependentA guide to changing where you live and work in order to nourish your creative lifestyle, written by Stephanie Diamond with illustrations by Carlos Sanchez.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-icon-114x114-2.png)![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/oAgNruaOSRuVHkbJaIHc)](https://thecreativeindependent.com/guides/how-to-make-your-home-and-workspace-fuel-your-creativity/?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“Between too early and too late, there is never more than a moment”** – Franz Werfel ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Computer Art URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-computer-art/ Last updated: 2025-08-30T09:26:27.000Z #264 - Aug.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! Here's a quick idea for the weekend: I encourage you to read this article: [The creator and the machine](https://www.doc.cc/articles/the-creator-and-the-machine?ref=cesarrg.com) (kudos to [Caio Barrocal](https://medium.com/@caiobarrocal?ref=cesarrg.com) for putting this together!) Caio walks us through a technology journey of art and computational design, leaving us with profound questions like: - In a world where computers can create, what is creativity? - How we should envision our creative processes? - Who is the author of an artifact produced by machines? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/08/image-1.png) Source: www.waldemarcordeiro.com Through his article I (re)discovered pioneers of digital art like [Waldemar Cordeiro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldemar%5FCordeiro?ref=cesarrg.com) in Brazil and Hiroshi Kawano in Japan. About Waldemar, the author points: > More interestingly, Cordeiro considered the rationalization of the creative process and the employment of computers a way to reflect on our human creativity, which illustrates the mindset of the creators of his time who were excited about this new type of partnership: “In case the artistic issues can be treated by machines or by teams including a ‘partner’ — computer — we will learn more about how man handles artistic issues.” It was interesting to see computational art from a historical perspective, and acknowledge the steps we (as humanity) have taken since the early steps back in 1950\. These ideas couldn't be more important in a moment where we - once again, as history shows - are reflecting on our creative force. Such a rich content to invest time during the weekend! Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links [The personhood trap: How AI fakes human personalityAI assistants don’t have fixed personalities—just patterns of output guided by humans.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/cropped-ars-logo-512_480-300x300.png)Ars TechnicaBenj Edwards![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/many_faces_1-1152x648.jpg)](https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2025/08/the-personhood-trap-how-ai-fakes-human-personality/?ref=cesarrg.com) [For Henri Bergson, laughter is what keeps us elastic and free | Aeon EssaysFor philosopher Henri Bergson, laughter solves a serious human conundrum: how to keep our minds and social lives elastic![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-18.png)Aeon Magazine![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/essah-v2-par259907.jpg)](https://aeon.co/essays/for-henri-bergson-laughter-is-what-keeps-us-elastic-and-free?ref=cesarrg.com) [Mass IntelligenceFrom GPT-5 to nano banana: everyone is getting access to powerful AI![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/https-3A-2F-2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2F233e9990-95ea-44ab-afc4-5abfe44f24d4-2Fapple-touch-icon-180x180-2.png)One Useful ThingEthan Mollick![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2F1cec29eb-e93d-4e77-9ca2-2ebf86d7002c_1376x864.png)](https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/mass-intelligence?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“Infrastructures exist to serve a purpose. By themselves, they do not create value—they distribute or store it.”** – Clayton Christensen ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### 2025 mid-year books URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/2025-mid-year-books/ Last updated: 2025-08-28T15:06:08.000Z #263 - Aug.2025 A bit late for a mid-year book review but I didn’t want to skip this simple ritual, as in [previous years.](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/books/) I’m writing this post with a vacation vibe. I’m currently taking some days off to recharge. Menorca has been a great host for this! Before we get into the mid-year book checkpoint, wanted to share a couple of reflections of ideas that had been shaping my reading this year. - Understanding our humanity. In the middle of a tech/AI rush it’s easy to forget the basics: What makes us human? - Technology leverage.What leverage can we get from today’s technologies to tackle the most challenging world problems? - Humans abilities. What are the [skills](https://www.cesarrg.com/humans-are-needed/) that will make the difference in a future where we delegate many daily tasks to machines? I think this is why I’ve been revisiting a couple of books that I read in the past. When you like a book, reading them again gives you new perspectives; they outlive their times and become recurrent sources of inspiration! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/08/CRG-Books-1.png) These are the books I’ve read so far in 2025: 1. **Awareness** (Anthony de Mello): Reading this book to start every year has become a routine! De Mello teaches that most of our suffering comes from wanting reality to be different than it is. 2. **A Morte é um Dia Que Vale a Pena Viver** (Ana Cláudia Quintana Arantes): A profound book. The author explains how death teaches us how to live by forcing us to confront what truly matters. 3. **How to Take Smart Notes** (Sönke Ahrens): If you are a productivity hacker this could be for you. Over the years I’ve struggle to organize my notes and this bring a very practical approach to solve this problem. 4. **Redescubrir la vida** (Anthony de Mello): 2nd book of De Mello. Great perspective of what life is about and the power of wonder. 5. **Ways of Seeing** (John Berger): This was an interesting book that navigates across different art disciplines and how to teach your eyes on how to “see” beyond the common appearances. 6. **La ciudad y los perros** (Mario Vargas Llosa): What a novel! It’s like being in a movie. A powerful and engaging story that only Vargas Llosa was able to put together in such a beautiful prose. 7. **Nexus** (Yuval Noah Harari): This was a long and insightful book. Harari has been famous for calling out the risks about AI. I was curious to understand why. The book makes a good job explaining the reasons. Some of them I truly agree. 8. **Design as Art** (Bruno Munari): Another re-read of this year, returning to the basics of design. Good design isn’t decoration; it’s communication that makes life more meaningful and accessible. 9. **The Prosperity Paradox** (Clayton M. Christensen): This book is eye-opening about what true innovation is about and the power of new markets that are often ignored by many people. Opportunities often come from the “non-consumers”. 10. **Seven Brief Lessons on Physics** (Carlo Rovelli): A short and engaging book that bring simplicity over the complexity (and beauty) of our universe and the fundamental laws that control it. Happy reading! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Is AI is the best option? URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-is-ai-is-the-best-option/ Last updated: 2025-08-15T15:31:35.000Z #262 - Aug.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! Here's a quick idea before you head-off for the weekend: Every week, I see AI solutions for problems that could be solved in a much simpler way. **Let's face it: today, not all problems need AI.** In fact, this pattern isn't new. We have seen this happening with other technologies in the past. When teams force-fit any technology without asking if it's the right tool, projects usually fail. It's not surprising that many people believe that **AI is a hype**. Before defaulting to AI, stop for a moment to think if this is the best technology to solve your problem. Using Marty Cagan's lens of the main **risks** of any product, here are **4 key questions** to ask before deciding if AI is the best option: - **Value:** Does AI solve a problem users actually **care about** and create value responsibly? - **Feasibility:** Do we have the data, skills, and technology needed to build AI that performs **reliably and fairly**? - **Usability:** Can users effectively **interact** with AI in a transparent way while keeping agency? - **Viability:** Does this AI solution work for our **business model** and create sustainable, responsible value? Sometimes the smartest AI product decision is deciding when AI is not the best option. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 📡 Tech radar - [**OpenAI GPT-5 launch**](https://academy.openai.com/public/resources/intro-gpt-5?ref=cesarrg.com): OpenAI launched GPT-5, the latest and most advanced large language model. - [**NVIDIA hits $4 trillion**](https://www.analyticsinsight.net/news/nvidia-hits-record-447t-valuation-becomes-largest-ever-weight-in-sp-500?ref=cesarrg.com#google%5Fvignette): NVIDIA exceeded $4 trillion in market valuation, surpassing Microsoft and Apple to become the world’s most valuable company. - [**AI Browser Assistants**](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-12/perplexity-makes-34-5-billion-bid-for-google-s-chrome-browser?embedded-checkout=true&ref=cesarrg.com): The rise of AI-powered browser assistants is clear. I'm currently testing [Comet](https://www.perplexity.ai/comet?ref=cesarrg.com) with interesting insights (more to come in future posts). - [**AR/VR for Storytelling**](https://www.ofspace.co/blog/latest-ui-ux-trends?ref=cesarrg.com): Product teams can adopt AR/VR features to boost storytelling, product demos, and educational content. ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links [What building products looks like in the age of AIFrom research to delivery, explore how AI is reshaping product design workflows for faster, smarter outcomes.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156-11)UX CollectiveBen![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/1-2ABM_VOX1RBmy58_zL9B5g.png)](https://uxdesign.cc/what-building-products-looks-like-in-the-age-of-ai-c1b727d67871?ref=cesarrg.com) [GPT-5: It Just Does StuffPutting the AI in Charge![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/https-3A-2F-2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2F233e9990-95ea-44ab-afc4-5abfe44f24d4-2Fapple-touch-icon-180x180-1.png)One Useful ThingEthan Mollick![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2Fce7b1404-c298-41bf-a4d6-f9b7e099d4be_1000x730.gif)](https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/gpt-5-it-just-does-stuff?ref=cesarrg.com) [Top Product Design Trends to Watch in 2025Explore the top product design trends in 2025, highlighting technological innovations and aesthetics to inspire your creative projects.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-19.ico)Octet Design JournalAlexey Tretina![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/img_featured.webp)](https://octet.design/journal/product-design-trends-2025/?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“Art serves as mediator between the imagination of the child and the adult's sense of reality.”** – Felix Deutsch ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] PM as bottleneck URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-pm-as-bottleneck/ Last updated: 2025-08-02T14:14:54.000Z #261 - Aug.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! Here's a quick idea before you head-off for the weekend: Andrew Ng has a point here: [are PMs becoming the bottleneck for rapid engineering?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNJCfif1dPY&ref=cesarrg.com) And by rapid engineering, I'm referring to how fast we can **iterate** on new ideas, create quick prototypes and validate if we are building the right thing. Design-to-code cycles are getting shorter. I'm seeing this from the front-seat through my team and working with partner tech teams: - **Product Roles (Product, Design and Engineering) are getting closer** to each other. Engineers are drafting requirements, PMs are putting their hands on code and Designers are driving product strategy. - **Tools are empowering people to build things** by themselves at incredible speed. Sure, vibe-coding is scrappy, but bringing ideas to reality hasn't been so easy as today. - **We can now react to customer feedback by building quick demos**, instead of relying only on sketches and ideas. The entry bar for makers is getting lower very fast. PMs are likely to become a bottleneck if they don't become builders. I differ from Ng's perspective on inverting the PM:Engineering ratio (1:0.5) to solve this problem, but rather empowering PMs to contribute closely to building the product. As role boundaries become blurry, ownership, bias for making and creative-critical thinking are the best skills to develop. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links [Free Text to Speech & AI Voice Generator | ElevenLabsCreate the most realistic speech with our AI audio tools in 1000s of voices and 70+ languages. Easy to use API’s and SDK’s. Scalable, secure, and customizable voice solutions tailored for enterprise needs. Pioneering research in Text to Speech and AI Voice Generation.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-icon-1.png)ElevenLabs![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/cover.png)](https://elevenlabs.io/?ref=cesarrg.com) [MCP: An (Accidentally) Universal Plugin SystemOr: The Day My Toaster Started Taking Phone Calls![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2F51c8777b-4177-4195-8a0c-63a06dd9dd8a-2Fapple-touch-icon-180x180.png)Works on My MachineScott Werner![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2F01350f9f-9ecd-4cb2-a28d-103a9ccc9027_1024x1024.png)](https://worksonmymachine.ai/p/mcp-an-accidentally-universal-plugin?ref=cesarrg.com) [Claude Desktop Extensions: One-click MCP server installation for Claude DesktopClaude Desktop Extensions: One-click MCP server installation for Claude Desktop![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-17.png)![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/c09ad9386b7c3428811f53b3614315127870d23a-2400x1260.png)](https://www.anthropic.com/engineering/desktop-extensions?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“The real challenge is not making AI smarter, but ensuring it is controllable and predictable.”** – Dario Amodei ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Why trust will define the next generation of AI Products URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-why-trust-will-define-the-next-generation-of-ai-products/ Last updated: 2025-07-25T13:25:58.000Z #260 - Jul.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! Here's a quick idea before you head-off for the weekend: I think **trust** will become the most important feature of any AI product. At every interaction, we have an **opportunity** to gain or break customer's trust. With so many options out there, the cost of finding new options is low. People will just "hire" a different product to solve their problems. Traditional UX design assumes predictable outcomes. Click button = get result. But AI doesn't work that way. LLMs hallucinate and they operate on **probabilities**. The **mental model shift** on how we design this type of solutions is not trivial: - From command-based to intention-based interactions - From deterministic flows to probabilistic experiences - From traditional testing mechanisms to continuous evaluation The **4 principles** that I believe will become key for designing this type of products: 1. **Don't overpromise:** Set clear capability boundaries upfront. "AI can \[outcome\] with \[level of accuracy\]". 2. **Probe**: Continuously guide users with follow-up questions and next steps. Don't leave them hanging in uncertainty. 3. **Calibrate**: Build feedback loops everywhere. Let users correct, rate, and refine AI outputs in real-time. 4. **Guardrails**: Design safety mechanisms and escalation paths (e.g. Humans-in-loop). There's a big wave of AI products coming. As designers and builders, we (still) have the power to make them safe and truthful. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 🧪 Things I've been testing Combining Claude Desktop with Docker's MCP Toolkit! This basically turns Claude Desktop into a **powerful agent**, provided with a wider range of tools (Docker packages MCP servers as containers). Check out more here: [MCP Toolkit](https://docs.docker.com/ai/mcp-catalog-and-toolkit/toolkit/?ref=cesarrg.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/07/image-4.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/07/image-5.png) ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links - Anthropic: How the company **values** can shape their product strategy: [The dark horse of AI labsHow Anthropic’s missionary zeal is fuelling its commercial success![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/icon-2.svg)The EconomistThe Economist![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/20250726_WBD000.jpg)](https://www.economist.com/business/2025/07/23/the-dark-horse-of-ai-labs?ref=cesarrg.com) - A great reflection about **builders** in leadership roles: [Am I Becoming Irrelevant?The frustration of feeling like a buffer instead of a builder, and learning to measure impact through team success rather than personal output![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-17.ico)Jordi Villar![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/becoming-irrelevant.png)](https://jordivillar.com/blog/becoming-irrelevant?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“The best strategy is a balance between having a deliberate one, and a flexible, or emergent strategy.”** – Clayton Christensen ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Start with trust URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-start-w/ Last updated: 2025-07-12T23:51:19.000Z #259 - Jul.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! How do we build great products in a new world driven by **AI and intent-based applications**? Starts with trust. Trust is created at every interaction. How we handle each of these interactions will make people love or hate your product. Trust will be one of the most valuable currencies in the future. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 🧪 Things I've been testing This week I continue playing with [**Claude Code**](https://www.anthropic.com/claude-code?ref=cesarrg.com)trying to find other ways to interact. I was impressed. With very limited prompting and basically a scrappy-handwritten mockup, Claude Code was able to implement in less than a minute a functional app based on my ideas. Other application on the market are already doing this (e.g. [Lovable](https://lovable.dev/?ref=cesarrg.com)), but the fact of having Claude agent working through terminal really speeds things up! Mockup for input: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/07/image-2.png) Output: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/07/image-3.png) ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links - Perplexity launched a new AI browser called Comet: *"Browse at the speed of thought".* [Perplexity CometCosmic Curiosity![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-1.png)![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/image.png)](https://comet.perplexity.ai/?ref=cesarrg.com) - On the power of repeated movements of craft. [You need to build mastery in order to find your flow | Aeon EssaysAn immersive ‘flow state’ isn’t only accessible to great artists and athletes. You can find your flow too. Here’s how![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-16.png)Aeon Magazine![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/essay-mg1238566.jpg)](https://aeon.co/essays/you-need-to-build-mastery-in-order-to-find-your-flow?utm%5Fsource=Aeon+Newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=e9292b2e3d-EMAIL%5FCAMPAIGN%5F2025%5F06%5F13&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fterm=0%5F-947a0f3c79-838125733) **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“Criticism comes to those who stand out.”** – Seth Godin ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Flexible north stars URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/flexible-north-stars/ Last updated: 2025-07-09T11:30:10.000Z #258 - Jul.2025 Most strategies fail because they ignore balancing **short and long-term thinking.** They either over-index on quick wins or create detailed plans for an uncertain future. It's **planning paradox**: should you start from the vision and work backwards or start creating certainty to discover a vision? I think we need **both**: iterating fast through experimentation and retrofitting a strategy towards a bold vision. Today we are living in a highly uncertain environment. Planning for the long-term is becoming nearly impossible. We need to build certainty through **quick validations** while keeping a **flexible north star**. The solution isn't choosing one approach over the other but designing a strategy that operates on multiple time horizons. Here's a simple framework to do this: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/07/CRG-Title-Strategy-Blueprint-white.png) - **Run experiments** (1-4 weeks): Test your assumptions fast and cheap. Adapt as you learn from real customer behavior. - **Find & validate opportunities** (1-3 months): Focus on opportunities that maximize both customer value and business outcomes. - **Refine product strategy** (1-2 years): Set clear focus by defining what problems you're solving. This clarity will help you guide your execution. - **Refine business strategy** (2-5 years): Design and refine a business model that creates the conditions for long-term success. It works both ways. Long-term vision guides execution, while experimentation builds evidence to refine strategy. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] High agency URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-high-agency/ Last updated: 2025-07-05T19:36:14.000Z #257 - Jul.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! It's been very busy days (some interesting projects coming!) so I wasn't able to send the last Weekly Retro update, but I'm back! This week I was reflecting on what makes a product leader irreplaceable. AI is reshaping roles across all industries and product management is no exception. The skills that were valued before aren't as relevant anymore. I think that the future of product leadership is about **agency and taste**. The capacity to make decisions and have strong **creative judgment** over countless options is what will separate great professionals from the average. **Healthy ambition** fuels agency. The ambition that drives you to leverage (or develop) your skills to explore new possibilities. The ambition (and courage) to constantly ask "**might this work?**" Putting agency in practice means: - **Experiment**: pick one small problem. Build something fast to solve it. Learn from the experience - **Question the "how"**: is there a different way to solve this problem? - **Stop demanding certainty**: optimize for speed of learning and **iteration**. Create a **trustful** environment where people aren't afraid of failing. People in a culture where failure is seen as a defect have no incentive to innovate. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 🧪 Things I've been testing [**Claude Code.**](https://www.anthropic.com/claude-code?ref=cesarrg.com) It's simply amazing the speed you can have an application up and running using Claude Code through terminal. The speed of iteration you get over the code, while you test it and improve it, is mind blowing. With these tools, sometimes it feels that the ideas are now becoming the constraint. The future is for the builders! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/07/image-1-1.png) ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links [A lush tour of Fallingwater – the Frank Lloyd Wright design that changed architecture | Aeon VideosTake a tour of Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece of organic architecture built atop a waterfall in rural Pennsylvania![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-15.png)Aeon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/inside-fallingwater-landscape-1.jpg)](https://aeon.co/videos/a-lush-tour-of-fallingwater-the-frank-lloyd-wright-design-that-changed-architecture?ref=cesarrg.com) [Using AI Right Now: A Quick GuideWhich AIs to use, and how to use them![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/https-3A-2F-2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2F233e9990-95ea-44ab-afc4-5abfe44f24d4-2Fapple-touch-icon-180x180.png)One Useful ThingEthan Mollick![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2Fdc7794be-9211-43a4-9b43-eb3db6b05bf3_1376x864.png)](https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/using-ai-right-now-a-quick-guide?ref=cesarrg.com) [glif - all prompts, no codebuild AI mini-apps and chatbots using LLMs, image generators, ComfyUI, and more![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-16.ico)build AI mini-apps and chatbots using LLMs, image generators, ComfyUI, and more![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/preview.png)](https://glif.app/glifs?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“Disruptive innovations create jobs, efficiency innovations destroy them.”** – Clayton Christensen ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### One-time-use apps URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/one-time-use-apps/ Last updated: 2025-06-26T11:08:50.000Z #256 - Jun.2025 Call out for builders! Claude just announced an update on artifacts: now you can [build working apps ](https://support.anthropic.com/en/articles/11649427-use-artifacts-to-visualize-and-create-ai-apps-without-ever-writing-a-line-of-code?ref=cesarrg.com)leveraging Claude API. This adds to the huge amount of options now available for building stuff. There's never been a time where it has been so easy to augment our creativity! You can now turn ideas into working prototypes in **real-time**. One point that caught my attention was one of the examples that Claude mentioned in the announcement: **"Small business solutions"*.* I wrote about this before, and this ad-hoc approach for solution building or "one-time-use" apps is likely to reinvent how we see corporate software. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/06/image-3.png) To test it, I created a simple **Tech Radar App**: you can search for emerging technologies, learn more about them and see how are they connected to other technologies. [Give it a try!](https://claude.ai/public/artifacts/56eb83e4-b1cb-4bb9-89b2-977a06ed75d7?ref=cesarrg.com) ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### The brave questions URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/the-brave-questions/ Last updated: 2025-06-24T10:42:59.000Z #256 - Jun.2025 *"Why we should be doing \[this\] instead of \[that\]?"* Silence in the room. It's hard to hear this type of question. But it's needed. Making **good questions** is likely to become one of the most important skills in an age of information abundance. Good leaders make good questions. It signals curiosity to learn more and their ability to identify gaps or opportunities. Questions can take different forms: - Evaluating risks - Confirming assumptions - Understanding backing evidence - Mapping dependencies and constraints But I think one of the most important types of questions are those driving **focus & clarity.** Questions like: "*Why now?*" or "*What is the most important problem we want to solve?*" These are the **brave questions**. The questions that no one wants to ask since they create friction. These questions aren't comfortable to answer since they often reveal truth. Over time, I have discovered that, while they might feel confrontational, these questions lead to strong trust bonds. They signal that you care about what you are building as a team. In a world with so much noise and distraction, these are the questions that become indispensable. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] A future of possibilities URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-a-future-of-possibilities/ Last updated: 2025-06-13T10:58:46.000Z #255 - Jun.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: In how many ways can you produce **variations** of a human face? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/06/IMG_2077-1.jpeg) This is a question from Bruno Munari's book "Design as Art". I like to come back to this book from time to time, especially in this moment where there's so much noise about how technology is disrupting our lives. I feel that going back to the **basics of design** gives me new perspectives and ideas on how to make sense of everything that's happening. The example of the variations of a human face is a simple one to understand the power of **experimentation and iteration.** Designers work this way. They don't set limits to prevent rejecting **new possibilities**. Each iteration becomes a new learning on what works and what doesn't. The final decision is driven by **taste**. This creative judgment for choosing the best options is what is left for humans in a future where we will be flooded by alternatives. So the question is: how do we develop the creative judgment to choose wisely? That's the work that will remain uniquely human. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Learnings and insights for innovation. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links - This paper is generating a lot of attention given the conclusion on how AI reasoning is far from being better than Humans. I will write about it in the coming days: [The Illusion of Thinking: Understanding the Strengths and Limitations of Reasoning Models via the Lens of Problem ComplexityRecent generations of frontier language models have introduced Large Reasoning Models (LRMs) that generate detailed thinking processes…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-15.ico)Apple Machine Learning Research![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/Home_1200x630_48225d82e9.png)](https://machinelearning.apple.com/research/illusion-of-thinking?ref=cesarrg.com) - New IOS, welcome to the Glassmorphism... [Glassmorphism CSS Generator | SquarePlanet | SquarePlanetGlassmorphism is a unified name for the popular Frosted Glass aesthetic.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-icon-180x180-2.png)SquarePlanet![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/glassmorphismHero.png)](https://hype4.academy/tools/glassmorphism-generator?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”** – Mark Twain ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] AI and confirmation bias URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-ai-and-confirmation-bias/ Last updated: 2025-06-06T12:07:27.000Z #254 - Jun.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: Have you noticed how when using, say, ChatGPT or Claude, the answers are excessively **positive**? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/06/image.png) People are now using these tools as daily assistants to co-create, brainstorm and review ideas. But what happens when you have a partner that **always supports you**, regardless of whether you are right or wrong? To me, the risk of **perpetuating biases** across society is one of the biggest challenges we'll face in this new AI era. When you partner with someone (AI or human), you look for different perspectives. Challenging your own assumptions is the first step toward true learning and critical thinking. Setting guardrails is a good starting point. Through your prompts you can explicitly define how you want to interact with AI assistants. Here are some prompts I've been using lately: - Prioritize trustworthy information - Probe for further questions and actions - Prioritize accuracy over unverified facts; when in doubt, I want to know the risks of inaccuracy - Give me direct feedback - Question my assumptions and call out biases I might not be aware of - Share counterpoints and different perspectives ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/06/image-1.png) Don't seek validation. Seek truth. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. Ps: Thanks to Vincent Cheng for the [inspiration](https://vvvincent.me/llms-are-making-me-dumber?ref=cesarrg.com)! Further ideas from the topic above: [Is AI making us intellectually lazy?Risks of outsourcing too much of our thinking to AI and what we should do instead.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/IMG_2210-27.png)César RodríguezCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/CRG-6-1-4.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/is-ai-making-us-intellectually-lazy/) ### 🧠 Ideas from this week Is writing a way to only **communicate** ideas, or is writing a way to **create** an idea in the first place? - [About good writing](https://www.cesarrg.com/about-good-writing/) ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links - This is always a good read. Over the years, John Maeda brings up a report with an extensive view of today's Design + Technology. [John Maeda | Design in Tech ReportDesign trends revolutionizing the entrepreneurial and corporate ecosystems in tech. Related M&A activity, new patterns in creativity × business, and the rise of computational design.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/cropped-diticon512-270x270.jpg)John Maeda | Design in Tech Report![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/dit2024fourbyfiveanimation.gif)](https://designintech.report/?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“Data has an annoying way of conforming itself to support whatever point of view we want it to support.”** – Clayton Christensen ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### About good writing URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/about-good-writing/ Last updated: 2025-06-03T11:25:23.000Z #253 - Jun.2025 Is writing a way to only **communicate** ideas, or is writing a way to **create** an idea in the first place? Let's take this even further: is **good writing** directly related to the quality and clarity of your ideas? Paul Graham's [last essay ](https://paulgraham.com/goodwriting.html?ref=cesarrg.com)left me thinking about all these questions. I recommend everyone interested in writing to read it. In my personal experience, writing has been a way to **refine** ideas. Sometimes, the idea is very generic, but through iterating and editing I start seeing clarity on what I'm thinking. [Words matter](https://www.cesarrg.com/words-matters/). A lot. Choosing the right words is like finding the closest representation of the ideas you want to deliver. We shouldn't take this lightly. **Set constraints.** Are you able to share your message in fewer sentences? Polishing and simplifying usually results in more clarity. Paul makes a point on something that might sound controversial: Good writing in the context of **truth and saying the right things**: > "So getting the ideas right is not just a matter of saying true things, but saying the right true things." What's right for you - as the writer - is subjective. From this perspective, good writing is about how you maximize your capacity to enable others to understand what is true for you. Writing is powerful. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Seeds for ideas URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-seeds-for-ideas/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T12:18:43.000Z #252 - May.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea for the weekend: The world is full of **seeds for ideas**. These seeds are reshaped through iteration. If you don't iterate (experiment) it won't grow. This is the essence of the creative process. I found this during the week: [The Way of Code](https://www.thewayofcode.com/?ref=cesarrg.com#42), by Rick Rubin. Rick combined an insightful narrative with interactive pieces of digital art. I think I spent more time than I needed looking into this (my wife had a lot of patience listening to me talking about geeky things). Interactive art. Digital creations that you can remix and create new things. I think this is one of the best examples I've found that resembles this era. A time where you can express your creative power through curiosity. Finding new ideas and remixing them with your context and expertise. In Rubin's words: > "The world around you is pregnant with potential points of entry on your creative quest. Now find a seed and start modeling and modifying until you have something you're excited to share." Why wait? Go for it! Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. 📊 **Interesting visuals** Inspired by the above, I needed to try it out. So I created something! This is code (HTML with embedded CSS/JavaScript) co-created with AI. I will experiment with React later. I named it: ***"Chaos and Order"*** ### 🧠 Ideas from this week A **creative transformation** is happening now. I wrote about this during the week. Technology is democratizing tools for expressing our creative power. The future belongs to builders willing to experiment. - [Builders](https://www.cesarrg.com/builders/) - [A new kind of artist](https://www.cesarrg.com/a-new-kind-of-artist/) **🛠️ Resources you can download** **Mental models for managing AI-driven products:** New mindset to navigate the complexities of AI product management. [Yes, it's free! ](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/05/image-5-1.png) ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links - A good perspective on how we can seek balance between productivity and learning: [LLMs are Making Me DumberHere are some ways I use LLMs that I think are making me dumber: When I want to build a Chrome extension for personal use, instead of actually learning and writing the JavaScript, I Claude-Code the whole thing in a couple of hours without writing a single line of code. Instead of taking the usual route which would leave me with more actual familiarity with JavaScript, I now shortcut the process, leaving me with barely any JS knowledge despite numerous functioning applications. When I need math homework done fast, I feed in the relevant textbook pages in context, dump my problems into o3/Gemini, and check its answers for sanity instead of doing the problems myself. I cram before tests. (Yes, this is morally dubious and terrible for learning.) When I need to write an email, I often bullet-point what I want to write and ask the LLM to write out a coherent, cordial email. I’ve gotten worse at writing emails. My first response to most problems is to ask an LLM, and this might atrophy my ability to come up with better solutions since my starting point is already in the LLM-solution space. These are all deliberate trade-offs I make for the sake of output speed. By sacrificing depth in my learning, I can produce substantially more work. I’m unsure if I’m at the correct balance between output quantity and depth of learning. This uncertainty is mainly fueled by a sense of urgency due to rapidly improving AI models. I don’t have time to learn everything deeply. I love learning, but given current trends, I want to maximize immediate output. I’m sacrificing some learning in classes for more time doing outside work. From a teacher’s perspective, this is obviously bad, but from my subjective standpoint, it’s unclear.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-14.png)Vincent ChengVincent Cheng](https://vvvincent.me/llms-are-making-me-dumber/?ref=sidebar) **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.”** – Mark Twain ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### A new kind of artist URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/a-new-kind-of-artist/ Last updated: 2025-05-28T09:14:28.000Z #254 - May.2025 This has never been so actual: > "Thus our task is to make a new kind of **artist**, a **creator** capable of understanding **every kind of need**: not because he is a prodigy, but because he knows how to approach human needs according to a precise method. We wish to make him conscious of his **creative power**, not scared of new facts and independent of formulas in his own work." This was Munari in 1966, quoting Walter Gropius's vision for [Bauhaus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhaus?ref=cesarrg.com). AI is creating disruption. Many people (myself, for sure!) are questioning how we can reskill in this new age of automation. I think that the answer lies in what technology struggles to replicate meaningfully: Our **creative judgment** and human **connections**. We are lucky to be in an era where creativity will become one of the most valuable skills. Today's technology allows us to express our creative power in ways that were not possible before. We are witnessing a creative and builder's [revolution](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-creative-revolution/). You are the creator and artist that the world needs. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Builders URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/builders/ Last updated: 2025-05-26T14:09:00.000Z #253 - May.2025 The future belongs to the **builders**! Anyone with curiosity and creative judgment can now build solutions with a few clicks. This weekend I experimented with creating **AI agents**. The experience left me both excited and unsettled. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/05/Untitled.jpg) Excited because the possibilities feel **endless**. Unsettled because I realized that this is a big **paradigm** shift. But I guess many people have the same feelings. The good news is this is just getting started! Here are some quick/initial learnings from my experiment creating agents: - **Abstraction**. Today's technology is abstracting complex code as never before. Sure, you can still dive deep (if you want to), but is not needed. This democratizes building but creates a dangerous knowledge gap. - **Creator block**. The new paradigm of agents is transformational, in such a way, that I felt creative block: "how can I used this technology?". Is intimidating to think about all the possibilities. This is what AI is enabling today. - **Momentum + Community**. Everyone is experimenting right now. There's a big momentum on exploring how AI can help us build new things. You can feel the excitement when looking into the different tech communities. People are very supporting providing guidance on how to fix technical problems. Start small. Experiment. Pick one specific problem you face daily. Build an agent to solve it. Learn from that experience. What are you waiting? Go and build something. ¡Saludos! 👨🏻‍💻 For people interested in ****tech** datapoints from this experiment: → I'm using a local version of n8n (is free and you can run it through Docker) → For quick prototyping I installed Ollama model locally. There are tradeoffs (there are better models tailored for type of tasks) but I optimized for speed. → Serpi (Google Search API) gives you a credit of 100 searches per month. Enough for testing. → In short, for prototyping and experimenting, I spent 0$. ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Being beginners URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-being-beginners/ Last updated: 2025-05-23T10:24:03.000Z #252 - May.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea for the weekend: In a world where anyone, with the right tools, can now build what once needed entire teams: **adaptability** is the king. Your ability to **learn and reskill** fast matters more than your current expertise. The professionals who thrive will be the ones comfortable with being **beginners** again. And again. ### 🧠 Ideas from this week [Humans are needed#249 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. Here’s the reality we need to face: repetitive, low-value tasks are disappearing today through automation. What’s left requires what technology can’t replicate: human judgment, creativity, and connections.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/IMG_2210-25.png)César RodríguezCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_2139-1.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/humans-are-needed/) 📊 **Interesting visuals** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/05/image-4-1.png) [*Source: The Future of Jobs Report 2025*](https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/infographics-94b6214b36/?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🛠️ Resources you can download** **7 core principles for ethical design**: Build trust and reduce risk with these ethical design principles that balance innovation with responsibility. [Yes, it's free! ](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/05/image-2-1.png) ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links - I can't wait to see what IO + OpenAI are working on. On Jony Ive's word: *"I have a growing sense that everything I have learned over the last 30 years has led me to this moment."* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/05/image-3-1.png) [https://openai.com/sam-and-jony/](https://openai.com/sam-and-jony/?ref=cesarrg.com) - Apple seem to have enter the race of smart glasses (what about the Vision Pro?). Curious to see the battle between AR and Spatial computing. [Apple Smart Glasses Launching in 2026Apple is planning to launch a set of smart glasses by the end of 2026, reports Bloomberg. The glasses will be comparable to the Meta Ray-Bans and the…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/icon-1.svg)MacRumorsJuli Clover![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/Apple-Glasses-Purple-Feature.jpg)](https://www.macrumors.com/2025/05/22/apple-smart-glasses-launching-in-2026/?ref=cesarrg.com) - Agentic checkout is becoming a thing! Shopping experience is being reinvented with new ways of interaction. This can have profound changes in business models, like traditional e-commerce and Ads. [100 things we announced at I/OLearn more about the biggest announcements and launches from Google’s 2025 I/O developer conference.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-13.png)GoogleMolly McHugh-Johnson![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/IO_launches.width-1300.png)](https://blog.google/technology/ai/google-io-2025-all-our-announcements/?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”** – Haruki Murakami ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Humans are needed URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/humans-are-needed/ Last updated: 2025-05-22T09:45:44.000Z #251 - May.2025 **Humans** will still be needed in the future! This is the key finding from the [World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report](https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF%5FFuture%5Fof%5FJobs%5FReport%5F2025.pdf?ref=cesarrg.com). But here's the catch. It reveals something more interesting: the skills that make us most valuable aren't technical. They're deeply human. Here's the reality we need to face: repetitive, low-value tasks are disappearing today through automation. What's left requires what technology can't replicate: human judgment, creativity, and connections: - **Analytical thinking**: Asking the right questions and going deeper - **Resilience, flexibility and agility**: Adapting to change while others resist it - **Leadership and social influence**: Building trust and inspiring action in uncertain times - **Creative thinking**: Connecting ideas across different domains to solve new problems Future professionals will thrive by combining their **humanity** while using technology as their co-pilot. **Re-skilling** has never been so important as today. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Small and quick steps URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-small-and-quick-steps/ Last updated: 2025-05-16T11:17:48.000Z #250 - May.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea for the weekend: The traditional way of managing products does not work for great AI-driven products. Success in AI product development comes not from building entire & complex solutions upfront, but from identifying and refining features that demonstrate clear value in **small steps**. It's about fully embracing **experimentation**, creating solutions in days, not weeks. This is a big shift in how we do product discovery where we tend to invest a huge amount of effort upfront. Instead, focusing on having a direct and efficient stream of feedback from customers at each iteration has never been so important as today. Small & quick steps. Recurrent. Continuous learning. ### 🧠 Ideas from this week [Simple vs. Simplistic#249 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. Simple is not the same as simplistic.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/IMG_2210-24.png)César RodríguezCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_2139.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/simple-vs-simplistic/) ### **🛠️ Resources you can download** **Mental models for managing AI-driven products:** New mindset to navigate the complexities of AI product management. [Yes, it's free! ](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/05/image-1.png) ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links “What if we begin to treat the outputs of chatbots as protected speech and edge closer to believing AIs deserve moral rights?” [📣 Are We Having a Zeitgeist Moment on AI and Humanity?The Pope, Murderbot, free speech for chatbots, and the strange new frontier of AI ‘welfare’![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2F71fa33cf-bec5-4fb9-b3e2-773ced17be94-2Fapple-touch-icon-180x180.png)\[ Center for Humane Technology \]Sasha Fegan![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2F185f8945-c816-474a-a96b-20ff57de7324_1600x900.png)](https://centerforhumanetechnology.substack.com/p/are-we-having-a-zeitgeist-moment?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F185f8945-c816-474a-a96b-20ff57de7324%5F1600x900.png&open=false) What we think is corporate politics is more a lack of proper understanding of strong advocacy? [“Politics”In most of my CPO coaching engagements, we eventually come around to the problem of “politics,” usually framed as frustration with C-level peers doing unexpected or unreasonable or department-centric things. My default response is that we call it “politics” when we’re not good at it, or when it’s![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/mironov-consulting-60x60-1.png)Rich Mironov's Product BytesRichard Mironov![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/maarten-van-den-heuvel-_pc8aMbI9UQ-unsplash.jpg)](https://www.mironov.com/political/?ref=sidebar) **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“What kills an idea is people’s urge to express their opinion.”** – Jony Ive. ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Simple vs. Simplistic URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/simple-vs-simplistic/ Last updated: 2025-05-14T09:04:44.000Z #249 - May.2025 **Simple** is not the same as **simplistic**. Jony Ive put it nicely into words in a recent [interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLb9g%5F8r-mE&ref=cesarrg.com): *"People think simplicity is about removing clutter. For me that means that you (only) end up with an uncluttered product."* But simplicity is just a manifestation. At its core, simple designs are a way to express the **real purpose** of a product. I often fall into this false (simplistic) assumption that by removing clutter I'm creating a better experience. But what typically happens is that I sacrifice **function** as well. The mindset is wrong. True simplicity handles **complexity under the surface** \- complexity users never need to see or understand. Simple experiences are hard to design. Being simplistic, on the other hand, is over-indexing on simplification but lacking depth and soul. As John Maeda wisely put it, simplicity is about *"subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful."* ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Plant wisely URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-plant-wisely/ Last updated: 2025-05-14T08:27:52.000Z #248 - May.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea for the weekend: Today's technology can accelerate the way how we design, build and deliver solutions. But the truly valuable (human) skill remains the same: identifying which [seeds](https://www.cesarrg.com/ideas/) are worth nurturing. Plant wisely. ### 🧠 Ideas from this week In this week's posts I explored the relationship between creativity, trust, and tech implementations. As implementation costs drop, we must focus on what truly matters: finding the right ideas, not just executing them. Trust remains our most valuable currency, built through authenticity, logic, and empathy. And in a data-driven world, remember that intuition often can become a good north-star. - [Cost to implement](https://www.cesarrg.com/cost-to-implement/) - [Trust triangle](https://www.cesarrg.com/trust-triangle/) - [Gut feelings](https://www.cesarrg.com/gut-feelings/) ### 📊 Visuals from this week ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/05/US187534_Figure1.png) *Source:* [*Deloitte's Tech Trends 2025*](https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/tech-trends.html?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🛠️ Resources you can download** **Mental models for managing AI-driven products:** New mindset to navigate the complexities of AI product management. [Yes, it's free! ](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/05/image-1.png) ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links Despite the increasing adoption of AI tools, human developers are still essential for certain software development task: [The Post-Developer Era • Josh W. ComeauWhen OpenAI released GPT-4 back in March 2023, they kickstarted the AI revolution. The consensus online was that front-end development jobs would be totally eliminated within a year or two.Well, it’s been more than two years since then, and I thought it was worth revisiting some of those early predictions, and seeing if we can glean any insights about where things are headed.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon.png)Josh W. Comeau![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/og-the-post-developer-era.jpg)](https://www.joshwcomeau.com/blog/the-post-developer-era/?ref=cesarrg.com) Figma's design community feedback on artifacts that embodies craft: [24 Artifacts That Define Craft | Figma BlogMembers of the design community share an artifact that embodies craft—something that speaks to their understanding of what it means to make with intention.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/touch-180.png)Figma![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/bbbd715863ae9596492a6b6eda14af49a9b802de-2400x1260.png)](https://www.figma.com/blog/craft-artifacts/?ref=sidebar) **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“Habemus Papam.”** – "We Have a Pope". Pope Leo XIV was elected Pope this week. ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Cost to implement URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/cost-to-implement/ Last updated: 2025-05-07T11:43:35.000Z #247 - May.2025 When building becomes cheap, the **challenge shifts** from "how to do it" (implementation) to "what to do" (creativity) or "[should we do it](https://www.cesarrg.com/should-we-built-it/)" (ethics). **Speed** matters in this context. Being first with a good idea often beats being perfect with a great one. The advantage of being first gives you the chance to learn and iterate faster. In this new world, creativity, critical thinking, and vision become our **scarcest** resources. The cost to implement new ideas will not be the constraint. Finding the best ideas will. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Trust triangle URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/trust-triangle/ Last updated: 2025-05-06T11:20:34.000Z #246 - May.2025 **Trust** is at the core of almost everything we do - including product value propositions. A value proposition is not only a **promise** about what you are committing to deliver but is a social contract built on trust. If you are selling a new product to a market or pitching a new idea inside your company, trust is one of your most important currencies. The **"Trust Triangle"** is always a good reminder of what core things to consider: 1. Being authentic (showing your real self; yes, including your limitations) 2. Being logical (your reasoning makes sense and is supported by evidence) 3. Having empathy (truly understanding and caring about others' needs) When trust is broken, it is usually due to the lack of one of these 3 things. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Gut feelings URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/gut-feelings/ Last updated: 2025-05-05T15:36:16.000Z #245 - May.2025 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/05/SQ-discovery-1.png) Gut feelings are **underrated**. What we call intuition isn't always random noise. It's your brain connecting thousands of past **experiences**. I think that many corporate cultures over-index on hard data, ignoring professionals who spot nuances that numbers miss. The inspiration that comes from (strategic) intuition is also a **data point**. Not a magical one – just your experience talking without words. Some of the best innovations happen when we mix analytics with those quiet signals from experience. What's your gut telling you today? ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Remove friction URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-remove-friction/ Last updated: 2025-05-03T16:08:06.000Z #244 - May.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea for the weekend: Innovation is not always about novelty and complexity. Sometimes the greatest impact comes from **simple** solutions. It's often more important (and more difficult!) to **remove** friction than to add new things. Great innovation frequently means cutting away what's unnecessary to reveal what truly matters. ### 🧠 Ideas from this week This week’s ideas mixed human capabilities and technology for products development. I wrote about choosing the right prototype for learning, designing customer experiences, and embracing simplicity when AI or automation isn't necessary. - [Should we built it?](https://www.cesarrg.com/should-we-built-it/) - [Our humanity](https://www.cesarrg.com/our-humanity/) - [The right prototype](https://www.cesarrg.com/the-right-prototype/) - [A single experience](https://www.cesarrg.com/a-single-experience/) - [Simpler solution](https://www.cesarrg.com/simpler-solutions/) ### 📊 Visuals from this week ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/05/IMG_1734.jpeg) ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links Slate offers a fresh idea of what a customized car should look like: [SLATESLATE Auto | The Customizable EV That Works for You![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-icon.png)SlateSlate![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/charging-garage-night-110v-outlet.jpg)](https://www.slate.auto/en?ref=cesarrg.com) This week I visited Florence and was amazed by Da Vinci’s world of inventions: [da Vinci Inventions: Flying Machines, Weapons of War and Other Innovations — Leonardo Da Vinci InventionsThis page contains an index of all the Leonardo da Vinci inventions profiled on this site. These include flying inventions, war inventions and other innovations.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/default-favicon.ico)Leonardo Da Vinci Inventions](https://www.da-vinci-inventions.com/davinci-inventions?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“Nothing can be loved or hated unless it is first understood.”** – Leonardo da Vinci ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Should we built it? URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/should-we-built-it/ Last updated: 2025-05-02T07:29:41.000Z #243 - May.2025 When was the last time you asked this question? As technology evolves, people designing and developing products have a bigger **responsibility** for how they affect people’s health, privacy, and inclusion. Each decision should balance customer experience with [ethical principles](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-ethical-design/). *"Should we build it"* must come before *"how great this experience will be!".* The priority should be: ethics > functional solutions > delightful experiences. Not the reverse. Your decisions matter. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Our humanity URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/our-humanity/ Last updated: 2025-05-01T16:54:45.000Z #242 - May.2025 As AI gets smarter, our best advantage, as humans, isn't technical skills, but our unique way to **adapt** in a constantly-changing world. The people who will thrive will be open to **learning**, adjusting their human expertise as technology changes. They will be able to connect dots across different areas, understand **emotions** (yes, empathy!), and see nuances that data misses. They will stay **curious**. The most complex challenges in the future will always need a strong combination of human wisdom and technology tools. Let's protect and celebrate our **humanity**. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### The right prototype URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/the-right-prototype/ Last updated: 2025-04-30T08:07:00.000Z #241 - Apr.2025 The earlier you are in the discovery journey, the less effort you should invest in your prototype. I often see teams creating detailed, high-fidelity prototypes to validate concepts that are still taking shape. This slows you down. At the early stage, you're exploring possibilities. You don’t want too much constraints. You have a [seed of an idea](https://www.cesarrg.com/ideas/) but don't know how it will materialize. You need speed of validation, not details. A simple paper and pen prototype (yes, not joking) is one of your most powerful tools. Detailed prototypes come later—when you've narrowed your possibilities and want to explore specific experiences or features. At this point, you're optimizing for quality feedback on refined ideas. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/04/IMG_2445.jpeg) ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### A single experience URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/a-single-experience/ Last updated: 2025-04-29T05:40:24.000Z #240 - Apr.2025 We often forget that we build **trust** with customer at the boundaries of our products. People don't separate your product from the experience that **surrounds** it. Every **touchpoint**—awareness, education, onboarding, support—is equally important in terms of customer expectations. You might have a great digital product, but a broken gap in the boundaries will also lead to frustration. There is no "product" and "everything else." It's all one [experience](https://www.cesarrg.com/how-people-process-an-experience/). ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Simpler solutions URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/simpler-solutions/ Last updated: 2025-04-28T06:40:57.000Z #239 - Apr.2025 Not everything needs AI, just as not every process needs to be [automated](https://www.cesarrg.com/what-to-automate/). Many times, simple ways deliver the same results with less complexity. I like one of the most basic principles for "AI for Good": deeply evaluate the value of AI **early** in the process. By using it, you will find that, often, a simpler solution is the best option. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Learning to read URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/learning-to-read/ Last updated: 2025-04-23T10:17:14.000Z #238 - Apr.2025 Mario Vargas Llosa said that **reading** was "the most important thing that has happened to me in life." I think many of us could say the same. Now as a parent watching my daughter learning to decipher her first sentences, I realize how fortunate we all are who had the opportunity to learn to read. Without knowing it, we were given the **key** to discover millions of ideas from people who put into phrases what they felt, thought, and learned in this life. And along with them, we experience, once again, those moments when reading a book. Page by page. From realism to the imaginary world. From concrete to abstract. We live in a hyperconnected world where we constantly look for shortcuts. The **patience and discipline** to read a book seems like a heroic act. But it's worth every second. Happy World Book Day! ¡Saludos! *ps: If you haven't seen yet,* [*these are some of the books*](https://www.cesarrg.com/book-shelf/) *that I constantly recommend to others.* ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] The new competitive advantage URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-the-new-competitive-advantage/ Last updated: 2025-04-18T16:42:54.000Z #237 - Apr.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: Adaptability is the new competitive advantage. Well…this was true back in [2011](https://hbr.org/2011/07/adaptability-the-new-competitive-advantage?ref=cesarrg.com). AI hasn't changed the fundamentals of adaptive advantage— but it amplified them. The best companies and teams will combine: - Quick reaction to context signals - Rapid experimentation - Flexible and empowered teams It is not just about adopting AI tools, but building organizations that can detect, experiment, connect, and move faster than others. The pace has changed, but the principles remain. ### 🧠 Ideas from this week This week, I shared thoughts on where leaders should focus their energy, how AI is creating new product dynamics, why privacy matters for personal freedom, and emerging design trends for creative teams. There is a common thread: adapting to change while staying centered on human needs. Check out the full articles below: - [Where to focus your energy](https://www.cesarrg.com/where-to-focus-your-energy/) - [When products think: AI product flywheel](https://www.cesarrg.com/when-products-think-ai-product-flywheel/) - [Privacy is freedom](https://www.cesarrg.com/privacy-is-freedom/) - [Design trends for creative leaders](https://www.cesarrg.com/design-trends-for-creative-leaders/) ### 📊 Visuals from this week ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/04/IMG_2431-1.png) ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links [How to win an argument with a toddlerYou can’t. That’s because toddlers don’t understand what an argument is and aren’t interesting in having one. Toddlers (which includes defensive bureaucrats, bullies, flat e…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-11.png)Seth's Blog![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/seth_godin_ogimages_v02_1806135-1.jpg)](https://seths.blog/2025/04/how-to-win-an-argument-with-a-toddler/?ref=cesarrg.com) [Why we’re searching for alien tech in the solar system | Aeon EssaysWhen we look for extraterrestrials, we often peer into the depths of space. But alien life might be closer than you think![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-12.png)Aeon Magazine![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/essay-final-pia20180.jpg)](https://aeon.co/essays/why-were-searching-for-alien-tech-in-the-solar-system?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“If you’re not changing your mind, it’s likely you’re not actually having an argument (or you’re hanging out with the wrong people.)”** – Seth Godin ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Where to focus your energy URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/where-to-focus-your-energy/ Last updated: 2025-04-17T20:15:38.000Z #236 - Apr.2025 Some of the best leaders have a great intuition to focus on the right things based on 2 factors: 1. Their level of expertise 2. The impact of their involvement There is a great example from Apple's VP [Roger Rosner](https://hbr.org/2020/11/how-apple-is-organized-for-innovation?ref=cesarrg.com), and how he manages his work. It reminds me that effective leadership is about choosing *which* details deserve attention, balancing personal growth, and empowering others: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/04/CRG_IMG_focus.png) - **Growth**: where leaders seek learning and expand their capabilities - **Deep Engagement**: Where leaders can directly drive outcomes through hands-on connections - **Trust + Delegate**: where leaders need to trust and empower others through delegation - **Guide + Develop:** where leaders teach and guide others to deliver results ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### When products think: AI product flywheel URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/when-products-think-ai-product-flywheel/ Last updated: 2025-07-12T23:17:47.000Z #235 - Apr.2025 💡 This is a part II of this article. 2 weeks ago I sent out [Part I](https://www.cesarrg.com/when-products-think-navigating-the-ai-product-shift/). In my previous article, I shared how AI is transforming product management. We're moving from command-based to intent-based interactions with software, which changes the foundations of how we design, build, and run products. So how do we build great products in this new paradigm? ## AI Product Flywheel I like the concept of **flywheels**. I learned this idea at Amazon, where the flywheel represents the elements that reinforce their strategy. In any strategy, rather than a single component, many pieces need to work together. If they reinforce each other, the momentum creates a virtuous cycle that delivers exponential value. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/04/image-12-1.png) In Amazon's case, growth is driven by offering a great customer experience. If customers like it, they'll visit the website (Traffic). This traffic helps gain and retain Sellers, as they have a bigger market for their products. This win-win situation allows Amazon to offer a wide selection of products which, ultimately, attracts more customers. Similarly, growth enables reducing costs through economies of scale, which allows offering even lower prices to customers. It's a self-reinforcing loop. Thinking about this new reality of product management, I tried to identify which components, when working together within a strategy, could become a self-reinforcing loop for AI products. I'm calling it the **AI Product Flywheel.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/04/image-11.png) You'll notice something distinct about this flywheel. It exists within a larger environment of context awareness. AI-powered products will be different from what we know today. They'll be able to make decisions and predict outcomes better than humans in certain areas. AI provides a new level of **context awareness**. For businesses, this means understanding internal processes, competitors, economic trends, and more. Products can now spot patterns in this data and adapt in real-time as things change. This continuous evolution is a new variable we need to consider when designing solutions. At the center of this flywheel is Customer + Business Outcomes - the measurable results a product delivers for both your customers and your business. ### Customer Trust We begin with Customer Trust. In the digital economy, [trust is the foundation](https://www.cesarrg.com/trust/) of any product or service. Trust is created at every interaction, through consistency and transparency. This becomes even more important for solutions using AI. We need guardrails to handle unexpected responses and provide options to customers when products fail to deliver on their requests. We continue designing for people with expectations and emotions. How we handle these expectations will make a huge difference. ### Greater Adoption If we create strong trust bonds with customers, they'll come back for more. Adoption in a digital economy is very dynamic. Customers can easily look for alternatives in a market where new solutions emerge daily. The **network effect** of happy customers is powerful. More customers also creates the opportunity to refine AI-based systems through more contextual data and feedback, understanding different environments and use cases. ### Iterative Value Delivery Serving a larger customer base creates the leverage to iterate and deliver value consistently. With more users engaging with the product, you gain valuable insights that inform your development priorities. Success in AI product development comes not from building entire platforms upfront, but from identifying, building, and refining features that demonstrate clear value. It's about embracing **experimentation**, creating MVPs in days, not weeks. Delivering on your promise ([value proposition](https://www.cesarrg.com/value-propositions/)) with each iteration demonstrates that you care about the problem you're solving - and customers will notice this, reinforcing trust. ### Ethical Learning & Feedback As you grow and serve more customers, you gain opportunities to learn how they use your product. AI products mature through use. They require continuous evaluation against real-world scenarios, not just test data. We must collect [user feedback](https://www.cesarrg.com/feedback-timing/) and data in an ethical way. Putting ethics and privacy first is a major shift that product leaders need to embrace. When we commit to [ethical design](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-ethical-design/), we build customer trust. We also help create a society where privacy matters. Customers should understand how their feedback translates into meaningful improvements while respecting their privacy. ### Enhanced AI Capabilities Enhanced AI capabilities are how we turn customer feedback into technical features. These might be better recommendations, improved language understanding, or automation that predicts what users need. This connects directly back to customer trust. When customers see their feedback turned into real improvement they feel the product is made for them. The most successful AI products create a loop where capabilities evolve based on actual usage patterns, not just engineering assumptions. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/04/image-1-1.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/) Discover ****actionable insights and expert tips** to transform how you approach innovation, technology, and creativity. Practical tools you can apply immediately. Yes, they are ****free**! [Download for free ](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/) ### How the flywheel builds momentum Each of these elements reinforces the next in a continuous cycle: 1. Customer + Business outcomes as the end-goal 2. Customer trust as the starting point of the flywheel 3. Customer trust enables greater adoption 4. Greater adoption powers iterative value delivery, which reinforces customer trust 5. As we generate customer + business outcomes, we start serving a larger customer base, leading to more feedback 6. This feedback is then applied to create enhanced AI capabilities which, ultimately, brings more customers who trust the product All of this happens in an environment where the system constantly monitors, understands, and adapts to changes. To know if your flywheel is gaining momentum, establish metrics for each component. **Metrics** such as: - Trust: Customer satisfaction scores and retention rates - Adoption: Active users and feature usage - Value delivery: Feature delivery times and customer outcome improvements - Ethical learning: Privacy satisfaction and quality of feedback - Enhanced capabilities: Accuracy improvements and personalization effectiveness --- Customer Trust must be the foundation of all AI product design decisions. The technology may change over time, but our focus must remain on delivering measurable value for both customers and the business. I encourage you to test this flywheel with your own AI solutions. Mastering this flywheel—that builds trust, drives adoption, delivers value iteratively, learns ethically, and enhances AI capabilities—will define the next generation of digital products. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### Privacy is freedom URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/privacy-is-freedom/ Last updated: 2025-04-15T20:09:55.000Z #234 - Apr.2025 Today, every action we take in the digital world leaves a **digital trace** \- our clicks, searches, purchases,… Data is now one of the most important currencies in the world. We live in a **data economy**. At the center of all this is our personal privacy. **Privacy by Design** has never been so important as now. **Privacy is freedom**. Without it, we limit what we're willing to explore, learn, and create. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Design trends for creative leaders URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/design-trends-for-creative-leaders/ Last updated: 2025-04-14T08:53:42.000Z #233 - Apr.2025 Source: [Creative Boom](https://www.creativeboom.com/insight/what-emerging-trends-will-be-big-in-2025-we-asked-creative-leaders-for-their-predictions/?ref=cesarrg.com) 1. **AI as final output**: AI is moving beyond ideation to create production-ready assets, transforming processes and how a team works. 2. **Return to physical**: As technology accelerates, there is a renewed appreciation for tangible experiences and human connections. 3. **Craft renaissance**: Rejection of mass production is driving us back to traditional techniques, personalization, and sustainable processes. 4. **More experimentation**: With design tools becoming more accessible, we can get faster iterations over new ideas. 5. **Design writing skills**: The ability to craft clear prompts and narratives is becoming as valuable as visual skills in an AI-driven context. 6. **Sound becomes essential**: Audio is emerging as a key element in digital experiences, adding depth on top of visuals. 7. **Sustainability at the core**: Environmental consciousness is becoming embedded in each brand. 8. **"Minimalist maximalism"**: Visual language is evolving towards clean structures with bold, expressive elements. 9. **Health as the new luxury**: Innovations and investments are increasing in the wellness sector, combining digital and physical products. 10. **Inclusive by default**: Design is embracing real representation for everyone. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Why before what URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-why-before-what/ Last updated: 2025-04-11T10:36:26.000Z #232 - Apr.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: **Curiosity** is the seed of creativity. It pushes you to ask "*why*" before jumping to "*what*". The times I've failed to build things that matter to customers were because I wasn't curious enough. **Strong product sense** starts with curiosity. ### 🧠 Ideas from this week - [What to automate?](https://www.cesarrg.com/what-to-automate/) - [An invitation to experiment](https://www.cesarrg.com/an-invitation-to-experiment/) - [Shared context](https://www.cesarrg.com/shared-context/) - [Design for possibilities](https://www.cesarrg.com/design-for-possibilities/) [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/04/image-1-1.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/) Discover ****actionable insights and expert tips** to transform how you approach innovation, technology, and creativity. Practical tools you can apply immediately. Yes, they are ****free**! [Get E-books ](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/) ### 📊 Visuals from this week ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/04/image-8.png) *Source:* [*Visual Capitalist*](https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-which-ai-chatbots-collect-the-most-data-about-you/?ref=cesarrg.com) ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found interesting things about: - A phylosofical question about "what to do" as humans - A cool live map of London's underground trains - About the future of food: nutritious and sustainable [What to Do![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/arc.png)![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/bel-7.gif)](https://paulgraham.com/do.html?ref=cesarrg.com) [Live Tube Map - real-time London Underground TrainsWatch London Underground trains move in real-time on an interactive 3D map. See live tube trains across all lines including Central, Northern, Victoria, and more.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/web-app-manifest-192x192.png)real-time London Underground TrainsBen James](https://www.londonunderground.live/?ref=cesarrg.com) [Would you eat a cockroach? What if it was sterilised? Why not? | Aeon EssaysThe future of food is nutritious and sustainable – if we can overcome our instinctual revulsion to insects and lab-grown meat![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-10.png)Aeon Magazine![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/esssay-2012-04-17t120000z_970394846_gm1e84i01cp01_rtrmadp_3_food-insects-1.jpg)](https://aeon.co/essays/would-you-eat-a-cockroach-what-if-it-was-sterilised-why-not?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”** – Marcus Aurelius ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### What to automate? URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/what-to-automate/ Last updated: 2025-04-10T11:28:45.000Z #231 - Apr.2025 In the race of automation, knowing *what* to automate is more important than *how* to automate it. Focus on the right target. Look for the tasks that are: - **Outliers**: one-off tasks requiring deep thinking. Keep these with humans. - **Loops**: repetitive, low-value work, tasks that are unbalanced in terms of effort vs. outcomes. This is your opportunity. Loop-tasks grow slowly, almost invisible, within organizations. Most of the time they are the root cause preventing companies from scaling. Automate the loops. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### An invitation to experiment URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/an-invitation-to-experiment/ Last updated: 2025-04-09T10:27:33.000Z #230 - Apr.2025 Tobi Lütke's [latest internal memo](https://x.com/tobi/status/1909251946235437514?ref=cesarrg.com) at Shopify gives a good glance of the dimension of the changes on how technology is transforming the way we design and deliver solutions. It's an invitation to **experiment more**. An invitation to explore how we can become a 10X version of ourselves. As mentioned before, I think we are at the start of one of the biggest **creative revolutions** ever. An opportunity to reshape our [mental models](https://www.cesarrg.com/when-products-think-navigating-the-ai-product-shift/). Turning AI usage into a fundamental expectation in anyone's work is an invitation to become **curious about the possibilities**. *"Before asking for more headcount and resources, teams must demonstrate why they cannot get what they want done using AI."* Yes, sounds intimidating. But until we explore the boundaries and engage in this type of discussion, we risk falling behind this big opportunity window. - Removing historical constraints during our design process - Solving problems in a completely new way - Expanding ownership boundaries across roles to focus on true collaboration Interesting times ahead of us! ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Shared context URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/shared-context/ Last updated: 2025-04-08T20:24:24.000Z #229 - Apr.2025 One of the biggest challenges in highly complex and ambiguous projects is the lack of a consistent **shared context**. Some effects of this: - Teams start working without clarity on the **real problem** they want to solve - People jump into problem-solving mode using **wrong assumptions** - Teams **don't react to new information** or seek to turn assumptions into clear evidence - The **interpretation of outcomes varies** widely across team members The effort put into making sure everyone shares the same context is never wasted. It's not just about sharing information. It's about creating a **common understanding** of what success means. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Design for possibilities URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/design-for-possibilities/ Last updated: 2025-04-07T19:28:12.000Z #228 - Apr.2025 In any service, we don't design the experience itself — we **create the stage and conditions** for these interactions. The value of a service is experienced in **real-time** as you deliver it. In these "moments of truth" — as [Jan Carlzon ](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Moments-Truth-Jan-Carlzon/dp/0060915803/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=7BUSZTO9OJOE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.sNAmYexBxNUpIJIQF3OvZldMexM%5F0hw6qLB2%5FBTgmxxXjhbP0s9dFBmPrXa6diktn1uP4nnASJKlWaLZnryuSOarQ8sVkIuV7HCoBt7aLiJwIkS1Co88jc6P-vvNYYdwL1%5FNZa1GGbpME5UXy04pSvoPI1TU1x%5Fdd8pJLDV0-9P-YeiHZp8iAKu8D3ghfdUghHDDwvKmYYhz2OrDlUT67DlnUQZ7RX8Vw-rWQQsNlCo.p1tmdj0PfvqZ5PcwcrlUsF1bf3egps5kB91gcraRxtc&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=moments+of+truth&qid=1744053675&sprefix=moments+of+truth%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com)called them — context, customer expectations, and your promise meet. When aligned, you've won a loyal customer. When you design an experience, you are **designing for possibilities** rather than fixed outcomes. There has never been a time in history where [technology](https://www.cesarrg.com/when-products-think-navigating-the-ai-product-shift/) has been so powerful for designing such possibilities. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Ingredients of creativity URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-ingredients-of-creativity/ Last updated: 2025-04-04T18:15:06.000Z #227 - Apr.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: Three ingredients for creativity: - **Imagination**: combine your experiences into new ideas - **Curiosity**: ask more "what-if" questions - **Courage**: test ideas despite the fear of failure We often limit creativity to "artistic" roles, but creativity belongs to everyone solving problems. We need **creative** lawyers, doctors, managers, accountants, \[*add your role here*\]. What small experiment could you try this week to solve a problem differently? ### 🧠 Ideas from this week - [The best ideas](https://www.cesarrg.com/the-best-ideas/) - [Unstructured innovation](https://www.cesarrg.com/unstructured-innovation/) - [When products think: navigating the AI product shift](https://www.cesarrg.com/when-products-think-navigating-the-ai-product-shift/) - [Accountability and collaboration](https://www.cesarrg.com/accountability-and-collaboration/) ### 📊 Visuals from this week About the paradigm changes between traditional product management and managing AI-driven products: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/04/image-4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/04/image-5.png) *Source:* [*Reforge*](https://www.reforge.com/blog/ai-impact-product-management?ref=cesarrg.com) ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found interesting things about: - An injectable pacemaker that brings hope to children with congenital heart defects - Creativity drive in the face of technological change [The world’s smallest pacemaker is injectable and powered by lightA team of engineers at Northwestern University have created the world’s smallest pacemaker. It’s activated by light and can be inserted via syringe.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-160x160.png)EngadgetLawrence Bonk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/02386460-109f-11f0-b8d7-ea5e0789db82)](https://www.engadget.com/science/the-worlds-smallest-pacemaker-is-injectable-and-powered-by-light-153302491.html?ref=cesarrg.com) [Multi-disciplinary artist Jack Rusher on the need to sustain your creative drive in the face of technological change – The Creative IndependentMulti-disciplinary artist Jack Rusher discusses habit as excellence, what scientists and artists have in common, and the influence of AI on creativity.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-icon-114x114-1.png)Rebecca Hiscott![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/ADO8yNUTFGnCu5tCdEzl)](https://thecreativeindependent.com/people/multi-disciplinary-artist-jack-rusher-on-the-need-to-sustain-your-creative-drive-in-the-face-of-technological-change/?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?”** – Satchel Paige ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Accountability and collaboration URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/accountability-and-collaboration/ Last updated: 2025-04-03T11:23:55.000Z #226 - Apr.2025 I've lost trust in RACI matrices. More often, I see these matrices creating **walls** instead of collaboration **bridges**. In plain words, most RACIs define boundaries: "you do this, I do that." Yet, in highly collaborative environments, true ownership isn't about territories. It's about having **common outcomes and incentives**, where ideas are nurtured within the team (engineers, designers, business experts). Does this mean lowering the bar for **accountability**? No. We still aim to have clear owners who account for final decisions. But this is **very different** from taking decisions in isolation and passing the ball to the next owner. Accountability + Collaboration. That's the goal. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### When products think: navigating the AI product shift URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/when-products-think-navigating-the-ai-product-shift/ Last updated: 2025-04-16T09:30:37.000Z 💡 I noticed that the article was becoming too long. I'm dividing this into two parts. Read part II [here](https://www.cesarrg.com/when-products-think-ai-product-flywheel/). #225 - Apr.2025 What if the way we've interacted with computers for the last 60 years radically changes in a short period of time? How do we build customer trust when apps can make decisions on their own without direct commands? I've been reflecting on these questions. I'm sure many product and design teams are also wondering about the size of this change and what it means for our work. Things are changing very fast. AI is not only opening the doors for a new type of innovation, but is **reshaping the way how we design products.** We are entering a new era in digital product design. A [creative revolution](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-creative-revolution/) that will rewards people who are curious to explore, iterate and discover new possibilities through technology. A revolution that will make us rethink how product should be built and how they should evolve. It might sound like a radical change. Indeed, is likely to be one. Yet, at the foundation, there is something about design that remains: **we will continue to design for people.** Technologies will evolve. Our goal as designers and product leaders is to continue addressing people's needs and expectations. Empathy will remain as our north star for design decisions that are becoming more complex and ambiguous. But many other things *will* change... ## A new interaction paradigm In Jakob Nielsen's words, AI represents "*the third user-interface paradigm in the history of computing — the first new interaction model in more than 60 years.*" A paradigm shift. All these years we have been used to give commands to computers. Each command has a deterministic output. Traditional digital products succeeded through **predictability**. Users learn how to use a product and expect a result. You click on this button, and an action will happen. For the last decades, predictability has been the key driver for building trust with customers. But what happens when the interaction changes from a command to an intent? AI products operate differently. In all GenAI tools available today we **specify an outcome, not the *how*.** This fundamentally changes how we approach product development. We'll need to design for a world where users tell computers what they want, not how to do it. Let me give you an example. Think about user acceptance tests: - How do you approach a test where you are not evaluating the process execution but actually the outcomes? - What is the criteria for 'Done' when working with a model that evolves over time? - How do you design mechanisms that create consistent outcomes? Is consistency even necessary? How does this affect customer trust? When a system's decisions become more complex and less transparent, how do we keep this trust? As Nielsen observes, "when users don't know how something was done, it can be harder for them to identify or correct the problem." This is a new design challenge. And it's not a small one. ## Traditional vs. AI Product Management Think about the entire range of activities and responsibilities of a product leader. From discovery, prioritization, building and delivery. This paradigm shift adds new dimensions to each of these phases: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/04/image-4.png) Starting with **Product Focus**. Traditional product management centers on outcome-driven features and UX. With AI products, we must equally prioritize features, data quality, and model performance. Your data strategy becomes as important as—or even more important than—your feature strategy. **User Experience**. As customers shift to intention-based interactions with software, we need new tools and methods to manage their experiences. Not only on how the system reacts to such requests, but how to educate users on the best way to share their intent with the system. **Decision Logic**. Traditional products deliver deterministic results — the same input always produces the same output. AI products operate probabilistically. Results may vary and improve over time as the model learns. We need to design the guardrails to handle customer expectations, anticipating wrong outputs due to hallucinations and providing transparency to customers on how decisions were made. **Release Cycles.** Traditional products follow defined release cycles with clear versioning. AI products often use continuous deployment models where the system is constantly learning and evolving. While model's versioning continues to be applicable, we require new monitoring, validation, and rollback strategies for systems that are in constant evolution. **Risks**. Traditional product management anticipate all sorts of risks, from purely functional ones (will the product serve its purpose?) to feasibility, usability and business risks. With AI, risks that were often neglected become foundational. Risks on how we remove biases, how we promote fairness and how we incorporate [design principles over ethics](https://www.cesarrg.com/accelerators-privacy-ethics/) will become the new norm. **Value Creation.** Traditional products typically grow linearly based on feature addition. AI products can improve exponentially as adoption increases due to these data network effects. This creates a different scaling dynamic, where user adoption curves can take us by surprise. While scalability has been a core part of system design, now we are playing in new fields of scaling. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/04/image-1-1.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/) Discover ****actionable insights and expert tips** to transform how you approach innovation, technology, and creativity. Practical tools you can apply immediately. Yes, they are ****free**! [Get E-books ](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/) ## Measuring success Our measurement tools must evolve with our products. While traditional products might track clicks, conversion rates, and task completion, AI products require **different success metrics**: - How often users need to refine their prompts to get what they want? - What is the level of confidence from users on the outputs? - How are we iterating over customer feedback to increase alignment? Pay special attention to moments of delight versus frustration – understanding when variability creates value versus confusion. Success in AI products may look different too. Is less about task completion and more about goal achievement. Jobs-to-be-done will take the front seat to guide product teams towards the right success metrics. --- We are entering a new era of product design and development. An exciting one! The opportunities are huge if you embrace these changes with an open mind and, sometimes, breaking the traditional way of doing things. A time to experiment, learn and iterate. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://cesarrg.ghost.io/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://cesarrg.ghost.io/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox (+ [free ebooks](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)!) All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Unstructured innovation URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/unstructured-innovation/ Last updated: 2025-04-01T20:17:09.000Z #224 - Apr.2025 I've seen many teams assume that adopting the trendy methodology will magically create an innovation culture. Then, they get frustrated when it doesn't work as expected. A truth is: **methodologies are just tools** \- trails, not rails. Some of the [best innovation cultures](https://www.cesarrg.com/innovation-culture-beyond-methodologies/) grow more unstructured: - Through **human interactions** and connections - Through teams with a common **problem-solving mindset** - Through finding the right balance between **creative freedom and ownership** Frameworks can help guide decisions, but they're just one piece of the puzzle. The magic happens when you adapt these tools to your specific context. Mindset over a step-by-step recipe. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Weekly insights trusted by innovation leaders 💡** Get Insights Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox. All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### The best ideas URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/the-best-ideas/ Last updated: 2025-03-31T20:36:41.000Z #223 - Mar.2025 The race to **automate** everything in business feels right...but often is the wrong race. There is nothing worse than automating processes that **shouldn't exist** in the first place. It's like building a high-speed train to a destination nobody wants to visit. Filter the noise from the essential. Remove what's unnecessary. Focus on what generates value. *Then* consider what to automate. In a world where anyone can automate almost anything, what makes you **unique** \- as a business or as a professional - is what really matters. In a future where there is "Moore's law for everything" the cost to implement new ideas will not be the constraint. Finding the **best ideas** will. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Weekly insights trusted by innovation leaders 💡** Get Insights Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox. All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Transformation of business processes URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-transformation-of-business-processes/ Last updated: 2025-03-28T10:20:53.000Z #222 - Mar.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: Three questions I've been thinking about: 1. How will multi-agent systems transform **traditional business process management**? Process automation won't just be about optimizing flows but to bring autonomous reasoning. 2. How will organizations balance control with the flexibility of agents that make **decisions based on context**? Business processes are evolving from rigid flows to adaptive systems. 3. When decisions shift from explicit rules to context-driven judgments made by AI agents, what **new governance models** will we need? Are you also interested in this shift? 🧠 Ideas from this week - [The power of a story](https://www.cesarrg.com/the-power-of-a-story/) - [Advanced perception mechanisms](https://www.cesarrg.com/advanced-perception-mechanisms/) - [Critical thinking](https://www.cesarrg.com/critical-thinking/) - [New UX principle](https://www.cesarrg.com/new-ux-principles/) ### 📡 Tech Radar ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links [How to ship like a startupSeven lessons from the story of Figma Slides![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2F5d6af901-7717-4d79-b49e-8bc28427148c-2Fapple-touch-icon-180x180.png)Lenny's NewsletterMihika Kapoor![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2F1ffe7e02-cbca-4c5d-ac5c-a146cfc40938_916x514.png)](https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-to-ship-like-a-startup?ref=cesarrg.com) [Would you eat a cockroach? What if it was sterilised? Why not? | Aeon EssaysThe future of food is nutritious and sustainable – if we can overcome our instinctual revulsion to insects and lab-grown meat![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-9.png)Aeon Magazine![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/esssay-2012-04-17t120000z_970394846_gm1e84i01cp01_rtrmadp_3_food-insects.jpg)](https://aeon.co/essays/would-you-eat-a-cockroach-what-if-it-was-sterilised-why-not?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“Every once in a while, a new technology, an old problem, and a big idea turn into an innovation.”** – Dean Kamen ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Weekly insights trusted by innovation leaders 💡** Get Insights Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****forward-thinking innovators** from big corporations and tech startups getting weekly insights straight to their inbox. All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### The power of a story URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/the-power-of-a-story/ Last updated: 2025-03-27T21:48:06.000Z #221 - Mar.2025 Many times, [stories](https://www.cesarrg.com/stories/) have the power to become more relevant than reality. They can create new norms and mold how people behave. Every product should have a strong story behind it. In [Chris Do's](https://www.thefutur.com/people/chris-do?ref=cesarrg.com) words: "*a product without a story is a commodity.*" People don't buy just the product - they buy the story behind it. A story that customers can relate and want to become part of. A story they want to share with others. What's the story behind your product? ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Weekly insights trusted by innovation leaders 💡** Get Insights Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox. All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Advanced perception mechanisms URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/advanced-perception-mechanisms/ Last updated: 2025-03-26T13:00:45.000Z #220 - Mar.2025 Our bodies are in constant **experimentation** with reality. We start with a prediction and, through our senses, we continuously calibrate our perceptions. Our actions are reactions to reduce our prediction errors. New technology like AI gives businesses this same quality: **advanced *perception* mechanisms** to continuously adapt to their environment. Future competition will be measured by how quickly companies can detect these contextual changes and adapt their **tactics in real-time.** The best businesses will be equipped with technology to *sense*, process and make decisions within a fast-changing world. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Weekly insights trusted by innovation leaders 💡** Get Insights Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox. All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Critical thinking URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/critical-thinking/ Last updated: 2025-03-26T03:44:45.000Z #219 - Mar.2025 In a world saturated with *alternative facts*, our **critical thinking** is one of our most important skills for the future. A skill that grounds us in reality. A skill that can't be delegated to AI. Nowadays, searching for truth—in both professional and personal projects—is a complex journey. Paradoxically, there's never been as much information available as today. Different **perspectives** help us see faces of the same complex reality that we all share. It is like viewing a diamond from multiple angles. But claiming that the diamond is made of plastic, that's not perspective — that's **misinformation**. Spotting the difference is wisdom. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Weekly insights trusted by innovation leaders 💡** Get Insights Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives** getting weekly insights on design, innovation and creativity straight to their inbox. All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### New UX principles URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/new-ux-principles/ Last updated: 2025-03-24T14:29:43.000Z #218 - Mar.2025 **UX principles** evolution from the traditional way of designing digital products to the new AI-enabled generation: From **visibility** of content to **transparency** of decision-making processes. User need to understand *why* and *how* those decisions are made From **usability feedback** to **feedback loops** that refine model alignments. Every interaction becomes a learning input. From **consistency in outputs** to **handling uncertainty** in probabilistic experiences. Designing interfaces that help users navigate uncertainty while building appropriate trust. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] Innovation and social norms URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-innovation-and-social-norms/ Last updated: 2025-03-21T11:00:53.000Z #217 - Mar.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: Sometimes you need to create **new social norms** to spread large-scale innovations. Many powerful innovations fail to scale not because they don't solve important problems, but because they conflict with existing **behaviors and beliefs.** Take electric vehicles as an example. Despite clear benefits, adoption remained slow for years until now where the **social perception** around EV ownership has changed. New behaviors and technologies move through social processes and scale through **networks of people.** Who are the connectors that can champion your idea? What new norms do you need to create to change behavior? ### 🧠 Ideas from this week [Modern times#213 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. It is never just about the technology. Is about how we use it to deliver memorable experiences.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/IMG_2210-18.png)César RodríguezCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/CRG-2-1-4.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/modern-times/) [What’s not going to change#214 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. We’ll continue to design for people. Tools will change. People’s needs will remain constant.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/IMG_2210-20.png)César RodríguezCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/CRG-6-1-3.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/whats-not-going-to-change/) [How people process an experience?#215 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. Three levels of how people process an experience according to Donal Norman.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/IMG_2210-21.png)César RodríguezCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/CRG-3-1.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/how-people-process-an-experience/) [Tell their story#216 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. A user story should describe a user’s work and problem, not the engineering required to solve it.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/IMG_2210-22.png)César RodríguezCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/CRG-2-1-6.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/tell-their-story/) ### 🛠️ Practical framework When creating user stories, **context and motivation** are much more important elements than describing the solution: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/03/CRG_Info_UserStory.png) ### 🤖 Gadget of the week *"682 custom parts. Built with two human hands."* [the Senecathe Seneca a keyboard dream from the future Learn about buying from $3600 682 custom parts. Built with two human hands. The Seneca is my middle finger to the aesthetic homogeneity and economic over-optimization of 21st century life. Its intricate mechanisms can only be assembled and tuned by human hands, over hours of![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/norbauer_logo.png)Norbauer & Co.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/Logotype.svg)](https://www.norbauer.co/pages/the-seneca?ref=cesarrg.com) ### 👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links ### [AI is Probabilistic – That’s Why It Needs ConstraintsComputers used to exclusively follow rules; now they generate possibilities. Combining both approaches maximizes their potential.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-8.png)jarangojarango![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/ph-antikythera-mechanism.webp)](https://jarango.com/2025/03/18/ai-is-probabilistic-thats-why-it-needs-constraints/?ref=sidebar) [Something Is Rotten in the State of CupertinoWho decided these personalized Siri features should go in the WWDC keynote, with a promise they’d arrive in the coming year, when, at the time, they were in such an unfinished state they could not be demoed to the media even in a controlled environment? Three months later, who decided Apple should double down and advertise these features in a TV commercial, and promote them as a selling point of the iPhone 16 lineup?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/dfstar.svg)Daring Fireball![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/df-wide-card.png)](https://daringfireball.net/2025/03/something%5Fis%5Frotten%5Fin%5Fthe%5Fstate%5Fof%5Fcupertino?ref=cesarrg.com) [Designing for AI Engineers: UI patterns you need to knowA reference article with guiding principles, patterns, and personas to help designers become more AI literate.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156-10)UX CollectiveEve Weinberg![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/1-55CbrT0QfrwejlGo5c0zag-1.png)](https://uxdesign.cc/designing-for-ai-engineers-what-ui-patterns-and-principles-you-need-to-know-8b16a5b62a61?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”** – James Clear ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Weekly insights trusted by innovation leaders 💡** Get Insights Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other ****forward-thinking innovators** from big corporations and tech startups getting weekly insights straight to their inbox. All practical learnings from my experience building tech products. No spam, ever. ### Tell their story URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/tell-their-story/ Last updated: 2025-03-20T09:31:46.000Z #216 - Mar.2025 A user story is...(yes) a story. It should describe a user's work and problem, not the engineering required to solve it. When creating user stories, **context and motivation** are much more important elements than describing the solution. Only once the context and motivation is clear, you can start adding performance elements (The "Wow" effect). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/03/image-2.png) Following this structure already gives you a simple prioritization strategy within each user story: 1. Focus on delivering the **functional** foundation to deliver the basic outcomes. 2. Then bring the **performance** and "wow" elements as you iterate and learn. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### How people process an experience? URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/how-people-process-an-experience/ Last updated: 2025-03-19T12:42:51.000Z #215 - Mar.2025 Three levels of how people process an experience according to [Don Norman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%5FNorman?ref=cesarrg.com): ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/03/CRG_Info_people_experiences-2.png) **The visceral level**. Immediate of the reactions. Unconscious. Driven by the perceptions of the body. Focus on leveraging colors, harmony, and structure. Bringing order to chaos. **The behavioral level.** Where the promise meets the expectation. Sense of control and knowledge. Focus on providing clarity and continuous feedback. **The Reflective level**. Stage of cognitive and slow thinking. Deriving the meaning of the experience. Focus on emotional design. Think about the positive and negative memories. Design is about navigating at all levels. Remember that emotions trigger thoughts, and thoughts trigger emotions. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### What’s not going to change URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/whats-not-going-to-change/ Last updated: 2025-03-18T10:58:54.000Z #214 - Mar.2025 It's hard to predict the future! I tried in the past... I like Jeff Bezos' reasoning that when building a long-term strategy, instead of trying to predict what will change, we often don't reflect enough on what's *not* going to change. In product strategy, everything seems to be changing very quickly. With the rise of AI-powered products, everyone is questioning even core paradigms that have remained true for the last 60 years, since we started interacting with computers through command lines. But there is something that I strongly believe won't change. Something that is at the core of any design practice. We'll continue to design **for people**. This is at the core of what we do as designers, product managers and engineers. We design for real needs and real people. People who are profoundly wired with expectations, fears and behavioral mindsets. And now, and in the future, the secret will be in how we tackle these complex needs by leveraging the best technology available. Tools will change. People's needs will remain constant. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### Modern times URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/modern-times/ Last updated: 2025-03-17T11:34:13.000Z #213 - Mar.2025 One of the examples that I often use in my talks about innovation and design is inspired on Chaplin's 1936 [***Modern Times***.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern%5FTimes%5F%28film%29?ref=cesarrg.com) There is one particular scene that resembles very well what bad design means. Chaplin is a worker at a factory, where they started testing a new machine *"designed"* to feed workers, all for optimizing time. The machine was **technically** advanced but completely ignored the user. It nearly killed Chaplin by forcing food into his mouth! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/03/moderntimes-1-1.jpeg) From a design perspective, this scene always stuck with me. The scene is funny, but behind it has a very insightful lesson - in fact, the entire film is a masterpiece of social critique. This is what, often, happens in many companies shipping products & services where technology is disconnected from human needs. This is what happens when we over-index on *performance* and ignore **human behavior**. It is never just about the technology. It's about how we use it to deliver [memorable](https://www.cesarrg.com/memorable/) experiences. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] Principles for better GenAI product experiences URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-principles-for-better-genai-product-experiences-2/ Last updated: 2025-03-14T12:32:24.000Z #212 - Mar.2025 ***Weekly Retro** **is a short e-mail with a wrap-up of ideas from the week, interesting links I found, and food for thought before you head off for the weekend.* Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: Here are simple principles you can use to design better experiences for GenAI products: - **Underpromise.** This might sound counterintuitive, but the better you handle expectations while being transparent about how the system works, the more you build customer trust. Many GenAI tools create frustration by promising perfection they can't deliver. Build confidence. Later, you will be able to commit to bigger promises. - **Probe.** Continuous probing with suggestions on next steps is a great way to guide customers to their end goal. Rather than assuming what users want, create conversational touchpoints that clarify intent and offer alternatives. - **Calibrate.** Align your experience through feedback loops from customers. The iterative reinforcement cycle isn't just critical—it's how you tell customers: "I hear you." Share evidences on how their feedback is improving the system. - **Create guardrails.** Help users understand what's possible and what's not. Set clear boundaries. Provide examples of effective prompts, and create safety mechanisms that prevent frustration. Good guardrails don't feel restrictive—they feel like helpful guidance. Makes sense? ### 🧠 I**deas from this week** [Inside-out or outside-in?#211 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. Inside-out vs. out-side. This shift in mindset makes all the difference![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/IMG_2210-17.png)César RodríguezCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/CRG-2-1-3.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/inside-out-or-outside-in/) ### 🤖 Technology worth tracking [**Manus**](https://manus.im/?ref=cesarrg.com)has the goal for becoming a *general AI agent* for both professional and personal tasks. In Manus founder's words: "...potentially a glimpse into AGI". Is it? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/03/image.png) ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [Why large language models are mysterious – even to their creators | Aeon VideosRiver bank or bank account? How chatbots learned to make the quantum leap to context by training on billions of prompts![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-7.png)Aeon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/large-language-models-explained-landscape-2.jpg)](https://aeon.co/videos/why-large-language-models-are-mysterious-even-to-their-creators?ref=cesarrg.com) [Spreading Slow IdeasWe yearn for frictionless technological solutions. But people talking to people is still the way that norms and standards change.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-12.ico)The New YorkerAtul Gawande![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/130729_r23758_g2048.jpg)](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/07/29/slow-ideas?ref=cesarrg.com) [Tyler Cowen, the man who wants to know everythingHe is Silicon Valley’s favourite economist. Does his lust for knowledge have a place in the age of AI?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/icon.svg)The EconomistThe Economist![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/1843_20250227_1843_COWEN_Teas.jpg)](https://www.economist.com/1843/2025/02/28/tyler-cowen-the-man-who-wants-to-know-everything?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“The more constraints one imposes, the more one frees one's self.”** – Igor Stravinsky ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### Inside-out or outside-in? URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/inside-out-or-outside-in/ Last updated: 2025-03-13T22:08:29.000Z #211 - Mar.2025 **Inside-out vs. out-side?** Many companies still follow an **inside-out** approach: - They lock themselves in conference and design rooms - Develop ideas based on assumptions - Launch products hoping for positive feedback - Spend months developing before validating The most successful companies work **outside-in**: - They start by listen to their ecosystem - Start by deeply understand the problem - Absorb this knowledge to generate ideas - Test concepts quickly before full development This shift in mindset makes all the difference ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] Time-to-value for platform products URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-time-to-value-for-platform-products/ Last updated: 2025-02-28T20:58:36.000Z #210 - Feb.2025 Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: One of the biggest challenges for **internal platform products** is that their value is directly proportional to their **scale and the leverage** that other business apps get from them. And that takes time. **Time-to-value cycles are longer**, which can create uncertainty and frustration. Stakeholders start to question if the investment is worth it. Especially during the initial ramping phase of an internal platform product try this: 1. **Focus your energy on bringing "seeding" into the platform**. The virtuous cycles of platforms start with a few, well-served clients. Look for the early adopters with real problems that you can solve. Others will follow them. 2. **Play the long-term game**. The benefits are, most of the time, compounded over time by the number of clients onboarded into your platform. It starts very slow, but with care and patience, can generate exponential value. 3. **Measure and share.** Traditional product metrics often fail to capture the platform's value creation. In addition to core operational metrics, track (and share) ecosystem adoption, cost reduction, and how others are using existing capabilities. These are your best credentials. ### 📆 **Events (re-sharing in case you missed it)** For the innovation community in **Madrid**: next month (Mar 12) I'll be part of Ilia's event at [Puerta Innovación](https://www.madridinnova.es/espacios/puerta-innovacion/?ref=cesarrg.com), discussing real examples of business applications powered by AI and insights on the product mindset for AI-enabled products. [Register here.](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/entradas-ai-beyond-the-hype-aplicaciones-practicas-para-el-exito-empresarial-1256499657299?aff=oddtdtcreator&ref=cesarrg.com) 🚀 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/02/image-1.png) ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [AI: First New UI Paradigm in 60 YearsAI is introducing the third user-interface paradigm in computing history, shifting to a new interaction mechanism where users tell the computer what they want, not how to do it — thus reversing the locus of control.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-10.ico)Nielsen Norman GroupJakob Nielsen![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/AI_First_New_UI_Paradigm_1.jpg)](https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ai-paradigm/?ref=cesarrg.com) [Perplexity teases a web browser called Comet | TechCrunchAI-powered search engine Perplexity says it’s building its own web browser. It’ll be called Comet, and it’s set to arrive ‘soon.’![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/cropped-cropped-favicon-gradient.png)TechCrunchKyle Wiggers![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/GettyImages-2150495091.jpg)](https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/24/perplexity-teases-a-web-browser-called-comet/?ref=cesarrg.com) [The End of Programming as We Know It![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-11.ico)O’Reilly MediaTim O’Reilly![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/binary-1187198_1920_crop-cf3ecf0e521f99a1bb5c5565755c9c4d-1.jpg)](https://www.oreilly.com/radar/the-end-of-programming-as-we-know-it/?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative.”** – Woody Allen ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] Metrics are not the goal URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-metrics-are-not-the-goal/ Last updated: 2025-02-22T17:06:45.000Z #209 - Feb.2025 Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: There is a tendency to **over-index on metrics.** As if metrics are the end-goal that we look for as an outcome of our products. Goodhart's law is a good reminder: "when a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure." Metrics are **proxies** – they indicate a trend but don't tell the whole story. In isolation, they are just datapoints. Within a context, they become enablers for decision-making. A product isn't better simply because it has good metrics. What truly matters is how you **interpret** these signals and the strategic **decisions** you make based on them. ### **📖 Online course worth checking out (free)** **Multi AI Agent Systems with crewAI** [Multi AI Agent Systems with crewAILearn key principles of designing effective AI agents, and organizing a team of AI agents to perform complex, multi-step tasks.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-9.ico)Overview![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/V5_DeepLearning_CrewAI_Banner_2070x1080-2.png)](https://www.deeplearning.ai/short-courses/multi-ai-agent-systems-with-crewai/?ref=cesarrg.com) Understand the basics concepts of **AI agents** and how you can leverage multi-agent systems to automate business flows. ### 📆 **Events** For the innovation community in **Madrid**: next month (Mar 12) I'll be part of Ilia's event at [Puerta Innovación](https://www.madridinnova.es/espacios/puerta-innovacion/?ref=cesarrg.com), discussing real examples of business applications powered by AI and insights on the product mindset for AI-enabled products. [Register here.](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/entradas-ai-beyond-the-hype-aplicaciones-practicas-para-el-exito-empresarial-1256499657299?aff=oddtdtcreator&ref=cesarrg.com) 🚀 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/02/image-1.png) ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [Are chatbots of the dead a brilliant idea or a terrible one? | Aeon EssaysWe can now create compelling experiences of talking with our dead. Is this ghoulish, therapeutic or something else again?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-6.png)Aeon Magazine![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/test-aeon-header-copy.jpg)](https://aeon.co/essays/are-chatbots-of-the-dead-a-brilliant-idea-or-a-terrible-one?utm%5Fsource=Aeon+Newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=6f7d03f470-EMAIL%5FCAMPAIGN%5F2025%5F02%5F21&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fterm=0%5F-19d630b572-838125733) [Designing for AI Engineers: UI patterns you need to knowA reference article with guiding principles, patterns, and personas to help designers become more AI literate.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156-9)UX CollectiveEve Weinberg![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/1-55CbrT0QfrwejlGo5c0zag.png)](https://uxdesign.cc/designing-for-ai-engineers-what-ui-patterns-and-principles-you-need-to-know-8b16a5b62a61?ref=cesarrg.com) [Google AgentspaceGoogle Agentspace is the launch point for enterprise-ready AI agents, helping increase employee productivity for complex tasks with one single prompt.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/super_cloud.png)Google Cloud![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/social-icon-google-cloud-1200-630.png)](https://cloud.google.com/products/agentspace?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“*However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.*”** – Winston Churchill ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### What might continue to be true in 2025? URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/what-might-continue-to-be-true-in-2025/ Last updated: 2025-02-18T12:28:59.000Z #208 - Feb.2025 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/02/predictions-1.png) Last year I shared [predictions](https://www.cesarrg.com/product-design-trends-for-2024/) about important trends to track during 2024\. It's time to check if they were accurate! So, were they? Well, yes...and no. Any prediction is a bet into the future. It's a way of making sense of multiple signals converging into a common place. The more you are aware of these signals, the better you become at anticipating changes. It's not about getting it right, but fostering a discussion about what's coming. Let's revisit each of them and see where are we standing today. ### Last year's predictions > **Ethics by design.** ethics opens a wide and complex space balancing concepts such as justice, bias, and system responsibilities. Designing new experiences should consider principles such as transparency and continuous auditing of biases that could lead to excluding, offending, or impacting people's lives. There is no doubt that ethics played an important role in 2024, especially due to the rise of solutions powered by AI. We saw an increase in awareness of the harm biased systems can create. Yes, it is a very polarized space and it will continue to be. Yet, we saw new frameworks gaining traction such as [Inspect](https://inspect.ai-safety-institute.org.uk/?ref=cesarrg.com) or agreements on [Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights in the EU](https://www.coe.int/en/web/artificial-intelligence/the-framework-convention-on-artificial-intelligence?ref=cesarrg.com). How fast these frameworks will become hard commitments enforced by law is still unknown. > **Cybersecurity**. Customers are now more aware of the ownership of their data. Data is now part of our assets. Trust is built at every interaction with your product and how you manage customer's data is part of this. I would have loved to see data ownership and security as a strong theme in 2024\. I feel there is so much to do in this space. But we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Last year we saw many social media platforms becoming blocked in certain countries (like Twitter in Brazil) creating awareness on users about how fragile is the dependency on such products. These episodes will start teaching people that, often, the products is not the software but rather each of us. We become the products with our data and privacy. Let's wake-up! > **Immersive experiences**. This is a space that I expect to grow in 2024\. Not only through the rise of new gadgets but also as a new design practice where product leaders can offer new experiences. We can expect new interactions, affordances, and design principles for this new medium. In 2024, there was a significant rise in spatial computing and AI-driven personalization. VR rides in theme-parks or art exhibitions combining the physical and digital world is just the tip of the iceberg. We also saw new business models, such as [The Gang](https://www.thegang.io/?ref=cesarrg.com), where brands and games meet in the digital world to increase engagement. New gadgets appeared on the radar (Apple's Vision Pro), yet we are still to see the go-big plans for these devices. > **Sustainability.** Our world needs leaders who are conscious of the impact of their actions on our planet. The new generation of digital products should not only be desirable, feasible, and viable but also take into account the [needs of our planet](https://www.cesarrg.com/design-for-the-future/) without compromising on the quality of experience they offer. 2024 was the [warmest year](https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/temperatures-rising-nasa-confirms-2024-warmest-year-on-record/?ref=cesarrg.com) on record. This should be a concern for all of us. Reducing the footprint of technology and ensuring we adopt energy-efficient coding techniques is still a challenge. There is still a lot to do. 2024 brought new challenges with the mass adoption of AI-models which are very energy-dependent. We are starting to see more progress of more efficient models. The world count on us to do more. > **Experimental design**. In a constantly uncertain economy, [experimentation](https://www.cesarrg.com/experimental-design/) must be at the core of innovation. Even more important in new tech such as AI, where uncertainty is embedded within foundational models. I was pretty close on this one! Gen-AI opened a lot of opportunities for experimenting new solutions. Rapid-prototyping and quick AI-coded applications gained traction in 2024\. We saw business across the world exploring the best way to leverage AI, putting Gen-AI tools in the hands of employees to discover new ways to doing things. We also started [over-relying on AI](https://www.cesarrg.com/is-ai-making-us-intellectually-lazy/) for making our job. Is time to start looking for the right balance. > **AI-driven design.** AI tools are now part of the [toolkit](https://www.cesarrg.com/design-thinking-and-ai/) of any designer. AI has the potential to augment the way how we understand customers, identify patterns, ideate solutions, and prototyping. In design, we saw many examples of Gen-AI being used for discovery work. People in the product community often shared their experiences leveraging AI for common design tasks. Last year, AI entered the toolbox of designers and product managers. Now, let's see what is coming this year! Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join others and get inspiration to lead your next innovation. All practical learnings. ### What is coming in 2025 Short answer: I don't know. Instead of predicting what *will* happen, I think a better approach is to focus on *what might continue to be true* in 2025. So here are a couple of things I'm looking forward: **AI-agents becoming mainstream.** Many people are already relying on AI tools to automate daily tasks. But I think that the real change in AI-Agents adoption is the mental model of having a virtual team of specialists available whenever needed. I believe this year we will see many people and companies scaling agents and starting to adopt hybrid teams ([people + machines](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-redefining-teams-humans-ai/)). **Micro-companies and one-person-businesses.** The leverage you can get with today's technology is unimaginable 5 years ago. The creative output that a person with an internet connection and a couple of (free) tools can achieve is impressive. The entry bar of becoming a business at a global scale continues to lower. This is an opportunity for everyone! **Service-as-a-Service.** Yes, it's not a typo. This is not a new concept but something that I expect to rise in 2025 driven by the AI revolution. The delegation of entire end-to-end and customer-facing services to businesses powered by AI will become more common, as people start to trust and we begin to see real outcomes from these partnerships. **Evidence of new Moore's law**. There's arguably a new concept that might drive the tech evolution for the coming years: [*the cost to use a given level of AI falls about 10X every 12 months.*](https://blog.samaltman.com/three-observations?ref=cesarrg.com)This means lower costs to train and scale new models, prices dropping (or staying the same but with more value), and more competition over optimizing AI models. This also means that we can expect faster evolution and adoption cycles of disruptive technology. As we navigate through 2025, the connections between AI, human creativity, and technological evolution will continue to reshape how we work, create, and innovate. Exciting times ahead of us! ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] AI as a self-expression tool URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-ai-as-a-self-expression-tool/ Last updated: 2025-02-15T10:45:13.000Z #207 - Feb.2025 Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: *“People are tool-builders with an inherent drive to understand and create, which leads to the world getting better for all of us.”* These are Sam Altman's words in his post about [three observations on AI](https://blog.samaltman.com/three-observations?ref=cesarrg.com). Humans are creators and builders by nature. Curiosity is the driving force to understand new things. The problem is that, over time, we limit our curiosity. We get older, and our experience clouds the genuine drive to say "I don't know". We ask fewer questions. We see uncertainty as something negative. Sam Altman might be right when he says that, in a decade, *"everyone on earth will be capable of accomplishing more than the most impactful person can today."* But what will really separate the best from the rest is our capacity to bring the hard questions, embrace uncertainty, and leverage the power of AI as a self-expression tool. ### **🤔 Concept to think about** **Goodhart’s Law:** > "When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure" Is not about the metrics itself; is about accountability and the outcomes that generates. Metrics are **proxies** for very complex businesses problems, not the end goal. ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [How to turn an idea into a prototype with AIA step-by-step walkthrough with tips and insights![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156-8)BootcampXinran Ma![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/0-jLY__m0rmg5Cy9aK.png)](https://medium.com/design-bootcamp/how-to-turn-an-idea-into-a-prototype-with-ai-6863bbeb56e4?ref=cesarrg.com) [How AI will divide the best from the restOptimists hope the technology will be a great equaliser. Instead, it looks likely to widen social divides![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/touch-icon-180x180.png)The EconomistThe Economist![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/20250215_FND002.jpg)](https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2025/02/13/how-ai-will-divide-the-best-from-the-rest?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something”** – Steve Jobs ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] 4 Core Ingredients for a Solid Strategy URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-4-core-ingredients-for-a-solid-strategy-2/ Last updated: 2025-02-22T17:02:01.000Z #206 - Feb.2025 Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: 4 core ingredients for a solid **Strategy** (from Seth Godin's "[This is Strategy](https://seths.blog/tis/?ref=cesarrg.com)" book): - **Understanding Systems** \- They set the rules of the game. They mold culture and, while you can change them, they are strong driving forces. The starting point is knowing how each system works. - **Perspective of Time** \- It's about having a perspective different from common understanding: the long-run. Focusing your energies on the conditions that will set you up for success in the future. Each step, as small it might seem, set the path for the next one. - **Playing the Game** \- In games, a single move can make you win or lose. The same applies to innovation: it's accompanied by uncertainty and the open question "might this work?". It's about understanding your deck and playing the best card given your odds to win. If you lose, you learn and iterate. - **The Power of Empathy** \- This is the pulling force that will attract your customers. Not just any customer, but rather the customers you are willing to serve. This starts with clearly defining who these customers are. **Tactics** change all the time. Tactics are not your strategy. Your strategy is an **intentional direction**. An intentional decision to say 'yes’ to customers you want to serve, understanding the context, and making a genuine effort to serve them in a [memorable](https://www.cesarrg.com/memorable/) way. ### **✈️ This week** I spent this week in Seattle! It was a great opportunity to connect in person with my team - we all work from different places. Very insightful week. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/02/IMG_1263-1.jpeg) ### **🎧 Podcast I’m listening** [**Jake Knapp - Click - How to make what people want**](https://open.spotify.com/episode/5zb3gEtHhDmhEHaCCLPDLN?si=zZpTbuhAQz6TduCfcoh7bw&ref=cesarrg.com) ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [Beyond the Double Diamond: AI’s Challenge to Design ThinkingFor 20 years, the Double Diamond has helped us crack tough problems, offering structure and clarity when we needed it most. But with AI now…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156-7)BootcampJascha Goltermann![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/1-NUMPtSC42NnMmFNlMLv5jQ.jpeg)](https://medium.com/design-bootcamp/beyond-the-double-diamond-ais-challenge-to-design-thinking-eb11a24a2f7c?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“If you and your team aren’t saying this might not work in service of innovation, you’re not innovating.”** – Seth Godin ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] The new era of digital labor URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-the-new-era-of-digital-labor/ Last updated: 2025-02-22T17:02:11.000Z #205 - Jan.2025 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: Some people are saying that [SaaS is dead](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NtsnzRFJ%5Fo&ref=cesarrg.com). Others are welcoming the new wave of [digital labor](https://www.salesforce.com/agentforce/?ref=cesarrg.com). Everyone is betting on the **AI agent trend**. (OpenAI just released his [own version](https://openai.com/index/computer-using-agent/?ref=cesarrg.com)). The copilots ("let's do this together") have evolved to independent agents ("do this for me"). This is clearly the new chapter of **work delegation** to technology. Agents are **autonomous** by nature. Designing for autonomous behavior means **designing for imperfection**: designing and developing systems that allow users to explore multiple outcomes, provide feedback, and keep control over AI's actions. New innovation waves open up opportunities for new [design skills and patterns](https://medium.com/@lad.jai/the-architects-toolkit-mastering-ai-agent-design-patterns-6ee37e3c0709?ref=cesarrg.com). It is an opportunity to reinvent yourself. Is the next wave about embodying agents into robotic physical machines? Who knows... ### **🚀 Mars?** When Earth and Mars are at their closest approach, the closest distance is approximately 54 million kilometers. There's a long way to go... ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/01/image.png) *Source:* [*xkcd*](https://xkcd.com/3039/?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [Digital storytelling as the main way to tell your brand story.Storytelling is at the core of human connection. It’s how we share experiences, values, and emotions. For brands, storytelling is not just…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156-6)Muzli - Design InspirationNoomo Agency![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/1-uguwkcKIACgsFk2KPjyBBg.png)](https://medium.muz.li/digital-storytelling-as-the-main-way-to-tell-your-brand-story-d48843a90904?ref=cesarrg.com) [ModelThinkers. Be Smarter. FasterModelThinkers. Be Smarter. Faster![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-icon-180x180-1.png)Be Smarter. Faster.Scotch![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/preview-logo.png)](https://modelthinkers.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“In quoting others, we cite ourselves.”** – Julio Cortazar ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] Savings in time feel like simplicity URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-savings-in-time-feel-like-simplicity/ Last updated: 2025-02-22T17:02:22.000Z #204 - Jan.2025 Hi there! A bit late this time...couldn't send you the newsletter on last Friday. Take it from the positive side: you will get 2 newsletter this week! 😜 Have a great week ahead! 💡 Here is a quick idea to reflect on: From John Maeda's [Laws of Simplicity](http://lawsofsimplicity.com/?ref=cesarrg.com): > When any interaction with products or service providers happens quickly, we attribute this **efficiency** to the perceived simplicity of the experience...When forced to wait, **life seems unnecessarily complex**. **Savings in time feel like simplicity**. And we are thankfully loyal when it happens, which is rare. We are often laser-focused in providing a good experience through our products and services, narrowing the options to the best interaction alternatives (a button, the right color, the right behavior). But we sometimes ignore the power of a simple variable: **Time**. The sense of simplicity of your product is tightly linked to how fast you can complete a task. Waiting times are just a different form of cognitive load. That's why metrics such as [time-on-task ](https://www.nngroup.com/articles/satisfaction-vs-performance-metrics/?ref=cesarrg.com)are so important to track. They can help you map the opportunities for optimization. Save time. Make it simple. ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [Essay: Being a creative person with a job by John SharianActor, photographer, and personal trainer John Sharian discusses how he balances his work and creative lives and offers advice on how you can, too.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-icon-114x114.png)John Sharian![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/john-sharian-social.jpg)](https://thecreativeindependent.com/essays/on-how-to-be-a-creative-person-with-a-job/?ref=cesarrg.com) [MY FIRST BOOK IN 7 YEARS (AND SOME BIG EXPERIMENTS) - The Blog of Author Tim FerrissThe book, tentatively titled THE NO BOOK, is a blueprint for how to get everything you want by saying no to everything you don’t. Perhaps surprising, given the title, it’s likely the most positive and life-affirming book I’ve ever written.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/cropped-site-icon-tim-ferriss-2.png)The Blog of Author Tim FerrissTim Ferriss![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/socialmedia_timF_220411_003-1024x683.jpeg)](https://tim.blog/2025/01/13/the-no-book/?utm%5Fcampaign=weekly-roundup&utm%5Fmedium=convertkit&utm%5Fsource=convertkit#content) [Building a product ecosystemDesign in a merging world![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156-5)UX CollectiveJosh Singer![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/1-90NyuJD4FNW5utd_gJ_pvg.png)](https://uxdesign.cc/building-a-product-ecosystem-4c9c8a32fe17?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“When the solution is simple, God is answering.”** – Albert Einstein ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] Start with a journey URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-start-with-a-journey/ Last updated: 2025-02-22T17:02:34.000Z #203 - Jan.2025 Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea for the weekend: Start with a **journey**. There are tons of business challenges that you can solve by walking the customer's journey. **Simple yet powerful.** **Adapt it** to your context. While you can start with the basics (you can check my template [here](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)), you can - and should - transform it to whatever fits your discovery goals. Just the simple action of creating a journey will immediately force you to **abstract** often complex processes. A journey sets you into the right mental model to **design *for* people.** ### **🤖 Fake news** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/01/Image.jpeg) [*Source*](https://uxdesign.cc/the-meta-decision-you-cant-put-the-toothpaste-back-in-the-tube-6f1e0cb66ee6?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [AI and cognitive offloading: sharing the thinking process with machinesOur brains are wired to offload effort, and tools like AI systems are taking this to a whole new level. This natural ability to share our…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156-2)UX CollectiveTetiana Sydorenko![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/1-DcFkm50N4ovfX592yLxC-Q.png)](https://uxdesign.cc/ai-and-cognitive-offloading-sharing-the-thinking-process-with-machines-2d27e66e0f31?ref=cesarrg.com) [The Architect’s Toolkit: Mastering AI Agent Design PatternsTL;DR: Dive into the world of AI agent design patterns and discover how they are revolutionizing intelligent systems. From reflection to…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156-3)MediumJai Lad![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/1-9jDUMd-40fzzm-oeDuXxWQ.gif)](https://medium.com/@lad.jai/the-architects-toolkit-mastering-ai-agent-design-patterns-6ee37e3c0709?ref=cesarrg.com) [What a 1970 experiment reveals about the possibility and perils of ‘head transplants’ | Aeon Videos‘Are you a mind with a body or a body with a mind?’ The legacy of a 1970 ‘head transplant’ experiment performed on monkeys![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-5.png)Aeon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/can-you-transplant-a-head-to-another-body-landscape-1.jpg)](https://aeon.co/videos/what-a-1970-experiment-reveals-about-the-possibility-and-perils-of-head-transplants?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“The only way someone can be of help to you is in challenging your ideas.”** – Anthony de Mello ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] Can AI create truly original ideas? This study brings answers URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-can-ai-create-truly-original-ideas-this-study-brings-answers/ Last updated: 2025-01-03T15:05:33.000Z #202 - Jan.2025 Happy Friday and hope you have a great start in 2025! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: Can AI accelerate the pace of innovation through **truly novel ideas?** Aidan Toner-Rodgers' paper brings some light to this tricky question. This is the first type of research of this type that I've found (if you know others, please let me know). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2025/01/IMG_2308-1.png) There is a tendency to expect AI to generate only incremental ideas given that it is trained through existing data. But a this study (in a scientific context) demonstrated that AI can play a critical role in discoverability and generation of novel ideas for R&D. There are other very interesting insights from this study: - **Expertise makes all the difference when leveraging AI**. The study demonstrated that scientists with higher expertise were able to evaluate faster the feasibility of new ideas generated by AI. In contrast, others wasted a lot of time evaluating false positives. - **AI enabled a shift toward more radical innovation.** By removing the biases from humans, the ideas resulting from AI were more disruptive. - **Workload shifted from generating ideas to evaluating the feasibility of each one**. This was interesting. The overall labor was unchanged, but what changed was rather the distribution of the work. - **Job satisfaction decreased** (what?!). The study discovered that AI automated precisely the task that scientists find more valuable (idea generation), while increasing the volume of repetitive tasks (evaluations). AI can make a lot of difference in the **discovery phase of innovation processes**. Yet, **expertise** will continue to play a big role when evaluating ideas. Your experience and [taste](https://www.cesarrg.com/design-taste/) will be hard to replace : ) Here's the link to the paper if you want to dive deep: [https://arxiv.org/pdf/2412.17866](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2412.17866?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **✉️ Post from this week** This week I wrote an article on the risk of outsourcing too much of our thinking to AI. The leaders from the future will combine their human intuition and critical thinking with leverage of AI. They will not let AI take all the decisions for them: [Is AI making us intellectually lazy?Risks of outsourcing too much of our thinking to AI and what we should do instead.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/IMG_2210-3.png)César RodríguezCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/CRG-6-1.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/is-ai-making-us-intellectually-lazy/) Not yet a subscriber? [Join others](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-redefining-teams-humans-ai/#/portal/signup) for free and get practical insights on design, tech innovation, and creativity. Get inspiration to lead your next innovation! ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [The life-changing magic of Japanese clutter | Aeon EssaysThe world sees Japan as a paragon of minimalism. But its hidden clutter culture shows that ‘more’ can be as magical as ‘less’![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-4.png)Aeon Magazine![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/final-essay-aeon7.jpg)](https://aeon.co/essays/the-life-changing-magic-of-japanese-clutter?ref=cesarrg.com) [11 Signs That AI Wrote It“Unlock the Power of…”![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156-1)The Writers’ PubDa Money Hacker![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/1-oiN7ZiknRhyoLeyQU3z6Pg.jpeg)](https://medium.com/the-writers-pub/15-signs-that-ai-wrote-it-9bc37e165973?ref=cesarrg.com) [The State of UX in 2025From design tools, to our design process, to the user behaviors that will change the way we design — a list of what to expect for User Experience (UX) Design in the next year.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-7.ico)UX TrendsFabricio Teixeira, Caio Braga![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/1.jpg)](https://trends.uxdesign.cc/?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”** – Maya Angelou ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### Is AI making us intellectually lazy? URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/is-ai-making-us-intellectually-lazy/ Last updated: 2024-12-30T13:31:13.000Z #201 - Dec.2024 Think about these questions: - When did you last solve a math problem without using your smartphone's calculator? - When did you last drive to a place without using your GPS? - When was the last time you went deep into a problem without heading directly to Google to find a solution? Technology is now everywhere. The simple challenges of our daily lives are now solved through a few clicks. We are getting used to **delegating our problems** without wasting our thinking energy. And I'm not sure that's a good thing for us. [Recent studies ](https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/12/12/can-you-read-as-well-as-a-ten-year-old?ref=cesarrg.com)suggest that we are less literate than one decade ago. Despite the fact that people have more access to technology and a higher education, we struggle with simple math and literacy skills. I think this is due to our tendency to delegate our thinking skills to our latest technology. The technology that we once envisioned as a co-pilot of our daily lives is now becoming the **main pilot**. That deserves our attention. With AI becoming mainstream we face, yet, a new chapter of our tech-driven lives. Lately, I've been thinking about how AI will **affect our capacity to develop our critical thinking.** Today it is easy to default to technologies such as AI to solve problems that we used to invest time thinking about: "Give me a summary of this document/article" "Create a business plan for this idea" "Write a code for a function that can do \[X\]" "Write a viral article about \[X\]" We can save a lot of time through AI. But are we offloading too much of our thinking to technology? At what point do we stop learning when we fail to invest time in deeply thinking through a problem? Are we using tech to *support* us or to *drive* all our decisions? [Bridget Carey's](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0V554NyXWM&ref=cesarrg.com) latest review on Apple's approach to AI adoption was eye-opening for me. In her review, she points out how these tools seem to make stupid people look like geniuses. It portrays irresponsible people who use AI to hide their flaws. Is this the real value of AI? Will AI make us dumb in the long run? I think we deserve a better future. In this article I want to share my perspective on this and what I think we should do. ![A person delegating his brain to a computer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/12/IMG_2303-1.png) ### Creativity and laziness **Humans are problem-solvers.** Our curiosity and creative skills are what make us unique in this world. Our curiosity starts from questioning the world around us, finding patterns, and creating insights. In fact, pattern recognition is the most foundational piece of our expertise and knowledge. We learn through pattern recognition. By exposing ourselves to new contexts and situations, we accumulate knowledge that, then, we can apply to creative thinking. It is through this accumulated knowledge that we grow as professionals and as human beings. But we are also a "lazy" species. Well, not *lazy* in the sense that we are not moved by curiosity, but we are **wired to look for the path of least resistance**. A low-hanging fruit looks more appealing to us. It is our brain tricking us to take shortcuts all the time. This is precisely one of the risks I see when we use technology such as AI. This technology offers shortcuts in ways that were not possible before. Today, a prompt is now becoming our path of least resistance for many of our daily tasks. Through AI, we can now use a simple prompt to get what we want. Or at least, get an answer that we *think* is right. When these tasks relate to information, we can easily confuse AI-assisted work with true learning. Reminds me of the "knowing vs. understanding" story from [Feynman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px%5F4TxC2mXU&ref=cesarrg.com). As Feynman highlights, we can *know* the names of many concepts, but that has nothing to do with really understanding what those concepts are. **Understanding comes from observation and self-experimentation**. You truly understand something when you deeply engage with it. Yet, AI tools can become shortcuts to skip self-experimentations. It has the risk of giving you the false impression that you are learning, when in fact you are just relying on whatever information is telling you. **Creativity is a muscle** that requires constant exercise. We need to balance the productivity benefits of these tools with the quality of our learning that comes through engaging and experimenting. We need to keep the creative muscle active. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join others and get inspiration to lead your next innovation. All practical learnings. ### Speed vs. Quality So, how we can crack the problem of efficiency vs. the quality of our work? [A recent study](https://bigthink.com/the-present/why-great-ai-produces-lazy-humans/?ref=cesarrg.com) tried to answer these questions. A team of researchers selected nearly 800 consultants and divided them into 2 groups. One group used ChatGPT to do the work and the second group stuck to the standard way. The group using ChatGPT had a significant improvement in performance. So far, so good. Yet, researchers also noticed something else. Consultants relied blindly on AI. They often trusted in the answers without questioning or applying judgment. As one of the researchers said, this is the "falling asleep at the wheel" effect of AI. AI can make us faster. But it can make us less aware of the quality of our thinking. Using [Kahneman's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thinking,%5FFast%5Fand%5FSlow?ref=cesarrg.com) terms, this is like being in "fast thinking" mode *all the time.* Everything becomes instinctive, effortless, unconscious...and now, automated through AI. The quality of our decisions comes from a **good balance between fast and slow thinking.** It is the combination of quick heuristics with deep reasoning. This is the yin-yang of problem-solving. In a dopamine culture like today, it seems that we are becoming intimidated by slow thinking. Our attention is now volatile. We are walking our lives under the constant pressure of missing out and we can't stop to think deeply about something. Common tasks that require attention are turning into challenges. Completing a long book. Reading a long-form article. Spending time on a craft... We prioritize shortcuts and recurrent rewards. An AI often makes this even easier. Is this what we want? ### AI as a true co-pilot Let me be clear. I'm not against AI. I truly believe that the combination of humans + AI will enable a [creative revolution.](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-creative-revolution/) As someone passionate about technology, I think we are living in an age of transformative changes. I think we are heading towards a revolution where every single person has the potential to create something great. Not just by copying what [already exists](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-are-we-heading-towards-the-age-of-average-2/). But rather emulating and evolving things through our personal contributions. A revolution where machines are not making all the decisions. A future where we **combine our natural human instincts with the leverage of AI's power.** Creativity is at the center of this evolution. So, how can we make better use of these technologies while not limiting our capacity to learn and grow? I think that we should consider a few things: **Don’t use AI blindly**. The current state of AI tools, such as ChatGPT and Claude.AI are trained by public data. While you might think that all results are fact-checked, you need to work under the following principle: information can be wrong. Furthermore, these tools can [hallucinate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucination%5F%28artificial%5Fintelligence%29?ref=cesarrg.com) generating misleading answers. Check your assumptions and sources. Keep a high bar of quality of information and rely on trustful sources whenever possible. **Apply a *Think-first* principle.** You should bring the hard questions. One of the best ways to put curiosity into practice is by asking good questions. Use AI tools as an exploration tool to get insights. Don’t stop at the first iteration. Make follow-up questions. Go deeper by questioning the results and finding connecting points across other domains. Use your curiosity as a driver for exploration. **Use AI as a lever to scale your creative work**. [Seth Godin](https://seths.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) has written more than 20 books. Yet, he used AI in [his latest book](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyWTDmDjNy4&ref=cesarrg.com). How? He used it as an editor to find gaps in his writing. He still does all the writing (the hard work), but as a staff-of-one-person, he uses AI to leverage his work of editing and refining his narrative. He's not delegating the hard work but rather augmenting his thinking to create a bigger impact. Be intentional about how you leverage AI. **Keep your creative muscle active.** Many of the best creations are a result of serendipity. The art of getting lost and finding insights. Every day we have an opportunity to train our creativity. Be wise when delegating these creative moments to AI. Life is not always about efficiency. Add a pinch of humanity to your craft. There is beauty in the [small imperfections.](https://www.cesarrg.com/generative-ai-what-is-left/) --- People across generations may react differently to this new AI wave. I'm lucky to be part of a generation that witnessed the transition from an often analog life to a reality loaded with digital experiences. But what about new generations that are digital natives? How should they envision a future world where [thinking is becoming a hobby rather than a job](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/hugoamsellem%5Fai-is-making-thinking-a-hobby-not-a-job-activity-7276589661571936256-ZpmA?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop)? Relying too much on technology has a tradeoff of becoming [average](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-are-we-heading-towards-the-age-of-average-2/). I think we should envision a future where **creativity and critical thinking will become the most important force for differentiation.** Expertise will not be about knowing all possible solutions but about accumulating the knowledge to develop the [taste](https://www.cesarrg.com/design-taste/) to select the best one. The future leaders will differentiate by their unique creative and critical thinking. They will differentiate even more if they **leverage AI wisely**. ¡Saludos! *p.s.: *Thanks* to* [*Rosalpina Rodriguez*](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosalpina-rodriguez-a3539477/?ref=cesarrg.com) *and* [*Antonio Maradiaga*](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajmaradiaga/?ref=cesarrg.com) *for reading early drafts version of this article.* ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### 2024 book list URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/2024-book-list/ Last updated: 2024-12-26T11:40:46.000Z #200 - Dec.2024 As in [previous years](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/books/), it’s time to share my **Year in Books** for 2024. This year, I explored many topics — from books recommended by close friends to titles I found through pure serendipity. I spent time on classics (like *Animal Farm* and *Madame Bovary*), explored hotly debated topics of our time (like *Privacy is Power*), and revisited books I’ve loved in the past (like *Creative Confidence* and *Fear and Trembling*). There’s always something valuable to learn from a book. Years of knowledge and experience are often condensed into a few pages, or you’re taken on a journey through history or imaginary worlds. I hope we can all read even more in 2025\. Here’s a quick summary of each book I read this year (you can check other recommendations on my [bookshelf](https://www.cesarrg.com/book-shelf/)): ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/12/image-1.png) 1. [Les gratitudes](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Delphine-Vigan-ebook/dp/B07N94T9FR/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.LIWYDletg2smCKhGjME0H8bPC1Kjpm5x8oTfSfoObLVEiS2hZhzmPiJZRI%5F3e0OXaSD4fo%5FACJd5OgWJpVKIZVNaetBQRVWtD-jMo9jZsa0HJXOiyYhO8Po3SXLbIIWW0t-Ao0r52M4CvDwt0Q9VmlvLI94k6Qw4Hkecj5G3WUHJ7zRgDeiCm2bYps9m1G1XUVvjzx8e-M6X3t70c71c9eIg19p9ssrK3QfA0ZfuF40.ivLRpRrBOrAUAWknD9IXHzWmWAwY0dRIbL9YN0vzO%5F0&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Les+gratitudes&qid=1720563198&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) (Delphine de Vigan): This was a short and emotional book to kick off the year. It is a story about life and the power of being thankful. About love and gratitude through the lens of an old woman living in a retirement home. 2. [The Practice](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Seth-Godin-ebook/dp/B086KV3TX5/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=3GP3H43MA254A&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.unQPKwWDgiogb%5F2G4KTakAbqSBbEVEPuD1dTJOvNVMGd%5FT2yUgiluUwp%5Fs9iIMuY%5F9YOJeAM5I5XTt1Se4L%5F6lZSsy1EFjBByVTVGU0cwaPezEWQ6jBsjXpEV3YVMXWTJ9ndHRN9xpKXDP6-3EHKoxwSVt6mlmpqNg9iT5XcTa1A131eIIz3S1RcSNwDyMs2iwrwffB5pO563XhQ697WYUpgnbfjmBc5zzBLWumucZA.8oXvxOMfau%5F08lsqaC29AQH8nWRLcBi5G5rLiE7NcZ0&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=The+Practice+seth&qid=1720563227&sprefix=the+practice+set%2Caps%2C173&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) (Seth Godin): A love Seth Godin’s books. You can find inspirational quotes almost on any page! In *The Practice*, Seth talks about building towards success. A perspective on consistency, creativity, and creating things that matter. 3. [Empowered: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Products](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Marty-Cagan-ebook/dp/B08LPKRD5L/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=2MQ0PGHKPBVMU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.v3UHyq4qIoZXmyz7HZSDD9IaS6LgBBHBWTUq2UjZplzGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.yEZA6MsUNW7o2EGOK%5FDxHA3DqQbwMc2P3yy0YtIqOe0&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Empowered%3A+Ordinary+People%2C+Extraordinary+Products&qid=1720563243&sprefix=the+practice+seth%2Caps%2C163&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) (Marty Cagan): This has become a classic in product management. While many people debate how practical are Marty Cagan’s tips on building product cultures the fact is: that great product teams need empowered people. People with the freedom to be creative, managers who are willing to coach, and teams with the right structure and focus. This book gives a great glance at all this through examples and actionable tips. 4. [No more Mr. Nice Guy ](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Robert-Glover-ebook/dp/B004C438CW/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=ZC6JSVJZBDMN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QIC%5FgerneNw8%5FuJnLjW-mxdHeIp0HlBgdXM1YlXHE%5Fsikm6WYxOchNUzSQ%5F7SW94z8VZhCelDRygaDTwGJAMEsETlKYMWjmLraRK37LhSGY7UQ7ckzLa%5FK5KXv0hOAcEC%5Fy1J%5FEjpjRL7jsZfr2PvETMzH3FDWU24GsqWfL5AHH-I04Cn%5FVNyuYE0qGurFbdwzIhtrXcMUVDwc36lLSjJJkzW-wJ1lM2MSBY1V45c0Y.HY5EFOLGgsyUvzuRiVnV-IjykCLdFgr6Yj3DMzHqIkg&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=No+more+Mr.+Nice+Guy&qid=1720563256&sprefix=no+more+mr.+nice+guy+%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com)(Robert A. Glover): This was recommended by a coach. I can tell you: is not for everyone. You can agree or disagree on many points that Robert argues but there are interesting perspectives on self-awareness and practical exercises for becoming more direct. A go-to book if you are willing to make your needs a priority instead of only fulfilling other’s needs. 5. [Digital Minimalism](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Cal-Newport-ebook/dp/B07D1G6DTF/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=37NF2SLF22DY5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1xee33TcrZRqbh%5FDIPVDswCUf4YotmHumPEhnzBOP6usJlUM9y40dg7ZomN4Eql8antE4FWTJd6lj7%5Fy5glhSKmdZEyG%5FFPmVvsK4fi0htvoM2sxU61KYByvCGJt0n4tUOOLU2Fys5e6AbNUkcW23dJiKDkOHF2-qmsuv0dWWhBbmsh5%5FZMeFKYialzcD3mpFNC-uUssiR1QxLnVskfw-FkSmjKuNb3l3ATwV2GgJS4.MJYITDh5blqbmm2jC7EPX43hudspkfyAK9HMp4k4Cz0&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Digital+Minimalism&qid=1720563268&sprefix=no+more+mr.+nice+guy%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) (Cal Newport): The hyperconnectivity and dopamine culture of today’s world is one of our biggest problems as a society. Cal’s makes a great point on how to develop a better relationship with our devices and digital channels (email, social media, chats, etc). This is a much-needed skill for our future. 6. [Animal Farm](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/George-orwell-ebook/dp/B0BTPQRMHN/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=230O1G0JNWTW2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.y8JaCRHml3AP41U%5F%5FNvzcMe0o-C1ODbkRjc7YN8iWm8fJ0%5FODWVz4fsMM4LYlSRWN7fLOu9gdL0YRw7LBsL3UuJBc2mwdhSou%5FcOQAF5vlFdMr1A4KU9W2hW31MB8y74A4Mqt1POKtdG8gBu4DzTKHzMUQcZ2jYLErH8KWuOxikKziVM9gkYLEnjACDH74v7WE54zWtY%5FMJ846kkaEhwQ1eSKn8C5FfcOQvdEmtpuD8.LmEusr16uKWC4TLmeRVnRGDE06Q6mnOUJjQMtVjyI18&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Animal+Farm&qid=1720563287&sprefix=digital+minimalism%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) (George Orwell): Yes, this was a classic that was pending on my list. Now I can understand why it became so popular. The narrative is light and engaging. It is impossible not to think of all the analogies with our real world that sometimes, indeed, seems like an animal farm. 7. [Madame Bovary](https://www.amazon.com/Gustave-Flaubert/dp/B092PG46RP/ref=sr%5F1%5F1%5Fsspa?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=1BJP638CF0NKR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3xNRCNzU8NlgyrOd5%5FL3jGw0BCHRVRT4iJPXUvMhnKVBuqq5XQ3xm8oLXRhetAPOLa8r4NsaVqpw5CGGmqRjZ-FOe%5F7qjKXemOc5XDMrqS32DpLMlqoKEZn8CR50OVBKWdR%5FYo11SBpMjQpIJjG1Vd2y97W9ZzBq6wmE9JRfUbpFe6GKDr%5F9sj%5FAGrvBfMAuTPSWaOGixFayO%5FxnvlLiotxZ4HUkN16joplsw3oKSKk9C%5FZz2XqAdJujsMWPRQcT2RvJsI1RzxitORgLRfrYsng%5FSai0w2v3x619et4c%5FdE.8qhtfCCGHoKqn-Gdrtw1EHIhD-C7NtPPzgZ26-bY4Kw&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Madame+Bovary&qid=1720563304&sprefix=madame+bovary%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-1-spons&sp%5Fcsd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1&ref=cesarrg.com) (Gustave Flaubert): Following the classic mood, I continued with this masterpiece of Flaubert. Maybe the best book in 2024\. Every sentence seems to be crafted with so much care and art. This explains why this book had so much impact at the time, changing the way novels were written. 8. [Slow Productivity](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Cal-Newport-ebook/dp/B0CF16GTW9/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=3731HGDYJAL6R&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9Sz%5F1hpA12Y3gOCdfYR3Fls3FuQ8hNNxe%5FG7whEd4Ml9TZCCzTX1wwsoJ2rijIfxufEgwcWwfgAZD2NL65K%5FVa6z8JHC9yTz4yPeb8U9wQmKMA9IypbCFSz69oXCJA23AgDGeye2uIk1K10CbvGDF31TlFxYHXaMP-lS7q8yA-gstQbnyJ7fXk2Gc1karYfcQ12vNyQuKhGJ58n4EkFYjAH2iDRNNEWuwr8ZHnzeMns.ORJzedlS2m%5FOFk1SsvIEHqbqx2cYocxvD-BPWTTzbnI&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Slow+Productivity&qid=1720563316&sprefix=madame+bovary%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) (Cal Newport): Based on my experience reading Digital Minimalism, I wanted to continue reading Cal’s work. The title of the book resonated with me, especially at this particular time of my life when I’m exploring how to invest my time in things that are worth it. The book shares a perspective on how productivity and slow work are not antagonists. You can achieve much more when you focus, pace your work to your natural rhythm, and obsess over quality. Less is more. 9. [Creative Selection](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Ken-Kocienda-ebook/dp/B079DVT6VP/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=3RW0BF33BFIV6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.g8LGbml2OjHMVvQqbVj07xQ4TVemgDjvXbSqgPedEaBmmS7uS4iRzVrLO1Ie9IrPOhZZyqepFrrmlheJMeBl1cpyjRQoL8sW8cVcG-xBrWJvczrReJMiU6Y6cTUY1t9-XhRJnqjHGzHaWtjTu9EGpf%5FvTk-EkK7dps5LL6Edhc8oPICo3WMDkvf-gxQoEaEEGjCoLSkB6NEFrMqrhX8VYKHyft6Md%5FMFka0PilKQIDw.RZVg3OPs5OO4nBBPN8mRdTChCWfgonRGQpyGxmopC4Q&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Creative+Selection&qid=1720563330&sprefix=creative+selection%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) (Ken Kocienda): In this book, Ken shares technical backstage stories about the design and development of some of Apple’s greatest innovations, like the iPad and the iPhone. He uses these stories to share what he believes is the core of Apple’s innovation: inspiration, collaboration, craft, diligence, decisiveness, taste, and empathy. 10. [Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas ](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UNU5GLU/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fes-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=3626&creative=24790&ref=cesarrg.com)(Machado de Assis) \[PT\]: This is a classic in Portuguese. Machado de Assis is considered one of the greatest writers of Brazilian literature. He sets what is arguably the first book using magical realism, using a narrative that is not only engaging but full of social criticism. 11. [How To Be Everything](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JFYVWLW/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fbb%5Famazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fes-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=3626&creative=24790&ref=cesarrg.com) (Emilie Wapnick): You have probably seen Emilie's [TED Talk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sZdcB6bjI8&ref=cesarrg.com). She introduces the term Multipotentialites: people who don't have one true calling but are driven by exploring several domains. I consider myself one of them! In this book, Emilie explores more what being a multipotentialite is and tries to debunk the common misconceptions around this type of professional style. 12. [Fear and Trembling ](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RI97SO/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fbb%5Famazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fes-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=3626&creative=24790&ref=cesarrg.com)(Soren Kierkegaard): I read this book again this year. I wanted to revisit this book due to the profound perspectives of Kierkegaard on how ethics, morals, and faith fit into our human nature. 13. [1984 ](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8499890946/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fbb%5Famazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fes-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=3626&creative=24790&ref=cesarrg.com)(George Orwell): Another classic that was pending on my list. Why do I spend so much time without reading this book? This is the type of book that reading becomes like watching a movie in your mind. So many details in such an engaging story that, unfortunately, it is becoming a reality nowadays in a world where privacy is so hard to guarantee. 14. [Creative Confidence](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/038534936X/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fbb%5Famazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fes-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=3626&creative=24790&ref=cesarrg.com) (Tom & David Kelley): A classic on creativity and innovation. The Kelley brothers, famous for their work at IDEO, packed this book with a lot of insights into creative cultures. They share principles and strategies to unlock our creative potential. 15. [The Business of Expertise](https://www.amazon.com/Business-Expertise-Entrepreneurial-Experts-Convert/dp/1605440604?ref=cesarrg.com) (David C. Baker): Interesting insights into turning your expertise into an entrepreneurial journey. This is a great book for professionals looking to leverage their knowledge by providing consulting or advisory services. Baker uses practical tips on positioning, differentiation, and confidence. 16. [Privacidad Es Poder](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8418056681/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fbb%5Famazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fes-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=3626&creative=24790&ref=cesarrg.com) (Carissa Véliz) \[ES\]: This book tackles one of the biggest problems of our times: our lack of privacy. While I found many debatable points in the narrative, mostly due to subjective arguments, I think that the overall case is really important and relevant. Worth reading. Carissa makes a great summary of how we got here, our challenges for ensuring our privacy in a digital world, and tips on how to be more conscious of handling our personal information. 17. [Gestão de Plataformas e APIs ](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Sheila-Chang-ebook/dp/B0DH13H5Q7/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=3JURUTU8APORR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KWqQZMjwlhsMLy5zhzhzyoRSHpn2SxMFJv2RuiboZZd%5FPP3ObJMYJRyyhUb-mwk6t-FU%5Fmy8vQoj%5F6GrO6TNmOAP6F8yfJGh-XGjBQPyg7g.%5FNClP4c6qU2m3C6olAPLZVTvAK3dwJwulSQd%5FK%5FAG8A&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Gest%C3%A3o+de+Plataformas+e+APIs&qid=1735212920&sprefix=gest%C3%A3o+de+plataformas+e+apis+%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com)(Sheila Chang) \[PT\]: Kudos to [Sheila](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilachang/?ref=cesarrg.com) for putting together this book. Product Management for platform products is becoming a trend, with very little specialized content on the challenges and techniques to thrive in this domain. Sheila tackles really well this topic in her book. I can speak based on my experience (I [design and manage ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com)precisely this type of product) and she covers many of the problems PMs face with practical tips on how to solve them. I hope we can have an EN version of this book soon! Happy reading! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] Are we heading towards the age of average? URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-are-we-heading-towards-the-age-of-average-2/ Last updated: 2024-12-20T11:23:07.000Z #199 - Dec.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: [Alex Murrell](https://www.alexmurrell.co.uk/articles/the-age-of-average?ref=cesarrg.com) has a point: distinctiveness has died. Creative fields, from architecture to fashion, are now defined by conventions. In our quest to fit into a globalized world, we mindlessly copy existing patterns. Everything seems to look the same. As Alex concludes in his article, this reality can become an opportunity. An opportunity to decommoditize your industry. An opportunity to [emulate](https://www.cesarrg.com/mix-balance/) others' ideas while adding your personal contribution to make them better… An opportunity to say ‘no’ to average. *P.s. Thanks to* [*A.M.*](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajmaradiaga/?ref=cesarrg.com) *for sharing this article.* ### **🛠️ Free tools you can download** The innovations we create can have a real impact on society. The purpose of ethical design is to acknowledge this fact and ensure we stay true to our core beliefs. But, do you know how to apply ethical principles to your design? [Learn more on this free e-book. ](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/10/image-2-1.png) ### **📝 Most-read article during the last month** We should care more about universal design—creating products that are accessible and intuitive for everyone, regardless of their abilities. In our diverse and aging society, embracing universal design principles is essential for developing inclusive digital solutions. Learn more on how to apply it: [Designing for everyone: embracing universal designHow to create products everyone can use![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/IMG_2210-2.png)César RodríguezCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/Artboard-7-1.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/designing-for-everyone-universal-design/) ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [Surf – Join the Surf Beta WaitlistThe first browser for the open social web![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-3.png)Surf](https://about.surf.social/?ref=cesarrg.com) [Enterprise Product Management vs. B2C Product Management - Hustle BadgerSucceed at enterprise product management by understanding the fundamental differences and requirements in this role vs other product contexts.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/Favicon-1-300x300.png)Hustle BadgerEd Biden![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/image1-1.png)](https://www.hustlebadger.com/what-do-product-teams-do/enterprise-product-management/?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“**Distinctiveness has died**”** – Alex Murrell ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] Are we losing our critical creativity? URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-are-we-losing-our-critical-creativity-2/ Last updated: 2024-12-13T11:30:31.000Z #198 - Nov.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: Our future needs people who excel in **critical creativity.** The ability to think critically while finding connecting insights across various domains is becoming more rare. Technology is making us more efficient. But is also **turning us more lazy.** If we **offload all our decision-making to tech**, without questioning, we end up not experimenting reality in a way we can develop knowledge and expertise. Creativity will become the most important force for **differentiation**. *\[ps: I'm writing a long article on my observations and concerns about how we are leaving behind our critical thinking, and how we can avoid having tech fully driving our ideas.* [*Subscribe here,*](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) *and I will send it to your e-mail.\]* ### 📝 Word of the year Through public voting Oxford [published](https://corp.oup.com/news/brain-rot-named-oxford-word-of-the-year-2024/?ref=cesarrg.com) the word of the year for 2024: **Brain Rot** > ‘Brain rot’ is defined as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging. Also: something characterized as likely to lead to such deterioration”. ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [TimeMap.org - World History AtlasThe easy-to-use getaway to historical maps in libraries around the world.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/safari-pinned-tab.svg)Old MapsKlokan Technologies GmbH (https://www.klokantech.com/)![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/omo_share_img.jpg)](https://www.oldmapsonline.org/en/history/battles?ref=cesarrg.com#position=4.2728/40.91/29.48&year=1550) [Failure.Museum – Exploring Failed Ideas & VenturesFailure museum of companies, products, sports & toys Featured Additions: Most Recent: Beautycounter Founded in 2013, Beautycounter, a leader in the clean beaut … Read More ESPN Mobile Phone Launched and discontinued in 2006, ESPN burned through $150 … Read More Febreze Scent Stories Launched in 2004, Febreze Scent Stories was a clamshell dev … \[…\]![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/FailureMuseum_resized.gif)Failure Museum Logo![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/svg-xml-nitro-empty-id-MjA5NToyNjg--1-base64-PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgOTAwIDEwMjQiIHdpZHRoPSI5MDAiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAyNCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4-)](https://failure.museum/?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”** – Pablo Picasso ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] You don't need to solve all the problems URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-you-dont-need-to-solve-all-the-problems/ Last updated: 2024-11-29T13:22:32.000Z #198 - Nov.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: Your product doesn’t need to solve all of your customers' problems. You don't have to meet every single need they have. Sometimes, people think being customer-centric means trying to solve every possible problem. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/11/CRG_IMG_problems-1.png) In my experience, this often leads to average products and quickly become replaceable. This is why focus is so important—use your product strategy to communicate that focus. It’s better to do a few memorable things really well than to have lots of features that customers won’t remember. Don't give your customers a reason to switch you at the first alternative. ### **✉️ Post from this week** This week I wrote an article about design-led cultures. In a fast-changing world, design can help businesses innovate and adapt. I shared my ideas on the challenges, benefits, and misconceptions of design-led cultures: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/11/Design-led-1-1-1.png) [Building a design-led culture: insights and misconceptionsCommon traits of effective design-led companies.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/IMG_2210-1.png)César RodríguezCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/CRG-2-1-1.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/building-a-design-led-culture-insights-and-misconceptions/) Not yet a subscriber? [Join others](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-redefining-teams-humans-ai/#/portal/signup) for free and get practical insights on design, tech innovation, and creativity. Get inspiration to lead your next innovation! ### **🛠️ Free tools you can download** Talking about design: I’ve selected 10 of my favorite design tools so you can also apply them to your projects. I believe this are the top 10 techniques every innovation leader needs to know: [Learn more on this free e-book. ](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-09-06-at-07.18.29-1.png) **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [Bad design makes moneyWe assume good design always makes business sense: often it doesn’t![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2Ffc6356a8-27fe-440b-8b61-724433c91cd0-2Fapple-touch-icon-180x180.png)Why Design Is Hard, the book (2024)Scott Berkun![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F63e38b83-d109-4fec-a11e-38432252a442_800x512)](https://whydesignishard.substack.com/p/bad-design-makes-money) [Discover 2025’s Top Web Design Trends Curated by MuzliLooking for more daily inspiration? Download Muzli extension — your go-to source for design inspiration!![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156)Muzli - Design InspirationMuzli![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/1-hfKcssjVJNSI9XXNYTUvvg.png)](https://medium.muz.li/discover-2025s-top-web-design-trends-curated-by-muzli-59a47023fc31?ref=cesarrg.com) [The UX of LEGO Interface PanelsLEGO interface panels are beautiful, iconic, and great for learning interface design basics. I bought 52 of them from BrickLink to explore the design, layout and organisation of complex interfaces.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-icon-180x180.png)Interaction Magic logoGeorge Cave![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/og_image.jpg)](https://interactionmagic.com/UX-LEGO-Interfaces/?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“I define anxiety as experiencing failure in advance.”** – Seth Godin ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### Building a design-led culture: insights and misconceptions URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/building-a-design-led-culture-insights-and-misconceptions/ Last updated: 2024-11-28T09:28:39.000Z #197 - Nov.2024 When Brian Chesky, Airbnb CEO, started his [interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkfijg7s76o&ref=cesarrg.com) at Figma’s Config annual event, everyone cheered. He began by highlighting an interesting fact: out of all Fortune 500 companies, he seems to be the **only CEO with a design background**. He also pointed out a cruel bias in the start-up industry: **designers don’t start companies.** Over the years, there has been significant progress toward making designers part of company boards. Now, we see the role of Chief Design Officers having direct influence in business leadership. But CEOs? Why can’t designers run companies? Brian made this point: “*Design, in some ways, is fragile.*” I think he has an important point here. **Creative processes are chaotic by nature**. Traditional companies struggle to deal with processes that are not predictable. Yet, in a world that is changing so fast, leading through uncertainty requires people who embrace creativity and design as a way to innovate. We need companies that embrace processes that make us think differently. Companies that are customer-centric while building sustainable and profitable businesses. Companies that are **driven by design culture.** But what does it actually mean to be a design-led company? In this article, I want to share my perspective on common traits of these types of companies. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join others and get inspiration to lead your next innovation. Practical learnings and insights for free! ### Design bug Let me tell you a story. It was 2011\. I was part of a tech consulting firm, and we were trying to find new ways to serve customers. Through a partnership we had with SAP, I came across what I think was one of the best opportunities in my career. SAP was developing a new type of solution using in-memory databases and had put together an innovation team at SAP Labs in Palo Alto. I had the chance to join that team. When I joined, they explained to me this idea of “Design Thinking.” At the time, I didn’t know much about it, and overall, the concept was just gaining traction in the business world. **This approach felt different.** We invited strategic customers to the lab—companies like Target and Burberry—to run experiments. They brought their problems, and we worked together to create hypotheses and solutions. We co-innovated. Co-innovate with customers? Wasn’t it our job as consultants to come up with the best solutions? Well, as I mentioned, this was different. It was a team working backward from a problem to find ways to solve it. We navigated through uncertainty, open to new ideas regardless of “sides”. We let design take the lead. I often say that this experience was as if the “design bug” had bitten me. This experience changed my perspective on solving problems (I later specialized in Service Design). I saw firsthand the **power of creative people working together** as a team. Iterating over ideas and navigating into the chaos towards clarity. Many of these engagements resulted in prototypes and solutions that had a big impact to the business and to customers. I couldn’t understand why companies weren’t adopting this same approach to run their businesses. Why was it so difficult? ![Hand holding a post-it with the word "Design"](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/11/Design-led-1.png) ### Design and uncertainty Throughout history, businesses have evolved through processes that are predictable. We’re used to the saying, *“You can’t improve what you don’t measure.”* **Predictability and metrics have been the gold standard of business since the industrial revolution.** Yet, design is far from a linear process. It requires iterative cycles of exploration, prototyping, and testing. It’s a continuous process of understanding customers and adapting the value proposition. For designers, this might feel natural. But what about the multiple roles required to run a business (accounting, finance, legal, etc.)? **Embracing design means shifting from predictability to experimentation**. This gives you flexibility to explore innovative solutions. On the downside, it becomes a constant battle against [uncertainty](https://www.cesarrg.com/uncertainty/). In a design process, it’s hard to predict what you’ll find. It’s a process that demands consistency and resilience. This is one of the reasons why it’s so hard to implement design thinking practices. This is particularly challenging our times when businesses are focused on optimization and efficiency. [Metrics](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-metrics/) sometimes give us a false sense of control. So, what is a Design-Led Culture? **Design-led cultures use design as a strategic driving force.** It integrates design principles across all business processes. It’s a culture that places design thinking at the core of all decision-making. Here are some common misconceptions I’ve encountered about design-led cultures: - Design can fix everything; - Design thinking comes naturally to everyone; - In highly collaborative environments, everyone is an owner; - Any type of experimentation and failure is accepted. ### Is design a magic pill? Let’s clarify this upfront: **design can’t solve everything.** I agree with [Sarah Gallivan](https://www.sarahgallivan.com/post/design-can-t-fix-everything?ref=cesarrg.com) when she says, “Designers who claimed that design can fix anything did all of us a disservice.” Design has the power to help businesses find the right problems to solve and determine how to solve them. But in isolation, it can’t solve everything. There’s a tendency to see design as a magic pill that can turn any business into a success. But here’s the hard truth: **good design can be expensive.** If you don’t balance design outcomes with how the business will generate profit, you’re setting yourself up for failure. There’s no value in creating a beautiful, intuitive product if the company can’t sustain itself. Design should align with business outcomes. Don’t overpromise and underdeliver. ### Thinking as a designer Design skills don’t come naturally to everyone. Over time, society has shaped us toward efficiency. In business terms, this means finding the most efficient way to design and implement solutions. When you first start experimenting with design tools, it might feel chaotic. It’s not a step-by-step process but rather an iterative one of diverging (discovery) and converging (definition). Promoting a design-led culture requires: - Developing both hard and soft skills for those embracing design thinking; - Strong leadership to support and promote design thinking; - Mechanisms to operationalize design thinking across the organization. Scaling design thinking is particularly challenging in large organizations. But no matter the size, the foundation remains the same: **develop the team and connect design outcomes to business outcomes to prove value.** ### Collaboration through clear ownership There’s a misconception that creative cultures are unstructured. Everything is about collaboration with no clear responsibility. While collaboration is key, it shouldn’t mean a lack of accountability. In a design-led process, roles in decision-making need to be clearly defined, especially when ambiguity is high. Accountability ensures that everyone knows how they contribute to the process. Clear ownership across product, design, engineering, or other roles. **Design is not about getting consensus on every single decision.** You need clear roles and responsibilities, especially when making decisions under high ambiguity. It’s not about pointing fingers. It’s about ensuring each person knows how they add value across the design journey. ### Hypothesis and experimentation Design-led cultures envision failure as a way of learning and iterating on how to deliver more value to customers. Failure is natural for any creative process. This doesn’t mean that failure is accepted at all costs, particularly when it results from decisions that are hard to reverse (the so-called “*1-way door decisions*”). Experimentation is the way we iterate through design thinking. But experimenting without a clear hypothesis—just to “see what happens”—is a mistake. I think this anti-pattern comes from companies adopting a misinterpreted mindset from lean start-up ideas. They ship and validate later. **Experimentation should be intentional.** You don’t create a hypothesis after launching. You start with one. A good hypothesis should define: - What you expect to happen; - What assumptions support that outcome; - What you’ll do in case of success or failure. --- Design-Led Cultures Aren’t Built Overnight They require a combination of strong **mechanisms**, effective **change management** to endure resistance, and **design leaders** who know how to promote and scale design. But the payoff is worth it. When design becomes a strategic driver, businesses not only create better solutions but also adapt faster to change. And change is becoming the common denominator of our times. For a world with more designers running successful businesses. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] Simplicity in AI-driven products URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-simplicity-in-ai-driven-products/ Last updated: 2024-11-22T13:17:21.000Z #196 - Nov.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: **Making a product easy to understand** is one of the principles of good design. When a product is easy to use and predictable, users feel comfortable with it. **This can be a challenge for AI-driven products.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/11/CRG_IMG_simple-1.png) The "surprises" of this type of technology can be exciting, but they also make design harder: people need to trust that a product will do what they think it will. **In simple words: if customers do not trust your product, they will not come back to use it.** When designing for AI, think about: - **Education**: How to teach users the basics of how AI works. - **Context**: Show the main factors behind AI decisions. - **Transparency**: Explain how data is used, how bias is handled, and any ethical issues. Design for trust. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Not yet a subscriber? Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives and get inspiration to lead your next innovation! **🤔 Idea that kept me thinking** [The Anatomy of a Search Engine![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-6.ico)![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/over.gif)](http://infolab.stanford.edu/~backrub/google.html?ref=cesarrg.com) This is a paper written by Sergey Brin and Lawrence Page, founders of Google, back in 1998\. Technically speaking, this paper offers very interesting insights on the ideas that drove the design of Google search engine. What kept me thinking is this part: *"Furthermore, *advertising income* often provides an incentive to provide *poor quality search results*...In general, it could be argued from the consumer point of view that the better the search engine is, the *fewer advertisements* will be needed for the consumer to find what they want."* It's amazing to think how much this mental model changed... **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [AWS Lambda turns 10: A rare look at the doc that started itOn AWS Lambda’s 10th anniversary, I’m publishing the internal PR/FAQ that helped launch this groundbreaking service. This document provides insight into the customer problems we observed in the early 2010s and our vision for serverless computing. Readers will find annotations throughout, offering a glimpse into how our long-term thinking has influenced Lambda’s evolution over the past decade.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-5.ico)All Things DistributedWerner Vogels![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/lambda-10-year-badge-with-lanyard.png)](https://www.allthingsdistributed.com/2024/11/aws-lambda-turns-10-a-rare-look-at-the-doc-that-started-it.html?ref=cesarrg.com) [Excel Formula GPT - AI Excel Formula GeneratorFree AI-powered Excel formula generator. Simply describe what you want to calculate in plain language, and get the exact Excel formula you need. Save time and avoid formula errors.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/icon.ico)AI Excel Formula Generator](https://www.excelformulagpt.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating the problem in a way that will allow for a solution”** – Bertrand Russell ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] Do we really need to automate everything? URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-do-we-really-need-to-automate-everything/ Last updated: 2024-11-15T15:51:21.000Z #196 - Nov.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: **Do we really need to automate everything?** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/11/IMG_0937.jpeg) It's tempting to automate every part of the product or service experience. Sure, human to human interactions might seem inefficient at first. But it is precisely these types of interactions that offer **opportunities to create "wow" moments.** Moments we connect with customers. Moments where we **create trust bonds.** I think that a far better mental model is: search for the best part of your experience where a **human touchpoint can make all the difference.** Often, many of the best innovations are just **human connections.** Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Not yet a subscriber? Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives and get inspiration to lead your next innovation! **🧠 Mental model of the week** **Framing** > Framing is the art of context, the craft of shaping perception. It’s how we present information, the lens through which we invite others to view the world. Like a photographer choosing what’s in the frame, we constantly decide what to emphasize, minimize, or leave out. These often unconscious choices profoundly influence how others understand and respond. *source:* [*fs.blog*](https://fs.blog/mental-models/?ref=cesarrg.com#systems) **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [20 Product Prioritization Techniques: A Map and Guided Tour | Folding BurritosAn in-depth overview of 20 product prioritization techniques and a periodic table to make sense of them all.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-2.png)Folding Burritos![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/periodic-table.png)](https://foldingburritos.com/blog/product-prioritization-techniques/?ref=productledalliance.com) [OUTCOME-DRIVEN design™ - BIA.studioBIA.studio is the originator of Outcome-Driven design (ODD), a framework for including diverse stakeholder perspectives in the design process. Drawing on innovation techniques developed in other creative industries, Outcome-Driven design equips project participants with a methodology for maximizing project success.…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-1.png)BIA.studio![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/rowersback.jpeg)](https://www.bia.studio/outcome-driven-design/?ref=cesarrg.com) **📚 Recommended book** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/11/IMG_2232-2.jpeg) In "The Creative Act: A Way of Being," Rick Rubin share his perspective on creativity. Using the metaphor of signals he talks about a different way to be aware and act on these signals. Checkout other recommended books in [my bookshelf](https://www.cesarrg.com/book-shelf/). **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“The art challenges the technology, and the technology inspires the art.”** – John Lasseter ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] Experimenting with new technology URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-experimenting-with-new-technology/ Last updated: 2024-11-08T18:29:08.000Z #195 - Nov.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: Thinking about adopting a new technology? Here’s how to start experimenting effectively: 1. **Define Your Hypothesis**. What are you trying to learn? Be clear about the value you expect this technology to bring to your product or service. A strong hypothesis keeps your focus. 2. **Start Small, Think Big**. Begin with small-scale pilots to minimize risk. Test the fit within your business context. Avoid wasting time just exploring shiny new features. 3. **Document and Share**. Capture your learnings to refine your strategy. Share insights with your team to build collective knowledge and identify actionable steps to decide if full adoption makes sense. Experiment with purpose, adapt quickly, and make informed decisions. **📱 Interesting gadget I found** [Boox Palma](https://shop.boox.com/collections/all/products/palma?ref=cesarrg.com) is a mobile ePaper device. Is like a Kindle but with mobile apps on it. It offers a phone-like experience through an eye-friendly display. Is not for me due to some limitations (e.g. lack of sim card) but interesting anyway. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/11/IMG_2228.webp) **📚 Recommended book** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/11/image-1.png) *"Daily Rituals"* by Mason Currey offers a fascinating overview of the daily routines of artists, writers, scientists, and other creatives. Through short profiles, the book shares insights on how structured (and unstructured) were the days of each person, showing that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to creativity. Checkout other recommended books in [my bookshelf](https://www.cesarrg.com/book-shelf/). **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [Incorporating AI into design - a framework of considerations - Tom CastleThis brief article introduces a set of considerations for any designer new to the field of AI and want to ensure they consider important factors that may influence the success of their work.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-4.ico)Tom Castletomgreenwich![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/AI-framework-16x9-1.png)](https://tom-castle.com/incorporating-ai-into-design/?ref=cesarrg.com) [Useful built-in macOS command-line utilitiesmacOS comes with a lot of built-in utilities. Here’s a list of some that I find interesting.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-1.svg)](https://weiyen.net/articles/useful-macos-cmd-line-utilities?ref=cesarrg.com) [To understand physics, we need to tell – and hear – stories | Aeon EssaysDon’t be intimidated by physics: it is made of stories and metaphors. Learn these and the field will open up to you![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon.png)Aeon Magazine![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/essay-final-aeon_01_physics-is-story_5.jpg)](https://aeon.co/essays/to-understand-physics-we-need-to-tell-and-hear-stories?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“If you're thinking without writing, you only think you're thinking.”** – Leslie Lamport ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] Tech adoption speed URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-tech-adoption-speed/ Last updated: 2024-11-01T16:59:35.000Z #194 - Nov.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: Technology is being adopted faster than ever before. These are different products and how long it took to reach 100M monthly users (source: Everys): - Google Translate: **78 months** - Uber: **70 months** - Telegram: **61 months** - Spotify: **55 months** - Pinterest: **41 months** - Instagram: **30 months** - TikTok: **9 months** - ChatGPT: **2 months** This is an opportunity for businesses to change to reinvent themselves continuously. The companies that build strong customers bonds and trust will win in the long run. **🧪 Tools I'm experimenting with** [**ChatGPT Canvas**](https://openai.com/index/introducing-canvas/?ref=cesarrg.com) > *A new interface for working with ChatGPT on writing and coding projects that go beyond simple chat. Canvas opens in a separate window, allowing you and ChatGPT to collaborate on a project* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/11/Canvas_Hero.png.webp) ### **✉️ Post from this week** This week I wrote an article sharing a strategic guide to adopting emerging technology using experimentation as a tool: [Designing for everyone: embracing universal designHow to create products everyone can use![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/09/Artboard-7-1.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/designing-for-everyone-universal-design/) Not yet a subscriber? [Join others](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-redefining-teams-humans-ai/#/portal/signup) for free and get practical insights on design, tech innovation, and creativity. Get inspiration to lead your next innovation! **🧠 Mental model I learned** **Narrative Instinct** *Human beings have been appropriately called “the storytelling animal” because of our instinct to construct and seek meaning in narrative. It’s likely that long before we developed the ability to write or to create objects, we were telling stories and thinking in stories. Nearly all social organizations, from religious institutions to corporations to nation-states, run on constructions of the narrative instinct.* (source: [fs.blog](https://fs.blog/mental-models/?ref=cesarrg.com)) **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [Your brain does not process information and it is not a computer | Aeon EssaysYour brain does not process information, retrieve knowledge or store memories. In short: your brain is not a computer![](https://aeon.co/apple-touch-icon.png)Aeon Magazine![](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/3d276efb-4841-4be7-b63f-9deffd9526c1/ESSAY-GS3522985.jpg?width=1200&quality=75&format=auto)](https://aeon.co/essays/your-brain-does-not-process-information-and-it-is-not-a-computer?ref=cesarrg.com) [Design PrinciplesAn Open Source collection of Design Principles and methods![](https://principles.design/images/favicons/apple-icon-180x180.png)Design PrinciplesHighways England Strategic Design Panel![](https://principles.design/images/design-principles-og.png)](https://principles.design/?ref=cesarrg.com) [ChatPRD - The #1 AI Copilot for Product ManagersChatPRD is AI for product managers & their teams. Write great product docs fast and become an elite PM.![](https://www.chatprd.ai/favicon.ico)ChatPRD![](https://www.chatprd.ai/_next/static/media/quickRepliesNew.71d48c83.png)](https://www.chatprd.ai/?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“**Obedience keeps the rules. Love knows when to break them.**”** – Anthony de Mello. ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### Navigating emerging technologies: from hype to adoption URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/navigating-emerging-technologies-from-hype-to-adoption/ Last updated: 2024-10-29T12:47:16.000Z #193 - Oct.2024 Let's face it: it's hard to keep pace with today's technology. Consider the rapid evolution of Large Language Models (LLMs). ChatGPT reached 100 million users in just two months. In contrast, Google Translate took almost six years to hit the same milestone, despite launching 18 years ago. It can be frustrating—just as you start to understand one technology, a new one emerges to replace it. If learning new tech is challenging, finding real applications for your business can be even harder. **How and *when* to adopt emerging technologies?** This is a question that I often receive from people leading innovation within companies. It seems a trivial question but the answer is a bit more complex. Many factors can define how fast you adopt a technology. To name a few, it depends on how the market is adopting it, your aversion to risks, and how fast you can iterate over experiments. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, but here’s a guiding principle: **Technology should enable your product’s value proposition, not drive it.** Technology changes. All the time. I like to refer to it as the [*combinational nature*](https://www.cesarrg.com/mix-balance/) of technology. We build new things over previous ideas. They are all iterations of inventions from the past. Anchoring your entire value proposition to a specific technology limits your vision to a snapshot of that technology in time. There is a better approach. As technology evolves, you can find new and better ways to deliver your promise. If you’re in e-commerce, your value isn’t just about selling online; it’s about offering a convenient, seamless shopping experience. In customer service, your value isn’t the latest AI—it’s providing a unique customer experience that solves problems. It might sound the same, but it is not. **Your product’s value should adapt to new technologies, not be dependent on any one of them.** Technology-driven value propositions are risky. As other companies adopt the same technology you quickly become a commodity. Why I'm talking too much about value propositions? Well, I believe this is an important mental model to understand and leverage emerging technologies. It is an approach based on experimentation and in perspective of the value that your business is offering. Let's dive in. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join others and get inspiration to lead your next innovation. All practical learnings. ### A technology radar The first thing you need to learn is how to track emerging technologies. **I like to see emerging technologies as *signals*.** They are all around us and in different frequencies. The trick is pointing your radar to these signals. There are many resources to simplify these signals, like [Gartner’s Technology Hype Cycle](https://www.gartner.com/en?ref=cesarrg.com) or ThoughtWorks’ [Technology Radar](https://www.thoughtworks.com/radar?ref=cesarrg.com). These tools provide a good starting point, but you should develop skills to capture and understand these signals. You can do this by: - Researching your industry and technology domain. - Evaluating where each technology is in its lifecycle. - Seeking curated content that emphasizes facts over opinions. - Understanding potential applications across different fields. Predicting the outcome of emerging technologies is hard. How fast each technology goes from early adoption to mainstream will depend on multiple factors, from market dynamics to human behavior. All technologies follow a similar pattern. They first emerge from a discovery or invention. Early adopters start experimenting. These experiments create momentum and a hype of attention. The hype is often followed by disappointment when people realize the reality. Slowly, technologies regain traction, through real-life applications and mainstream adoption kicks off. In the end, they either decline or evolve. Timing is important when deciding when to adopt a new technology. Read the signals and ensure you are aware of the current stage of each technology. Here is a **simple framework** that I use that can help with this: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/10/image-6.png) These questions can help you assess the maturity of each technology and help you decide when to adopt it. Generally, technologies in the "early adopters" phase are great candidates for experimentation. The risks are relatively lower and you can leverage the benefits of early access. ### **Experimentation** Whether you are a small startup or a big corporation, technology adoption is related to risk management. You are making a bet. You can reduce the risk by having strong criteria to assess the value and maturity of each technology. You can use the questions above and customize them to the reality of your business. Once you have done an assessment, the best way to start is by experimenting. ![Image representing experimentation](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/10/IMG_2225-1.png) Start small. Focus on small-scale pilots to bring the technology into your business reality. Your focus on these early experiments is not about scaling, but rather understanding how it can fit into your business strategy, user experience, or other technology platforms. **Start with a clear hypothesis** of what benefits you think the new technology can offer to your product or service and work backward from there. Not all experiments need to be real prototypes or working solutions. You can also ideate through concepts and design sessions. Two of my favorite tools: 1. **Mixing technologies**: This dynamic is focused on exploring divergent ideas on how the combinations of multiple technologies can generate exponential value. Select 2 technologies (can be new or a combination of existing and new technologies). Ideate new solutions that can emerge with the application of both technologies. What can you learn from the new concept you created and the combinational power of technologies? 2. **Time Machine**: For a particular business context - let's say, how customers shop on an online site - create three perspectives of the same process by asking: (a) how customers solved this problem in the past; (b) how customers are solving this problem today; (c) how can they solve it in the future. This exercise usually creates insights into how old solutions connect with new ones. Many times human behaviour doesn't change. What it changes is the technology we can now offer to solve a problem. Connecting the past with the future can become a powerful design tool. The experiments should give you enough information on the technical feasibility, business value & costs, and impacts on the customer experience to decide to fully adopt and scale a technology. This might require iterations and simplification of the technology. When technologies struggle to demonstrate these benefits through several iterations it is often a sign that is time to move forward. Now, the question is: how do we make the space in our team or organization to experiment with new technology? ### Making the space To make the space to experiment with new technology you need to think about **people, structure, and mechanisms.** Starting with people: think about your team skills. Developing skills in a technology that is new to the market is hard. Instead, focus on soft skills, especially promoting a culture based on curiosity, simplification, and embracing failure as a way of learning. I've seen many structures in companies adopting new technology. Most teams opt for creating an R&D division fully dedicated to exploration work. This creates focus and a dedicated capacity to test new technology. However, it is also a double-edge sword: R&D teams can quickly become a ‘secret lab’ disconnected from real customer needs. Aim for the best of both worlds: focus and customer-centric. For smaller companies that can not afford to create a new team, you can separate part of your team's development capacity for discovery work. This can be in the form of sprints - in the case of agile development - or quick 1-week design sprints to test assumptions. In any case, what you are looking for is to keep a recurrent work of exploration on how technology can improve the delivery of value to your customers. The level of investment will vary from company to company. To get an idea, companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Meta, and Google, invest an average of 15% of their revenue in R&D. Simple tip: benchmark your industry to set an initial estimate of this investment. Finally, mechanisms are great ways to keep track of progress and promote accountability across teams. Ensure you have mechanisms to track new technologies, ensure you work with a clear hypothesis, and how experiments are helping you confirm or deny your hypothesis. Document and socialize your learnings of new technologies across teams and organizations. This is a simple and effective way to invite others to explore with you. --- Technology will continue to evolve. The tools and technologies will change, but your core values and approach as a business shouldn’t. Experiment and iterate. You might find the next technology that will take your business to the next level. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] Is this tech ready to take off? A simple framework to find out URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-is-this-tech-ready-to-take-off-a-simple-framework-to-find-out-2/ Last updated: 2024-10-25T12:35:43.000Z #192 - Oct.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: Not all emerging techs are ready to scale. Timing is important. But, when to experiment? When is the right moment to invest? I put together this simple framework that can help you read the signals and better understand the timing of each new tech: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/10/CRG_IMG_Framework_TechTiming-1.png) ps: I'm finishing an article about how to adopt emerging technologies that I'll release in the next few days. Interested? Stay tuned by [subscribing here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and I will send you the next article by email. **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [CrewAI![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/66cf2bfc3ed15b02da0ca770/66e1e4bddb9f194838194eb2_256x256.png)Ben TossellFounder at Ben’s Bites![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/66cf2bfc3ed15b02da0ca770/671680b608d9e689b4f33330_Group%20(4).svg)](https://www.crewai.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) [UI/UX Patterns for AI Products: Series 6-Handling User FrustrationWhen user finally has enough visibility of product — The matrix, 1999![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:304:304/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156)Muzli - Design InspirationSoonk Paik![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1200/1*EXueXeNSeGigiVWYAYGW4A.jpeg)](https://medium.muz.li/a-designers-guide-to-ui-ux-patterns-for-ai-products-series-6-handling-user-frustration-with-ai-c5912e2cd385?ref=cesarrg.com) [Scalable watermarking for identifying large language model outputs - NatureA scheme for watermarking the text generated by large language models shows high text quality preservation and detection accuracy and low latency, and is feasible in large-scale-production settings.![](https://www.nature.com/static/images/favicons/nature/apple-touch-icon-f39cb19454.png)NatureSumanth Dathathri![](https://media.springernature.com/m685/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41586-024-08025-4/MediaObjects/41586_2024_8025_Fig1_HTML.png)](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08025-4?ref=cesarrg.com) **𝕏 About innovation** > You don’t always need to reinvent the wheel… > > Instead, use the wheel for leverage. [pic.twitter.com/tlTEPId9Tl](https://t.co/tlTEPId9Tl?ref=cesarrg.com) > > — César Rodríguez (@cesarrgv) [October 21, 2024](https://twitter.com/cesarrgv/status/1848398745240506465?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=cesarrg.com) **🎧 Podcast I'm listening to** [**Cronnor Moore**](https://open.spotify.com/episode/2TYj4nKmUwgccjYqmxaogG?si=b553e0a68e434abc&ref=cesarrg.com): Sound design for Tesla, Uber, Peloton and more **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“**In quoting others, we cite ourselves.**”** – Julio Cortázar ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] How to improve your idea generation process? URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-how-to-improve-your-idea-generation-process/ Last updated: 2024-10-18T18:53:04.000Z #191 - Oct.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: When generating new ideas, aim for both **fluency and flexibility**. Fluency is about the speed and quantity of ideas you can generate. Flexibility is about how distinct one idea is from another. We often focus on fluency—the more ideas, the better. But then we realize many are just variations of the same concept. Flexibility brings the [lateral thinking](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-lateral-thinking/) that can lead to your next discovery. You need to balance both. ### **🛠️ Free tools you can download** The innovations we create can have a real impact on society. The purpose of ethical design is to acknowledge this fact and ensure we stay true to our core beliefs. But, do you know how to apply ethical principles to your design? [Learn more on this free e-book. ](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/10/image-2-1.png) Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. ****Subscribe for free** and get this and more e-books in your welcome e-mail! ### **🎧 Podcast I'm listening to** [**Build a Snap Product Strategy**](https://open.spotify.com/episode/46fCY4RmvjU1JjlpVUtz8b?si=f3c9f91986534ee8&ref=cesarrg.com): How to Succeed as a PM and Product Leader. ### **🤔 Book I'm currently reading** [The Business of Expertise: How Entrepreneurial Experts Convert Insight to Impact + Wealth](https://www.amazon.com/Business-Expertise-Entrepreneurial-Experts-Convert/dp/1605440604?ref=cesarrg.com) Interesting insights so far on how to turn your expertise into an entrepreneurial journey. Will post about this as I progress into the book. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/10/image-1.png) ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [Why designers should embrace intuitionDesign isn’t just about following rules or crunching numbers; it’s about understanding people and their needs.![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:304:304/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156)Muzli - Design InspirationCanvs Editorial![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1200/1*CcIimEmfYRm_zJ_XlZ1SWQ.png)](https://medium.muz.li/why-designers-shouldnt-avoid-using-intuition-a68b9fd630ab?ref=cesarrg.com) [komoroske.com/bits-and-bobsAuthor : Alex Komoroske alex@komoroske.com What is this? During the week I take notes on ideas that catch my attention during conversations. Once a week I take a few hours to take a step back and try to abduct some insights out of the raw notes. To make the ideas easier for me to engage with, I…![](https://ssl.gstatic.com/docs/documents/images/kix-favicon-2023q4.ico)Google Docs![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/docs/AHkbwyIX4DfaRHtGfNHnlrkAdJtLibZ4t_damIv2Y19llmd-jHo-rRQk_nb_N65L2lfTCtUTIYJsVMOZUeejVD5XRTHVT2aGld_Hi-grQDEDlaDbTHW01P0v=w1200-h630-p)](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ptHfoKWn0xbNSJgdkH8%5F3z4PHLC%5Ff36MutFTTRf14I0/edit?tab=t.0&ref=cesarrg.com) [Why no productivity hack will solve your overwhelmHow the Internal Family Systems model can help you listen to your inner wisdom and get unstuck![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7cde267-8f9e-47fa-9aef-5be03bad95ed%2Fapple-touch-icon-180x180.png)Lenny's NewsletterNatalie Rothfels![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1200,h_600,c_fill,f_jpg,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd9106bb7-f35d-40f8-ac5c-330a5dbf83f3_2048x1258.png)](https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/why-no-productivity-hack-will-solve?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“**The biggest dangers in decision making are not making enough decisions and then not correcting the bad ones.**”** – David C. Baker. ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] Stakeholders aren't your customers URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-stakeholders-arent-your-customers/ Last updated: 2024-10-11T11:00:18.000Z #190 - Oct.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: Stakeholders are not your customers. One common mistake in product-led teams is treating end customers and stakeholders as the same. When you start prioritizing based only on stakeholder feedback, you risk losing sight of the value for the people who actually use your solution. Don’t rely on stakeholders as your only proxy for your customers. Talk with the people who are directly using your product or service. I bet they know more about the real pain points and opportunities. ;) ### **✉️ Post from this week** This week I wrote about techniques for handling conflicts in innovation. Learn how to manage resistance and turn challenges into opportunities to build stronger relationships: [How to transform conflict into collaborationLearn to navigate and solve conflicts across innovation teams.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/IMG_2210.png)César RodríguezCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/CRG-4-1.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/transforming-conflicts-into-collaboration/) Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Not yet a subscriber? Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives and get inspiration to lead your next innovation! ### **🎧 Podcast I'm listening to** [**Swatches**](https://open.spotify.com/episode/6LYF8VuMtDd1yDDYkul8ek?si=e57c857de2b94f88&ref=cesarrg.com)**:** The story of the Swatch is supper cool and one of the great retail successes. ### **🧪** Tool I'm testing This week I tested WebSim. As the site describes, WebSim is "a powerful tool for simulating and exploring hypothetical web spaces". This tool really pushes the boundary of what's possible for online applications. Through prompts, you can create functional applications in seconds. The fun part is iterating over the idea. WebSim allows you to play with dynamic content, responsive design, and futuristic interfaces. Your imagination is the limit! [Give it a try. ](https://websim.ai/?ref=cesarrg.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/10/image.png) ### **🤔 Idea I've been reflecting on** With the rise of tools for builders to create applications in seconds through natural language, do you imagine a (near) future of "1-single-use or disposable digital applications"? Think about this: you need an ad-hoc tool to solve a problem quickly at your job. You can create it and then discard it if it is not needed anymore. Do you want to invent a game to play with your kids on a weekend? You can create it and discard it if it is not engaging enough. Creativity will be the leading force. ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [7 Tips for Successful DiscoveriesDiscovery is challenging; it can be hard to know what to research, how to do discovery as a team, and how to get buy-in. Follow these 7 tips for smoother discovery efforts.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-3.ico)Nielsen Norman GroupMaria Rosala![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/Timeboxing-edit_openg__copy_2.jpg)](https://www.nngroup.com/articles/7-tips-discovery/?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“**Awareness of ignorance is the beginning of wisdom.**”** – Socrates. ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### How to transform conflict into collaboration URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/transforming-conflicts-into-collaboration/ Last updated: 2024-10-09T11:00:41.000Z #189 - Oct.2024 When we think about innovation, there's one area we often overlook: Resolving conflicts. As someone leading innovation or starting a new business, you might face this right now. **When you’re trying to affect change, tough conversations are inevitable.** Resistance is normal. People may have different opinions or perspectives. Some might even fear change. All innovation brings uncertainty. This can lead to conflicts with peers or across teams. As a leader, you need to develop the skills to handle these situations. You can see conflicts as something negative, or you can view them as opportunities to build stronger relationships. **Ignoring conflicts only makes problems bigger**. They can slow down your team or reduce the impact of your solution. You need to take action. I’m not saying you should seek conflicts. But to use them to learn more about people, assumptions, and perspectives. In my experience, conflicts during innovation projects often derive from these issues: 1. Lack of alignment on goals 2. Mixing up customer and stakeholder expectations 3. Resistance to change 4. Communication *during* conflicts Let’s dive into each and let me share practical ways to manage them. ![image of shaking hands](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/10/IMG_2213-1.png) ### **Working toward a common goal** Set clear priorities and goals from the start. When people from different areas (product, engineering, design) work together, boundaries can blur. You start seeing common conflicts around ownership and accountability. Many turn to responsibility matrices to solve this. While defining clear responsibilities is needed, I don't believe it tackles the root cause of the problem. At the core, most of the ownership problems are just a reflection of conflicting goals and incentives across teams. Multi-disciplinary teams can share accountability as long they are aligned with a common purpose. Start by[ framing the problem](https://www.cesarrg.com/framing/) and defining outcomes for everyone on the team. The sooner you define this, the better. This is one of the simplest ways to avoid conflicts early in the journey. There are many frameworks for defining great goals (I use [SMART](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART%5Fcriteria?ref=cesarrg.com)). When defining goals and priorities I like to focus on deeper questions that can lead to clarify: - What tasks consume energy that could go toward understanding customers? - What small step could we take today to learn more about the problem? - What’s blocking our team from experimenting more? - What processes could we eliminate? - What would you try, even if you risk failure? Beware of the incentives that are driving each team. Check that the incentives align with the shared goals. Common anti-patterns: - Engineers focused on delivery speed, not value - Product managers tracking success by feature count - Designers rewarded for aesthetics over functionality **Good goals don't compensate for bad incentives. You need both aligned.** Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### **Customers vs. Stakeholders** Teams often struggle with this. They treat customers and stakeholders as being the same thing. When you do this, you create the wrong expectations and it usually results in frustration. **Stakeholders aren’t your direct customers.** You need to create value for your direct customers, not your stakeholders. I’ve seen many teams prioritizing features based on stakeholder demands from people who never use the product. This usually creates conflicts between what stakeholders request and what customers really need. Does this mean you should ignore stakeholders? Surely not. They play a key role in the process. Stakeholders need to bring inputs on the constraints, assumptions, and risks. Customers bring the perspective of the needs and opportunities. Solve this by mapping your stakeholders and customers. Create a stakeholder map and customer journeys (I have a [template](https://www.cesarrg.com/resources/) if you need one). Make sure your team knows the difference. Set clear expectations with stakeholders. Help them understand their role and how they can best contribute. ### **Resistance to change** In the past, I wrote about how businesses buy IT solutions and[ how change is an important part of the process](https://www.cesarrg.com/how-businesses-buy-tech-solutions-crafting-great-proposals/). I believe that the same principle applies to innovation projects. Innovation often leads to important changes, which can create pushback from teams used to the status quo. Your skills in how you lead others through change can make a huge difference in avoiding these conflicts. To lead change you need to have a deep understanding of the current situation, promote a clear vision of the future, show others the process to get there, and acknowledge the barriers or costs when making this change. Your goal is to demonstrate that the current situation, vision, and process are worth the cost of overcoming the resistance to change. In my experience, many of the conflicts that derive from managing change are related to either a blurry vision (we don't know where we are heading) or a lack of clarity to show the process (how we'll get there?) **Aligning not only the vision but the *process* to get there creates trust**. People might still push back but your transparency creates a common ground for collaboration. This becomes even more effective if you listen and use feedback to iterate. Make them part of the journey. When people understand how they contribute to the process, they become engaged and supportive. Everyone wants to feel included. ### **Effective communication during conflicts** One of the most important skills for an innovation leader is communication. But let’s face it: few people like difficult conversations. We tend to avoid them. However, the way you lead with these hard discussions can help you build stronger collaboration. Your approach to managing conflicts can significantly impact your team’s success. **Effective communication during conflicts isn’t just about having good arguments; it’s about listening.** Here are some common pitfalls in communication during conflicts: - Confusing perceptions with reality - Not considering the role of emotions during debates - Linking debates to self-worth or competence At the beginning of a conflict, focus on exploring assumptions, perspectives, and facts. You do this by listening. Active listening is contagious—it invites others to do the same. Explore how everyone contributed to the problem. That sets the stage for collaboration. In corporate settings, people often avoid sharing their feelings. **But the truth is that emotions shape discussions.** We see feelings as a vulnerability. But being aware of your emotions can help you drive a better debate. Many debates are ignited by perceptions, not reality. Discovering the feelings behind people can lead you to a better understanding of their real intentions. One simple questions that open this door is using more "I feel that..." and separating your assumptions ("it seems to me that...") rather than framing your arguments as facts. Difficult conversations can threaten our sense of identity. Discussions become complicated when mixed with concerns about competence, worth, or self-image. Separate your identity from the problem. The fact that you are having a debate doesn't make you a better or worse professional. These frictions are part of a journey when people are trying to find their way through the ambiguity of an innovation. You have the power to turn conflicts into catalysts for creativity and collaboration. --- Friction is a natural effect of change. How you handle conflicts can define how you build trust with others. And trust is one of your most powerful currencies. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### [Weekly Retro] Design isn’t just for designers URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-design-isnt-just-for-designers/ Last updated: 2024-10-07T18:59:52.000Z #188 - Oct.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: A little design knowledge goes a long way. Design is the bridge that connects product, UX, and engineering. Learn the basics. Design isn't just for designers. Any leader driving innovation should develop a good design taste. Good taste comes from understanding context, recognizing patterns, and curating the best options. Start with these 4 areas: 1. **UX Principles**: Understand user-centered design and usability basics: [nngroup.com](https://www.nngroup.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) 2. **Discovery**: Learn to conduct user interviews and gather insights: [producttalk.org](https://www.producttalk.org/2021/08/product-discovery/?ref=cesarrg.com) 3. **Prototyping**: Experiment with prototyping methods to visualize ideas: [pretotyping.org](https://www.pretotyping.org/?ref=cesarrg.com) 4. **Design Consistency**: Develop a consistent design language for coherence: [Atomic Web Design](https://bradfrost.com/blog/post/atomic-web-design/?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **𝕏 About Leadership** > [pic.twitter.com/pvzJYJ1eo1](https://t.co/pvzJYJ1eo1?ref=cesarrg.com) > > — César Rodríguez (@cesarrgv) [October 3, 2024](https://twitter.com/cesarrgv/status/1841801583421505594?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=cesarrg.com) ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [OpenAI’s ChatGPT Breaks Out of Its Box—and Onto a CanvasChatGPT’s new canvas interface can suggest improvements to writing and code as well as make in-line changes.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon-1.ico)WIREDCondé Nast![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/OpenAI-ChatGpt-Update-Business-2174798150.jpg)](https://www.wired.com/story/chatgpt-canvas-openai/?ref=cesarrg.com) [Writing ExamplesWrite like the greats.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/93a164fdfb7dbb3b2f4c652d51ab8d32e8ad942b-254x254.png)![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/7efa0aaa1065e76e67178d6e68f2b6506419aa14-3130x1638.png)](https://writingexamples.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) [A PM’s guide to influenceHow to align stakeholders so decisions go your way![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/https-3A-2F-2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2Fc7cde267-8f9e-47fa-9aef-5be03bad95ed-2Fapple-touch-icon-180x180.png)Lenny's NewsletterJules Walter![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2F82442f37-40d4-485f-ad10-50a33c0c18c7_1600x527.png)](https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/a-pms-guide-to-influence?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🧪 Research** I’ve put together a **quick survey** (it takes less than 2 minutes) to understand what areas are you interested in and your current challenges. I want to ensure I’m helping you to solve them. If you haven’t already, please help me by sharing your feedback here: [**\[Take the survey here\]**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeWWeoLoqSGrqrpqrLhXuSs85ezJbWufRNUQA5W93woj1ruzw/viewform?usp=sf%5Flink&ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“**Methodologies and frameworks are [trails, not rails](https://www.cesarrg.com/trails-and-rails/)**”** – César R. ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ## Get your weekly dose of inspiration! 💡 Join others innovation leaders, product managers and creatives curious on actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Don’t fall into the innovation traps URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-dont-fall-into-the-innovation-traps-2/ Last updated: 2024-10-07T18:59:33.000Z #187 - Sep.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: Don’t fall into the **innovation traps.** I’ve felt the pressure to always innovate. But not every problem needs a new solution. Sometimes, a simple and quick fix is the best option. Keep the **problem at the center of your thinking**. Innovation without a strategy is aimless. Without a clear goal, you might solve the wrong problem. **Innovation takes time.** Don’t sacrifice long-term success for quick wins. ### **✉️ Post from this week** This week I wrote a long post on how businesses evaluate and buy tech solutions. I included core principles from crafting 100+ proposals: [How businesses buy tech solutions: crafting great proposalsLessons to craft tech proposals that stand out.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/CRLogo_2024-60-60-1.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/CRG-2-1.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/how-businesses-buy-tech-solutions-crafting-great-proposals/) Not yet a subscriber? [Join others](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-redefining-teams-humans-ai/#/portal/signup) for free and get practical insights on design, tech innovation, and creativity. Get inspiration to lead your next innovation! ### 🧑🏻‍🏫 **Concept worth knowing** **Small language models** > *A small language model (SLM) is a lightweight generative AI model. The label “small” in this context refers to the size of the model’s neural network, the number of parameters the model uses to make a decision, and the volume of data the model is trained on.* Read more here: [What is a Small Language Model (SLM)](https://www.techopedia.com/definition/small-language-model-slm?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🛠️ Tools and resources** Customer journeys are one of the best tools to create empathy and understand a problem. But, do you know how to build one and where to start? I created a [free e-book deconstructing 5 key components of a customer journey](https://www.cesarrg.com/resources/) and how you can build now today. Check it out! ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [Hacker plants false memories in ChatGPT to steal user data in perpetuityEmails, documents, and other untrusted content can plant malicious memories.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/ars-ios-icon-d9a45f558c.png)Ars TechnicaDan Goodin![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/memory-760x380.jpg)](https://arstechnica.com/security/2024/09/false-memories-planted-in-chatgpt-give-hacker-persistent-exfiltration-channel/?ref=cesarrg.com) [Card Sorting: Uncover Users’ Mental ModelsIn a card-sorting study, users organize topics into groups. Use this research method to create an information architecture that suits your users’ expectations.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon.ico)Nielsen Norman GroupSamhita Tankala![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/Card-Sorting_openg-35.jpg)](https://www.nngroup.com/articles/card-sorting-definition/?ref=cesarrg.com) [GPT Actions library - Google Drive | OpenAI CookbookOpen-source examples and guides for building with the OpenAI API. Browse a collection of snippets, advanced techniques and walkthroughs. Share your own examples and guides.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/favicon.svg)OpenAI Cookbook![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/og)](https://cookbook.openai.com/examples/chatgpt/gpt%5Factions%5Flibrary/gpt%5Faction%5Fgoogle%5Fdrive?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“Good writing is just downstream from clear thinking”** – Sam Altman ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ## Get your weekly dose of inspiration! 💡 Join others innovation leaders, product managers and creatives curious on actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### How businesses buy tech solutions: crafting great proposals URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/how-businesses-buy-tech-solutions-crafting-great-proposals/ Last updated: 2024-10-07T18:59:14.000Z #186 - Sep.2024 You negotiate all the time. You're constantly negotiating, whether at work, at home, or even at a store. Negotiation is not just a business skill—it's for everyday life. In this post, I want to focus on business proposals, specifically proposals for technology solutions. But many of the ideas will help you improve how you present your value to others, no matter the context. For many years, I worked as a pre-sales consultant at a technology firm. My job was to design tech proposals. Some worked. Some were met with a painful "No, thanks." After working on over 100 proposals, I've learned a few things. Things that separate good proposals from great ones. I'd like to share them with you. You don't simply write a proposal. I believe you need to *craft* a proposal. I would say that is almost an art. Good proposals are memorable. They [build trust.](https://www.cesarrg.com/trust/) They stand out from the competition. As in any craft, it's a skill that you need to practice. A lot. Learn what works for your industry and iterate. I'm not going to get into specific templates or step-by-step. Instead, I'm going to share principles that I believe are common in successful deals. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ## **A Promise** A proposal is a promise to solve a problem, grow a business, or reduce costs. It's a promise of change. Moving a business from point A to point B. The foundation of a good promise is trust. Without trust, they won’t buy from you. Simple as that. I've seen people rush to show their technical expertise but forget that behind every buying decision are people—people with doubts, egos, and biases. You can't ignore them. Instead, work with them to improve your value proposition. ## **Leading change** If you want a business to trust you, you need to understand how change works. A great proposal shows how you, as a professional or company, will lead this change. [Michael Beer’s](https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=6421&ref=cesarrg.com) framework for leading change is simple and helpful: - **Dissatisfaction**: What's wrong with the current situation? This is the status quo you want to change. - **Vision**: What’s the future state once you fix the problem? This is the positive picture of the future. - **Process**: What are the steps to get there? This shows the path towards the vision. - **Cost of Change**: What are the barriers or costs to making this change? This is the natural resistance to change. The framework is simple. The dissatisfaction, vision, and process should be strong enough to overcome the resistance to change. ![Formula: D X V X P > C](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/IMG_2196-1.png) Many of my proposals that didn't work were because of the lack of one of these elements. Putting the framework into practice. You need to start with a clear understanding of the problem you want to solve. You can't offer a solution for something you don't understand. Using customer journey maps to identify key pain points is an effective way to do this (if you want to learn more, [check out this free e-book](https://www.cesarrg.com/resources/)). Great proposals offer a bold vision. Make it simple, clear, and measurable. Use storytelling to paint a picture of the future. Many proposals fail not because of a lack of a vision, but a lack of showing the process. This is one of the most important parts of building trust. It’s where you demonstrate your expertise and approach. Managing resistance is challenging. People perceive value intuitively.Most will argue that buying decisions are based only on data. That's not true. The truth is that many people make their decisions fast during early interactions. You need to make these interactions count. Focus on showing that the value and the process to get to the vision are worth it. And by "worth it" I'm not talking about only pricing. Is committing to a journey with you to make the change they are looking forward to. ## What game are you playing? Knowing how change works will give you the building blocks of your proposal. Now, you need to understand which game are you playing. Businesses in search of technology solutions generally fit into one of these: - **Transactional**. These are short-term engagements. They are looking for the best product in the market. Either looking for the lowest price or differentiation. - **Customized products & services**. They look for a wide product portfolio and services. They search for solutions customized to their business and value the power of a strong network of expertise. - **Strategic long-term partners**. These are the businesses that want a partner for a foundational change. It might require exclusiveness and long-term commitments. ![Diagram of a triangle. Transactional, Customized Products & Services and Long-term partners](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/IMG_2197-3-1.png) In your early discussions, figure out what your customer is looking for. A high-priced custom solution won’t work for someone looking for a basic, low-cost option. Same way, selling a commodity to a business looking for a customized solution will break the deal. As a professional or company, you need to segment your customers based on the value proposition they need. ## **Technology adoption** The [technology adoption curve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology%5Fadoption%5Flife%5Fcycle?ref=cesarrg.com) is a popular model that shows how people react to new technology. There are innovators, early adopters, the majority, and laggards. But regardless of this, I have found that the most effective way of demonstrating the value of technology is by showing. The best way to demonstrate the value of technology is by showing it. Proof-of-concepts (PoC) or demos can be powerful tools to connect the tech to the real needs of the business. Systemize how you create demos, and you’ll have a big edge over your competitors. Make it a practice. A mandatory part of your engagement process with customers. Remember the vision element of change? Demos and PoCs help materialize this vision. ## **Decommoditize** Make it unique. Make each proposal unique to your client. Show that you understand their problems, share their values, and have a unique approach to solving their needs. This is where your craft shines. Businesses see value by comparing alternatives. A great proposal feels unique and answers the deeper question, “Why us?” Great proposals are genuine. They show that while you may not have all the answers upfront, you’re ready to walk the journey together. --- The more you offer your value to customers, the better you get at it. Crafting great proposals is a constant learning process. People's and businesses' expectations change, and your approach should adapt to these changes. Remember: is people making decisions. It’s all about human connections. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ## Get your weekly dose of inspiration! 💡 Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### [Weekly Retro] Making the space for creativity URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-making-the-space-for-creativity/ Last updated: 2024-10-07T18:58:44.000Z #185 - Sep.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: **Inspiration** comes from the Latin word *inspirare*, meaning “to breathe life into.” Just as we breathe air, we must breathe in experiences to fuel our creativity. We can get inspired at any moment, but we need to be receptive. Insights often come from unexpected events, sparking [lateral thinking.](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-lateral-thinking/) Just as we need space to breathe in, we must create mental space to allow new ideas to flow in. The quality of what you consume - be it knowledge, art, or relationships - directly shapes what you create. Nurture your mind with rich, meaningful experiences. ### 🧑🏻‍🏫 **Concept I learned** **Evolution Paths applied to ASI.** > *The evolution of complex adaptive systems, such as those found in nature, occurs through Blind Variation and Selective Retention (BVSR). This process, driven by countless genetic mutations in each generation, sometimes results in an organism better suited to its environment. Applied to ASI, this path envisions a gradual and uncontrolled development driven by ASI's* [*assembly*](https://youtu.be/-Gq-5qNekdo?si=4bGZFQI5zigLsRAq&ref=cesarrg.com) *capacity to (i) exist long enough and (ii) to reproduce with mutations. This could mean that ASI systems develop increasingly sophisticated and autonomous capabilities over time, potentially leading to profound transformations in various sectors, from healthcare to transportation and beyond.* Read more from an interesting article: [Evolutionary Insights: Shaping the Path of Artificial Superintelligence](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/evolutionary-insights-shaping-path-artificial-mauricio-manhaes-ph-d--iqqbe/?trackingId=Coor2EzxQCeARwUog5qUtg%3D%3D&ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🛠️ Tools and resources** Customer journeys are one of the best tools to create empathy and understand a problem. But, do you know how to build one and where to start? I created a [free e-book deconstructing 5 key components of a customer journey](https://www.cesarrg.com/resources/) and how you can build now today. Check it out! ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** [Product Leaders: Here Are 5 Situations That Require Adapting Your Leadership Style — Petra WilleBeing a good product leader does not mean that you should respond the same way to every situation you encounter. In fact, the sign of a great leader is knowing when to adapt your approach to maximize your team’s long-term development.![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5dc1d3bde5b7f61b587b3ea3/1579810429143-0Z48YTQ7WH6M16WZM15A/favicon.ico?format=100w)Petra WillePetra Wille![](http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5dc1d3bde5b7f61b587b3ea3/5f3649efcc6c8d61a7b96228/6695241aaf97e13c77cd0aa7/1724041954294/LeadershipStyle_PetraWille.png?format=1500w)](https://www.petra-wille.com/blog/product-leaders-here-are-5-situations-that-require-adapting-your-leadership-style?ref=cesarrg.com) [A possible AI futurePersistent, connected and kind. Most visions of the internet in 1995 were about individuals interacting with content online. It turns out that the internet (inter plus net) is actually about connec…![](https://seths.blog/wp-content/themes/godin/img/favicons/apple-touch-icon.png)Seth's Blog![](https://seths.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/seth_godin_ogimages_v02_18061312.jpg)](https://seths.blog/2024/09/a-possible-ai-future/?ref=cesarrg.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-4.png) source: [xkcd](https://xkcd.com/927/?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”** – George Orwell, 1984 ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ## Get your weekly dose of inspiration! 💡 Join others innovation leaders, product managers and creatives curious on actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Scaling up your product: balancing Structure and Design URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-scaling-up-your-product-balancing-structure-and-design/ Last updated: 2024-10-07T18:58:33.000Z #184 - Sep.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: The secret (and most difficult part) of growing a product is finding the right balance between a **solid structure to operate** effectively and **designing at scale**. If you focus only on efficiency, you will likely start solving (efficiently) problems that are not relevant to your customers. If you focus only on design, you will lack the foundation to serve customers at scale and at a cost that is feasible for the business. **You need both.** ### **𝕏 On Apple's latest announcement** > It’s fascinating to see [#Apple](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Apple?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=cesarrg.com) making a move to a 30B (30) market of hearing aid devices. > > Sure, most traditional companies might not feel an impact right away, but the move shows the leverage Apple gets through devices. > > Is Apple challenging Christensen’s Innovator’s dilemma? [pic.twitter.com/G9LYJgGrEw](https://t.co/G9LYJgGrEw?ref=cesarrg.com) > > — César Rodríguez (@cesarrgv) [September 10, 2024](https://twitter.com/cesarrgv/status/1833471531462135991?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=cesarrg.com) ### **✉️ Post from this week** This week I wrote strategies and core principles on **how to transition products from market-fit to scale-up and achieve 100X growth**: [From product-market fit to scale-up: how to make the leap and grow 100XLessons from taking a solution global![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/CRG-6-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/from-product-market-fit-to-scale-up/) Not yet a subscriber? [Join others](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-redefining-teams-humans-ai/#/portal/signup) for free and get practical insights on design, tech innovation, and creativity. Get inspiration to lead your next innovation! ### **🛠️ Tools and resources** [Download this free e-book](https://www.cesarrg.com/resources/) to improve your design skills! I’ve selected 10 of my favorite tools so you can also apply them to your projects. These tools will help you better connect with customers, ideate, and ultimately create better solutions. ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-1-1.png) [Learning to Reason with LLMs](https://openai.com/index/learning-to-reason-with-llms/?ref=cesarrg.com) [diyPresso - World’s first DIY espresso machineWorld’s first espresso machine designed for DIY enthusiasts and coffee lovers. Build your own espresso machine and configure it with our open source software![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/icon/site_icon.png)diyPresso![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/thumbnail/home_diyPresso_02.jpg)](https://www.diypresso.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) (I just love coffee! ☕️ ) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“Earth sure looks like a perfect world”** – Jared Isaacman during the [first private spacewalk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pupZE%5FQJBX0&ref=cesarrg.com). ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ## Get your weekly dose of inspiration! 💡 Join others innovation leaders, product managers and creatives curious on actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### From product-market fit to scale-up: how to make the leap to global growth URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/from-product-market-fit-to-scale-up/ Last updated: 2026-05-06T15:47:14.000Z #183 - Sep.2024 You have been working hard month after month towards product-market fit. You found your customers and they are buying and using your product. But how do you reach the next milestone towards scaling? This post is for you. **Taking a product from ideation to scale is a journey.** It is not a linear process. It is a path full of dead ends, the joy of seeing customers adopting your solution, frustration from bad decisions, and constant pivots. This is what makes it so exciting yet complex. Scaling is relative to each business. For this post, I want to share with you the core principles that have helped me scale products by 100X. There is a lot of information out there about scaling products. I'm not offering you a new framework but rather sharing with you core principles that I've seen work in my experience. Here is what I will cover: - The typical lifecycle of a product - The pivoting mindset between product-market fit and scale - Common problems I've encountered in this transition and how you can solve them - What happens when products are mature Before we move on, let me clarify what I mean by "products". By products, I'm considering any digital and tech-enabled solutions that cover a customer's need. This includes B2B and B2C products. It also includes solutions for internal customers, like platforms-as-a-product that developers can use or solutions to run internal processes within companies. While I'm covering a wide range of products, I believe these principles apply to all of them. They are based on observations and trial & error. Let's dive in! ![Illustration of a paper plain converting into a rocket](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/Scale_Up-1.png) ### **From regional to global** To illustrate what I mean by scaling a product here's an example. Some years ago our product team designed and developed a solution to create invoices. This was an in-house development covering only basic requirements for the company. It was a small team focused on solving a specific problem for a single country. As we evolved the solution, we discovered that other countries where the company operated had similar invoicing challenges. We started using our knowledge and features to extend it to a new country and requirements. We started finding common features. We added flexibility to the solution by generalizing processes. We started looking more closely at our cost to implement new use cases and how we could reduce it We noticed that invoicing was just one part of the equation. There were adjacent needs that were uncovered. We designed new features to start addressing these needs. Over the years, what started as a simple platform for issuing e-invoicing became a complete portfolio of solutions to handle invoicing end-to-end. We made the solution self-service so that other developers could build on top of it. With a growth of 50% YoY, what started with a few thousand documents in one country became a suite of solutions processing over 1B documents per year across 17 countries. Was this as easy as it sounds? Hell no! It was a rollercoaster. A journey of lost & founds. We made wrong decisions, we failed many times and we pivoted our strategy as we learned. **As a product evolves, the team evolves together.** I learned that the mindset that helps you thrive in an early product will not take you to the next level. As you navigate across these blurry evolution phases, you need to use data (and instincts) to set the pace. You need to adapt. **Growth is not just about scaling your technology**. You need to scale your processes. You need to scale your design approach. You need to scale the topology of your team. Here I want to pause for an important note. In today's business culture where everything is about "scaling, scaling, scaling", I don't want to make the case that this is the *only* way to make your product successful. But if scaling is necessary - because of your business model, desire, or purpose - you need to make the jump. ### Product evolution Every product has a lifecycle. Products are introduced, they grow, they mature and, at some point, are taken off the shelves. There are many frameworks explaining these phases but let's stick to a basic cycle: - Introduction - Growth - Maturity - Decline. You introduce a product when customers can use it for the first time. You create awareness of your unique value proposition. You understand who your customer is, and you build the first iteration of a solution that solves a real problem. When products start getting traction, they move to the growth stage. Your demand increases. You start building a name and competitors start noticing you. You start getting more customer feedback. You iterate using this feedback to improve your product. As revenue increases you start generating profit. As the product matures, you start making the fly-wheel turn. Profits max out, demand starts to become saturated and competition is higher than ever. You continue to innovate by finding new markets and new customer segments. Your value proposition is well understood by customers. There is a high risk of falling into a status quo and stopping innovating. All products decline sooner or later. Competition can disrupt your market. Your product starts becoming a commodity. New options are available and captivate customers. It's a pivotal moment. You stop or you reinvent your product. ### The growth transition I think this is one of the most critical transitions for a product. Many of the early products with high potential fail to grow. There are multiple reasons for this to happen. It can be due to changes in the business context. The market environment may have evolved. You may have designed the wrong strategy. I will focus on what you can directly control. I believe products fail to make the jump to growth for one or more of these reasons: 1. Applying the wrong mindset for the stage of the product 2. Anticipating growth over market-fit 3. Lack of balance between functional and performance features 4. Lacking the operational structure for growth **Growth is a by-product of market fit.** You grow because you have customers willing to connect with you, not the other way around. You are solving a problem for them, and they trust you. That trust drives happy customers. Happy customers lead to growth. Get product-market fit first before scaling. Having a scaling-first mindset gets you distracted from your primary focus: understanding your customer needs and creating a unique value proposition. You can use the simple [40% rule ](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product-market%5Ffit?ref=cesarrg.com#:~:text=Popular%20metrics-,The%2040%25%20rule,a%20particular%20product%20or%20service.)or any other mechanism to assess, but make sure you have evidence of your customer satisfaction. This is your foundation. This mindset also applies to engineering. **The risk of over-engineering or generalizing features too early is costly**. I've made this error multiple times. Is good to think long-term, but at this stage, your priority is understanding your customers and connecting with them. Your prioritization process needs to balance functional features over performance features. **You need to ensure you cover basic functional tasks and not just convenience.** I've talked about before about the [Functional-Performance-Excitement matrix](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-functional-performance-and-excitement/). Use it to prioritize. 50/30/20 is a good ratio to balance all three. Before scaling, you don’t want a product full of "wow" effects but failing to cover the basics. Once the foundation is ready you can start scaling. This is not a hard line. This is rather a progressive transition. Use your product adoption and customer satisfaction metrics as a guide. **Success in growth is a combination of design at scale and a strong operational structure.** Now you have a validated value proposition. You need the mechanisms and structure to support growth. Designing for a small volume of customers is not the same as designing for 100X. Focus on strong mechanisms. Prioritize mechanisms to market and create awareness of your product. **Create solid artifacts to help your customers learn about and remember your product.** From an engineering perspective, growth is driven by a flexible architecture and a team topology that maximizes the evolution of core features while offering flexibility for customization. Design at scale takes the commonalities across customer segments, local-specific needs, and cultural nuances into account. Expect prioritization to get more complex. At scale, you will rely more on quantitative data to make decisions. However, never forget to dive deep into customer interviews from time to time. **Anecdotal data is gold.** (check out other design tools you can use in my [free e-book](https://www.cesarrg.com/free-e-books/)). I've found the following as being key levers for designing at scale: - Focus on defining principles and tenets to scale decisions across the team - Pay closer attention to the early architectural decisions - Create a feature repository and reduce parity gaps across customers and regions. Parity gaps generate inefficiencies - Build mechanisms to connect with customers and share insights with the entire team - Build a strong process to validate when a feature should become part of your product foundation or remain specific to a customer segment. As a quick recap: - **Use the right mindset at each stage:** Focus on achieving product-market fit before growing. Avoid a "scaling-first" mindset that distracts from understanding customer needs and refining your value proposition. Ensure there is customer trust and satisfaction before expanding. - **The foundation for scale:** Build strong mechanisms and structures to support scaling, including flexible engineering architecture, robust marketing strategies, and decision-making processes. - **Design at Scale:** Keep your solution customer-centric by combining quantitative and qualitative feedback from customers. Create principles to scale your design decisions. ### A mature product This might sound counterintuitive. Managing a mature product is much more difficult than dealing with the ambiguity of early ideas. Extending the lifecycle of a product at this stage requires rethinking what's important for customers. Things to consider: - Diversification (evolving into new products or features) - Decluttering (going back to the essentials). Either way, you need to act fast. This is one of the most demanding stages for a product team. You will need to deal with the expectations of a well-established customer base. The most innovative companies can reinvent themselves over and over. **Hear your customers and make them lead you to the next iteration.** --- Scaling a product is a challenging journey that requires a strong foundation. Stay customer-centric, listen closely to feedback, and be ready to reinvent as your product matures. It is challenging. It is thrilling. It is what makes the journey worth it. ¡Saludos! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Make Universal Design actionable URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-make-universal-design-actionable/ Last updated: 2024-10-07T18:57:59.000Z #182 - Sep.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: Adopting universal design isn’t just about sharing its core principles with your team. You need to **make them actionable**. - Connect these principles to your processes. - Embed them in your product artifacts. - Turn them into mechanisms that can be tracked and measured. - Include them in the agenda of your design review meetings Make them explicit. Otherwise they are just good intentions. Designing for everyone is challenging. **But remember that people rely on us to make it a reality**. ### **𝕏 Thread of the week** > 1/ As a leader of a team or an organization, you might feel frustrated when choosing the best innovation framework. > > I hear you. > > I've been in the same situation, struggling to find the best fit. > > — César Rodríguez (@cesarrgv) [September 2, 2024](https://twitter.com/cesarrgv/status/1830579003016589361?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=cesarrg.com) ### **✉️ Post from this week** This week I wrote about creating **products everyone can use.** Embracing universal design is no longer a nice-to-have, but a foundational need for today's digital economy: [Designing for everyone: embracing universal designHow to create products everyone can use![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/09/Artboard-7-1.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/designing-for-everyone-universal-design/) Not yet a subscriber? [Join others](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-redefining-teams-humans-ai/#/portal/signup) for free and get practical insights on design, tech innovation, and creativity. Get inspiration to lead your next innovation! ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week** [Personal UniversesA Solution to the Multi-Agent Value Alignment Problem![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:304:304/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156)MediumRoman V. Yampolskiy![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1125/1*CcO4CAjoJ_Pnj72nT_88eQ.jpeg)](https://romanyam.medium.com/personal-universes-ab73ec6adec9?ref=cesarrg.com) [Tmpt | Talent Extension PlatformWe’ve built the world’s first talent extension platform because we’re on a mission to help people and companies move forward. If you’re tempted, welcome.![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64bee2fb4f7b4b3d351d7d15/64ca7659c2f7cef0b09627f1_logo-32.png)Talent Extension Platform![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64bee2fb4f7b4b3d351d7d15/64e41f98239cbb6bbbcb7a3d_Screenshot%202023-08-21%20at%2010.36.13%20PM.png)](https://www.tmpt.me/?ref=cesarrg.com) [You can’t systematize creativityEfficiency and creativity run on different operating systems and require different software.![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:304:304/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156)UX PlanetJorge Valencia![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1140/1*TjEe_4wJz-KnntO6sfBnbQ.jpeg)](https://medium.com/ux-planet/you-cant-systematize-creativity-f2683676fecc?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“I'm convinced consistency creates events others call 'luck'”** – Jon Brosio ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ## Get your weekly dose of inspiration! 💡 Join others innovation leaders, product managers and creatives curious on actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Designing for everyone: embracing universal design URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/designing-for-everyone-universal-design/ Last updated: 2024-10-07T18:57:42.000Z #181 - Sep.2024 I was anxious. After months of hard work, it was the first time we would demo our product with our final users. Our team was confident and feedback, so far, was positive. This one customer started using the tool. It had everything he expected for a supply chain management tool. Except for one thing. I saw his face. He was struggling with the main dashboard and the color indicators of each transaction. To me, that was the best feature of the product. "César, how can I track the status of each transaction", he asked. "Well, that's why we added these round color dots. Red, yellow, green...", I answered. He paused. "Is there any other way I can check these statuses? I have a bit of a challenge: I'm color blind, so these colors don't make much difference to me.", he answered in frustration. I was shocked. There was no other option. Just the color dots. This was a miss in our design and a big learning for our entire team. These situations are far from being an exception. As designers of products and services, our goal is to keep solutions customer-centric. We anticipate needs. But are we designing for *everyone*? I needed to learn this the hard way. Experiences like the one above have become a reminder that what we consider *customers* is, many times, limited to our assumptions. We forget that empathy is not putting *ourselves* into others' shoes. With *ourselves*, we also take our conditioning, perspectives, and biases. We need to try our best to remove *ourselves* from the equation and see through the user's eyes. As designers, we need to amplify the coverage of our products. Making a product **universal to everyone** means making it accessible, usable, and clear for the greatest extent of people, regardless of their condition and abilities. That is hard work. But, yet, it is so needed today and for our future. We already live in a world surrounded by digital products that help us run our lives. Tools for communication, planning, shopping, access to private and public services, etc. Far from being a convenient channel, many of these applications are becoming a basic service for people. They use many of these services daily to work, to connect with their relatives, and to develop their social life. Yet, while technology keeps evolving, we continue to see many gaps. Applications and services are designed without considering the full spectrum of users. Over-indexing on how the technology should run, but not how customers will use it. These gaps get even more complex if we consider new technology such as AI. We face new challenges for inclusive design, keeping information biases and [privacy as core principles](https://www.cesarrg.com/accelerators-privacy-ethics/). Think about this: - Average life expectancy is increasing. More elderly people around the world are actively using technology to run their lives. - Over 30% of the world's total population are yet to become internet users. - Around 16% of people across the world experience significant disabilities. How are we considering these people when we design a solution? Making our solutions universal is no longer a nice-to-have, but a foundational need for today's digital economy. But, where to start? ![Symbol. World with accesibility icons around.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/Pause-1.png) ### Universal design It's important to understand what universal design means. Universal design, at its core, is [good design](https://www.cesarrg.com/ai-products-and-good-design/). Is about designing a product or a service so that it can be **accessed, understood**, **and used** to the greatest extent possible by all people regardless of age, size, ability, or disability. It considers the diversity of needs and abilities of customers so that the experience that you offer meets these needs. The Centre for Excellence in Universal Design ([CEUD](https://universaldesign.ie/?ref=cesarrg.com)) defines 7 principles for universal design: 1. **Equitable use**. Make it useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities. 2. **Flexibility in use**. Accommodate a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. 3. **Simple and intuitive use**. The design is easy to understand. Should be easy regardless of the UX, knowledge, language skills, or concentration level. 4. **Perceptible Information**. Communicate information effectively, regardless of the conditions or sensory abilities. 5. **Tolerance for Error.** Minimize hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions. 6. **Low physical effort.** The design can be used efficiently and comfortably, with a minimum of fatigue. 7. **Size and space for approach and use**. Users can approach, reach, and use the product, regardless of the user's body size, posture, or mobility. These principles can become part of your design tenets. You can use them to evaluate existing solutions or create new ones. Note that many of these principles are a natural outcome of creating empathy with users. They highlight the value of listening and anticipating the second-order effects of our decisions. ### Embracing universal design One practical tip to embrace universal design would be: **to make it a core principle from the beginning.** More than just acknowledging these principles, **make them actionable** within your design process. I've found it effective to turn them into questions and add them to your product artifact. This way, we ensure these questions are covered early in the lifecycle and they work as a reminder for the team. Another way of embracing universal design is by **rethinking your research strategy**. As I mentioned before, many times the perception of who are our customers is based on our assumptions. We *assume* that our customers have certain needs and we move forward with our research. But are we considering diverse user groups in our research? How are we ensuring that all needs are covered in our design? Rethink your strategy and amplify your coverage. Technology can also be a good ally. AI can become your brainstorming partner. You can ideate on customer groups that you should include in your design to make it more diverse. You can also leverage AI to create more inclusive digital experiences (voice recognition, adaptive interfaces, etc). Finally, I would recommend turning these principles into part of your core processes. You can **automate many checks** of accessible design and turn it into a recurrent process for your development pipeline. Similar to an integration test, you can run these checks at each iteration to ensure that new features are compliant with your principles. --- I'm far from considering myself a master of universal design. I believe no one can. When we design for people, needs always evolve. Is a continuous discovery and learning. We design for people. People with all their nuances, characteristics, needs, and constraints. Making a solution for a restricted set of customers is limiting the potential of the value we can deliver. Open the boundaries. Make your solution universal. People are counting on us! ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Redefining Teams: Humans + AI URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-redefining-teams-humans-ai/ Last updated: 2024-10-07T18:57:20.000Z #180 - Aug.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: We are entering a new era of virtual teams: Humans + AI agents. The leverage a professional can gain from AI-enabled agents is huge. It’s fascinating to consider how quickly we can build multidisciplinary "teams" of [AI agents](https://chatgpt.com/g/g-POb5UhhJ6-autogpt-agent?ref=cesarrg.com), distilling and consolidating vast amounts of knowledge. We are far from the magic and creative serendipity of a real human team, but the future is promising, allowing anyone with curiosity and will to make a “dent in the universe." ### **🅧 Tech nostalgia** > Yes, i had this phone. And yes, it had color lights at the side of the phone that synced with the music 🥺 [#applehistory](https://twitter.com/hashtag/applehistory?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=cesarrg.com) [https://t.co/WPkoZ5E1z1](https://t.co/WPkoZ5E1z1?ref=cesarrg.com) > > — César Rodríguez (@cesarrgv) [August 26, 2024](https://twitter.com/cesarrgv/status/1828167266375958967?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=cesarrg.com) ### **✉️ Post from this week** This week I wrote about how to build an innovation culture, not just through methods and frameworks, but by fostering a mindset towards **design core principles**: [An innovation culture beyond methodologies#118 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. How to build an innovation culture, not just through methods, but by fostering a mindset towards core principles.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/08/Artboard-10-6.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/innovation-culture-beyond-methodologies/) Not yet a subscriber? [Join others](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) for free and get practical tips and ideas on design, tech innovation, and creativity. Get inspiration to build meaningful products! ### **🧪 Experiment of the this week** I played with Dall-e 3 (through ChatGPT) to design a new logo for a personal [project](https://noctilucas.substack.com/). Things I learned: - I still struggle to define clear prompts. While you can use natural language there's a big difference when you use keywords to guide your requests (e.g. styles). - I loved the surprises from the results. They helped as inspiration for new designs and for more refined work if you want to take it one step forward. - I would love to have larger limits for image generation. I iterated over many designs but quickly reached the limit from ChatGPT (images per hour). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/08/image-2-1.png) ### **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week** [We have left the cloudSince it took us years to get into the cloud in the first place, I originally imagined it would take us years to get out as well. But all that work to containerize our applications and prepare them for the cloud actually turned out to make it relatively easy to exit. And now, after six months of effort, it’s done. We’re out. The last a…![](https://world.hey.com/dhh/avatar-fb368b1ee9b185dc2a09b03eabdb61678dd55244)![](https://world.hey.com/dhh/avatar-fb368b1ee9b185dc2a09b03eabdb61678dd55244)](https://world.hey.com/dhh/we-have-left-the-cloud-251760fb?ref=cesarrg.com) [Story-Based Customer Interviews Uncover Much-Needed Context - Product TalkCustomer interviews are one of the most impactful activities a product team can do. But only if we use the right methods.![](https://www.producttalk.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/cropped-Product-Talk-P-512-270x270.jpg)Product TalkTeresa Torres![](https://www.producttalk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Start-with-the-Problem.png)](https://www.producttalk.org/2024/04/story-based-customer-interviews/?ref=cesarrg.com) ### **🖋️ Quote of the week** > **“There is no great genius without some touch of madness.”** – Quote from Aristotle to Seneca. ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### An innovation culture beyond methodologies URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/innovation-culture-beyond-methodologies/ Last updated: 2024-10-07T18:57:07.000Z #179 - Aug.2024 I've worked with many organizations willing to transform their businesses through technology. You can clearly see in all a desire not only to design a solution but to create a strong innovation culture to tackle future problems. They want to get an edge. They want to avoid becoming a commodity. They want to change their narrative from the “one more” to "*the* one." Many of these companies trying to affect change assume that an innovation culture is just a result of adopting the coolest methodology or framework in the market. **They see innovation just as an additional process they need to run.** They trust blindly in a framework and apply it as a magic recipe for success. They lack understanding of the basics. It's not a surprise that, at the first sign of failure, these companies start questioning if the methodology is effective enough. They get frustrated. They search for a different framework or even go back to the status quo. **A methodology or a process is just one piece of a complex puzzle of driving innovation within an organization.** It's not a silver bullet. Don’t get me wrong: innovation and methodology frameworks are useful resources. They synthesize methods to solve similar problems. They serve as great communication tools to lead people toward a common objective. I’ve used and learned from many of them in my journey. I’ve observed that, while these methodologies make processes more efficient, an innovation culture grows much more unstructured. Many of the great innovations I’ve seen came from pure serendipity. From interactions between people willing to effect change. Within teams driven by a common mindset for problem solving. **This is the challenge: how to give structure to an unstructured dynamic by nature?** If you adopt any of these frameworks as a generic prescription it is likely to end up in frustration. Instead, you can learn from many of them, iterate, improve them, and adapt them into the reality of your business and customers. In a world where everything changes we need businesses that are flexible enough to follow these changes. **Innovation needs to become a mindset rather than a step-by-step flow-chart.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/08/IMG_2143-1.png) ### Innovation cultures There are tons of innovation methodologies and more to come. As a leader of a team or an organization you might feel frustrated on which to choose. I hear you. I've been in the same situation as you, struggling to find the best fit. Want to tap new markets? Go with Blue Ocean. Need to design the strategy of your business? Use the Business Model Canvas. Want to shorten your development cycles through iterative learning? Adopt Lean Startup Framework. Want to find the job customers are hiring you to do? Well, we have Job-To-Be-Done. I tend to see these frameworks as tools to support **decision making**. To move forward we need decisions: decisions on filtering the best ideas; decisions on the tradeoffs you should consider; decisions on when to proceed or when to pivot. Methodologies give structure and set the pace. If you never had the experience of bringing an idea to reality or feel a lack of confidence in your creative force, a methodology is a great place to start. It forces you to experience the different phases, from conception to delivery. Every organization wants a strong innovation culture. But they are hard to create and require time and patience to consolidate. A methodology is just one of the building blocks. One of the reasons I think that is so hard to create and sustain is because of people and context. An innovation mindset is deeply wired through human interactions. **It’s about people.** Human beings. People with their concerns and desires. With their assumptions and biases. With their personal narratives and fears. David and Tom Kelley talk extensively about the challenges of growing a [creative confidence](https://www.creativeconfidence.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) in people who don’t see themselves as creatives and innovators. Ignoring the context of your business and customers is also a common pitfall. I’ve worked with many teams in the past that struggle to understand that these frameworks are [trails, not rails](https://www.cesarrg.com/trails-and-rails/). They are helpful as guardrails but they are far from being a one-size-fits-all solution. You can (and should) adapt any of these tools to your reality. Customize them and create new ones. Mixing tools from a different methodology? Why not! Focus on the outcome, not just the tooling. ### The core concepts If we distill the most common innovation frameworks we find patterns across them: - **Problem and customer-centric**. All methodologies try to ensure you start with the problem, and not a solution. By defining a challenge (or an opportunity) you set the stage for what to focus on. This avoids finding problems to solutions you already created. - **Research and exploration**. They promote curiosity. You need to dive deep and understand the problem or opportunity. It's common to find phases where you focus on gathering insights that can lead you to potential solutions. - **Ideation and focus**. Many of the frameworks offer tools for decision making on how to filter ideas. As ambiguity increases, you need to bring focus to the work you are doing. Making decisions on what to focus on is key to moving forward. - **Experimentation.** Most frameworks promote experimentation. They promote the value of validating and using the learnings to evolve the solution. They frame failure as a way to discover new alternatives. Have you noticed something? **At the very core, we are talking about a standard design process**. And it couldn’t be different! It's through common design practices that we navigate the ambiguity of finding and understanding a problem, exploring solutions, and finding ways to validate them. As I like to call it, it's iterative “yin-yang” problem and solutioning. On one side, curiosity & empathy and on the other invention & experimentation. Understanding the **core principles of how design works** is a powerful skill for developing an innovation mindset. When you internalize these concepts, you start envisioning these methodologies as variations of these core principles. You remove the constraints of a set of steps, but you rather have access to a larger toolbox you can leverage. Become an expert in design, not an expert in any particular methodology. ### Keeping the culture If you have never been through an innovation process I can tell you something: it's chaotic. **It's not a linear process.** It's not as fun as it is commonly portrayed: people collaborating in brainstorming sessions with whiteboards and post-its. I think this is due to the ambiguity of the journey of finding a creative solution to a problem. To use a fancy word, it's the “inexactness” of this journey that turns it chaotic at times. Strong creative cultures endure the chaos. And while there is a tolerance for failure, there is also accountability. While they are highly collaborative, the ownership is clear. It's driven by experimentation but with clear goals of what you want to validate and how you will use the outcomes for improving. Keeping an innovation culture is about bringing people together within a common mindset and managing the complex (yet powerful) combinations of human behaviors and perspectives. It's a culture where you have the freedom to create, but the structure to consistently generate value to customers. ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] How to take care of early ideas? URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-how-to-take-care-of-early-ideas/ Last updated: 2024-10-07T18:54:52.000Z #178 - Aug.2024 *\[merging sequence with general posts\]* Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: Ideas are like seeds. If we don’t care for them, they die. Caring means: - Avoid too many early constraints that prevent them from fully developing their potential. - Turn them into something concrete. Write them down, socialize them, and build an experiment. Most ideas die in the world of abstraction. - Look for data. Think about what is the easiest and faster way to test them. Sure, many ideas won't fly. But we often give up too early on high-potential ideas without validating them first. **🅧 Tip of the week** > If you want to edit any website inline. > > Just open console and type: > > document.designMode = 'on' > > 🤯 > > h/t [@midudev](https://twitter.com/midudev?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=cesarrg.com) > > [pic.twitter.com/Btqn0G4vge](https://t.co/Btqn0G4vge?ref=cesarrg.com) > > — Linus ●ᴗ● Ekenstam (@LinusEkenstam) [November 5, 2023](https://twitter.com/LinusEkenstam/status/1721233492531368365?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=cesarrg.com) **✉️ Post from this week** This week I wrote about the key elements of creativity: our imagination to generate ideas, our curiosity to iterate, and the courage to make decisions. [Imagination, curiosity, and courage#118 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. Three elements of creativity: imagination, curiosity, and courage.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/08/Artboard-6-1.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/imagination-curiosity-courage/) Not yet a subscriber? [Join others](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) for free and get the best knowledge bites on design, tech innovation, and creativityto inspire you to build meaningful products! **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week:** [How Close is AI to Replacing Instructional Designers?The Results Part 3: Creating a Course Outline![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F02bc93f5-591a-4845-a26d-1aa3779d6b27%2Fapple-touch-icon-180x180.png)Dr Phil's Newsletter, Powered by DOMS™️ AIDr Philippa Hardman![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1200,h_600,c_fill,f_jpg,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4325ff0c-8326-44dc-8276-dddcd9dde042_1148x398.png)](https://drphilippahardman.substack.com/p/how-close-is-ai-to-replacing-instructional-1ba?utm%5Fsource=multiple-personal-recommendations-email&utm%5Fmedium=email&substackHome=true&triedRedirect=true) [How to do user research effectively as a busy product managerA comprehensive guide on how to identify customers for research, ask right questions, and communicate insights![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:304:304/10fd5c419ac61637245384e7099e131627900034828f4f386bdaa47a74eae156)UX CollectiveVikram Goyal![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/da:true/resize:fit:1200/0*5_GA7qzPmKhOwnii)](https://uxdesign.cc/how-to-do-user-research-effectively-as-a-busy-product-manager-76b7b48480f1?ref=cesarrg.com) [Is AI eating all the energy? Part 1/2 / GioCitiesactually the energy costs of AI seem pretty reasonable and they shouldn’t be a problem![](https://blog.giovanh.com/favicon.png)Gio![](https://blog.giovanh.com/theme/images/ad/twitter_card.png)](https://blog.giovanh.com/blog/2024/08/18/is-ai-eating-all-the-energy-part-1-of-2/?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller. The storyteller sets the vision, values and agenda of an entire generation that is to come.”** – Steve Jobs ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Imagination, curiosity, and courage URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/imagination-curiosity-courage/ Last updated: 2024-10-07T18:55:14.000Z #177 - Aug.2024 *\[merging sequence with weekly retros\]* Imagine this: one of the most important companies in the manufacturing industry assigns you a highly strategic project. The task: develop a new adhesive for the aerospace industry that is both highly durable and resistant. After many attempts, your team has not yet found the perfect formula. In fact, the project started to feel like a failure there are rumors that the investment will be canceled. **What would you do?** Well, this is what happened to Spencer Silver. Likely, you haven't heard about him much but he was a scientist at 3M which was assigned with this same challenge. It was 1970\. After many attempts, Spencer invented a type of glue that seemed to have no practical use. It was the exact opposite of what he was looking for except for one very peculiar nuance: this adhesive could be reused. But Spencer didn't give up. He talked about his invention all the time. There are even rumors that people called him "Mr. Persistent". This went on for many years— 9, to be exact —until, in a conversation with a friend, he finally found what he was looking for. His friend was frustrated, trying to find a way to bookmark his choir sheets, and thought of using the adhesive since they didn't damage the pages. The rest is history. In 1979, 3M launched the famous Post-it notes. Post-it became one of the company’s best-selling products for 3M. You might not know Spencer but for sure you have seen and used his invention. **A big success that started with an error** and a curious person trying to find creative solutions. Sometimes we think about creativity as a thing reserved just for "artistic" roles: architecture, graphic design, fashion...but how can you be creative, let's say, in a role like an accountant? or a lawyer? or a doctor? You can become creative if you want to solve problems. From the most trivial topics to the biggest challenges of today's world, all solution starts with a hint of creativity. Creativity is one of the **things that makes us human** and we are all born with this gift. The problem is that many of us leave it forgotten. As professionals, we separate creativity from problem-solving. We often see creativity only as a behavior, not a tool everyone can access. But we need more professionals who can connect ideas from different domains - just like Spencer connected the needs of his friends to his invention. Professionals who are not afraid of failing when trying to find new ways to solve problems. Professionals who do not see creativity as something exclusive to certain careers or a gift reserved for a few. Professionals who can put their imagination into practice, who are curious enough to seek new paths, and who have the courage to make decisions and act. We need Creative Lawyers. Creative Doctors. Creative Biologists. Creative Managers. Creative \[your role\]. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/08/Creativity-1.png) ### Use your imagination Everything starts as an idea. It’s a representation of something that doesn’t exist yet but has potential. There are two important things about ideas: The first one is that **ideas are created from the sum of our experiences and knowledge**. When you hear “connect the dots,” it means looking within your catalog of past experiences and finding common elements. This means that the more you expose yourself to new knowledge, the larger your catalog. I like to think of it this way: **what we consume is upstream of our ideas.** Today, we consume information all the time. From online content and social media, but also through conversations with friends and our social interactions. Everything adds to our catalog. That’s why it’s important to be very critical of how we invest our time and what type of content we consume. The second thing about ideas is that **they are very fragile**. They are like seeds: if we don’t care for them, they die. This happens quite often. Many people give up too quickly. They put so many early constraints that ideas never fully developed. ### **Being** curious Ideas are shaped by sharing them with others. They grow by seeking perspectives and not only by thinking about everything that might *not* work. This is where [curiosity](https://www.cesarrg.com/curiosity/) comes in. Have you noticed that over time, we become less curious? I like to see curiosity as the fuel of creativity. It’s what drives us to seek more information. It’s that inner impulse that makes us ask questions: “What if...?” or “How could we...?”. **Curiosity is a force that moves us forward.** The people we most admire for being creative don’t necessarily have the best ideas. Instead, through their curiosity, they have the patience to ask questions, connect the dots and shape their ideas over time. ### **The courage to act** It takes courage to be creative. We often limit ourselves by thinking: “This isn’t going to work,” or “What if they say no?”. Spencer persisted for nine years! Why do we lack the courage to persist? **The fear of failure is one of the key enemies of creativity and innovation.** Having courage means, in practice, making decisions. It’s about turning the abstract into the concrete. It’s about experimenting to see if we’re on the right path or if we need to decide to pivot. We turn inventions into innovations by having the courage to test them, to fail and to learn. Is never linear. Quite the opposite. It feels like a rollercoaster. But with courage and focus on a problem, you are likely on the right path. ### **Creative Revolution** We are facing what I believe is a “Creative Revolution.” Yes, a [Revolution](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-creative-revolution/). A change. In fact, it’s interesting that *Revolution* and *Innovation* are synonyms in the dictionary. Today’s technology allows us to do things that were not possible before. The Internet has radically changed the way we consume information, and now, there’s a new shift with generative AI technologies. It’s fascinating when you consider you can now create specialized agents to help you with a topic. We are entering an era of virtual teams that can be created in seconds (human + agents). **You can have specialists one prompt away.** The creative revolution is based on tools and a digital community that allows us to create new products and services. All this is within the reach of the majority of people. The entry bar for many industries is lower than ever. ### **Your creative skill** Develop your creative skills by: **Exposing yourselves to different areas of knowledge.** You never know where inspiration might come from. If you’re curious about a field, seek to learn more about it. If you’re passionate about a hobby, explore it. The more contexts you have, the broader your knowledge catalog will be for generating new ideas. **Conduct more experiments**: It sounds a bit scientific, but it’s simpler than it seems. Experimentation and creativity go hand in hand. Having a creative mindset means being willing to test your ideas. Experiments can be as simple as talking to a friend to get feedback on an idea or doing quick research to see if the idea makes sense. Find ways to discover new information that can help you make decisions to move forward. --- I’ve always argued that there’s something very particular about human creativity. Even with all the technological trends, there’s something **unique** in the way we humans create ideas and turn them into reality. [It’s part of our nature](https://www.cesarrg.com/generative-ai-what-is-left/). Throughout our history, we have been in constant search for solutions—from simple problems to the great challenges we face as a society. We are capable of imagining incredible things. We are curious enough to seek out what lies beyond the unknown. We have shown that, with the courage of our actions, we can reach wherever we dream. ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] A revolution URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-a-revolution/ Last updated: 2024-08-16T09:26:53.000Z #59 - Aug.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: Here are some reflections on the creative revolution in front of us: Anyone curious enough has the power to innovate. Technology and digital products have made delivering value easier than ever before. You can build a multidisciplinary team in seconds. Through generative AI you can access knowledge from different areas of expertise. AI is taking agility to the next level through 1-person teams. AI creates exponential leverage on top of soft skills, experience, and curiosity. Experimentation is foundational for creativity. You turn an idea into a reality by iterating, failing, and refining. **🅧 Food for thought** > Creative minds have no special gifts. They are rather deeply curious to discover what works and what doesn't. > > — César Rodríguez (@cesarrgv) [August 16, 2024](https://twitter.com/cesarrgv/status/1824373669310652524?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=cesarrg.com) **✉️ Post from this week** You can't separate creativity from experimentation. Creative minds don't always start with great ideas. They start from the unknown: **will this idea even work?** [Creative experimentation#117 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. Creative minds iterate. They embrace each cycle as a way of exploring possibilities. They know that, if they’re curious enough, they can take a raw possibility into an innovation.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/08/Artboard-10-1.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/creative-experimentation/) Not yet a subscriber? [Join others](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) for free and get the best knowledge bites on design, tech innovation, and creativityto inspire you to build meaningful products! **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week:** [User ‘wants’ versus accessibilityWhen getting to grips with accessibility, there’s often a tension between what users ask for and doing things in an accessible way.![](https://www.tempertemper.net/assets/img/icons/favicon.svg)tempertemper Web DesignMartin Underhill![](https://www.tempertemper.net/assets/img/summary.png)](https://www.tempertemper.net/blog/user-wants-versus-accessibility?ref=cesarrg.com) [EducationalThe official website of the Nobel Prize![](https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2018/08/Nobel-favicon-232x232.png)NobelPrize.org![](https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2018/09/New-will-fullsize-496x328.jpg)](https://www.nobelprize.org/educational/?ref=cesarrg.com) [La alucinante historia que nos cuentan los restos de una supernovaEstos fenómenos son preciosos, pero también muy interesantes desde el punto de vista físico, ya que están llenos de sorpresas![](https://static.elpais.com/dist/resources/images/favicon.ico)Ediciones EL PAÍS S.L.Pablo G. Pérez González![](https://imagenes.elpais.com/resizer/v2/S6RVXQVF7FGZDFHACTJ2DXPPIM.png?auth=3e63ea0d2dc42b777953efa576287893620e16e80b5929ccd5227fa425cad676&width=1200)](https://elpais.com/ciencia/vacio-cosmico/2024-08-11/la-alucinante-historia-que-nos-cuentan-los-restos-de-una-supernova.html?sma=mananaenlaces%5F2024.08.12%5F2&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=mananaenlaces%5F2024.08.12%5F2) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“All life is an experiment.”** – Ralph Waldo Emerson ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Creative experimentation URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/creative-experimentation/ Last updated: 2024-08-15T22:18:41.000Z #117 - Aug.2024 You can't separate creativity from experimentation. Creative minds don't always start with great ideas. They start from the unknown: **will this idea even work?** **Creative minds iterate.** They embrace each cycle as a way of exploring possibilities. They know that, if they're curious enough, they can take a raw possibility into an innovation. Creative minds have **no special gifts**. They are rather deeply curious to discover what works and what doesn't. They test knowing that, if they fail, there are tons of opportunities waiting for their chance. They see experimentation as the only way to turn an idea into a reality. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Tension and growth URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-tension-and-growth/ Last updated: 2024-08-14T11:38:09.000Z #58 - Aug.2024 Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea for the weekend: You solve stress by making decisions on the path you want to take. You can stay still - that's what stress creates - or you can move forward. Decisions turn stress into tension, and tension is a positive force for growth. [Seth Godin: Tension vs stress](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJN%5FGDaYVnU&ref=cesarrg.com) **✉️ Post from this week** How do you know you are not discarding good ideas too early? This week I wrote about how new ideas need to be nurtured with care: [Good ideas#116 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. New ideas are fragile. They need nurturing and care.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/08/IMG_2105-4.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/good-ideas/) Not yet a subscriber? [Join others](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) for free and get the best knowledge bites on design, tech innovation, and creativityto inspire you to build meaningful products! **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week:** [AI InterfacesWhere are we and where are we going?![](https://substackcdn.com/icons/substack/icon.svg)Silicon’s SubstackSilicon Jungle![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1200,h_600,c_fill,f_jpg,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fccbfd7e2-856a-4915-80b0-3655f76e3db9_1932x1316.jpeg)](https://origamiparty.substack.com/p/ai-interfaces) [Former NASA Scientist Doing Experiment to Prove We Live in a SimulationFormer NASA physicist Thomas Campbell took it upon himself to conduct experiments that could prove if we’re living inside of a simulation.![](https://futurism.com/favicon.png)FuturismVictor Tangermann![](https://wordpress-assets.futurism.com/2024/07/former-nasa-scientist-experiment-live-in-simulation.jpg)](https://futurism.com/the-byte/former-nasa-scientist-experiment-live-in-simulation?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“Be less curious about people, but more curious about ideas.”** – Marie Curie ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Good ideas URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/good-ideas/ Last updated: 2024-08-14T11:39:07.000Z #116 - Aug.2024 How do you know you are not discarding good ideas too early? Looking back, I’ve lost many good ideas throughout the way. Most of them too early. I looked at them through the lens of the risks and constraints without exploring their potential. But new ideas are fragile. They need nurturing and care. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/08/IMG_2105-1.png) The best ideas that my team and I have developed are the ones we trusted in the potential rather than the limitations. Some of the best ideas don’t have many fans at the beginning. They seem odd and unconventional. They break the rules. They face the resistance of the “it won’t work”. But if you truly believe in the potential, nurture them with persistence (to socialize it with others) and curiosity (to experiment and iterate). Ideas grow through iterations and friction. Don’t drop them at the first sign of “no”. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Value propositions URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/value-propositions/ Last updated: 2024-08-12T18:36:05.000Z #115 - Aug.2024 Some years ago I worked in a consulting firm designing tech proposals for digital transformation. After crafting 100+ value propositions for a wide range of companies and industries I started to see a pattern. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/08/IMG_2075.png) I noticed that at the core of any value proposition, there are people. People make decisions on behalf of companies in search of trustworthy connections to do business with. [Trust](https://www.cesarrg.com/customer-bonding/) was at the baseline of all these value proposition. Customers trust you when they feel heard. They trust you when you can explain in your own words what their problems are, and when you empathize with their challenges. In many of the successful value propositions, I see the drivers of the so-called “[Trust Triangle](https://hbr.org/2020/05/begin-with-trust?ref=cesarrg.com#:~:text=In%20our%20experience%2C%20trust%20has,care%20about%20them%20%28empathy%29.)”: being authentic (showing your real you), being logical (your reasoning makes sense), and having empathy (you care about). Simple messages are powerful. Often customers perceive value intuitively. People will argue that all decisions are based on data. However, the truth is that many customers make their decisions fast during early interactions. Make those interactions count. Finally, the perception of value is relative to alternatives. The best value propositions I crafted were the ones where I truly demonstrated our uniqueness. And I’m not talking about having a unique technology or a singular way of solving a problem. I’m talking about a deeper answer to “Why us?” which relates to values we share and demonstrates that, while you don’t know everything up front, you are open to walking the journey together. Crafting a good value proposition is, in the end, an art of connecting with people. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Leverage URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-leverage/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T20:57:44.000Z #57 - Aug.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off to the weekend: These are the forms of leverage that I have found key to professional growth: - Curiosity for other's knowledge - Effective delegation - Learnings from failures - Effective mechanisms - Building a trustful network **✉️ Post from this week** This week I wrote about my learnings after crafting 100+ value propositions for digital transformation: [Value propositions#115 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. Learnings from crafting 100+ value propositions.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/08/IMG_2075-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/value-propositions/) **👷🏼‍♂️ Personal project I'm building:** I want to build a personal assistant to help me bring insights from my notes/archives while writing. I capture a lot of ideas through notes, but I've had challenges retrieving them when I need to. I'm using ChatGPT as a co-pilot to code. In a nutshell, I tokenized my notes and used a ranking algorithm based on a relevance score to bring the top notes related to the topic I'm writing about. A PoC at this point but would love to turn it into a browser plug-in. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/08/image-1.png) **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week:** [Everything Starts with TrustWhy trust gets lost — and how to get it back![](https://hbr.org/resources/images/android-chrome-512x512.png)Harvard Business ReviewFrances X. Frei![](https://hbr.org/resources/images/article_assets/2020/03/R2003H_ANDRES.jpg)](https://hbr.org/2020/05/begin-with-trust?ref=cesarrg.com) [Ask WWDCCatching up on WWDC? Ask a question and we’ll give you a concise summary and recommend the most relevant sessions to watch!![](https://askwwdc.com/favicon.ico)Ask WWDC![](https://askwwdc.com/card.png)](https://askwwdc.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“You become old when memories weigh more than hopes.”** – (free translation) Elsa Margarita Perez ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Design taste and decision making URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-design-taste-and-decision-making/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T20:55:49.000Z #56 - Jul.2024 Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea for the weekend: Design taste is about decision-making. It is about navigating across a sea of possibilities and taking the courage to make the call. Yes, sometimes you will fail. But it is by exposing yourself to this risk that you develop a good design taste. Make the call. Explore good design examples. Get inspiration from other’s work. Is not only about aesthetics but also about efficiency. Making the right decisions makes the design process more efficient, filtering what is likely to work for users and discarding the noise. **✉️ Mid-year books checkpoint is out!** I shared my mid-year checkpoint on books. As in previous years, these checkpoints are an opportunity to reflect on the learnings, quotes, and takeaways: [2024 mid-year books#113 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. It is time for the mid-year checkpoint of the books I have read so far in 2024![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/07/IMG_2073-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/mid-2024-book-checkpoint/) **✉️ Post from this week** This week I wrote about an insightful reply from Seth Godin from an email I sent him in 2015\. The power of a “Thank You”: [The courage to say Thank You#114 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. Taking the courage to say “Thank you”. Gratitude is an unlimited asset that we can always give to others.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/07/Thank_You-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/the-courage-to-say-thank-you/) **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week:** [LLMs now write lots of science. GoodEasier and more lucid writing will make science faster and better![](https://www.economist.com/engassets/ico/touch-icon-180x180.png)The EconomistThe Economist![](https://www.economist.com/img/b/1280/720/90/media-assets/image/20240629_LDD004.jpg)](https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/06/27/llms-now-write-lots-of-science-good?ref=cesarrg.com) [B2C vs B2B DesignDesigning for B2C (Business-to-Consumer) and B2B (Business-to-Business) markets requires different approaches because they cater to…![](https://cdn-static-1.medium.com/_/fp/icons/Medium-Avatar-500x500.svg)Muzli - Design InspirationCanvs Editorial![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1200/1*aAaO5EThlkNAvytxGCbRTA.jpeg)](https://medium.muz.li/b2c-vs-b2b-design-9c71f98bbb58?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“Give yourself enough time to product something great, but not unlimited time”.** – Cal Newport ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### The courage to say Thank You URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/the-courage-to-say-thank-you/ Last updated: 2024-08-03T16:04:19.000Z #114 - Jul.2024 > "Thank you goes a long way" This was the reply from [Seth Godin](https://www.sethgodin.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) to an email I sent him back in 2015. Yes. I email him to ask for advice. Yes. He made the time to reply to me. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/07/Thank_You.png) I was working on a design challenge connecting people from very different backgrounds to contribute to a set of social innovation challenges in Brazil. I was looking for advice on what was the best way to reward people who, voluntarily, were giving their time to contribute to solving such problems. In his simple reply, Seth reminded me of the basics: it is always about human connections. People want to feel appreciated. People want to be seen as contributors to something worth the time. Gratitude is an unlimited asset that we can always give to others. We often underestimate the power of a simple "Thank You". A "Thank you" when you genuinely care for others. A "Thank you" when acknowledging that you're vulnerable. A "Thank you" that connects you to others. Take the courage to say "Thank you". ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### 2024 mid-year books URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/mid-2024-book-checkpoint/ Last updated: 2024-08-03T16:04:58.000Z #113 - Jul.2024 It is time for the mid-year checkpoint of the books I have read so far in 2024\. [Every year](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/books/) I look forward to this review. As I recap each book, I reflect on the learnings, quotes, and takeaways. Once again, this year has been a mix of everything. I continue to explore new genres (novels). I also went back to paper books instead of e-books. You can't beat such a reading experience! You can always check out my most recommended books on my [bookshelf](https://www.cesarrg.com/book-shelf/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/07/IMG_2073.png) 1. [Les gratitudes](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Delphine-Vigan-ebook/dp/B07N94T9FR/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.LIWYDletg2smCKhGjME0H8bPC1Kjpm5x8oTfSfoObLVEiS2hZhzmPiJZRI%5F3e0OXaSD4fo%5FACJd5OgWJpVKIZVNaetBQRVWtD-jMo9jZsa0HJXOiyYhO8Po3SXLbIIWW0t-Ao0r52M4CvDwt0Q9VmlvLI94k6Qw4Hkecj5G3WUHJ7zRgDeiCm2bYps9m1G1XUVvjzx8e-M6X3t70c71c9eIg19p9ssrK3QfA0ZfuF40.ivLRpRrBOrAUAWknD9IXHzWmWAwY0dRIbL9YN0vzO%5F0&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Les+gratitudes&qid=1720563198&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) (Delphine de Vigan): This was a short and emotional book to kick off the year. It is a story about life. About the power of being thankful. About love and gratitude through the lens of an old woman living in a retirement home. 2. [The Practice](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Seth-Godin-ebook/dp/B086KV3TX5/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=3GP3H43MA254A&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.unQPKwWDgiogb%5F2G4KTakAbqSBbEVEPuD1dTJOvNVMGd%5FT2yUgiluUwp%5Fs9iIMuY%5F9YOJeAM5I5XTt1Se4L%5F6lZSsy1EFjBByVTVGU0cwaPezEWQ6jBsjXpEV3YVMXWTJ9ndHRN9xpKXDP6-3EHKoxwSVt6mlmpqNg9iT5XcTa1A131eIIz3S1RcSNwDyMs2iwrwffB5pO563XhQ697WYUpgnbfjmBc5zzBLWumucZA.8oXvxOMfau%5F08lsqaC29AQH8nWRLcBi5G5rLiE7NcZ0&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=The+Practice+seth&qid=1720563227&sprefix=the+practice+set%2Caps%2C173&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) (Seth Godin): A love Seth Godin’s books. You can find inspirational quotes almost on any page! In The Practice, Seth talks about a different perspective of building towards success. A perspective on consistency, creativity, and creating things that matter. 3. [Empowered: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Products](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Marty-Cagan-ebook/dp/B08LPKRD5L/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=2MQ0PGHKPBVMU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.v3UHyq4qIoZXmyz7HZSDD9IaS6LgBBHBWTUq2UjZplzGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.yEZA6MsUNW7o2EGOK%5FDxHA3DqQbwMc2P3yy0YtIqOe0&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Empowered%3A+Ordinary+People%2C+Extraordinary+Products&qid=1720563243&sprefix=the+practice+seth%2Caps%2C163&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) (Marty Cagan): This has become a classic in product management. While many people debate on how practical are Marty Cagan’s tips on shifting towards a better product culture the fact is: great product teams need empowered people. People with the freedom to be creative, managers who are willing to coach, and teams with the right structure and focus. This book gives a great glance at all this. 4. [No more Mr. Nice Guy ](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Robert-Glover-ebook/dp/B004C438CW/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=ZC6JSVJZBDMN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QIC%5FgerneNw8%5FuJnLjW-mxdHeIp0HlBgdXM1YlXHE%5Fsikm6WYxOchNUzSQ%5F7SW94z8VZhCelDRygaDTwGJAMEsETlKYMWjmLraRK37LhSGY7UQ7ckzLa%5FK5KXv0hOAcEC%5Fy1J%5FEjpjRL7jsZfr2PvETMzH3FDWU24GsqWfL5AHH-I04Cn%5FVNyuYE0qGurFbdwzIhtrXcMUVDwc36lLSjJJkzW-wJ1lM2MSBY1V45c0Y.HY5EFOLGgsyUvzuRiVnV-IjykCLdFgr6Yj3DMzHqIkg&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=No+more+Mr.+Nice+Guy&qid=1720563256&sprefix=no+more+mr.+nice+guy+%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com)(Robert A. Glover): This was recommended by a coach. I can tell you: is not for everyone. You can agree or disagree on many points that Robert makes in this book but there are some interesting perspectives on self-awareness and practical exercises for becoming more direct. Good book if you are willing to make your needs a priority instead of only fulfilling other’s needs. 5. [Digital Minimalism](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Cal-Newport-ebook/dp/B07D1G6DTF/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=37NF2SLF22DY5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1xee33TcrZRqbh%5FDIPVDswCUf4YotmHumPEhnzBOP6usJlUM9y40dg7ZomN4Eql8antE4FWTJd6lj7%5Fy5glhSKmdZEyG%5FFPmVvsK4fi0htvoM2sxU61KYByvCGJt0n4tUOOLU2Fys5e6AbNUkcW23dJiKDkOHF2-qmsuv0dWWhBbmsh5%5FZMeFKYialzcD3mpFNC-uUssiR1QxLnVskfw-FkSmjKuNb3l3ATwV2GgJS4.MJYITDh5blqbmm2jC7EPX43hudspkfyAK9HMp4k4Cz0&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Digital+Minimalism&qid=1720563268&sprefix=no+more+mr.+nice+guy%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) (Cal Newport): When I saw this book on the bookshelf of a friend it caught my attention. The hyperconnectivity and dopamine culture of today’s world is one of our biggest problems as a society. Cal’s makes a great point on how to develop a better relationship with our devices and digital channels (email, social media, chats, etc). This is a much-needed skill for our future. 6. [Animal Farm](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/George-orwell-ebook/dp/B0BTPQRMHN/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=230O1G0JNWTW2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.y8JaCRHml3AP41U%5F%5FNvzcMe0o-C1ODbkRjc7YN8iWm8fJ0%5FODWVz4fsMM4LYlSRWN7fLOu9gdL0YRw7LBsL3UuJBc2mwdhSou%5FcOQAF5vlFdMr1A4KU9W2hW31MB8y74A4Mqt1POKtdG8gBu4DzTKHzMUQcZ2jYLErH8KWuOxikKziVM9gkYLEnjACDH74v7WE54zWtY%5FMJ846kkaEhwQ1eSKn8C5FfcOQvdEmtpuD8.LmEusr16uKWC4TLmeRVnRGDE06Q6mnOUJjQMtVjyI18&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Animal+Farm&qid=1720563287&sprefix=digital+minimalism%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) (George Orwell): Yes, this was a classic that was pending on my list. I loved this book. Now I can understand why became so popular. The narrative is light and engaging. Is impossible not to think of all the parallel analogies with our real world that sometimes, indeed, seems like a farm. 7. [Madame Bovary](https://www.amazon.com/Gustave-Flaubert/dp/B092PG46RP/ref=sr%5F1%5F1%5Fsspa?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=1BJP638CF0NKR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3xNRCNzU8NlgyrOd5%5FL3jGw0BCHRVRT4iJPXUvMhnKVBuqq5XQ3xm8oLXRhetAPOLa8r4NsaVqpw5CGGmqRjZ-FOe%5F7qjKXemOc5XDMrqS32DpLMlqoKEZn8CR50OVBKWdR%5FYo11SBpMjQpIJjG1Vd2y97W9ZzBq6wmE9JRfUbpFe6GKDr%5F9sj%5FAGrvBfMAuTPSWaOGixFayO%5FxnvlLiotxZ4HUkN16joplsw3oKSKk9C%5FZz2XqAdJujsMWPRQcT2RvJsI1RzxitORgLRfrYsng%5FSai0w2v3x619et4c%5FdE.8qhtfCCGHoKqn-Gdrtw1EHIhD-C7NtPPzgZ26-bY4Kw&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Madame+Bovary&qid=1720563304&sprefix=madame+bovary%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-1-spons&sp%5Fcsd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1&ref=cesarrg.com) (Gustave Flaubert): As I was in a classic mood, I continued with this masterpiece of Flaubert. Maybe the best book so far in 2024\. Every sentence seems to be crafted with so much care and art. This explains why this book had so much impact at the time, changing the way novels were written. 8. [Slow Productivity](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Cal-Newport-ebook/dp/B0CF16GTW9/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=3731HGDYJAL6R&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9Sz%5F1hpA12Y3gOCdfYR3Fls3FuQ8hNNxe%5FG7whEd4Ml9TZCCzTX1wwsoJ2rijIfxufEgwcWwfgAZD2NL65K%5FVa6z8JHC9yTz4yPeb8U9wQmKMA9IypbCFSz69oXCJA23AgDGeye2uIk1K10CbvGDF31TlFxYHXaMP-lS7q8yA-gstQbnyJ7fXk2Gc1karYfcQ12vNyQuKhGJ58n4EkFYjAH2iDRNNEWuwr8ZHnzeMns.ORJzedlS2m%5FOFk1SsvIEHqbqx2cYocxvD-BPWTTzbnI&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Slow+Productivity&qid=1720563316&sprefix=madame+bovary%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) (Cal Newport): Based on my experience reading Digital Minimalism, I wanted to continue reading Cal’s work. The title of the book resonated with me, especially at this particular time of my life when I’m exploring how to invest my time in things that are worth it. The book shares a perspective on how productivity and slow work are not antagonists. You can achieve much more when you focus, pace your work to your natural rhythm, and obsess over quality. Less is more. 9. [Creative Selection](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Ken-Kocienda-ebook/dp/B079DVT6VP/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=3RW0BF33BFIV6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.g8LGbml2OjHMVvQqbVj07xQ4TVemgDjvXbSqgPedEaBmmS7uS4iRzVrLO1Ie9IrPOhZZyqepFrrmlheJMeBl1cpyjRQoL8sW8cVcG-xBrWJvczrReJMiU6Y6cTUY1t9-XhRJnqjHGzHaWtjTu9EGpf%5FvTk-EkK7dps5LL6Edhc8oPICo3WMDkvf-gxQoEaEEGjCoLSkB6NEFrMqrhX8VYKHyft6Md%5FMFka0PilKQIDw.RZVg3OPs5OO4nBBPN8mRdTChCWfgonRGQpyGxmopC4Q&dib%5Ftag=se&keywords=Creative+Selection&qid=1720563330&sprefix=creative+selection%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) (Ken Kocienda): In this book, Ken shares technical backstage stories about the design and development of some of Apple’s greatest innovations, like the iPad and the iPhone. He uses these stories to share what he believes is the core of Apple’s innovation: inspiration, collaboration, craft, diligence, decisiveness, taste, and empathy. Happy reading! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Productivity URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-productivity/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T20:53:47.000Z #55 - Jun.2024 Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea for the weekend: In a world that tends towards more noise and distractions, choosing where to put your attention becomes one of the most valuable skills. It is not only about [saying no](https://www.cesarrg.com/saying-no/) but also to be aware of choosing where you can maximize the value of your contributions. It is about shifting our perception of productivity: from achieving "many things" to achieving the things that really matter. **✉️ Post from this week** This week I wrote about analogies between art and products and how important is to have a focal point to drive your strategy: [Focal point#107 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. Products need a focal point too. A clear and intuitive value proposition. It’s the anchor that all other experiences orbit around. It’s what makes your product memorable and unique.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/06/IMG_2055-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/focal-point/) **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week** [10 Papers Every Product Manager Should ReadMost of us associate papers with science and academia. In my experience, the Product, Design, and Program communities overlook papers as a…![](https://cdn-static-1.medium.com/_/fp/icons/Medium-Avatar-500x500.svg)MediumAndrew Clark![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/da:true/resize:fit:1200/0*3qUk_2Wjymxwr4Tp)](https://medium.com/@productandrew/10-papers-every-product-manager-should-read-9b5a29cf80d7?ref=cesarrg.com) **📖 Book I’m reading** Interesting behind-the-scenes of the design and engineering culture at Apple during Steve Job’s era. I like the anecdotes and technical details behind some of the most iconic apps: - [Creative Selection: Inside Apple's Design Process During the Golden Age of Steve Jobs](https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Selection-Inside-Apples-Process/dp/1250194466?ref=cesarrg.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/06/image-1.jpeg) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“Where your attention goes, your time goes”.** – Idowu Koyenikan ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Focal point URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/focal-point/ Last updated: 2024-08-03T16:02:53.000Z #112 - Jun.2024 Most visual arts share a common concept that artist use in their masterpieces: a focal point. The focal point is what attracts the eye. Everything orbits around the focal point. It's what creates mystery, wonder, and a sense of cohesion. Think about any great painting or a photography shot. They all look to highlight a focal point. A subject. An area of high contrast. A form. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/06/IMG_2055.png) I like using this analogy when designing new products. Designing a new feature is a [form of expression of our creativity](https://www.cesarrg.com/your-art/), just like art. Products need a focal point too. A clear and intuitive value proposition. It's the anchor that all other experiences orbit around. It's what makes your product memorable and unique. Having a focal point is key to creating connections with people. When there is no focal point, people feel lost. They don’t get it. Artists are very aware of this and they iterate to remove distractions. In your product, the focal point is what drives your strategy. It brings focus. It decommoditize your offering and is a great tool for prioritization. Look for the story you’d like customers to remember about your product. What do want them to feel? What would they tell others? That’s your focal point. Think like an artist. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] What you don't know URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-what-you-dont-know/ Last updated: 2026-02-16T20:51:44.000Z #54 - Jun.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: When making decisions, what you don’t know is just as important as what you do know. Creating awareness of your facts, your assumptions, and your unknowns will lead to better decisions. Acknowledging what you do not know and being curious about finding the truth is not only a humble act but an efficient way to deliver things that are worth it. Tip: check out this simple tool that will help you apply this principle: [CSD matrix](https://youtu.be/4d63rcEc%5FTk?si=NOz7KuYibRmvPF9v&ref=cesarrg.com) **✉️ Post from this week** This week I wrote about something I was reflecting on recently: the hustle of today’s world and how pausing can lead you to better outcomes: [Less and better#107 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. Crafting great products requires thinking deeply into the problem you are solving and obsessing over details. The value of slow productivity for product managers.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/06/IMG_2050-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/less-and-better/) **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week** An interested perspective on the latest WWDC and Apple’s quest towards AI: [\[FREE\] WWDC, Apple Intelligence, Apple Aggregates AIApple’s WWDC keynote was extremely impressive: Apple Intelligence is something only Apple could build, and it enhances their platform power such that AI companies like OpenAI have to accept A…![](https://stratechery.com/favicon/apple-touch-icon.png)Stratechery by Ben ThompsonBen Thompson![](https://i0.wp.com/stratechery.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/cropped-android-chrome-512x512-1.png?fit=512%2C512&ssl=1)](https://stratechery.com/2024/wwdc-apple-intelligence-apple-aggregates-ai/?ref=cesarrg.com) Behavioral design is gaining traction as experience become more tailored and dynamic: [Service Design Trend Predictions 2024: What to Expect?It’s that time of the year again! Let’s explore the anticipated trends that service designers and CX leaders are likely to face in 2024…![](https://cdn-static-1.medium.com/_/fp/icons/Medium-Avatar-500x500.svg)Spotless SaysSpotless![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1200/0*FJsFc86MiBNnNTpo.png)](https://medium.com/spotless-says/service-design-trend-predictions-2024-what-to-expect-21fea7fd3a79?ref=cesarrg.com) Great podcast episode featuring Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar, and his lessons on nurturing a creativity culture: **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“You should not grind at a lot of hard work until you figure out what you should be working on.”** – Naval Ravikant ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Less and better URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/less-and-better/ Last updated: 2024-06-20T09:16:01.000Z #111 - Jun.2024 Do less. Do it better. It might sound counterintuitive in today’s culture where we value speed, quick decision-making, and multitasking. Everything is trying to get your attention: joining meetings, creating artifacts, engaging with people, reviewing documents, evaluate options. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/06/IMG_2050.png) But crafting great products requires thinking deeply into the problem you are solving and obsessing over details. A mindset of quality over quantity. It starts with making the space for this type of deep work. It is changing the mindset from navigating superficially and embracing the effort of deep thinking, reflecting, and identifying the connecting points. We underrate the value of pausing. Is precisely in these moments of reflections were you are able to discover insights and refine your thinking. It starts with being ruthless in prioritizing your time - becoming an owner of how you invest your attention which is a finite asset for knowledge work. Over time, quality work becomes exponential in terms of the value you deliver. What might seem like working less is, in fact, a lever for productivity. Less but better. Sustain your work for the long run. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Ingredients URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-ingredients/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T20:48:09.000Z #53 - Jun.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: These are the common ingredients I’ve seen in teams developing great products: - An effective product strategy that drives the team’s focus; - A strong engineering culture towards innovation and simplification; - A good design taste to offer customers the best experience. **✉️ Post from this week** This week I wrote about how to become an effective product leader by learning the basics of design: [Design taste#107 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. As a product leader today, I think these are essential complementary skills. You can develop a good design taste even if your role is not being a designer. Design is the common language between product, UX, and engineering, and everyone in the team can contribute.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/06/IMG_2029-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/design-taste/) **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week** [Design with AI | Xinran Ma | SubstackPractical articles every week to help you design better, faster, and smarter with AI. Click to read Design with AI, by Xinran Ma, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0c2debfc-e49d-42cc-9c80-a595f08cf582%2Fapple-touch-icon-180x180.png)SubstackXinran Ma![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:best,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fdesignwithai.substack.com%2Ftwitter%2Fsubscribe-card.jpg%3Fv%3D563507535%26version%3D9)](https://designwithai.substack.com/) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“It’s very easy to be different, but very difficult to be better.”** – Jony Ive ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Design taste URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/design-taste/ Last updated: 2024-06-12T09:04:42.000Z #110 - Jun.2024 Looking back, one of the best decisions I took in my career was to dive deep into the fascinating world of design. Learning the core concepts, through the lens of service design, gave me a new perspective of what good design means. It gave me new eyes. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/06/IMG_2029.png) As a product leader today, I think these are essential complementary skills. You can develop a good design taste even if your role is not being a designer. Design is the common language between product, UX, and engineering, and everyone in the team can contribute. Defining what good ‘design taste’ means is hard. I like to see it as a combination of having an awareness of the context you are working on, identifying patterns, and developing curating skills to choose the best alternatives. Is a mix of experience, exposure to quality work and curiosity. Is about experimenting. Iterating through different options. It is about decision-making. Learn the basics of design. Start with UX principles and what makes good customer research. Learn how to interview customers. Understand how [mental models](https://www.cesarrg.com/mental-models/) from users affect the design process. Learn about [prototyping](https://www.cesarrg.com/test-it/) and the best options for the type of [feedback](https://www.cesarrg.com/feedback-timing/) you are looking for. Learn about the value a consistent experience through good design language and [interactions](https://www.cesarrg.com/the-journey/) across touch-points. In Ralph Caplan’s words: *“Thinking about design is hard, but not thinking about it can be disastrous.”* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### The journey…so far URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/the-journey-so-far/ Last updated: 2025-03-14T22:57:43.000Z #109 - Jun.2024 I started writing online back in 2007\. At the time I was traveling through South America and Australia and blogging was a way to stay connected with family & friends. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/06/IMG_1998.png) I wrote about my experience walking in the streets of Santiago de Chile. The chaotic beauty of São Paulo. The mornings in Brisbane. But also about random topics. Music (I was discovering João Gilberto at the time). Technology (NFC was starting to get traction). Opinions about trending topics (The *Stop Online Piracy Act* was under debate in the US Congress). The blog was a way of expression. A channel to speak to myself but that echoed into the ether of the internet. And it was fun! For almost 5 years I posted all kinds of ideas. But around 2012 I stopped. I can’t really remember why. Blogging as a way of broadcasting my news to friends was less direct than sending a WhatsApp message. I lost the drive. I went on & off with online writing platforms like [Medium](https://medium.com/@cesarrg?ref=cesarrg.com). While I was focusing on the content, I also felt the lack of personalization. These tools were either too complex or too simple. I need to have a site where I could experiment. In 2014, I opened a personal site. At the time, I was consulting companies as a Service Designer and the site served as a blog and as a company homepage. The content was focused on design tools, best practices, and my own experience. I also started exploring digital sketching as a way of conveying ideas: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/06/IMG_1992-1.jpeg) I was interested in logo design. I wanted to find a simple logo that could represent the core of the work I was doing at the time. Innovation, technology, and user-centric design: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/06/IMG_1993.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/06/IMG_1991.jpeg) The company-of-one never really scaled (topic for a different post) so with the closing of the business I also deprecated the site. Was until 2021 that I [reignited](https://www.cesarrg.com/hello-world/) the flame of writing. This time I wanted to use my writing as a way of capturing learnings from my experience. A public journal where I could reconnect with the passion of starting with a white page and creating a narrative. Turning the abstract into concrete. From a design perspective, this time I was more interested in colors. My sister gave me a book as a present that changed completely what I knew about color theory. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/06/IMG_1994-1.jpeg) The Colour Bible became a rich source of inspiration. Through small stories and practical application examples, the book navigates through the complex world of colors and how they are connected to our human experience. I needed to find the right colors for my site! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/06/IMG_1995.png) I explored different combinations, trying to connect the colors with the spirit of my work. After testing different options, I found two colors that resonated with what I was looking for. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/06/IMG_1999-1.jpeg) Yellow-red is an orange-nish hue compromised by equal amounts of red and yellow. Is used in canvas by artists for semi-abstract horizons. It expresses hope, energy and life. In contrast, I went with Obsidian. Is a form of volcanic glass used since the Stone Age for tools. The Aztecs honored their gods with Obsidian stones. Is mystical and amorphous. It creates a sense of curiosity. The curiosity that keeps me writing the next post every week. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ### [Weekly Retro] Problems in roadmaps URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-problems-in-roadmaps/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T20:45:57.000Z #52 - Jun.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Reasons why you might be having problems with your product roadmap: - Have too many items; - No clear prioritization criteria; - Is not driven by the focus of your strategy; - Is based on the desires of managers, not customer needs; - Value is not delivered progressively; - Have items with impacts that can’t be measured; - Does not account for risks (technical, business, etc); - Is not well promoted across the team and stakeholders; - Too focused on solutions, rather than problems or opportunities; - Do not inspire! **👨🏻‍💻 Concept I read about** **HEART Metrics:** *HEART is a simple framework,* originated at Google*, to improve UX based on 5 key metrics: *H*appiness, *E*ngagement, *A*doption, *R*etention and *T*ask success.* **✉️ Post from this week** This week I wrote about ideas from a conversation with a friend of the impact of learning in the age of AI agents. What are the tradeoffs?: [Peel the onion#107 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. Learning in the age of AI agents and the importance to keep our creative skill active.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/06/IMG_1989-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/peel-the-onion/) **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week** [Transforming UX with Generative AIFrom linear journeys to tailored terrain![](https://cdn-static-1.medium.com/_/fp/icons/Medium-Avatar-500x500.svg)UX CollectiveMarc C. Seefelder![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1200/1*2K91cvgGM-TJxnEylKaVqA.png)](https://medium.com/user-experience-design-1/transforming-ux-with-generative-ai-7b06ea329286?ref=cesarrg.com) [Principles of Conversational Design | Marvel BlogConversational Design introduces the following set of conversational design principles to create more human-centered interactions in any type of interface.![](https://marvelapp.com/wp-content/uploads/fbrfg/apple-touch-icon.png)Marvel BlogMaya Hampton![](https://marvelapp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/31.png)](https://marvelapp.com/blog/principles-of-conversational-design/?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“Every great design begins with an even better story.”** – Lorinda Mamo ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Peel the onion URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/peel-the-onion/ Last updated: 2024-06-06T19:08:26.000Z #108 - Jun.2024 I was talking to a friend about learning in the age of AI agents. The internet gave us immediate access to information. This changed complete the way we learn. Today, AI is likely to change this once again giving us a new lever to use information. But what are the tradeoffs? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/06/IMG_1989.png) We can now talk to an AI agent who can process an imaginable amount of data. They aggregate and simplifying answers to complex questions. Take coding for example. This means removing the cognitive load of managing libraries, and dependencies, and even getting suggestions of new logic you can incorporate into your code. I like to call this: The abstraction from AI. AI is helping us to create a new layer of abstraction on top of the web. But with abstraction, we sacrifice specificity. It’s like turning information into a [low-definition picture](https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/chatgpt-is-a-blurry-jpeg-of-the-web?ref=cesarrg.com). Sure, you can use it, but you lack details and nuances. I don’t see this as a challenge for small/repetitive tasks (thanks AI for taking out this burden). But I keep on thinking of what this really means for deep learning of skills, in particular in the digital space. The cognitive effort of diving deep into a subject and the trial-error that comes through repetition, is now simplified through a quick prompt. This is amplified by the [dopamine culture](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/the-state-of-the-culture-2024?ref=cesarrg.com) that dominates our world today: long reads vs. quick answers. Great narratives vs. TL;DRs. In-depth sessions vs. quick guides to learn anything. I believe the fix for this comes through a change in mindset. Our capacity to question (and the quality of questions) and to connect the points across different domains will continue to be at the core of our [creative skills](https://www.cesarrg.com/generative-ai-what-is-left/) as humans. AI can become a powerful companion to dive even deeper into complex topics. We shouldn’t be satisfied with any immediate answer from technology. Make more questions. Challenge your assumptions. Peel the onion for deeper levels of knowledge. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Committing URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-committing/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T20:43:46.000Z #51 - Jun.2024 Hi there! I could not release last Friday's edition of the Weekly Retro. Life happens (sick). It felt like missing a commitment. Yet reflecting on this I think that committing to a practice is much more the just being flawless. It's about trying...even if you'll fail. It's about practicing...even if there's no inspiration. It's about consistency...even when you're late. Until the next edition! **✉️ Post from this week** Last week I wrote about my perspective on metrics. How important is to focus on what you can **control** and how **connected** is with the outcome you expect: [Metrics#107 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. Metrics should be focus on what we control and how connected they are to the outcome we expect![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/05/IMG_1981-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/metrics/) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“The magic of the creative process is that there is no magic. Start where you are. Don't stop.” –** Seth Godin ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Metrics URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/metrics/ Last updated: 2024-05-29T20:24:51.000Z #107 - May.2024 *“If you can't measure it, you can't manage it.”* But what should we measure? We all struggle to find the right metrics to track. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve debated with my team on why we should use this metric over this other. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/05/IMG_1981.png) It’s easy to fall into the belief that the more you track the better. When this happens I find it useful to refocus on what we can actually **control** and how **connected** is with the outcome we expect. Anything that does not meet both criteria is just context information. I like to see metrics as pure data points. Datapoints can lead you to an insight, but in isolation, they are just numbers. They are signals. The magic is in how you correlate them, probe them (through anecdotes and feedback from customers), and use them to find new opportunities. Any metric that does not lead you to actions is just noise. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Undercooked URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-undercooked/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T20:41:52.000Z #50 - May.2024 Hi there! 💡 Here is a quick idea for the weekend: Don’t ‘undercook’ your product. Launching quick, small, fast iterations doesn’t mean releasing unfinished products. In a world where speed is the new norm, we are now facing the rise of first-iteration products - [Rabbit R1](https://youtu.be/ddTV12hErTc?si=5x23nUry0xrMm9Qr&ref=cesarrg.com), and [Humane AI Pin](https://youtu.be/%5Fw1vv7%5FdU2Y?si=PnmOdbsJFu3Wz8We&ref=cesarrg.com), to name a few - that feel far from being functional, lovable and memorable. Being lean and learning from the experience of releasing a product should not be at the expense of overpromising and under delivering. Customers who lose trust in your promise will not wait for your next iteration. **👨🏻‍💻 Concept I read about** **Sean Ellis score:** *“Sean Ellis Score is a metric used to measure customer satisfaction and loyalty to a product or service. At its core, the Sean Ellis Test is a single-question survey designed to gauge how many of your customers consider your product as must-have.* *The question is: “How would you feel if you could no longer use \[product\]?”. The responses are: (1) Very disappointed, (2) Somewhat disappointed or (3) Not disappointed.* *The goal is to reach a stage where at least 40% of your users would answer “Very disappointed” if they could no longer use your product. This is seen as a strong indicator that your product has achieved product/market fit.”* **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week** [Principles of Conversational Design | Marvel BlogConversational Design introduces the following set of conversational design principles to create more human-centered interactions in any type of interface.![](https://marvelapp.com/wp-content/uploads/fbrfg/apple-touch-icon.png)Marvel BlogMaya Hampton![](https://marvelapp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/31.png)](https://marvelapp.com/blog/principles-of-conversational-design/?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“Relationship is a mirror in which you can see yourself, not as you would wish to be, but as you are.” –** Krishnamurti ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Creative revolution URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-creative-revolution/ Last updated: 2024-08-31T20:48:07.000Z #49 - May.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: I’ve been reflecting on this new era of creativity empowered by AI. Some ideas that are bouncing in my mind: - Access to powerful technology like AI has never been so easy. This will level the game for businesses, but also for every single person aiming to create something great. - Creativity is what matters; not only the technology. You can invest in the best technology stack but you should be equally focused in ensuring you develop your creativity skills. - The magic will not be on machines making autonomous decisions, but rather the seamless combination of human intuition and the leverage we get through these technologies. - This new creative revolution will reward people who are curious enough to explore, iterate, and discover new possibilities through AI, using this technology to multiply their human abilities. Interesting times ahead of us! **👨🏻‍💻 Concept I read about** **Moravec's paradox** **“*Moravec's paradoxis a phenomenon observed by robotics researcher Hans Moravec, in which tasks that are easy for humans to perform (eg, motor or social skills) are difficult for machines to replicate, whereas tasks that are difficult for humans (eg, performing mathematical calculations or large-scale data analysis) are relatively easy for machines to accomplish.”* **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week** [The defensive arrogance of TL;DREver since there has been high school, there has been the instinct to read the Cliffs Notes. The internet took this idea, added a gratuitous semicolon and perfected Too Long; Didn’t Read. Thi…![](https://seths.blog/wp-content/themes/godin/img/favicons/apple-touch-icon.png)Seth's Blog![](https://seths.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/seth_godin_ogimages_v02_1806133-1.jpg)](https://seths.blog/2024/05/the-defensive-arrogance-of-tldr/?ref=cesarrg.com) [The fusion of two sisters into a single woman suggests that human identity is not in our DNAThe biologist Alfonso Martínez Arias defends that genes do not define the uniqueness of a person, citing the example of Karen Keegan, who has two genomes![](https://static.elpais.com/dist/resources/images/favicon.ico)Ediciones EL PAÍS S.L.Manuel Ansede![](https://imagenes.elpais.com/resizer/v2/3MLTECRTEBBC3PXCWRBVSHCPWU.jpg?auth=c4d187fde248c0ae7b595637668e8152cbf151f1a49a34c3ee0b3745cc1970bd&width=1200)](https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2024-05-08/the-fusion-of-two-sisters-into-a-single-woman-suggests-that-human-identity-is-not-in-our-dna.html?ref=cesarrg.com) [Hacking our way to better team meetingsMy team and I set out to build a simple note taking aide, which transcribes and summarizes our meetings using Bedrock. Today, we’re making the proof of concept available to everyone.![](https://www.allthingsdistributed.com/favicon.ico)All Things DistributedWerner Vogels![](https://www.allthingsdistributed.com/images/summarizer-header.png)](https://www.allthingsdistributed.com/2024/05/hacking-our-way-to-better-team-meetings.html?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“Create with the heart; build with the mind.” –** Criss Jami ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] The "why" question URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-the-why-question/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T20:36:33.000Z #48 - May.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Asking “Why” can be intimidating. Sometimes it can sound like a confrontation; other times, as just pure curiosity. But through such a small word we have the power to unlock new perspectives. The answer to “why” can get complex. It can lead us to places that you’re not expecting. If we are not open or receptive before asking “why” then the question becomes pure formalism. Asking “Why” might feel like jumping free into the unknown. Let’s embrace it. On the other side, knowledge and insights are waiting for us. **✉️ Post from this week** This week I wrote about curiosity. I came to realize how important is curiosity for creativity and is a key ingredient to develop a strong product intuition: [Curiosity#106 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. Curiosity is the seed of creativity. The many times I’ve failed to build things that matter to customers are usually because I wasn’t curious enough. Let curiosity fuel your creative process.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/05/IMG_1939-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/curiosity/) **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week** [2024 Q2 Apple Results: $90.8 billion revenue, Services recordApple announced its financial results for its second fiscal quarter of 2024 on Thursday. The company booked $90.8 billion in revenue (down 4% versus the year-ago quarter) with $23.6 billion in prof…![](https://sixcolors.com/6c.svg)Six Colors![](https://149426355.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/financials-2024-5-3-3.png)](https://sixcolors.com/post/2024/05/2024-q1-apple-results-90-8-billion-revenue-services-record/?ref=cesarrg.com) [How the meaning of colour varies per cultureLet’s start with a stigma. Football fans are aggressive. So when Amsterdam built its new stadium, authorities decided to design its seats…![](https://cdn-static-1.medium.com/_/fp/icons/Medium-Avatar-500x500.svg)UX CollectiveBas Wallet![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1200/1*awadjEY6AuYxuf9JpjH34g.png)](https://uxdesign.cc/how-the-meaning-of-colour-varies-per-culture-14afd8c9734f?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.”** \- From Henry David Thoreau's Walden. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Curiosity URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/curiosity/ Last updated: 2024-05-02T20:46:41.000Z #106 - Apr.2024 Curiosity is the seed of creativity. Curiosity is what pushes us to learn, explore the world around us, discover new information, and ask questions. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/05/IMG_1939.png) The many times I’ve failed to build things that matter to customers are usually because I wasn’t curious enough. Curious enough to ask questions. Curious enough to learn the trends. Curious enough to be open for new perspectives. Curious enough to experiment with other ways of doing things. We develop a good product sense through curiosity. Is a matter of practice and caring enough for what you are doing. Many times is not easy. It requires the courage to embrace [uncertainty](https://www.cesarrg.com/uncertainty/) and the humbleness of saying “I don’t know, tell me more!”. But a question led to a new data point. Datapoints lead you to insights. And insights lead to solutions. Let curiosity fuel your creative process. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Things we get wrong about innovation URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-things-we-get-wrong-about-innovation/ Last updated: 2025-04-16T08:21:41.000Z #47 - Apr.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Things we get wrong about innovation: - Not realizing the combinational nature of new solutions: Most innovations are iterations of [previous ideas](https://www.cesarrg.com/mix-balance/). It’s about the value, not the novelty. Leverage others' ideas and add your contribution. - Confusing inventions with innovations: A new invention is just the first step. How you turn it into something accessible, optimized, and available to solve a real problem is what turns it into an innovation. - Believe that all innovation should be disruptive: [Disruptive](https://www.cesarrg.com/inside-the-box/) innovation is just one side of the spectrum. Ignoring the potential of incremental improvements of new ways of doing things is missing a huge opportunity to create value. Innovation can become a complex process. But the first step is to find simple ways to solve people’s problems. Many of the biggest innovations started with a small step forward. **✉️ Post from this week** This week I wrote about running out of ideas and embracing our practice to move forward, even if it seems meaningless. [The next dot#105 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. Move forward. You might be closer than you think to your next big idea. You just don’t see it, yet.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/04/IMG_1929-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/the-next-dot/) **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week** [Why generative AI needs a creative human touch | MIT SloanTo succeed with generative artificial intelligence and extended reality, companies should also harness human creativity, curiosity, and compassion.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)MIT SloanBeth Stackpole![](https://mitsloan.mit.edu/sites/default/files/styles/og_image/public/2023-06/human-robot-hands.jpg?h=60439ba3&itok=L1EyHsik)](https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/why-generative-ai-needs-a-creative-human-touch?ref=cesarrg.com) [Don’t design for AIDesign for problems worth solving with AI, distributed cognition, cognitive tasks and human centered intelligent systems![](https://cdn-static-1.medium.com/_/fp/icons/Medium-Avatar-500x500.svg)UX CollectiveJohannes Schleith![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1200/1*1Fr7fPf0BXKpGFwf29U5uQ.png)](https://uxdesign.cc/dont-design-for-ai-part-1-01b2d5f936ae?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“No organization ever created an innovation. People innovate, not companies.”** \- Seth Godin. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### The next dot URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/the-next-dot/ Last updated: 2024-04-25T11:20:31.000Z #105 - Apr.2024 We all run out of ideas. Don’t feel bad for your lack of creativity in what seems today’s abundance of information. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/04/IMG_1929.png) We often feel blocked in the middle of a torrent of content around us. We struggle to find the best way to contribute - but every option seems meaningless. I personally face this situation often. The lack of inspiration brings back the self-doubt of my skills. I start questioning everything and if what I’m doing worth the effort. We might just need one more step forward. When I feel like this, I like to remember that we might be closer to the next connecting dot. I just don’t see it, yet. If I just give one step forward… Try your next sketch (even if it's not inspiring) Write the next sentence (even if doesn’t make sense) Share your next contribution (even if is not as disruptive as others) Read through the next page (even if you think you are not a good reader) Move forward. You might be closer than you think to your next big idea. You just don’t see it. Yet. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Frameworks URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-frameworks/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T20:14:29.000Z #46 - Apr.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Impact eat frameworks for lunch. Don’t get stuck in a particular framework or methodology. Mold them into your reality and context. [Bend the tools.](https://www.cesarrg.com/bend-the-tools/) While conceptual frameworks are great inspiration for problem solving they are not a one-size-fits recipe. Focus on the impact you want to create, use and adapt the frameworks, and don’t limit your creativity to find innovative solutions. **✉️ Post from this week** This week I wrote about a simple questions you can use to check if you really understand the problem you are solving: [Who?#104 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. You’ll find that if you can’t answer the question of who will be impacted by not delivering what you are building, chances are, you don’t understand the problem yet.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/04/IMG_1891-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/who/) **✉️ Podcast I'm listening** **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week** [How to accelerate growth by focusing on the features you already haveIntroducing the ARIA framework![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7cde267-8f9e-47fa-9aef-5be03bad95ed%2Fapple-touch-icon-180x180.png)Lenny's NewsletterKen Rudin![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1200,h_600,c_fill,f_jpg,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc9e605e5-738d-477c-abba-e19c16af824f_2274x1196.png)](https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-to-accelerate-growth-by-focusing?ref=cesarrg.com) [AI Product Management | Silicon Valley Product GroupA partnership dedicated to teaching best practices to product teams and product leaders![](https://www.svpg.com/wp-content/themes/svpg2022/app/img/icons/touch.png)Silicon Valley Product GroupMarty Cagan![](https://www.svpg.com/wp-content/themes/svpg2022/app/img/svpg-social.jpg)](https://www.svpg.com/ai-product-management/?ref=cesarrg.com) [Why it seems like the sky is falling for digital designAnd how to come out of the storm stronger.![](https://cdn-static-1.medium.com/_/fp/icons/Medium-Avatar-500x500.svg)UX CollectiveJan Takacs![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1200/1*1g8hSfILzztnSDMlFqFMoQ.png)](https://uxdesign.cc/why-it-seems-like-the-sky-is-falling-for-digital-design-229fefb431e0?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“My methodology is not knowing what I'm doing and making that work for me.”** \- Stone Gossard ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Who? URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/who/ Last updated: 2024-04-15T11:00:52.000Z #104 - Apr.2024 In a recent meeting, I heard a question: "Who will be the first one to call out in panic if we don't build this?" There was silence in the room... It was a simple question. Or at least we all think It was. But no one had a clear answer to it. A simple question, but a very important one. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/04/IMG_1891.png) All of us are sometimes caught in the momentum of delivering things, even if we don't have a clear idea of who will benefit. Or, in most cases, we are trusting our assumption of what the problem is, rather than investing time discovering and confirming such assumptions. This framing of "who will be \[sad, annoyed, helpless, frustrated\] if we don't build \[X\]?“ is a great exercise to know who you are building for. Try this question yourself. Next time you are reviewing something your team is building ask yourself: - Who will be the one eager to see this become a reality? - Who will reach to you immediately if the project is cancelled? - Who will be sharing with others their frustration because something you were working on is now in the parking lot? You'll find that if you can't answer this question right away, chances are, you don't understand the problem yet. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Asking URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-asking/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T20:11:53.000Z #45 - Apr.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Ask more! Asking is a simple tool you can access at any time. With a bit of courage and practice you can unlock a world of opportunities. Asking as a way to unlock your curiosity to discover new things Asking to validate hypotheses or confirm assumptions Asking for information to clarify your knowledge gaps Asking customers to better understand their needs Asking others for help and support Asking connects people. Thanks [Noah Kagan](https://noahkagan.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) for reminding us of the power of asking. **✉️ Podcast I'm listening** [The Design Better Podcast | The Curiosity Department | SubstackDesign Better co-hosts Eli Woolery and Aarron Walter explore the intersection of design, technology, and the creative process through conversations with inspiring guests across many creative fields. Whether you’re design curious or a design pro, Design Better is guaranteed to inspire and inform. Episodes are released semi-weekly. Vanity Fair calls Design Better, “sharp, to the point, and full of incredibly valuable information for anyone looking to better understand how to build a more innovative world.”![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffbf1f562-76e7-4b9f-ae68-b1b48a657530%2Fapple-touch-icon-180x180.png)Design BetterThe Curiosity Department![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:best,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fthecuriositydepartment.substack.com%2Ftwitter%2Fsubscribe-card.jpg%3Fv%3D99488133%26version%3D9)](https://designbetterpodcast.com/podcast?ref=cesarrg.com) **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week** [The Shape of AI | Shapeof.AIExploring how patterns and experiences will change in a world driven by Artificial Intelligence![](https://assets-global.website-files.com/65db6dd21591364dfcb8ade9/65dfd71acc18c754f7ea0200_fav32.png)© Emily Campbell 2024 | Sharable under CC-BY-NC-SA | Contact![](https://assets-global.website-files.com/65db6dd21591364dfcb8ade9/65e0528af3d1899975529858_CleanShot%202024-02-29%20at%2002.44.00%402x.png)](https://www.shapeof.ai/?ref=cesarrg.com) [Designing with AI | Mia Blume | SubstackExploring the intersection of AI and design. Through experimentation, I’ll share observations and reflections on emerging tools, inspiring examples of AI in action, and reflections on the future of design as a discipline. Click to read Designing with AI, by Mia Blume, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.![](https://substackcdn.com/icons/substack/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png)SubstackMia Blume![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:best,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fdesigningwithai.substack.com%2Ftwitter%2Fsubscribe-card.jpg%3Fv%3D-2061649820%26version%3D9)](https://designingwithai.substack.com/) [ChatGPT Is a Blurry JPEG of the WebOpenAI’s chatbot offers paraphrases, whereas Google offers quotes. Which do we prefer?![](https://www.newyorker.com/verso/static/the-new-yorker/assets/favicon.ico)The New YorkerCondé Nast![](https://media.newyorker.com/photos/63e43e3f986288e90c859958/16:9/w_1280,c_limit/Chiang_final.png)](https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/chatgpt-is-a-blurry-jpeg-of-the-web?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful.”** \- John Maeda ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Roadmaps URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-roadmaps/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T20:10:01.000Z #44 - Apr.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Stop tracking huge product roadmaps. Long roadmaps are usually predictions of things you don’t really understand yet from customers. Huge roadmaps become a distraction. In fact, an extensive backlog does not mean that your product is in better shape. Instead, aim for having in your roadmap: Less, but high-value items; Items that are meaningful for customers; Items that will drive your product outcomes; Items reinforcing the focus of your product strategy; Items co-created across product, engineering, and design; Items that are a result of a deep understanding of customer needs. Everything else is likely to be… Waste. **✉️ Post from this week** This week I wrote about the chaotic nature of design and how important is to embrace uncertainty to turn insights into solutions: [Uncertainty#102 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. Design is about embracing uncertainty. Uncertainty was part of the design journey. This is why we iterate. This is why we try small experiments. This is why we try to validate assumptions.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/04/IMG_1850-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/uncertainty/) **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week** [Becoming an AI Product ManagerHow did I get into AI product management?![](https://cdn-static-1.medium.com/_/fp/icons/Medium-Avatar-500x500.svg)MediumDhruv Ghulati![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1200/0*4iEKH1Q1LGHSbV6H.png)](https://medium.com/@dhruvghulati/what-i-have-learned-building-ai-products-9baa9039aa99?ref=cesarrg.com) [New design patterns for AI16 new design patterns that empower people![](https://cdn-static-1.medium.com/_/fp/icons/Medium-Avatar-500x500.svg)Writing by IFSarah Gold![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1200/1*bxscHJS2-Cn3yhomIf7Fdg.png)](https://medium.com/writing-by-if/new-design-patterns-for-ai-b37f4ff060ba?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“Execution is not the problem; aligning execution with strategy is!”** \- Arnoldo Hax ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Uncertainty URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/uncertainty/ Last updated: 2024-04-04T09:40:41.000Z #103 - Apr.2024 Design is a chaotic process. Is very common to feel lost when faced with ambiguity and uncertainty. Trying to understand a need (human behavior!) and filter out all the possible options to solve it can be messy. Design is about embracing uncertainty. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/04/IMG_1850.png) Some years ago I was working with a customer exploring their sales journey. They felt they were disconnected from what customers really needed. They wanted to reimagine their selling experience. In the early stages of discovery, when trying to make sense of all the noise of anecdotes, customer feedback, and ideas he reached out to me saying: “I feel lost in this process! How can we ensure we are on the right path? How are we going to get *‘there’*?” I felt the same. However, I knew that uncertainty was part of the design journey. This is why we iterate. This is why we try small experiments. This is why we try to validate assumptions. Because from uncertainty, you start figuring out patterns; From patterns, insights; From insights, solutions. Is by embracing uncertainty and facing the fear of failing that great innovations emerge. And in the end, we did it. Through design, we were able to lay out a strategic plan for their selling experience driving the investment of this company for the next 5 years. Fearing uncertainty is not the problem. Not doing anything about it, is. Take action. Experiment. Iterate. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Tension and stress URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-tension-and-stress/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T20:07:49.000Z #43 - Mar.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: “You need pressure.” This was one of Dan Koe’s [posts](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/thedankoe%5Fyou-need-pressure-set-a-deadline-to-force-activity-7178731093209018370-W8Bf?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fios) from this week. The uncertainty if something is going to work or not creates tension. And tension is good to keep us moving forward. Tension is not the same as stress. Seth Godin [explains](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJN%5FGDaYVnU&ref=cesarrg.com) this very well. Stress is an unresolvable conflict between multiple options where you can’t decide which path to follow. Tension is falling into the uncertainty of success or failure but fully committed to the practice of putting in the work. When tension leads to a positive outcome, it creates a beautiful sense of achievement. Look for tension, not stress. **✉️ Post from this week** This week I reflected on one of the most important lessons I learned early in my career when I was “fired” from my first role as Project Manager: the importance of **nurturing trust and relationships** in a team. [Leadership#102 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. 15 years ago, I was “fired” from my first official role as Project Manager but I learned an important lesson about leadership.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/03/IMG_1844-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/leadership/) **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week** Fabricio Teixeira shares a great newsletter on design. Worth checking: [For native speakers only, AI takeaways from SXSW, 12 Figma tipsWeekly curated resources for designers — thinkers and makers.![](https://cdn-static-1.medium.com/_/fp/icons/Medium-Avatar-500x500.svg)UX CollectiveFabricio Teixeira![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1200/0*SfEaZhuEd1LHmsPl.png)](https://uxdesign.cc/for-native-speakers-only-ai-takeaways-from-sxsw-12-figma-tips-901c4bfdac36?ref=cesarrg.com) [Calligraphr - Create your own fonts.Transform your handwriting and calligraphy into fully functional vector fonts with our web application. Creating your own font has never been easier.![](https://www.calligraphr.com/static/website/img/favicons/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png)Calligraphr![](https://www.calligraphr.com/static/website/img/social/facebook_ogimg.jpg)](https://www.calligraphr.com/en/?ref=cesarrg.com) > How will we know we have hit the top of the AI hype cycle? [pic.twitter.com/SfbuH8DkCY](https://t.co/SfbuH8DkCY?ref=cesarrg.com) > > — Marc Benioff (@Benioff) [March 24, 2024](https://twitter.com/Benioff/status/1771716353491190041?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“At the heart of the question ‘will it work’ is I’m afraid. What matters is ‘Are you brave enough to try?’ ”** \- Seth Godin ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Leadership URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/leadership/ Last updated: 2024-09-26T11:41:43.000Z #102 - Mar.2024 15 years ago, I was “fired” from my first official role as Project Manager. After being a developer and tech lead in a consulting firm, this was my first opportunity to lead an entire project. I was 24\. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/03/IMG_1844.png) Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. My partner on the client side was a tenured & experienced Manager. He valued human connections through in-depth conversations. He trusted others and was committed to the success of the project. A few weeks into the project things started to go side-ways from “my plans”. From a technical side, I was confident enough that I could handle the project (full ERP implementation), yet I neglected one of the most important things in a high-performance team and particularly critical in consulting: nurturing trust and developing relationships. This came out clearly in the way how I negotiated and managed hotly debated topics with my partner manager. I was trying too hard to ensure the project was on track, minimizing the impact of incoming risks. I created a narrative in my head where the status was a direct reflection of my performance. Yellow or red was not an option. Soon this came up as an official request to remove me from the project and move me to a different initiative. My only question was: *but why?* I was technically skilled and had experience in similar projects, I felt I was doing my management duties handling the relationships with the customers. What was the reason for my early exit? Trust & relationships. The main feedback from the customer was: “I feel that he tries to come up with all the answers, pressured by the fact he’s a manager. He answers even the things that he doesn’t really understand.” They were right. I lost the opportunity by thinking the leadership roles meant handling all the questions and knowing all the answers. I lost the opportunity by hiding my knowledge flaws. I lost the opportunity by not being open to actively listen and learn. I lost the opportunity by not working as a team but rather continue as an individual contributor. This was hard to accept but over time this learning became a core principle that I have carried since then. This experience shifted my entire concept of what management and leadership is about. Leaders are not perfect. Leaders need to be open to sharing their flaws and curious enough to learn from others. They need to create a culture where failure is also an option when you are trying to find the best solutions. They know that initiatives can go through difficult moments but, as a team, we can work out a solution. Leaders are humans too. I'm glad I went through this experience. I truly needed this shake-up to learn and grow. ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ## Get your weekly dose of inspiration! 💡 Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. ### [Weekly Retro] Functional, performance and excitement URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-functional-performance-and-excitement/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T20:05:17.000Z #42 - Mar.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Looking for a simple prioritization framework on what to build first? Use these three buckets: 1. **Functional**. Features that cover the basic functional tasks. This should be your top priority to avoid users struggling to accomplish simple tasks. 2. **Performance.** Features that are not mandatory but they add convenience to the experience. 3. **Excitement.** These are the small surprises and unexpected experiences that connect with users' emotions. 50/30/20 is a good ratio to balance all three. You don’t want a product full of wow effects but failing to cover the basics. Start with a solid foundation and move towards a [memorable product](https://www.cesarrg.com/memorable/). **✉️ Post from this week** Apple is losing the AI race or is this part of a (very) intentional design strategy? This week I wrote about the design strategy of companies such as Apple which focus their selling pitch on what you can accomplish through technology, rather than the technology itself. [Invisible AI#101 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. Invisible design and embracing disruptive technologies like AI without making it the foundation of your value proposition.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/03/IMG_1735-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/invisible-ai/) **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week** [About - Lenny’s NewsletterA weekly advice column about building product, driving growth, and accelerating your career. Click to read Lenny’s Newsletter, a Substack publication with hundreds of thousands of subscribers.![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7cde267-8f9e-47fa-9aef-5be03bad95ed%2Fapple-touch-icon-180x180.png)Lenny's NewsletterLenny Rachitsky![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:best,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Flenny.substack.com%2Ftwitter%2Fsubscribe-card.jpg%3Fv%3D1909614648%26version%3D9)](https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/about?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision”** \- Winston Churchill ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Invisible AI URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/invisible-ai/ Last updated: 2024-03-21T22:25:49.000Z #101 - Mar.2024 Apple is losing the AI race. Or is this part of a (very) intentional design strategy? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/03/IMG_1735.png) On one side we have companies that opt to turn AI as part of their [product story](https://www.cesarrg.com/words-matters/). Their narratives are full of references to how AI is infused across all features. Embracing AI is part of their identity. On the other side, where Apple is, we have companies that turn AI invisible. By design, they choose to highlight the ease of each experience rather than the technology behind it. Apple didn't mention AI once during the last WWDC keynote. This is a deliberate choice. A choice to frame technology as an enable, not as the protagonist of the experience. A choice of focusing all the attention on what you can *achieve* through technology. As a company, you can still embrace a disruptive technology without making it the foundation of all your promise. In fact, Apple offers many AI-enabled features - from smart photography, to live text recognition, and even voice digital cloning. To be clear, my point is not about mentioning or not AI but rather the mindset of making technology invisible in favor of what matters: a good, consistent, and seamless experience. Technology is key to orchestrating a great experience. But should not be the soloist of your product. The AI race is on! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Trust economy URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-trust-economy/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T19:59:33.000Z #41 - Mar.2024 Happy Friday! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Trust is powerful Trust is your currency Trust makes design effective Trust creates business bonds Trust drives customer fidelity Trust strengthens relationships Trust is created at every interaction Trust is easily broken and is hard to regain Trust is the backbone of good product experiences. We live in a Trust Economy. **✉️ Post from this week** The 2024 report on the Future of Product Management is out. This is an annual report from Product School. Learn more about the 3 trends that could shape 2024: [The future of product management#100 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. 3 trends from the 2024 report on The Future of Product Management - Product School.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/03/IMG_1714-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/the-future-of-product-management/) **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week** > Today we're excited to introduce Devin, the first AI software engineer. > > Devin is the new state-of-the-art on the SWE-Bench coding benchmark, has successfully passed practical engineering interviews from leading AI companies, and has even completed real jobs on Upwork. > > Devin is… [pic.twitter.com/ladBicxEat](https://t.co/ladBicxEat?ref=cesarrg.com) > > — Cognition (@cognition\_labs) [March 12, 2024](https://twitter.com/cognition%5Flabs/status/1767548763134964000?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=cesarrg.com) [Design Principles for Generative AI Applicationsby Justin Weisz (IBM Research, US), Jessica He (IBM Research, US), Michael Muller (IBM Research, US), Gabriela Hoefer (IBM, US), Rachel…![](https://cdn-static-1.medium.com/_/fp/icons/Medium-Avatar-500x500.svg)IBM DesignJustin Weisz![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1200/1*Bc7dCkuN3EpfEo877MLK5g.png)](https://medium.com/design-ibm/design-principles-for-generative-ai-applications-791d00529d6f?ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > **“Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.”** \- Pablo Picasso ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### The future of product management URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/the-future-of-product-management/ Last updated: 2024-08-31T20:47:58.000Z #100 - Mar.2024 The 2024 report on the Future of Product Management is out. This is what you need to know! This is the fifth annual report from [Product School](https://productschool.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) to share insights on trends in the evolving world of products. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/03/IMG_1714.png) The report highlights 3 important trends: 1. **Product teams as direct contributors to revenue growth.** While good product management should balance customer need, tech viability, and business feasibility, this is a good reminder of how important is to link your product strategy to direct business outcomes. User-centric and revenue-generating mindsets can complement each other. 1. **Product teams in the intersection of tech & business, not just under tech.** This was a surprise for me, at the end product should be always at the intersection of tech & business. But after reading through the details I understood better their perspective: the trend is more about the team topology, key product skills, and aligning product development to business objectives. It is a fair callout. 1. **Product teams doing more with less, and more AI.** Sure, this will continue to be a trend for 2024\. Organizations will seek more efficiency and productivity driven by AI. From a product perspective, the report highlights the importance of strategic investment in training including AI skills. The report also includes suggested actions on how to leverage these trends in your organization. Worth reading! You can check the entire report here: [The 2024 Future of Product ReportLearn how Product can help you drive growth and efficiency in an uncertain economy with insights from thousands of Product Leaders![](https://ps-report.productschool.com/images/favicon.png)![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/63c59d32a2e5747a31feb212/63eb903d64951e5cddd9fda7_FPMR23-Meta-image.png)](https://ps-report.productschool.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Focus and strategy URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-focus-and-strategy/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T19:57:33.000Z #40 - Mar.2024 Happy Friday and International Women's Day! 💡 Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: **Focus** is what sustains any strategy. I’ve failed many times to realize this. It’s easy to assume that a strong strategy is only based on bold problems & opportunities. But strategy without focus is good intentions without direction. When everything becomes a priority, then nothing really is. Start from a vision. Derive your path through a strong strategy. Prioritize & focus on the concrete actions to optimize your tactics. **✉️ Post from this week** How do you design a product to serve 20+ countries?Through my experience, I’ve noticed some common trends that - when you have the discipline to adopt them - will increase your chances of success: [Global product design#98 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. Global product design - How do you design a product to serve 20+ countries?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/03/IMG_1698.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/global-product-design/) **👨🏻‍💻 Interesting links I found during this week** [The 2024 Future of Product ReportLearn how Product can help you drive growth and efficiency in an uncertain economy with insights from thousands of Product Leaders![](https://ps-report.productschool.com/images/favicon.png)![](https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/63c59d32a2e5747a31feb212/63eb903d64951e5cddd9fda7_FPMR23-Meta-image.png)](https://ps-report.productschool.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) [Apple is in its Ballmer eraDuring Ballmer’s reign as CEO of Microsoft, the company always made plenty of money. While the stock traded sideways, Ballmer made sure it was still raining dividends. Yet, today, that era of Microsoft is not looked upon too fondly. It’s seen as being anchored in the company’s historic paranoia, Windows-centric world view, and as missi…![](https://world.hey.com/dhh/avatar-fb368b1ee9b185dc2a09b03eabdb61678dd55244)![](https://world.hey.com/dhh/avatar-fb368b1ee9b185dc2a09b03eabdb61678dd55244)](https://world.hey.com/dhh/apple-is-in-its-ballmer-era-339b0713?ref=cesarrg.com) [Horizon 2045 | N SquareThe Horizon 2045 Foresight Radar is an interactive tool for exploring pivotal issues and drivers of change shaping human and planetary security. It features a unique collection of over 500 signals of change and three divergent scenarios of the world in 2045.![](https://t3.gstatic.com/faviconV2?client=SOCIAL&type=FAVICON&fallback_opts=TYPE,SIZE,URL&url=https://radar.horizon2045.org/?pg=home&size=128)Envisioning![](https://radar.envisioning.io/nsquare/2045horizon/app/img/radar.png)](https://radar.horizon2045.org/?pg=home&ref=cesarrg.com) **🖋️ Quote of the week:** > "Everything that your audience, customers, and network see starts with writing." - **Dan Koe** on skills if you want to thrive in the next 10 years ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Global product design URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/global-product-design/ Last updated: 2024-03-07T10:51:58.000Z #99 - Mar.2024 How do you design a product to serve 20+ countries? Rolling out products to multiple countries is not easy. I’ve had the opportunity to work with product teams tackling these challenges. Honestly, is not always trivial - you feel on a rollercoaster of successes & frustrations. Designing at scale is not only about translation. Is much (MUCH) more than that. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/03/IMG_1697.gif) Is about the the cultural nuances, commonalities across regions, local-specific needs, tradeoffs on regional prioritization, and keeping your discovery efforts across multiple types of customers. You need to design locally while thinking globally. But where do you start? Through my experience, I’ve noticed some common trends that - when you have the discipline to adopt them - will increase your chances of success: - Start with solid design principles or tenets that support your decision-making - Pay closer attention to the early architectural decisions for scale & flexibility - Build a strong case regionally, and expand from there - Master prioritization at scale through clear decision criteria considering local & common needs. - Keep clarity on feature coverage & availability and reduce parity gaps - Use consistent mechanisms to connect frequently with regional customers - Embrace cross-cultural design ensuring local needs are covered - Build a strong process to validate when a feature should become core across regions I would probably add to the list: stay curious - look for the connecting points and behavioral trends across customers. Experiment more. Global design should not neglect the essence of any product: keeping customers at the center of your design. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Solution looking for a problem URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-solution-looking-for-a-problem/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T19:55:28.000Z #39 - Mar.2024 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Signals that you are trying to find a problem for your solutions instead of working backward from your customer’s needs: - You stop experimenting. - Struggle to clearly name who is your customer - Refrain from being curious to learn more about the problem - Not able to explain how big is the pain (or the opportunity) - Lack of data points (facts or anecdotes) to support your hypothesis - You start from the technology with the hope of fitting the solution - You focus on the feature delivery throughput rather than the value - Adopting any technology trend without assessing how it fits the end purpose Start with the problem. Always. **Post from this week** [Generative AI: what is left for creators?#98 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. Generative AI: what is left for creators. Ideas on the impact and opportunities for the creative industry.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/02/IMG_1677-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/generative-ai-what-is-left/) Interested in more ideas like this one? Check out and [subscribe to my blog](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) where you’ll find more knowledge bites on design, innovation, and technology. Takes less than a minute! **Interesting links I found during this week** [How Accessibility Standards Can Empower Better Chart Visual Design — Smashing MagazineAccessibility for data visualization extends well beyond web standards, at least if you’re trying to create an experience that’s actually useful. This article focuses on techniques for creating useful and accessible visualizations that extend well beyond compliance.![](https://www.smashingmagazine.com/images/favicon/favicon.svg)Smashing MagazineKent Eisenhuth![](https://files.smashing.media/articles/accessibility-standards-empower-better-chart-visual-design/accessibility-standards-empower-better-chart-visual-design.jpg)](https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2024/02/accessibility-standards-empower-better-chart-visual-design/?ref=cesarrg.com) [The Interview Snapshot: How to Synthesize and Share What You Learned from a Single Customer Interview - Product TalkUse this one-page template to summarize and share what you learned from each and every customer interview.![](https://www.producttalk.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/cropped-Product-Talk-P-512-270x270.jpg)Product TalkTeresa Torres![](https://www.producttalk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/interview_snapshot_by_product_talk-550-resized.png)](https://www.producttalk.org/2024/02/interview-snapshot/?ref=cesarrg.com) [The 3 capabilities designers need to build for the AI eraThe reverse reckoning of UX design.![](https://cdn-static-1.medium.com/_/fp/icons/Medium-Avatar-500x500.svg)UX CollectiveAlex Klein![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1200/1*8mj4nG69Ibs3ztebAj3hnA.png)](https://uxdesign.cc/the-3-capabilities-every-designer-needs-for-the-ai-era-e6cef9db2fd8?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > "Explain what you learned to someone else. Teaching forces learning." - Naval Ravikant ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Generative AI: what is left for creators? URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/generative-ai-what-is-left/ Last updated: 2024-08-31T20:50:09.000Z #98 - Feb.2024 Generative AI will shape our world. It’s impressive the evolution so far. What seemed [buggy and hilarious](https://youtu.be/Zfk8mcRECiM?si=XpXu-vgFC3jQxRsc&ref=cesarrg.com) one year ago is [now jaw-dropping](https://youtu.be/HK6y8DAPN%5F0?si=ie5zdspiHlgaZTcW&ref=cesarrg.com) and, let’s be honest, scary. Personal assistants, [copilots](https://www.cesarrg.com/copilots/), prompt-based video animations, and images are just a few examples of a constantly evolving technology that came here to stay. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/IMG_1677.png) Lately, I’ve been thinking about this trend and struggling to find clear answers through the ocean of uncertainty ahead of us: What do these mean for the creative industry? Is it really at risk? What is left for creators when these tools hit the mainstream? See, I think creativity is the secret sauce of what makes us humans. Throughout our history, we have evolved as a species through a constant creative act - language, abstract concepts, currencies, art, music,… [Creativity](https://www.cesarrg.com/about-creating/) is, in its pure form, a way of expressing what we have to say. Is our contribution to society. There is no doubt that GenAI tools will empower people to become creators. The big difference now is that the craft of, say, editing a video is now abstracted through technology if you use the right instructions (prompts). Now, how does this affect our capacity to assess quality in a future overloaded of AI-based content? We can expect a lot of noise in the future creative industry. Not to mention the amount of misinformation, fake news and privacy. In this context, I believe curation and evolving a good taste through a conscious consumption of digital content will help us navigate through the noise. Another challenge is differentiation. A by-product of lowering the entry bar for creators will generate a wave of commoditization of AI-based content. Will there be a space for human creativity in an AI-assisted world? I’m a strong believer in the uniqueness of human creativity. From the beauty created through [small imperfections](https://www.fastcompany.com/90157014/the-starbucks-logo-has-a-secret-youve-never-noticed?ref=cesarrg.com) in art, to the serendipity of connecting points across unimaginable domains to generate something new (culture, technology, science, arts). We don’t really know what will be the real impact of this technology trend. But being aware of what makes us human will be our best leverage for the future. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] The yin-yang of design URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-the-yin-yang-of-design/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T19:53:09.000Z #38 - Feb.2024 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: The yin-yang of design: problem and solution. They are require opposite mindsets, yet deeply interconnected. On one side: curiosity and empathy. On the other, invention and experimentation. It’s chaos and order. Mutually perpetuating forces. Your job as a designer is to find harmony between both. **Interesting links I found during this week:** [How Generative AI Could Disrupt Creative WorkIn the face of technological change, creativity is often held up as a uniquely human quality, less vulnerable to the forces of technological disruption and critical for the future. Today however, generative AI applications such as ChatGPT and Midjourney are threatening to upend this special status and significantly alter creative work, both independent and salaried. The authors explore three non-exclusive scenarios for this disruption of content creation: 1) people use AI to augment their work, leading to greater productivity, 2) generative AI creates a flood of cheap content that drives out human creatives, and 3) human-made creative work demands a premium.![](https://hbr.org/resources/images/android-chrome-512x512.png)Harvard Business ReviewDavid De Cremer,![](https://hbr.org/resources/images/article_assets/2023/04/Apr23_13_1364531715.jpg)](https://hbr.org/2023/04/how-generative-ai-could-disrupt-creative-work?ref=cesarrg.com) [Introducing Apple Sports, a new app for sports fansApple today introduced Apple Sports, a free app for iPhone that gives sports fans access to real-time scores, stats, and more.![](https://www.apple.com/favicon.ico)Apple Newsroom![](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/images/2024/02/introducing-apple-sports-a-new-app-for-sports-fans/tile/Apple-Sports-welcome-screen-lp.jpg.og.jpg?202402221938)](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/02/introducing-apple-sports-a-new-app-for-sports-fans/?ref=cesarrg.com) [Customer Experience 3.0 is hereDigital transformation removed the human partnership layer from every product/service. Now we will add it back in — synthetically.![](https://cdn-static-1.medium.com/_/fp/icons/Medium-Avatar-500x500.svg)UX CollectiveAlex Klein![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1200/1*gTfKafVhfC2zibrBp3NG3A.png)](https://medium.com/user-experience-design-1/customer-experience-3-0-is-here-dbe72eabba13?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > "Wherever you go, go with all your heart." - Confucius. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Product story URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-product-story/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T19:45:16.000Z #37 - Feb.2024 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: A story without conflict, tension, or twist is a dull narrative. [Stories](https://www.cesarrg.com/stories/) move people forward. They inspire. They create connections. Your product needs a good story. In fact, storytelling is one of the most important skills you can develop as a Product Manager. Is by sharing your product story that you connect with customers and stakeholders on the purpose of your product. It’s through stories that you share your commitment to your promise. What is the customer’s conflict that you are promising to solve? What is the twist that your product offers that makes it different from others? What is the value proposition that your product offers to solve such conflict? Your story is your mission. **Post of the week:** [Saying No#97 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. On the challenges on saying no for decision making.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/02/IMG_1568-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/saying-no/) **Interesting links I found during this week:** [Sora: Creating video from text![](https://openai.com/favicon.ico)![](https://images.openai.com/blob/8264d3d7-922c-4343-b43d-6665e44bcb91/paper-airplanes.jpg?trim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0&width=1000&quality=80)](https://openai.com/sora?ref=cesarrg.com) [It’s easier to forgive a human than a robotOne of the reasons I think AI is going to have a hard time taking over all our driving duties, our medical care, or even just our customer support interactions, is that being as good as a human isn’t good enough for a robot. They need to be computer good. That is, virtually perfect. That’s a tough bar to scale. Let’s take the cars for…![](https://world.hey.com/dhh/avatar-fb368b1ee9b185dc2a09b03eabdb61678dd55244)![](https://world.hey.com/dhh/avatar-fb368b1ee9b185dc2a09b03eabdb61678dd55244)](https://world.hey.com/dhh/it-s-easier-to-forgive-a-human-than-a-robot-d4a97b3a?ref=cesarrg.com) [What is design accountable for in a product company?When I started my first in-house design leadership role, I proudly went to my boss and declared “the design team is accountable for…![](https://cdn-static-1.medium.com/_/fp/icons/Medium-Avatar-500x500.svg)UX CollectiveThomas Sutton![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1200/1*mEUllGH8h6JRNoVjScotyg.png)](https://uxdesign.cc/what-is-design-accountable-for-in-a-product-company-e13a483a3d8d?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > "A product without a story is a commodity" - Chris Do. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Saying No URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/saying-no/ Last updated: 2024-02-15T11:25:08.000Z #97 - Feb.2024 For a long time, I’ve struggled to say ‘no’. We all know how important is to know when to say ‘yes’ and when to say ‘no’. Yet, we continue taking on new things: a new challenge, a new feature in your roadmap, a new responsibility... I see myself many times linking the fact of saying ‘yes’ to my reputation and influence. I don’t want to let people down. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/IMG_1568.png) But saying ‘no’, at the right times, is as important as saying ‘yes’. Both are part of good decision-making. As I've learned to say ‘no’, I've realized that, when properly assessed, saying no can improve expectations, and alignment, and ultimately strengthen trust bonds. ‘No’s’ can also take multiple forms: No, but \[alternative\]. No, yet. No, but I can refer you to someone. No, since I need more data. Saying ‘yes’ to everything taxes you with burden and frustration. You agree even if you disagree. As a friend & coach once told me: We don’t want 2 versions of you. We want the best version. Saying no consistently is very hard, especially if you tend to be agreeable (as I do). But remember that people expect our best version, the one that is confident enough to make the right decision. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### 5 Key Elements for Customer Journey Maps URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/5-key-elements-for-customer-journey-maps-2/ Last updated: 2025-03-14T22:57:10.000Z _This post is for subscribers only._ ### [Weekly Retro] Discipline URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-discipline/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T19:43:14.000Z #36 - Feb.2024 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: *“Only the disciplined ones in life are free”* This quote comes from an athlete that runs +200 kms per week. Through his running discipline, he became the first human to break the 2-hour marathon mark. This is [Eliud Kipchoge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliud%5FKipchoge?ref=cesarrg.com). I truly think that discipline - in your personal & professional life - not only helps you accomplish more but gives you a sense of freedom. It frees you up from your willpower, especially on days were you are not in the mood to do something. Discipline helps you against one of your worst enemies: “I’ll do this later…”. It helps you embrace your fears and insecurities. Over time, displacing leads to habits. And, luckily, some of those habits will become your passions. - Organize a Calendar - Define priorities - Commit to practice, even if you are not inspired or in the mood. - Create your daily rituals - Turn the process into your motivation - Enjoy the process **Post of the week:** [Digital ghosts#96 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. Are we heading to a future where we all live in a digital heaven?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/CRLogo_2024-60-60.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2024/02/IMG_1532-1.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/digital-ghosts/) **Interesting links I found during this week:** [BR for You.6 Apps. Free or Premium. Bionic Reading® for Apple iOS and macOS, Google Android, Microsoft Windows, Google Chrome and Web. We offer you the free version “Discover” and the subscriptions “Premium” and “Premium Plus”.![](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_lossless,ret_img,w_180,h_180/https://bionic-reading.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/cropped-bionic-reading-brand-icon-1024x1024px-positiv-clear-180x180.png)Bionic Reading®Renato![](https://bionic-reading.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BR_Website-Links_Bilder_6_Apps_B2C-1024x538.png)](https://bionic-reading.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > "No Human is limited." - Eliud Kipchoge. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Digital ghosts URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/digital-ghosts/ Last updated: 2024-02-07T09:43:26.000Z #96 - Feb.2024 What if we could transcend mortality through a digital avatar of ourselves? This might sound crazy but is much more real than you believe. Digital ghosts - AI-driven representations of a person’s identity - are a reality, exploring the boundaries (even ethical) of what’s possible through technology. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/IMG_1531.gif) Most of the time we don’t realize the amount of digital assets that we own. Sure, we account for our physical assets - house, car, clothes - but what about our digital identities? Our chat messages, e-mails, photos, videos, and documents… to some extent make part of our identity*.* This is precisely what companies such as [Replika](https://replika.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) or [MindBank](https://www.mindbank.ai/?ref=cesarrg.com) are leveraging to create digital replicas of people. With the rise of [generative AI](https://www.cesarrg.com/generative-ai/), these digital ghosts are powered by models trained on personal data, creating a construct of people who are no longer alive. You can interact with them. Ask questions. Hold a conversation. I’ve been thinking a lot about this. I understand that there are valid reasons for people reach to these experiences looking for ways to cope with the loss of a loved one. However, life is made up of cycles - from every end comes a new beginning. What are the consequences (for society and our minds) of extending this artificially? Digital ghosts are just approximations. Real people are much more nuanced - it's what makes us humans! Are we heading to a future where we all live in a digital heaven? Who knows... ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Simplicity URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-simplicity/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T19:34:44.000Z #35 - Jan.2024 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Think big…but give the baby-step first. It’s very easy to be caught in the narrative of very long-term visions without progressing on the simple things. This is hiding behind the big idea rather than giving the first step. Keep it simple. How can you validate your hypothesis in the simplest way possible? The complexity of scaling, complex processes, and automated mechanisms just make sense once you are really sure that customers demand what you are offering. Don't let that take your attention on what's important: will customers need this? Don’t let this complexity stop you from giving the first (simple) step. **Interesting links I found during this week:** [How We Designed AI-Powered Spatial Banking for Apple Vision ProWill the launch of Apple Vision Pro start the next digital revolution? Wizards from Cupertino offer a mind-blowing spatial experience on…![](https://cdn-static-1.medium.com/_/fp/icons/Medium-Avatar-500x500.svg)Muzli - Design InspirationUXDA | Financial UX Design![](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1200/1*cxqeHAFLAtQAZHNZ-bMVYQ.jpeg)](https://medium.muz.li/how-we-designed-ai-powered-spatial-banking-for-apple-vision-pro-ff55f577204d?ref=cesarrg.com) [The Magic LoopA framework for rapid career growth![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7cde267-8f9e-47fa-9aef-5be03bad95ed%2Fapple-touch-icon-180x180.png)Lenny's NewsletterLenny’s Newsletter![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1200,h_600,c_fill,f_jpg,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0341ada-a330-4ef6-bcc6-bb7f01fb756a_4996x4000.png)](https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-magic-loop?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > "Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy." - Isaac Newton ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Product design trends for 2024 URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/product-design-trends-for-2024/ Last updated: 2024-07-30T23:09:16.000Z #95 - Jan.2024 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/IMG_1507.png) Here are interesting trends to watch out for in 2024 to design great digital products: **Ethics by design.** [ethics](https://www.cesarrg.com/accelerators-privacy-ethics/) opens a wide and complex space balancing concepts such as justice, bias, and system responsibilities. Designing new experiences should consider principles such as transparency and continuous auditing of biases that could lead to excluding, offending, or impacting people's lives. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### [Weekly Retro] Stakeholders and customers URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-stakeholders-and-customers/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T19:32:32.000Z #34 - Jan.2024 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Stakeholders-led prioritization is very common. Many teams focus on stakeholders - driven by strategy & business constraints - rather than the users that will use your product. Remember that [customers do not really care](https://www.cesarrg.com/customer-do-not-really-care/) about your business strategy. Customers are much more interested in finding trustworthy people (and companies) to get their problems solved. Listen to them. Constantly. **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [A Guided Tour of Apple Vision Pro](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb0dG-2huJE&ref=cesarrg.com) - [The Secret to a Great Planning Process — Lessons from Airbnb and Eventbrite](https://review.firstround.com/the-secret-to-a-great-planning-process-lessons-from-airbnb-and-eventbrite?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Google Reseach: Lumiere - A Space-Time Diffusion Model for Video Generation](https://lumiere-video.github.io/?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > “Creativity doesn't repeat itself, but it rhymes." - Seth Godin ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Your art URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/your-art/ Last updated: 2024-01-25T10:39:10.000Z #94 - Jan.2024 You are an artist. Yes. Designing a new application is a form of expression of your creativity. The experience you offer becomes [trust](https://www.cesarrg.com/trust/) bonds with the customers you serve. You create connections. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/01/IMG_1456.png) Your creative work requires courage and taste. The courage to challenge the status quo. The courage to experiment and to fail. The courage to face uncertainty. The courage of trying. The taste for knowing the context and what users need. The taste of learning from your experience. The taste that comes from being exposed to other’s work. You create art. You evoke human emotions through the experience you design. Excitement, frustration, and ease are all effects of our work as product designers. Think like an artist. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Product goals URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/product-goals/ Last updated: 2024-01-22T06:01:33.000Z #93 - Jan.2024 January is a month for setting goals. We all engage in personal reflections on what went well and what we are looking forward to for the new year. You can take this personal exercise to your professional practice to continue serving customers through your product or service. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/01/IMG_1444.png) Some questions to keep in mind that will improve your product & team: - What is consuming energy that you can rather invest in learning more about your customers? - What you could start doing today to learn more about the problem you are solving? - What is blocking your team from experimenting more? - What mechanisms should you eliminate? (many of them are just distractions) - What would you pilot even knowing that you could fail? - What are 2-3 things you can do to increase your knowledge of the industry you work in? Every year brings a fresh start. Your customers count on you! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] What you control and what you don't URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-what-you-control-and-what-you-dont/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T19:27:03.000Z #33 - Jan.2024 Hi all! Here is a quick idea for the weekend: "What would you do if you knew you would fail?" This is a great question from Seth Godin. Helps us reflect on the things we have control over and the things that we don't. It is about focusing on the inputs that we own, rather than the outcomes that are uncertain. You don't control de number of users that will buy your product. You don't control the reviews from the service you offer. You don't control the revenue of your new e-commerce. But you control the quality of the product you launch. But you control the experience so that can become memorable. But you control what selection to offer to make your e-commerce unique. Focus on what you control. The rest is likely to follow. **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [2024: A Pivotal Year on the Brink](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/2024-pivotal-year-brink-ray-dalio-fwgie/?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fios&utm%5Fcampaign=share%5Fvia) - [Cultivating Everyday Courage](https://hbr.org/2018/11/cultivating-everyday-courage?tpcc=orgsocial%5Fedit&utm%5Fcampaign=hbr&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fsource=linkedin) **Experiment I'm doing:** I'm using a [CGM](https://www.freestyle.abbott/es-es/productos/freestyle-libre-2.html?ref=cesarrg.com) to check my glucose throughout the day. I'm not diabetic, but the amount of insights into how your body reacts to what you eat, how you sleep and your stress is impressive. **Quote of the week:** > “If the problem can be solved, why worry? And if the problem can’t be solved, then worrying will do you no good." - Shantideva ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] A product team URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-a-product-team/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T19:24:55.000Z #32 - Jan.2024 Hi all! Hope you had a good year start. Here is a quick idea for the weekend: A few things to keep in mind to build a strong product team: - Align the vision & strategy - Create the discipline to frequently connect with customers - Review time allocation to focus on the right things - Create useful mechanisms to keep accountability - Use actionable product metrics for decision-making - Create space to innovate through new ideas But also consider: - Build empathy for the different working styles within the team - Promote people connections to build trust - Allow autonomy to make decisions & experiment - Celebrate your wins and reflect on your misses - Acknowledge the value of everyone's contributions It's about processes. It's about people. It's about creating things that matter. **Book I'm reading:** [The Practice: Shipping Creative Work](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Seth-Godin-ebook/dp/B088QLT891/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FUS=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=1I88ZK3CWAPZC&keywords=The+Practice%3A+Shipping+Creative+Work&qid=1705138565&sprefix=the+practice+shipping+creative+work%2Caps%2C233&sr=8-1&language=en%5FUS&ref=cesarrg.com) by Seth Godin. **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [The Rabbit R1 ](https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/9/24030667/rabbit-r1-ai-action-model-price-release-date?ref=cesarrg.com) - [The optimal morning routine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR%5Ff-iwUGY4&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Progressive Summarization: A Practical Technique for Designing Discoverable Notes](https://fortelabs.com/blog/progressive-summarization-a-practical-technique-for-designing-discoverable-notes/?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > “Relationship is a mirror in which you can see yourself, not as you would wish to be, but as you are” ― Krishnamurti ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Different things URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-different-things/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T19:22:33.000Z #31 - Jan.2024 Happy Friday and a great 2024! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: "A project without a goal is a hobby, and a goal without a project is a dream". Loved this quote from [](https://fortelabs.com/?ref=cesarrg.com)[Tiago's Forte](https://twitter.com/fortelabs?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor&ref=cesarrg.com). Similarly: - Building a tech product without a clear customer is a digital waste. - A feature without a real purpose is a gimmick - An innovation without a valuable application is just an invention **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [The PARA Method](https://fortelabs.com/blog/para/?ref=cesarrg.com) - [What Should Every Product Manager Do in Their First 90 Days?](https://www.productplan.com/learn/product-manager-first-90-days/?ref=cesarrg.com) - [My manager owns context, I own the recommendation](https://amivora.substack.com/p/my-manager-owns-context-i-own-the) **Quote of the week:** > “We suffer more often in imagination than in reality” ― Seneca ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### 2023 Recap URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/2023-recap/ Last updated: 2023-12-31T12:28:46.000Z #92 - Dec.2023 2023 was an intense year. Technology breakthroughs, heartbreaking war conflicts, visible effects of climate change, and an unstable economy. So much to reflect on yet an opportunity for new beginnings in 2024\. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/12/IMG_1433.PNG) Through the blog, I was able to explore many perspectives on design, product innovation, and creativity. The nuances of [customers](https://www.cesarrg.com/3-stars-reviews/) and overall human behavior, the importance of [observation](https://www.cesarrg.com/observe/) and managing expectations, and the complexity of [emotions](https://www.cesarrg.com/customer-emotions/) & [mental models](https://www.cesarrg.com/mental-models/). On how to build great products I shared [techniques](https://www.cesarrg.com/time-machine/), insights on the [lifecycle of products](https://www.cesarrg.com/counterintuitive-challenge/), and the role of [people leading](https://www.cesarrg.com/bend-the-tools/) product innovations. AI was at the center of many tech news in 2023\. ChatGPT, OpenAI, and LLMs were all terms that became known to most people. I shared my thoughts on what this means for the [new generation of digital products](https://www.cesarrg.com/new-generation-of-digital-products/) and the important pillars of building AI-based solutions, such as [](https://www.cesarrg.com/trust/)[trust](https://www.cesarrg.com/trust-and-alignment/) and [AI design principles](https://www.cesarrg.com/accelerators-privacy-ethics/). Design, as a practice, was the bonding agent of most content. Deeply understanding what we want to solve, [empathy](https://www.cesarrg.com/empathy/), and techniques for generating [solutions](https://www.cesarrg.com/memorable/) are core skills for any type of tech innovation. As a wrap-up, here are the most read posts of 2023: [Inside the BoxBefore you “Think out of the box” you need to know “what’s in your box”. Ideas on innovation, lateral thinking, and context understanding.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/11/Logo-black-2-1.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2023/02/Box-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/inside-the-box/) [Who wrote this?The increasing trend in AI, and in particular, Large Language Models such as ChatGPT, opens an interesting debate on accuracy and creativity.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/11/Logo-black-2-1.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2023/02/AI-1.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/ai-chatgpt/) [Words mattersIn design, wording matters. The way you frame a problem or a solution can constrain innovation.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/11/Logo-black-2-1.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2023/01/Words-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/words-matters/) [Intuition#72 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. On strategic intuition for decision-making.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/11/Logo-black-2-1.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2023/07/IMG_1144-2.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/intuition/) [Mental models#74 - Knowledge bites on tech innovation, design, and creativity. On mental models on the design of products & services.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/11/Logo-black-2-1.png)César's blogCésar Rodríguez![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/size/w1200/2023/08/IMG_1165-3.png)](https://www.cesarrg.com/mental-models/) I wish you all a Happy 2024 and looking forward to continue connecting with you! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Grateful URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-grateful/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T19:20:07.000Z #30 - Dec.2023 Happy Friday and best wishes for 2024! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: THANK YOU! For this Week's Retro edition, I wanted to share my gratitude with everyone who follows and reads my newsletter. As I write this post I'm reflecting on the 30 editions since I initially started this personal project. It is worth it. As part of [my journey writing](https://www.cesarrg.com/) about design, tech innovation, and creativity, I wanted to share a shorter (spontaneous) post on my exploration of ideas during each week, including the randomness, questions, and learnings of a typical week. This was the start of Weekly Retro. In these 30 editions, I tried my best to distill useful insights from my experience so that others can use them. I deeply hope that this is the case for most of you - and I'll love to know more about how you are applying them. Looking forward to 2024 to continue connecting with you. 30 editions. And is just the beginning. **Check previous posts of the Weekly Retro:** - All posts are archived for future reference. [Check them out! ](https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-archive/) **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [What is a Product?](https://www.svpg.com/what-is-a-product/?ref=cesarrg.com) - [The Best of Lenny’s Newsletter 2023](https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-best-of-lennys-newsletter-2023?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few” ― Shunryu Suzuki ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Product maturity URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-product-maturity/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T19:17:08.000Z #29 - Dec.2023 Happy Friday and a Happy Christmas Eve! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Looking at your roadmap can tell you about the maturity of your product. Over time, as products evolve, features become much more granular with many medium/low-value items. What started with a list of foundational features has now become a set of small incremental improvements. This is a sign to reflect and take action. Is a [counterintuitive challenge ](https://www.cesarrg.com/counterintuitive-challenge/)when managing well-established products, yet this lifecycle is a natural evolution of any product. But if you want to avoid the decline, extending the lifecycle of a product at this stage requires re-think what's important for customers. You can either diversify or declutter but what you cannot do is to stay in the status quo. **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [The Big Cloud Exit FAQ](https://world.hey.com/dhh/the-big-cloud-exit-faq-20274010?ref=cesarrg.com) - [\[From my blog\] 2023 book list](https://www.cesarrg.com/2023-book-list/) - [The "How to Work with Me"​ Document](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-work-me-document-senia-maymin/?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > "We do not learn from experience…we learn from reflecting on experience." - John Dewey ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### 2023 book list URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/2023-book-list/ Last updated: 2023-12-25T23:21:46.000Z #91 - Dec.2023 As in [previous years](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/books/), is time for the yearly review of the books I read during 2023\. Doing this retrospective help me reflect on stories, anecdotes, and learnings I gather through reading. It is also interesting to see the variety of topics and authors, books recommended by close friends, and, in some cases, books that just crossed my way and caught my attention. Many of these books made it to my [bookshelf](https://www.cesarrg.com/book-shelf/). Hope this quick summary helps you dive deep in some of these stories! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/06/Books_2023.png) 1. [La Nueve](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OQ2FLIE/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fes-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=3626&creative=24790&ref=cesarrg.com) (Evelyn Mesquida): An immersive story about an exceptional war division of Spaniards that is recognized as the first to enter Paris during France's liberation with General Leclerc. 2. [The Creative Act: A Way of Being](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09Z7MH5C3/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fbb%5Famazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fes-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=3626&creative=24790&ref=cesarrg.com) (Rick Rubin): This book left me with a lot of food for thought. It brings a view of creativity from the perspective of the universe's signals and our openness & sensitivity to receive and act upon them. 3. [Métrica Española](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8434406330/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fbb%5Famazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fes-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=3626&creative=24790&ref=cesarrg.com) (Antonio Quilis): Before reading this book I was not aware of the complexity and art of well-written Spanish poetry. Is a technical book on rhythmic structures and rhymes of poetry verses. You can check some of my practical examples [here](https://noctilucas.substack.com/?ref=cesarrg.com). 4. [Rayuela](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MLJ7B7G/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fbb%5Famazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fes-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=3626&creative=24790&ref=cesarrg.com) (Julio Cortázar): I usually don't read novels. However, after reading Cortázar's lectures last year I was captivated by his masterpiece, Rayuela. This novel marks a milestone in how Spanish novels were written. It's like a game in which you have different journeys based on how you sequence the chapters. New territory for me. 5. [The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QCSA54/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fbb%5Famazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fes-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=3626&creative=24790&ref=cesarrg.com) (Seth Godin): I consider Seth Godin as one of the virtual mentors that the internet gave me. This is a very short book but full of insightful ideas on our journey to find meaningful work. 6. [Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity ](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B1BTJLJN/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fbb%5Famazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fes-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=3626&creative=24790&ref=cesarrg.com)(Peter Attia): This book made it to my recommended [bookshelf](https://www.cesarrg.com/book-shelf/) and is becoming one of those life-changing reads. I have followed Peter Attia's work for a while now and this book aggregates all his knowledge on longevity and how we should build our strategy to reduce the risks of the most common diseases in today's society. Full of very practical actions that you can take - some of which I'm already putting into practice - this is a very recommended book for anyone interested in healthspan. 7. [Make something wonderful](https://book.stevejobsarchive.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) (Steve Jobs): This is a short book published online for free using Steve Jobs's interviews and archive notes. Although there have been a lot of things written about SJ, this book gives a different (and personal) perspective of his thinking. 8. [The Song of Significance](https://www.amazon.com/Song-Significance-New-Manifesto-Teams/dp/0593715543?ref=cesarrg.com) (Seth Godin): Seth's books always bring fresh ideas. This book is different from others he has written, bringing deeper reflections on creativity and our sense of purpose in this world. 9. [The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success](https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Spiritual-Laws-Success-Pocketbook/dp/1878424718?ref=cesarrg.com) (Deepak Chopra): I found this book on a living room table in an Airbnb. Never read Chopra. My mother had some of his books in her shelf. While there's a lot of debate on these ideas, this particular book left me with practical learnings about life and the day-to-day actions towards happiness. 10. [Solito](https://www.amazon.com/Solito/dp/0861544765?ref=cesarrg.com) (Javier Zamora): One of my best books from this year. Javier captures in this memoir his journey as a little kid making his way from El Salvador to the USA to meet again with his parents. I don't remember a book that was so thrilling to read that I couldn't stop swiping the pages. This is the story of so many immigrants from Central America; it touched me in a very direct way and reminded me of my home country, Honduras. 11. [Cien años de soledad](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Gabriel-Garc%C3%ADa-M%C3%A1rquez/dp/8497592204?ref=cesarrg.com) (Gabriel García Márquez): A classic from García Márquez. While this was a go-to book at school when I was a kid, I wanted to re-read it as an adult. And worth it. Was like reading it for the first time; a combination of fantasy and reality that only a few, like García Márquez, can pull off. 12. [Prisión Verde ](https://www.ramon-amaya-amador.com/index.php/obras/publicadas/70-prision-verde-introduccion?ref=cesarrg.com)(Ramón Amaya Amador): This novel is from a Honduran author who brings a raw perspective of the hard life of workers at the Banana fields. The clash between the working class and the land owners and their journey towards social equality and more fair working conditions. 13. [El futuro recordado ](https://www.amazon.com/futuro-recordado-Spanish-Irene-Vallejo/dp/8412155114?ref=cesarrg.com)(Irene Vallejo): I loved the previous book from Irene Vallejo, [El Infinito en un junco](https://www.amazon.es/El-infinito-junco-invenci%C3%B3n-Biblioteca/dp/8417860797?ref=cesarrg.com), so I was looking forward to this one. I wasn't disappointed. This book consolidates Irene's articles published in the past, bringing short yet engaging stories connecting our future and our history. 14. [Ligero de equipaje](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Carlos-G-Vall%C3%A9s/dp/9586078183?ref=cesarrg.com) (Carlos G. Vallés): This is a book that I keep closer to me and like to re-read from time to time. Carlos, a close friend of Anthony de Mello, give us a glance at of one de Mello's last workshops. His ideas bring me spiritual aid in challenging moments. 15. [Neurociencia del cuerpo](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Nazareth-Castellanos/dp/849988993X?ref=cesarrg.com) (Nazareth Castellanos): This one was recommended by my wife. During this year, body & mind became a theme in my family - this book shares an interesting perspective of how emotions and body interact. Emotions drive our thinking, and our thinking drives emotions. 16. [De mi tierra a la tierra: Memorias.](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Sebastiao-Salgado/dp/8415691610?ref=cesarrg.com) (Sebastião Salgado): I consider Sebastião Salgado as my reference on B&W photography. His photos are powerful, soul-moving, and impressive. This book is an interview on his work, adventure, and activism. After this book I admire Sebastião Salgado even more. 17. [De qué hablo cuando hablo de correr ](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Haruki-Murakami/dp/8483832305?ref=cesarrg.com)(Haruki Murakami): I got this book as a present of a close friend. My first book of Murakami. Is almost a memoir of his journey as a runner. I was able to connect so many of his stories through my relationship with running. 18. [Think about these things](https://www.amazon.com/Think-These-Things-Jiddu-Krishnamurti/dp/0060916095?ref=cesarrg.com) (J. Krishnamurti): Deep and insightful. It connects with many of the ideas I read through de Mello (he read many of Krishnamurti's work). Krishnamurti shares his perspective on education, the value of observing reality, and our path towards searching for truth in life. Happy reading! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Instructionless URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-instructionless/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T19:15:27.000Z #28 - Dec.2023 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Leverage the power of affordances to turn digital experiences more intuitive. Affordances exploit our common relations and interactions with objects showing users the actions they can take. Basically, it aligns expectations with your product's behavior. It is about balancing the promises you make and how your product meets such promises. This is what allows applications to go *instructionless*. Then, it becomes natural...and creates trust bonds with customers. **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [Gemini - Google's most advanced AI model](https://deepmind.google/technologies/gemini/?ref=cesarrg.com#introduction) - [Don’t let grim headlines obscure the progress on climate change](https://www.gatesnotes.com/State-of-the-energy-transition-2023?WT.mc%5Fid=20231113090000%5FState-of-the-Transition%5FBG-EM%5F&WT.tsrc=BGEM&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Product Management: Calendar Reviews ](https://www-mironov-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.mironov.com/calendar-rev/amp/?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > "Good design makes a product understandable - It clarifies the product’s structure. Better still, it can make the product talk. At best, it is self-explanatory." - Dieter Rams on timeless principles of good design ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Feedback timing URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/feedback-timing/ Last updated: 2024-08-31T20:50:31.000Z #90 - Dec.2023 Listening to customers comes in many forms. We all express our frustration and excitement in different ways. Timing makes a big difference in interpreting such feedback to improve your product and service. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/12/Timing.png) Fresh feedback coming from customers as they experience your product brings a direct view of their [emotions](https://www.cesarrg.com/customer-emotions/). The recent experience might still be very present, with positive and negative feelings. Feedback tends to be much more personal and genuine but also more visceral. Feedback from customers after a larger timeframe (>1 month) is more retrospective yet might lack details that vanish over time. It tends to consider the multiple interactions over the period. Questions at this stage should explore the big picture of the experience, rather than details. Combine both approaches and you'll get the best of each. You can trigger touchpoint surveys after each task within the journey. You can assess the long-term relationships with your product and brand in a larger timeframe. [Observing](https://www.cesarrg.com/observe/) and shadowing customers is yet another way to get context and confirm assumptions. [Listen](https://www.cesarrg.com/active-listening/) frequently. Customers will tell you how to stay relevant. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Storytelling and prototyping URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-storytelling-and-prototyping/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T18:00:39.000Z #27 - Dec.2023 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: [Storytelling](https://www.cesarrg.com/stories/) can serve as a prototyping tool. While this is not a common approach for testing ideas, it brings a lot of elements that help you refine your design. Prototypes are samples and models on which you refine future designs. Is about testing assumptions. Validate your hypothesis. Creating a narrative that envisions how a product/feature will work, how people will use it, and what reactions we can expect is a form of materializing your ideas. Stories bring context and perspectives. Stories connect to human behavior. **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [Don’t let grim headlines obscure the progress on climate change](https://www.gatesnotes.com/State-of-the-energy-transition-2023?WT.mc%5Fid=20231113090000%5FState-of-the-Transition%5FBG-EM%5F&WT.tsrc=BGEM&ref=cesarrg.com) - [UX Prototyping for AI](https://medium.com/salesforce-ux/ux-prototyping-for-ai-32cd6a72365f?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > "Companies often confuse the building to learn and building to earn. Experimentation is all about building to learn." - *from* [Escaping the Build Trap](https://www.amazon.com/Escaping-Build-Trap-Effective-Management/dp/149197379X?ref=cesarrg.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Mechanisms and bureaucracy URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-mechanisms-and-bureaucracy/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T17:41:20.000Z #26 - Dec.2023 Happy Friday! Kicking off the last month of 2023! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Mechanisms are a critical lever for creating structure, bringing accountability, and ensuring consistency in a team. But when they become excessively complicated they trigger bureaucracy. Most of the time, complications make their way at a very silent and slow pace: overcentralizing decision-making, adding unnecessary steps to a process, ceremonies with no concrete intention, complex organizational boundaries,... Mechanisms should serve the people innovating, not the other way around. Review them from time to time. Remove what is not needed. **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [My Leaders Still Want Roadmaps with Timelines—What Should I Do?](https://www.producttalk.org/2023/10/roadmaps-with-timelines/?utm%5Fsource=Product+Talk+Newsletter+October+29%2C+2023&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=This+Month+on+Product+Talk) - [Inside OpenAI: How Does ChatGPT Ship So Quickly?](https://newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/inside-openai-how-does-chatgpt-ship?ref=cesarrg.com) - [TIME's Best Inventions of 2023](https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2023/?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > "A harmonious design requires that nothing be added or taken away." - *Vitruvius* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Trust and alignment URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/trust-and-alignment/ Last updated: 2024-09-07T09:57:13.000Z #89 - Nov.2023 Trust will continue to be the backbone of good product experiences. This is not different for AI-based products. AI models, in particular [LLMs](https://www.cesarrg.com/ai-chatgpt/), bring a bigger challenge to serve common affordances. Is the so-called *alignment* problem. The alignment problem in AI is basically reduced to how we create an experience - call it a copilot, agent, AI buddy, etc - to behave in accordance with what we want. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/11/Alignment_.png) It seems a fair ask for a generative technology with the power of creating content in multiple forms such as text, audio, images, or video. Even more important if we expect the system to behave in accordance with our personal values and [ethics](https://www.cesarrg.com/accelerators-privacy-ethics/). The *HHH framing* is a good starting point ([Askell et al. 2021](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2112.00861.pdf?ref=cesarrg.com)). This framing defines alignment in the context of how *helpful, honest, and harmless* can a AI-system be. Aligning to our expectations starts with ensuring the system performs the desired task concisely and as effectively as possible (helpful). The task/answer should be accurate or acknowledge the level of [uncertainty](https://www.cesarrg.com/probabilistic-experiences/) (honest). Finally, AI systems should not be offensive or discriminatory, or promote dangerous behaviors (harmless). [Alignment is all we need](https://arxiv.org/abs/2205.10268?ref=cesarrg.com). PS: Interesting paper of potential solutions on how to solve the alignment problem: [Personal Universes:A Solution to the Multi-Agent Value Alignment Proble1901.01851.pdf397 KBdownload-circle](https://www.cesarrg.com/content/files/2024/09/1901.01851.pdf "Download") ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Open AI: after the storm URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-open-ai-after-the-storm/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T17:39:26.000Z #25 - Nov.2023 Happy Friday and happy Thanksgiving. Hope that you find some time to feel grateful for all the good things around you. Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Reflecting back on the recent [drama in OpenAI](https://www.fastcompany.com/90987884/sam-altman-is-back-as-openais-ceo?ref=cesarrg.com) I realized that: - How fragile any company structure can be when confronted with deep human debates (on power, on being right, on ego,...) - The power of leadership to create strong bonds across a team - Good examples of leaders dealing with uncertainty, ambiguity, and opportunity (Satya Nadella) - How important is it to keep an active debate on what is the best balance between AI/ML innovation deployment, safety guardrails, and regulations. **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [TLDraw ](https://together.tldraw.com/?ref=cesarrg.com)\- a very good whiteboard - [Generative AI for Beginners (Microsoft)](https://github.com/microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners?ref=cesarrg.com) - [The era of design thinking ends?](https://www.fastcompany.com/90976682/design-giant-ideo-cuts-a-third-of-staff-and-closes-offices-as-the-era-of-design-thinking-ends?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > "Sometimes, time is measured in hours per second" - Juanlu Mora ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Slow thinking URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-slow-thinking/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T17:37:35.000Z #24 - Nov.2023 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Slow thinking - analytical, conscious, and reflective - is a powerful skill in today's non-stoping world. Pause is a virtue. Thinking slowly sometimes charges you a tax (time) for the cognitive effort. But if it increases your chances of success in the long term this might be worth the cost. Be aware of which decision requires fast vs. slow thinking. **Most popular post from my blog in the last month:** - [Customer emotions](https://www.cesarrg.com/customer-emotions/) \- Oversimplifying our human complexity can lead to wrong business and product decisions. In many cases, people's perceptions are much stronger than reality. **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [Brian Chesky’s new playbook](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ef0juAMqoE&list=WL&index=5&t=60s&ref=cesarrg.com) - [The Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Generative AI](https://medium.com/@social%5F65128/the-comprehensive-guide-to-understanding-generative-ai-c06bbf259786?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > "The art challenges the technology, and the technology inspires the art" - John Lasseter ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Emotions URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/emotions/ Last updated: 2023-11-16T20:09:09.000Z #88 - Nov.2023 Our brains are complex. Our perception of what's a good or bad design flows through different conscious and unconscious pathways. As designers, we should consider these pathways when creating a product or service. I particularly like the way [Donald Norman](https://www.amazon.com/Design-Everyday-Things-Revised-Expanded/dp/0465050654?ref=cesarrg.com) separates the different levels for processing an experience: Visceral, Behavioral, and Reflective. Each one has its role in how a user discovers, uses, and remembers such experience. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/11/Emotions.png) The visceral response, the most immediate of the reactions, is mostly unconscious. It's our body responding to the perception of what's appealing to us. Designing for this response involves leveraging colors, harmony, and structure. Bringing [order to chaos](https://www.cesarrg.com/embrace-chaos/). The behavioral level, the most critical, is about holding our promise to the expectation of using the product or service. Committing to this promise gives a sense of control and knowledge to users. It's about clarity and feedback. The reflective stage is the cognitive and slow thinking. It molds the emotions that came from the experience of using the product or service. These are the memories left from the positive or negative outcomes. It is what drives engagement. Design is about navigating at all levels, leveraging emotions, and managing cognitive thoughts. Emotions trigger thoughts. Thoughts trigger emotions. Consider both. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Overgeneralization URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-overgeneralization/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T17:35:57.000Z #23 - Nov.2023 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Overgeneralization has its value for quick decision-making. But most of the time is a cognitive distortion. *Something* becomes everything. Overgeneralizing leads to weak assumptions and false conclusions. Prevents you from making data and evidence-driven decisions. It disconnects you from reality. Identify the patterns. Words like "always", "everyone" or "nobody" are signals. The world's problems are much more nuanced, and such are the solutions. **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [Dot by New Computer](https://new.computer/?ref=cesarrg.com) - [The beauty of finished software](https://josem.co/the-beauty-of-finished-software/?ref=cesarrg.com) - [OpenAI DevDay, Opening Keynote](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9mJuUkhUzk&ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > "The truly free individual is free only to the extent of his own self-mastery." - Steven Pressfield, The War of Art ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Copilots URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/copilots/ Last updated: 2023-11-09T15:59:55.000Z #87 - Nov.2023 In aviation, the best copilots are the ones who assist and relieve the pilot from a wide range of tasks. Yet, they are not in command. Copilots, powered by [LLMs](https://www.cesarrg.com/ai-chatgpt/), will likely become the next revolution to augment cognitive work. [Microsoft Copilot](https://adoption.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/?ref=cesarrg.com), [GitHub Copilot](https://github.com/features/copilot?ref=cesarrg.com) are good examples. As the best plane copilots, they can assist in various tasks - from processing complex data sets, providing supportive context, and allowing advanced automation. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/11/Copilots.png) Yet, they are not in command. The quality outputs of any copilot are relative to the quality of your questions (prompts) and available data (context). You continue to be accountable for the outcomes and results. Accountability cannot be delegated. LLMs - and to that extent, AI technologies - are evolving fast and we will see a constant iteration of these AI assistants. Some of the biggest challenges ahead include handling unpredictable situations or avoiding propagating errors from the learning context. Having awareness of the benefits and risks is critical when adopting any emerging technologies. The speed for working through copilots can have second-order effects, and you should acknowledge them. Sometimes, it reminds me of the popular saying: 'Dress me slowly, I’m in a hurry'. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Confidence and accuracy URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-confidence-and-accuracy/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T17:18:39.000Z #22 - Nov.2023 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: In decision-making, confidence does not always lead to accuracy. Acknowledge that your confidence can be influenced by context noise, personal biases, or wrong assumptions. While confidence can play a key role in the speed of action, slow, logical, data-based, and process-driven thinking pays a higher dividend, in particular on high-risk decisions. **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [President Biden Issues Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/10/30/fact-sheet-president-biden-issues-executive-order-on-safe-secure-and-trustworthy-artificial-intelligence/?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Thread on the State of AI Report (2023)](https://twitter.com/nathanbenaich/status/1712358033194688701?ref=cesarrg.com) - [My Leaders Still Want Roadmaps with Timelines—What Should I Do?](https://www.producttalk.org/2023/10/roadmaps-with-timelines/?utm%5Fsource=Product+Talk+Newsletter+October+29%2C+2023&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=This+Month+on+Product+Talk) **Quote of the week:** > "To live is to find out for yourself what is true" - J. Krishnamurti ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Bend the tools URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/bend-the-tools/ Last updated: 2023-11-02T20:36:23.000Z #86 - Nov.2023 Methodologies and frameworks are [trails, not rails](https://www.cesarrg.com/trails-and-rails/). They generalize a solution for a challenge, yet the nuances of each problem create new contexts. They serve as guidelines, not as checklists to ensure success. I always remember an experience some years ago when working with a group of designers revisiting the branding and strategy of a local NGO. This NGO worked with kids, educating and promoting best practices in nutrition. How do you run user research in kids? While the playbook refers to standard tools such as surveys, interviews, or shadowing, we needed to find different (new) ways to understand their behavior, intentions, and motivations. But how? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/11/_Bend.png) The team came up with a brilliant approach. What if we could use super-hero profiles, link specific behavioral characteristics to each of them, and through a game, play with kids to see how they related to each of them? So we created playing cards and designed a research game to drive engagement. *Playing*. That was the key that helped us unlock the different profiles of kids that ultimately enabled us to design the positioning & strategy of the NGO. You need to mold the existing playbooks to your reality and context. Focus on how to maximize your understanding of a problem; bend the tools when needed. Let your curiosity guide the process. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Intentional use of time URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-intentional-use-of-time/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T16:18:53.000Z #21 - Oct.2023 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Making sure you are using your time *intentionally* is one of the most important skills you can develop as a professional. You will be always underwhelmed by the latest priority, the urgent topic, the top priority, or the unexpected event. While you should be flexible for the things that you don't know, you can plan ahead of time for the things you *do* know. Practical ways to do this: - Make time to review *how* you want to invest your time. Set your priorities. - Block time in your agenda. 80-20 rule works - plan 80% of your agenda based on your priorities. - "Shield" your agenda...as much as possible. Changes and unexpected requests will happen but try to create the discipline of following the priorities you set. **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [Human-like systematic generalization through a meta-learning neural network](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06668-3?ref=cesarrg.com) - [How China is designing flood-resistant cities](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf-Yy3EuZi0&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Are You Developing Skills That Won’t Be Automated?](https://hbr.org/2019/09/are-you-developing-skills-that-wont-be-automated?utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcampaign=hbr&utm%5Fsource=facebook&tpcc=orgsocial%5Fedit) **Podcast I'm listening to:** - [Chris Voss: How to Succeed at Hard Conversations](https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/chris-voss-how-to-succeed-at-hard-conversations?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > "Attention is All You Need." - Title of the [paper](https://arxiv.org/pdf/1706.03762.pdf?ref=cesarrg.com) considered as a game-changer in neural networks architecture. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Customer emotions URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/customer-emotions/ Last updated: 2023-10-26T13:07:46.000Z #85 - Oct.2023 It was 1985. Coca-Cola was concerned by the growth and traction from Pepsi. Something needed to change. The plan: introduce the *New* Coke. The rest is history. A lot has been said about what might be the most [memorable marketing blunder ever](https://www.coca-colacompany.com/about-us/history/new-coke-the-most-memorable-marketing-blunder-ever?ref=cesarrg.com). A huge product launch which then reintroduced the original Coca-Cola a few months later. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/10/Emotions-2-1.png) This anecdote is a good reminder of the nuances and complexity of understanding customers. What went wrong? After all, they gathered feedback from nearly 200,000 customers through taste tests. Most of them love it! Many times we forget that what we offer is much more than just a product or a service. We built *relationships* with customers. We create [trust bonds](https://www.cesarrg.com/trust/). Understanding customers is not just about calibrating preferences, but taking into account how behavior and emotions affect customers. What Coca-Cola ignored was the strong emotional bonds from loyal customers to what the band represented (call it tradition, old-school, genuine, etc...). They didn't want a change, even if a new offering was better. Oversimplifying our human complexity can lead to wrong business and product decisions. In many cases, people's perceptions are much stronger than reality. Try to deeply understand the drivers and [mental models](https://www.cesarrg.com/mental-models/) behind customers. Experiment and iterate constantly. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Content consumption URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-content-consumption/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T16:17:07.000Z #20 - Oct.2023 Happy Saturday! Here is a quick idea for the weekend: We consume a lot of information. It is easy to fall into a consumption loop where we are unaware if the content is useful or not. What you consume is upstream of what you create. 2 questions that I frequently use to calibrate: 1. Is this information helping me to ***create*** something new? 2. Is this content ***teaching*** me something that will enhance my craft? **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [Alternatives to the Double Diamond](https://danramsden.medium.com/alternatives-to-the-double-diamond-325483c4b05a?ref=cesarrg.com) - [AI trained on Tim Ferriss’s blog](https://tim.blog/ai/?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Satya Nadella - My annual letter: Leading in a new era](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-annual-letter-leading-new-era-satya-nadella/?ref=cesarrg.com) **Book I'm reading:** - [Neuroscience of the Body (ES)](https://www.amazon.es/NEUROCIENCIA-DEL-CUERPO-Nazareth-Castellanos-ebook/dp/B0B7183Z5X/ref=sr%5F1%5F5?qid=1697893441&refinements=p%5Flbr%5Fbooks%5Fauthors%5Fbrowse-bin%3ANazareth+Castellanos&s=books&sr=1-5&srs=22196643031&ref=cesarrg.com) by Nazareth Castellanos **Quote of the week:** > "Wisdom tends to grow in proportion to one's awareness of one's ignorance." - Anthony de Mello ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Try it yourself URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/try-it-yourself/ Last updated: 2023-10-17T12:44:25.000Z #84 - Oct.2023 The most effective way to solve a problem is by *living* it yourself. Is by walking the walk and experiencing the nuances of the difficulties, opportunities, and context that you will be able to better design a solution for that problem. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/10/Walk.png) Role-playing, shadowing a customer, being a customer yourself are all great ways to immerse into the problem and develop [empathy](https://www.cesarrg.com/empathy/). An important reminder: empathy is not putting *ourselves* into others' shoes. With *ourselves*, we also take our conditioning, perspectives, and biases. Genuine empathy is about trying our best to remove ourselvesfrom the equation and diving deep with a beginner's mind. Be open and curious to learn through others' perspectives. See through *their* eyes instead of yours. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Ethical design URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-ethical-design/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T16:15:10.000Z \# 19 - Oct.2023 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: What we create has a real impact on society. Acknowledging this fact and ensuring we stay true to our core beliefs is the purpose of Ethical Design. These are important principles to apply Ethical Design to your product: - **Usability.** Promote high usability over aesthetics. - **Accessibility.** Incorporate inclusive design since day 1. - **Privacy.** Customer trust is a function of how seriously you take privacy. - **Persuasion.** Balance genuine engagement vs. useless usage. - **Focus.** Use customer's attention wisely. - **Sustainability.** Respect our world. Is the only one we have. - **Society.** Take into account the complex ecosystem of a society. More [here](https://ind.ie/ethical-design/?ref=cesarrg.com). **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [“Hallucinating” AIs Sound Creative, but Let’s Not Celebrate Being Wrong](https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/hallucinating-ais-sound-creative-but-lets-not-celebrate-being-wrong/?ref=cesarrg.com) - [A quest into the human brain](https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adl0913?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > "Chance favors the prepared mind" - Louis Pasteur ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### High-interest debt URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/high-interest/ Last updated: 2023-10-26T12:28:28.000Z #83 - Oct.2023 Small frictions in your product's experience aggregate over time. It is a debt that charges very high interest in the future. In a digitalized world where trust is built at every interaction, this is a problem you should care about. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/10/High_Interest-1.png) The way your product serves its purpose is a direct reflection of your value proposition. Is how you deliver your promise. A bad experience is a broken promise. How customers perceive this value is a combination of their expectations and what you are delivering. A mismatch of these two elements generates frustration. Low engagement. Is a trust-breaker. Typical sources of bad experiences: high complexity, high cognitive load on customers, solutions that are not accessible, services that are careless about privacy & security, applications that ignore common affordances, and experiences that do not balance function and aesthetics. Reduce this debt by improving your research & discovery work, avoiding untested assumptions, prioritizing design consistency, and connecting more often to customers. They have a lot to say - and you have a lot to learn from them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Complications URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-complications/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T16:10:24.000Z \# 18 - Oct.2023 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: When solving a problem we can face different types of complications. Some complications are natural to the domain that you navigating. They are an intrinsic part of the problem itself. But we also face other types of complications. The ones that come from team processes that are not efficient; trying to solve problems that are not yet well understood; or routines that do not add value to the actual solution. The latter ones: avoid them or fix the root cause as fast as you can. **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [Lex Fridman Podcast - First Interview in the Metaverse](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVYrJJNdrEg&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Designers' Secret Source](https://muz.li/?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Net Zero Roadmap: A Global Pathway to Keep the 1.5 °C Goal in Reach](https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-roadmap-a-global-pathway-to-keep-the-15-0c-goal-in-reach?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > "The value of an idea lies in the using of it" - Thomas Edison ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Create and edit URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-create-and-edit/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T16:08:47.000Z \# 17 - Sep.2023 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Creation and editing modes are two very different states of mind. While I'm writing these words, my editing side argues against them: are these the right words? Are you conveying the right message? Is this worth sharing? Creation requires momentum. While framing is good, is much more important to bring the raw ideas into reality. Download them from the abstraction of your mind. This applies to any creative endeavor: art, music, writing, etc. Continue with the flow without restrictions. Formless. Editing adds structure. Reduces clutter. Brings clarity and connects points. Editing requires ruthless focus to remove distraction, distilling what's important. Editing clarifies the meaning. What happens when you use both at the same time? Stagnation. **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [The Batch Issue #215](https://www.deeplearning.ai/the-batch/issue-215/?ref=cesarrg.com) - [The End of the Subscription Era is Coming](https://nickfthilton.medium.com/the-end-of-the-subscription-era-is-coming-ed197f252c6a?ref=cesarrg.com) - [How Living Abroad Helps You Develop a Clearer Sense of Self](https://hbr.org/2018/05/how-living-abroad-helps-you-develop-a-clearer-sense-of-self?tpcc=orgsocial%5Fedit&utm%5Fcampaign=hbr&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fsource=linkedin) **Book I'm reading:** - "[Ligero de Equipaje](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Carlos-Gonzalez-Valles/dp/8429307818?ref=cesarrg.com)" by Carlos G. Vallés **Quote of the week:** > "You see persons and things not as they are but as you are." - Anthony de Mello ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Thumbs up URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/thumbs-up/ Last updated: 2023-09-26T19:49:10.000Z #82 - Sep.2023 The human thumbs are, by far, one of the most essential features in our body's evolution. It gave humans a huge advantage over all other species. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/09/Thumbs.png) Through the thumb, we were able to handle things. We were capable of manipulating small objects. We started grasping and applying torque motion. We started building more complex tools, slowly developing a fine craft. We became builders. We started creating art and expressing ourselves in new ways. Through a thumb. This is a great example that what might seem like small differences can generate massive second-order outcomes. In our daily lives, this is the type of small change that is worth investing in. These are the small features in your product [backlog](https://www.cesarrg.com/backlogs/) that can generate exponential benefits for customers. Is that small habit that will place you in a much better position to thrive. Is a slight shift in your mental model that will drive your decision-making to achieve your goals. Sometimes is just about finding small changes that can unlock [value](https://www.cesarrg.com/value-and-availability/) that compounds over time. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Lateral thinking URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-lateral-thinking/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T16:06:18.000Z \# 16 - Sep.2023 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Lateral thinking generates creative solutions. These are questions that we can ask frequently to promote this type of thinking: - What if \[fill in an alternative\]? - What makes us believe \[statement\] is true? - What other fields can teach us about this problem? - What metaphor can we use to simplify the understanding of this problem? - Has a different industry solved already a similar problem? - What are the first principles behind the constraints we are facing? **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [Illustrated Guide to Transformers Neural Network: A step by step explanation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bdc55j80l8&list=LL&index=2&ref=cesarrg.com) - [How to Avoid the Churn That Comes with Agility](https://hbr.org/2023/09/how-to-avoid-the-churn-that-comes-with-agility?ab=hero-subleft-3&ref=cesarrg.com) **Book I'm reading:** - [The Remembered Future/El futuro recordado](https://www.amazon.es/El-futuro-recordado-Remembered-Future/dp/6073820968/ref=sr%5F1%5F2?%5F%5Fmk%5Fes%5FES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=JB852XSVXCWA&keywords=Irene+Vallejo+el+futuro&qid=1695328723&s=digital-text&sprefix=irene+vallejo+el+futuro%2Cdigital-text%2C75&sr=1-2-catcorr&ref=cesarrg.com) by Irene Vallejo **Quote of the week:** > "The only way to deep happiness is to do something you love to the best of your ability." - Richard Feynman ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Two forces URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/two-forces/ Last updated: 2023-09-26T19:02:11.000Z #81 - Sep.2023 There is a natural tension between evaluating all possibilities for a product and saying 'no' to many things. It is not an easy job. But is much needed for any successful product. These are two different mindsets that live within the same design process. Is about exploring the possibility space when ideating ([what if?](https://www.cesarrg.com/what-if/)), but converging on what's essential and making decisions (value-driven prioritization). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/09/2_Forces.png) Being too inclined in either way is not good. Diving deep into all possibilities and not filtering real customer needs from pure noise is only good intentions. Framing the solutions space too narrow and you constraint disruptive innovation. It is about balance. Using the right mindset when needed. It is building upon ideas and opening for new opportunities but treating them as hypotheses that should be validated through experimentation and observation. This is the yin-yang of design. And like in Chinese philosophy, they are opposite but *interconnected* forces. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Hypothesis-driven design URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-hypothesis-driven-design/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T16:04:09.000Z \# 15 - Sep.2023 Happy Friday and Happy Independence day for everyone in Central America! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Anticipating what you want to learn from customers early in the design process makes your discovery work more effective. Making a hypothesis of what you expect as a result of a pilot/MLP product launch gives you focus (what outcomes do you expect?), helps you anticipate the right data points (what data I need to confirm this?), and helps you make better questions (why this is valuable for customers?) Things to take into account when creating a hypothesis: - Consider the specific context of users - Think about the behavior you expect from users - Define the measurable outcome you expect - Prepare the data sources to measure the outcomes **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [You Need to Know These Frameworks & Techniques as a Product Manager](https://bootcamp.uxdesign.cc/if-you-are-a-pm-you-need-to-know-these-frameworks-techniques-for-prioritization-ed3d62fbb5a7?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Walter Isaacson: Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Einstein, Da Vinci & Ben Franklin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGOV5R7M1Js&ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > "Life is what happens to you, while you're busy making other plans." - John Lennon. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Build... URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/build/ Last updated: 2023-09-26T19:02:21.000Z #80 - Sep.2023 ...Measure and Learn. These are the building blocks of lean methodologies. Through constant iteration, teams refine their value proposition, experiment, and pivot their ideas. Unfortunately, many teams over-index on the 'build' phase. Building & delivering software faster is the priority. Efficiency is the key driver. Learning becomes optional. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/09/BML.png) Measuring and learning from customers is hard. But this is as important as delivering faster features. Is by calibrating your initial hypothesis that you ensure your product or service is on the right path. [Customers don't care](https://www.cesarrg.com/customer-do-not-really-care/) about your efficiency in delivering a feature. I would argue that, in most customers, timing is a very subjective perception. But what they *do* care about is how your solution helps them accomplish their goals. They look forward to [memorable](https://www.cesarrg.com/memorable/) experiences. Measuring & learning is not just about purely data-driven decisions. Data is important, for sure; but the qualitative insights you get by talking to people and observing them using your product are equally important. You leverage data by asking the right questions. Make your curiosity lead the way. A practical tip for ensuring you don't forget about measuring & learning: set your learning goals early in the development process and ensure you invest time in calibrating your goals at *every* iteration. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Product development strategy URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-product-development-strategy/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T16:01:49.000Z \# 14 - Sep.2023 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Great products have a strong product development strategy behind them. Here are important questions to check your strategy: - Is your discovery process consistent with understanding customers' needs? - Do you have a track of emerging technologies that could increase value for customers? What is the best way for [combining them](https://www.cesarrg.com/converge-and-social/)? - Are there emerging markets that you should be aware of? - Are you leveraging the rights testing approach to [validate your ideas](https://www.cesarrg.com/test-it/)? - How will the strategy maximize the product outcomes that you want to achieve? - Are there new behaviors and other customer factors that you should consider? **Interesting links I found during this week:** - \[Off-topic but very interesting!\] [Documentary turns life-saving clams used to detect water pollution at Warsaw pumping station into internet stars](https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/documentary-turns-life-saving-clams-used-to-detect-water-pollution-at-warsaw-pumping-station-into-internet-stars-13119?ref=cesarrg.com). - [The Friendship that made Google huge](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/12/10/the-friendship-that-made-google-huge?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Give yourself permission to be creative](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRS9Gek4V5Q&ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > "Art is not luxury, it's sustenance" - Ethan Hawke ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Convergence and social impact URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/converge-and-social/ Last updated: 2023-09-26T19:02:35.000Z #79 - Sep.2023 Two important core principles for any technology are: convergence and social impact. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/09/Shuffle.png) Often, multiple technologies tend to **converge** or become dependent on each other. This creates new iterations, improvements, and networks of solutions that work in an ecosystem. Is part of the [combinational nature of technology](https://www.cesarrg.com/mix-balance/). Value compounds at every interaction. Many of the most important innovations are the result of several iterations of mixing [disruptive](https://www.cesarrg.com/inside-the-box/) technologies. Technology is also closely tied to **social impacts**. Technology has the power to change society, shaping how people connect and interact. Technology influences how people live. These principles can help us navigate and acknowledge important second-order outcomes from our tech-driven solutions. Things to think about: 1. What complementary technology can you add to your solution to compound the value? 2. Are part of a more extensive technology network that could help leverage your value proposition? 3. What are the social challenges and opportunities that you should consider in your design? 4. In which positive or negative ways is your solution influencing your customers? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Product vision and strategy URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-product-vision-and-strategy/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T15:59:04.000Z \# 13 - Sep.2023 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Promoting a product vision and strategy requires relentless communication. Is never too much when the goal is to ensure the team and stakeholders understand what we stand for and why. What it might seem like over-communication, is a key skill for anyone trying to catalyze change. Transparency in the message ensures [trust](https://www.cesarrg.com/trust/); repetition and using the right channels ensure effectiveness. Repeat and repeat. **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [22 principles for great product managers](https://bootcamp.uxdesign.cc/22-principles-for-great-product-managers-61414598628?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Design Debt - Where It Comes From and How to Manage It](https://www.headway.io/blog/design-debt-where-it-comes-from-and-how-to-manage-it?ref=cesarrg.com#:~:text=Design%20debt%20is%20all%20the,the%20users%20will%20make%20do.%E2%80%9D) - [Evidence boards: My must have resource as a UX Researcher](https://bootcamp.uxdesign.cc/forget-research-repositories-your-focus-should-be-on-creating-evidence-boards-b52daa1d8e13?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > Doubt is one of the names of intelligence - Jorge Luis Borges ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Simplicity URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/simplicity/ Last updated: 2023-08-31T06:50:20.000Z #78 - Aug.2023 In the book [“The Laws of Simplicity”](https://www.amazon.com/Laws-Simplicity-Design-Technology-Business/dp/0262134721?ref=cesarrg.com) John Maeda offers his view on 10 laws for achieving simplicity in the digital age. There is one that caught my attention as it is more relevant than ever due to the current technology wave of [model-based products](https://www.cesarrg.com/ai-chatgpt/): ***Trust: in simplicity we trust.*** Most of today’s applications strive for simplicity. While there are different paths and perceptions of simplicity, the best products today try their best to offer an intuitive and convenient experience. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/08/IMG_1254.PNG) [Trust](https://www.cesarrg.com/trust/) is built at every interaction. Every time a product keeps its promise of serving a task or solving a problem it generates customer engagement. It creates customer bonds and reinforces the value proposition. Yet, as technology evolves, simplicity depends on how much a system knows about you. Experiences where a system predicts what you want are indeed simple to use; however, at the expense of customer privacy. A pendulum between how much the user needs to understand the complexity of the solutions and how much the system needs to know about each customer. Finding the right balance between privacy & simplicity, while keeping customer’s trust, is key. As John Maeda points it, it's the dilemma for future products and services. Acknowledging that customers are entitled to own their data and keeping a high bar on transparency, security, and reliability is a good starting point. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration ### 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Experimental design URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/experimental-design/ Last updated: 2024-10-16T10:38:20.000Z #77 - Aug.2023 Navigating in a world of uncertainty and experiences that are [not deterministic](https://www.cesarrg.com/probabilistic-experiences/) \- such as the ones offered by AI-powered products - might be challenging for designers. Design in this new context becomes more experimental. While uncertainty is embedded by nature in all design methodologies, uncertainty is now part of the very same experiences that we are designing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/08/IMG_1169.png) Experiences in the [new generation of digital products](https://www.cesarrg.com/new-generation-of-digital-products/) are driven by foundational models where uncertainty is part of the equation. And users are not yet ready for this type of experience. They count on us — the people who are designing, developing, and improving such products. Experimentation is at the core of any innovation. Yet this new technology wave takes experimentation to the next level. It means thriving through uncertainty. It means being at ease with failure. [Experimental design](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design%5Fof%5Fexperiments?ref=cesarrg.com) has never been so important to understand, model, and evaluate outcomes. This is a new era where we all need to be some sort of scientists. Experiment! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] How-might-we URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-how-might-we/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T15:57:42.000Z \# 12 - Aug.2023 Happy Saturday! Here is a quick idea for the weekend: The power of the “how-might-we” question is underrated. A couple of things that this simple, yet strong, question can bring to a debate for problem-solving: - Challenges the status-quo - Promotes collaboration (“We”) - Opens new alternatives - Reduces biases - Triggers other questions (such as “[what if](https://www.cesarrg.com/what-if/)”) - Invites to divergent thinking - Encourages curiosity Engaging in a problem with an open mind toward the possibilities is the best way to start the journey toward the solution. **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [The friendship that made Google huge](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/12/10/the-friendship-that-made-google-huge?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote of the week:** > “‘The cat sat on a mat’ is not a story. ‘The cat sat on the dog’s mat’ is a story.” - John le Carré ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Inspiration URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/inspiration/ Last updated: 2024-04-26T15:19:57.000Z #76 - Aug.2023 *Inspiration* comes from the Latin *inspirare*, which means “to breathe or blow into”. I love to come back to this analogy. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/08/IMG_1167-3.png) To inspire - to breathe in - you need to exhale first. You need to make space for new things to come in. You need to let go, to receive. Inspiration might seem like a flash or an unexpected burst, but I think is a result of a *slower* process. It starts with how you [nurture new ideas](https://www.cesarrg.com/ideas/) and the quality of what [you consume.](https://www.cesarrg.com/questions/) With awareness and a beginner's mind, you can get inspiration from unforeseen sources. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Shipping faster and better URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-shipping-faster-and-better/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T15:55:44.000Z \# 11 - Aug.2023 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Shipping faster does not mean you are shipping better. Quality and speed are different dimensions. They are in constant tension. And that's good. Making quality a tenet of your product decisions helps teams shift from a "just ship it" culture, to people accountable for building [memorable experiences](https://www.cesarrg.com/memorable/). **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [A Brief History of Consumer Culture](https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/a-brief-history-of-consumer-culture/?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Can AI help close the education gap?](https://www.gatesnotes.com/Podcast?podcast=s2e0&ref=cesarrg.com) **Book I'm reading:** [**Solito: A Memoir**](https://www.amazon.com/Solito-Memoir-Javier-Zamora/dp/0593498062?ref=cesarrg.com)by Javier Zamora**.** In this book, Javier walks us through his amazing journey of crossing the US border as an immigrant, as a 9-year-old kid. **Quote from the week:** > "Discipline and freedom seem like opposites...Discipline is not a lack of freedom, it is a harmonious relationship with time..” — Rick Rubin ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Empathy URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/empathy/ Last updated: 2023-08-09T14:20:56.000Z #75 - Aug.2023 Empathy is a key ingredient for design. Is through empathy that we connect, understand and act - is a conscious choice we have to make. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/08/empathy.png) While most of us have this notion of empathy as being a purely emotional state, being empathic can have different stages. Empathy can be Cognitive (*knowing* how others feels), Emotional (*feeling* what others feel) or Compassionate (we *are moved* to help). Is a process. Evolves from recognizing, then it resonates with us, until generates the compassion to act. It is similar to a design journey. You cognitively assess the problem. You define the assumptions. You [frame it](https://www.cesarrg.com/words-matters/). By immersing into the problem, you start finding insights - you connect *emotionally* with the [opportunities](https://www.cesarrg.com/product-discovery/) and challenges. You start to ideate. You finally converge into specific solutions to solve a problem. You take decisions. You *compassion* becomes action. Practice turns empathy more intuitive. Empathize more. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration ### 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Problematize URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-problematize/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T15:30:27.000Z \# 10 - Aug.2023 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: We tend to focus our energy in *solutioning*. But [*problematizing*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problematization?ref=cesarrg.com)is also part of the journey of designing great products & services. You problematize by indicating a gap or establishing a hypothesis. You raise [questions](https://www.cesarrg.com/being-right/). You become curious to know what's beneath the common knowledge. You challenge your own [mental models](https://www.cesarrg.com/mental-models/). This helps create the frame of your problem. This is critical for an effective execution. Don't anticipate a solution to a problem you don't yet understand. **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [What AI Teaches Us About Good Writing](https://www.noemamag.com/what-ai-teaches-us-about-good-writing/?src=longreads&ref=cesarrg.com) - [To draw or not to draw: is traditional sketching still relevant in the digital design era?](https://uxdesign.cc/to-draw-or-not-to-draw-is-traditional-sketching-still-relevant-in-the-digital-design-age-dad57a34a615?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Immersive Design: The Next 10 Years of Interfaces](https://uxdesign.cc/immersive-design-the-next-10-years-of-interfaces-16122cb6eae6?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote from the week:** > "I learned very early the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something.” — Richard P. Feynman ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Mental models URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/mental-models/ Last updated: 2023-08-02T09:16:06.000Z #74 - Aug.2023 Mental models represent our beliefs. They are a synthesis of our knowledge from our experiences. They help us to take decisions and set our expectations of the world. Understanding others' mental models is key for design. They help us discover users’ perspectives of reality and how they consider things should work. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/08/IMG_1165.png) They calibrate our [value proposition](https://www.cesarrg.com/delivery-gap/), using the right [affordances](https://www.cesarrg.com/good-design/) to create good products & services. People feel ‘safe’ in such experiences. Ignoring users' mental models lead to customer frustration. Over-indexing in *your* mental models leads to the same result. Mental models change. [We all change](https://www.cesarrg.com/change-blindness/). Our perceptions and beliefs are in constant evolution. Disruptive innovation, in most cases, requires creating new mental models - users need to trust that the learning curve is worth the effort. Remember that mental models are not based on facts, but on personal beliefs. Listen to customers. Ask questions. Be curious to discover their particular perspective of reality. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration ### 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Strategy & consistency URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-trust-copy/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T15:27:29.000Z \# 9 - Jul.2023 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Success in any endeavor is a mix of strategy & consistency. You need both. Pure strategic thinking will lead you to a strong plan to achieve your goals. But without consistency, you are likely to quit at the first challenge or [dip](https://www.amazon.com/Dip-Little-Book-Teaches-Stick/dp/1591841666?ref=cesarrg.com). You ensure consistency through mechanisms that help you to overcome these challenges. On the other side of the dip, if you persist, you find the very few who endured. You get the payoff from your long-term effort. Pure consistency without strategy is effort invested in limited impact. It has a high chance of leading you to dead ends. Strategy + consistency is a powerful combination. **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [Emerging Vocabulary](https://newsletter.envisioning.io/p/emerging-vocabulary?ref=cesarrg.com) from Artificial Insights - [The risks of AI are real but manageable](https://www.gatesnotes.com/The-risks-of-AI-are-real-but-manageable?ref=cesarrg.com) **Quote from the week:** > "Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working” — Picasso ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Your creative identity URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/creative-identity/ Last updated: 2024-04-26T15:18:49.000Z #73 - Jul.2023 We tend to fix our creative identity on tools and successes from the past. But as our context change, so our tools and skills. Creativity is not something that you fully master, but a constant practice of curiosity. A fixed mindset toward creativity constrains our ability to embrace change. Things that worked before might not work today. And while failure might hurt your creative ego, it can also open the door to new possibilities. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/IMG_1163.png) Applying a growth mindset to your creative work means acknowledging that [curiosity](https://www.cesarrg.com/observe/) is your best tool. Mastering a new domain or solving a new problem becomes a matter of practice, dive deep and consistency. Is being open to be wrong, regardless of your ego, and having the bias to bring the (hard) questions to the table. Is less about your professional adjectives (tags: designer, strategist, innovator,…) and more about the actions you own (verbs: probing, asking, listening, studying, exploring,…). Things you can consider to bring this mindset into your [creative work](https://www.cesarrg.com/about-creating/): - Understand that failure is also a path for creating something meaningful - You can develop any new skills through persistent practice - Embrace criticism as a proxy for [learning](https://www.cesarrg.com/questions/) - Praise the effort, not your identity tags - Ask ‘why’ not just when you fail but also when you succeed ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [Weekly Retro] Trust URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-trust/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T15:23:48.000Z \# 8 - Jul.2023 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Trust is the currency for long-term bonds. Is through trust - committing to your promises - that you win your customer's loyalty. Is through trust - being honest and transparent - that you build strong partnerships. [Trust is foundational for any economy](https://www.cesarrg.com/trust/). We create social and business bonds by trusting others. These bonds are created slowly... at every product feature you launch, at every service that provides a great experience, at every person you actively listen to create empathy, at each promise you honor. Design for trust. **Interesting links I found during this week:** - [How to use your intuition in your product design process](https://uxdesign.cc/your-intuition-could-be-your-design-hypothesis-ce118b06c5a8?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Better roadmaps](https://draganbabic.com/blog/better-roadmaps/?ref=cesarrg.com) **Recommended book:** - [Daily Rituals: How Artist Work](https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Rituals-How-Artists-Work-ebook/dp/B009Y4I4OM/ref=sr%5F1%5F2?crid=247UKCJ3FLA2U&keywords=Daily+Rituals%3A+How+Artist+Work&qid=1640040806&s=books&sprefix=everything+that+remains%2Cstripbooks%2C124&sr=1-2&ref=cesarrg.com): A great books that brings small narratives of the day-in-the-life of many great artist and they daily routines. **Quote from the week:** > "If the work of the organization involves innovation, connection, or the creation of change, then only humans are going to do that work” — Seth Godin in '[The Song of Significance](https://www.amazon.com/Song-Significance-New-Manifesto-Teams/dp/0593715543?ref=cesarrg.com)' ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Intuition URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/intuition/ Last updated: 2024-08-31T20:50:20.000Z #72 - Jul.2023 We live in a fast-paced world. Technology, business models, and customer behaviors evolve day after day. The standard from yesterday is obsolete today. This constant change forces us to look into new skills for decision-making, especially when lacking data or previous experiences. We are now challenged to do bets into the unknown and look around corners. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/IMG_1144.png) In this new context, intuition and strategic thinking become closer friends. Designing our plans and goals is now a combination of data, previous experience, and strategic *intuition*. Different from what you might expect, this is rather a slow thinking process nurtured by [what you consume](https://www.cesarrg.com/art-and-science/), observe, and reflect on. An insight can surprise you at any time. Awareness is key. Through revisiting situations that you have personally experienced and also information you captured through memory, you start building connections towards insights & solutions. It is slow, unexpected, and random, yet requires actively being conscious of your thoughts. What might seem like instinctive thinking is actually a recombination of your own ideas, experiences, and observations. Foster curiosity within your own mind. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) 💡 If this idea makes sense to you feel free to share it with others who might be interested in this topic. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to [subscribe](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) or follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) for future posts and weekly retros. ### [Weekly Retro] Two decisions URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-two-decisions/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T15:22:07.000Z \# 7 - Jul.2023 Happy Friday (a bit late)! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Two critical decisions when designing a product. The first one relates to your commitment to deeply understanding your customer needs or finding opportunities that are not well served. The decision is yours to put in the upfront effort to continuously learn and innovate on their behalf. The second one is how you position your value proposition. This will lead the different strategies to better bond with the customers you are serving. A mismatch between your value proposition and what customers expect usually results in frustration and promises that are not met. Interesting links I found during this week: - [Building Resilient Organizations](https://forgeorganizing.org/article/building-resilient-organizations?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Scientists used ChatGPT to generate an entire paper from scratch — but is it any good?](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02218-z?utm%5Fsource=Nature+Briefing&utm%5Fcampaign=252f018698-briefing-wk-20230707&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fterm=0%5Fc9dfd39373-252f018698-46827190) Podcast I'm listening to: - [The Drive](https://open.spotify.com/show/63AWQmsSnFNFHUqnRAOFtD?si=d5e1e97521ca4780&ref=cesarrg.com) by Petter Attia. Expert insight on health, performance, longevity, critical thinking, and pursuing excellence. Quote from the week: > "Growth may be constrained not by what we are good at but rather by what is essential and yet hard to improve” — on [AI and Economic Growth](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract%5Fid=3053718&ref=cesarrg.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Accelerators, Privacy & Ethics URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/accelerators-privacy-ethics/ Last updated: 2025-07-01T00:03:08.000Z #71 - Jul.2023 📑 This is part of a series of posts based on an article initially published (ES) as an invited writer at [ClickCiber Magazine](https://clickciber.com/descargas/n13-2023-jun?ref=cesarrg.com), a publication on Technology, Cybersecurity, and AI. Previous posts: 1. [Leading the new generation of digital products.](https://www.cesarrg.com/new-generation-of-digital-products/) 2. [Computational Design](https://www.cesarrg.com/computational-design/) Computational design has changed the way of creating new solutions enabling new tools and techniques throughout the lifecycle. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/06/Move_Forward.png) **The use of AI as an accelerator**. The traditional dynamic of divergence and convergence of Design Thinking gains a new tool with the use of AI. Understanding a problem or opportunity can be complemented with the use of generative tools, taking advantage of large volumes of data to find trends and new perspectives. Practical examples vary from market research, customer sentiment analysis, brainstorming sessions, and prototyping through AI-powered simulations & visualization. **Privacy by design**. The new generation of products operates on a new 'trust economy'. Customers who do not trust a product will quickly stop using it. Privacy should be a core component of the design process from the start. This means being equally concerned about usability (UX) but also data access rights, retention policies, security & storage, and making use of the information with the intended purpose. Customer trust will be directly related to how companies take care of their information. **Ethics**. AI is already part of our lives and the trend is to become an integral element of any product and service of the future. When we talk about ethics, we open a wide and complex space balancing concepts such as justice, bias, and system responsibilities, especially when these are used for decision-making. Designing experiences in this space must take into account the transparency of how these systems arrive at results, and the continuous auditing of biases that could lead to excluding, offending, or impacting people's lives. As we design we must consider second and third-order impacts to anticipate unwanted effects. There are many challenges but, in equal or greater numbers, are the opportunities and benefits of the digital products of the future. We are facing a fundamental change in the way we design, operate, and improve solutions. This is not only an opportunity for business but for further social challenges such as health, education, and economic growth. It is an opportunity to reinvent yourself. ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) 💡 If this idea makes sense to you feel free to share it with others who might be interested in this topic. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to [subscribe](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) or follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) for future posts and weekly retros. ### [Weekly Retro] Agility URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-agility/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T15:20:02.000Z #6 - Jul.2023 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Taking agility blindly just to deliver things faster is missing the point of what a value-added iterative process means. I would argue that for many teams the orthodoxy of methodologies and frameworks becomes a blocker for creating impactful work. It is purely a burning-point or complete-task game. Creating direct value for customers using your product or service should be a priority. Or rather, *THE* priority. Each iteration or milestone should be intentional and conscious of what is the real value we are adding; not just a synchronous delivery cadence of worthless work. Don't let processes make you lose sight of your priority. Interesting links I found during this week: - [How to fix clean energy’s storage problem](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-k5uS7ALXk&list=LL&index=9&ref=cesarrg.com) - [AI Toolbox for Innovators](https://ai.boardofinnovation.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) Podcast I'm listening to: - [Huberman Lab](https://hubermanlab.com/category/podcast-episodes/?ref=cesarrg.com) by Dr. Andrew Huberman, a professor of neurobiology at Stanford School of Medicine. Quote from the week: > "The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.” — Muriel Rukeyser ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Computational Design URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/computational-design/ Last updated: 2025-07-01T00:04:30.000Z #70 - Jul.2023 📑 This is part of a series of posts based on an article initially published (ES) as an invited writer at [ClickCiber Magazine](https://clickciber.com/descargas/n13-2023-jun?ref=cesarrg.com), a publication on Technology, Cybersecurity, and AI. Previous post: [Leading the new generation of digital products.](https://www.cesarrg.com/new-generation-of-digital-products/) Design, as a practice, is constantly evolving. At its core, every time we design we are seeking to deeply understand a problem and how to provide the best solution possible. From the traditional application in the physical world (architecture, industry, fashion) to its most recent version in business with the famous throughDesign Thinking*,* Design looks for a constant balance between what's available, possible, and lovable. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/06/IMG_0880.PNG) The adoption of technology in our daily lives and the exponential growth of data processing power have given rise to a new wave: *Computational Design*. In this new iteration, design gains a new perspective bringing applications and algorithms as a new ally for empirical experience from professionals. Parameters, models, and auto-generated content have become the new toolbox for creating and improving new digital products. Technologies such as AI are becoming a competitive advantage removing the entry barrier by leveraging collective knowledge to map needs, ideate solutions, test hypotheses, and even develop applications without advanced coding experience. But, as tools evolve, so do the problems and complexity. Our future as a society is more than just productivity and personalization. The new generation of applications will need to continue to be user-centric, but must also inspire trust, make correct and intentional use of data, and have transparent mechanisms for decision-making embedding core principles for privacy, ethics, and inclusion. In other words, bringing humanity to the design process. Next post: [Accelerators, Privacy & Ethics](https://www.cesarrg.com/accelerators-privacy-ethics/) ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) 💡 If this idea makes sense to you feel free to share it with others who might be interested in this topic. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to [subscribe](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) or follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) for future posts and weekly retros. ### [Weekly Retro] Metrics URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-metrics/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T15:17:17.000Z #5 - Jun.2023 Happy Friday! Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: We loved to measure and track things. NPS, customer ratings, story points, top-line sales...as the saying goes: 'what is not tracked, can't be improved'. Metrics give us a sense of control. We measure what is useful. And also what is not. In today's productivity-led culture, we tend to over-index on metrics regardless if they lead the team to the right customer outcomes. Building great products might sometimes be at the expense of spending extra effort to tackle unknown constraints, but if this results in something valuable and [memorable](https://www.cesarrg.com/memorable/) for customers, it's a win. This type of customer bonding is a proxy for business results. Focus on building something that matters. Interesting links I found during this week: - [How designers can beat AI at design](https://uxdesign.cc/how-designers-can-beat-ai-at-design-459a33cff79c?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Leading the new generation of digital products](https://www.cesarrg.com/new-generation-of-digital-products/) - [The economic potential of generative AI: The next productivity frontier](https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/the-economic-potential-of-generative-ai-the-next-productivity-frontier?ref=cesarrg.com) Tools I'm exploring: - [SageMaker Studio Lab](https://aws.amazon.com/sagemaker/studio-lab/?ref=cesarrg.com): a free development environment to experiment ML models. Quote from the week: > "Just because something is easy to measure doesn't mean it's accurate. Or that it matters.” — Seth Godin ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Leading the new generation of digital products URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/new-generation-of-digital-products/ Last updated: 2025-07-01T00:04:18.000Z #69 - Jun.2023 📑 This is part of a series of posts based on an article initially published (ES) as an invited writer at [ClickCiber Magazine](https://clickciber.com/descargas/n13-2023-jun?ref=cesarrg.com), a publication on Technology, Cybersecurity, and AI. AI has opened an interesting debate about its ability to transform the way how we work. In multiple sectors, the rising question is as to what extent AI will impact their economies. As of now, the real impact is unpredictable. The coin is in the air. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/06/AI.png) The changes are not reduced only to efficiency, but also to the way of designing new products and services to solve our customer's problems. The next generation of digital products requires a new mindset to address large-scale challenges like privacy and [customer trust](https://www.cesarrg.com/trust/). The professionals leading the way in this new generation of products have an opportunity to reinvent themselves using new tools driven by high computational power but, at the same time, solve more complex problems for the society of the future. What are the key changes that will affect our today's way of designing new applications? Data and the exponential growth of processing power have given rise to a new iteration of our design practice: Computational Design. In this new iteration, we have **new toolsets** driven by AI, accelerating the way how we understand problems and ideate solutions. **Privacy** takes a front stage and, more than ever, requires a "by design" approach. Similarly, the way how we deal with **ethical decisions** in our design becomes critical as technology tends to be more [probabilistic](https://www.cesarrg.com/probabilistic-experiences/) rather than deterministic. Next post: [Computational Design](https://www.cesarrg.com/computational-design/) ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) 💡 If this idea makes sense to you feel free to share it with others who might be interested in this topic. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to [subscribe](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) or follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) for future posts and weekly retros. ### [Weekly Retro] Discovery habits URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-discovery-habits/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T15:06:37.000Z #4 - Jun.2023 Happy Friday! (and happy summer-winter depending on which hemisphere you live in) Here is a quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Bringing customer feedback closer to your product team is about habits and discipline. *Habits* in the form of repetition (sometimes failure) and learning; *discipline* in the form of a strong commitment to making the time for [listening](https://www.cesarrg.com/active-listening/) \- and [watching](https://www.cesarrg.com/observe/) \- how users are using your solution. Good habits are always driven by good mechanisms to avoid falling into good intentions. These mechanisms should focus not only on how & when but also help develop the instinct to filter what customers say versus what they need. Use your curiosity to probe. Customer discovery shouldn't be a one-time activity. It should become a team's habit. Think about what is your in-flow of customer feedback: daily? weekly? yearly? Are your mechanisms simple enough to promote consistency? Interesting links I found during this week: - [The Geopolitics Of AI Chips Will Define The Future Of AI](https://www-forbes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.forbes.com/sites/robtoews/2023/05/07/the-geopolitics-of-ai-chips-will-define-the-future-of-ai/amp/?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Make Something Wonderful](https://stevejobsarchive.com/book?ref=cesarrg.com) Quote from the week: > "Design is defined by material selection” — John Maeda ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Memorable URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/memorable/ Last updated: 2024-02-05T10:27:18.000Z #68 - Jun.2023 There is a simple question that can help improve your value proposition: "Do we have a differentiated approach to solve this problem?" In a world where products and services are commoditized, what's different stand out. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/06/IMG_1070.png) This is not only a question that helps you assess the size of an investment opportunity but rather a reminder throughout the design journey to help you create something great. We are constantly focused on the minimum viable experience. In other words, we are happy on delivering at the threshold. But thresholds lead to commoditization. It makes your product or service generic. Serves all, but none at the same time. Bringing excitement and unexpected elements into an experience is what makes your proposition not only valuable but lovable. Not only functional but memorable. Ensure the core elements for a fully functional experience are covered, but do not forget to assess opportunities to differentiate the approach on how you serve such functions. There is where many innovations are hidden. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/07/cesarrg_home_card-1.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### [Weekly Retro] Design and context URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-design-and-context/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T15:03:55.000Z #3 - Jun.2023 Happy Friday! A quick idea before you head off for the weekend: Design is highly dependent on the medium and context you are working in. Any creative process, from ideation to realization, is influenced by these factors, and while we cannot always anticipate great products as outcomes, you can increase your chances of delivering something valuable. In-depth understanding of the medium and context is then key during the creative process. This is the understanding the Bauhaus School was continuously searching for when designing furniture, buildings, and fonts. This is what Design Thinking promotes when combining business acumen and technology. This is what Apple's recent principles on spatial design - a new medium and context - are now exploring. As builders of products, we are all called to understand - through curiosity and a beginner's mind - the medium and context we are working in to better serve our customers' needs. What can you do today to promote such curiosity? Interesting links I found during this week: - [About the impact of AI on how we build products](https://www.svpg.com/preparing-for-the-future/?ref=cesarrg.com) - [About the creative process, from a recent interview with Jony Ive](https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/the-creative-process-is-fabulously-unpredictable-a-great-idea-cannot-be-predicted?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Diving deep into Apple's design principles for spatial design](https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2023/10072/?ref=cesarrg.com) Tools I'm exploring: - [AWS Bedrock](https://aws.amazon.com/bedrock/?ref=cesarrg.com) and [SageMaker](https://aws.amazon.com/sagemaker/?ref=cesarrg.com). A Cloud Guru offers a good introductory [course](https://acloudguru.com/course/machine-learning-on-aws-deep-dive?ref=cesarrg.com) for this technology. Quote from the week: > "Nature has a great simplicity and therefore a great beauty.” — Richard P. Feynman‌ ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### 2023 mid-year books URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/2023-mid-year-books/ Last updated: 2024-07-08T19:25:58.000Z #67 - Jun.2023 It is time for the mid-year checkpoint of the books I have read so far in 2023\. As in [previous years](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/books/), I like to share a quick review of these books in case you are interested in diving deep. This year has been a mix of learning more Spanish literature, exploring new styles (novels), and reading a long-awaited book on longevity! You can always reference my most recommended books on my [bookshelf](https://www.cesarrg.com/book-shelf/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/06/Books_2023.png) 1. [La Nueve](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OQ2FLIE/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fes-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=3626&creative=24790&ref=cesarrg.com) (Evelyn Mesquida): An immersive story about an exceptional war division of Spaniards that is recognized as the first to enter Paris during France's liberation with General Leclerc. 2. [The Creative Act: A Way of Being](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09Z7MH5C3/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fbb%5Famazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fes-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=3626&creative=24790&ref=cesarrg.com) (Rick Rubin): This book left me with a lot of food for thought. It brings a view of creativity from the perspective of the universe's signals and our openness & sensitivity to receive and act upon them. 3. [Métrica Española](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8434406330/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fbb%5Famazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fes-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=3626&creative=24790&ref=cesarrg.com) (Antonio Quilis): Before reading this book I was not aware of the complexity and art of well-written Spanish poetry. Is a technical book on rhythmic structures and rhymes of poetry verses. You can check some of my practical examples [here](https://noctilucas.substack.com/?ref=cesarrg.com). 4. [Rayuela](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MLJ7B7G/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fbb%5Famazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fes-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=3626&creative=24790&ref=cesarrg.com) (Julio Cortázar): I usually don't read novels. However, after reading Cortázar's lectures last year I was captivated by his masterpiece, Rayuela. This novel marks a milestone in how Spanish novels were written. It's like a game in which you have different journeys based on how you sequence the chapters. Totally new territory for me. 5. [The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QCSA54/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fbb%5Famazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fes-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=3626&creative=24790&ref=cesarrg.com) (Seth Godin): I consider Seth Godin as one of the virtual mentors that the internet gave me. This is a very short book but full of insightful ideas on our journey to find meaningful work. 6. [Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity ](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B1BTJLJN/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fbb%5Famazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fes-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=3626&creative=24790&ref=cesarrg.com)(Petter Attia): This book made it to my recommended [bookshelf](https://www.cesarrg.com/book-shelf/) and is becoming one of those life-changing reads. I follow Petter Attia's work for a while now and this book aggregates all his knowledge on longevity and how we should build our strategy to reduce the risks of the most common diseases in today's society. Full of very practical actions that you can take - some of which I'm already putting into practice - this is a very recommended book for anyone interested in healthspan. Happy reading! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) 💡 For more ideas like this one, I encourage you to [subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) or follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) and stay up-to-date with the latest posts. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey! ### [Weekly Retro] Spacial computing URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-spacial-computing/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T15:00:42.000Z #2 - Jun.2023 Happy Friday! Before you head off for the weekend: One of the week's most commented (and debated) news was Apple's latest release: [Vision Pro](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX9qSaGXFyg&ref=cesarrg.com). Apple has a strong reputation for creating new markets and changing the way how we interact with technology. Entering the Augmented Reality (AR) world will be for sure a big venture. Not only to convince users about the value of this product (charging $3,499 for this experience) but to prove that AR is not just about bringing the 2D applications from your phone into virtual screens. The contribution from developers in the ecosystem will be key to pulling this off. Opening new product markets means also creating new [affordances](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affordance?ref=cesarrg.com) for interactions and making them natural enough that people consider them the new normal. Think about the iPhone: while they were not totally novel innovations, the iPhone helped the adoption of multiple gestures that today we consider normal: pinch, swipe, scroll, etc. Looking forward to seeing the gestures for the new wave of applications of "[spatial computing](https://www.popsci.com/technology/apple-spatial-computing/?ref=cesarrg.com#:~:text=Although%20%E2%80%9Cspatial%20computing%E2%80%9D%20has%20had,%2C%20in%20some%20cases%2C%20interact.)". Here are interesting links I found during the week: - [Decision provenance is a requirement for “two-way door” decision-making](https://uxdesign.cc/decision-provenance-is-a-requirement-for-two-way-door-decision-making-c24015c6b02a?ref=cesarrg.com) - [How Much Time and Energy Do We Waste Toggling Between Applications?](https://hbr.org/2022/08/how-much-time-and-energy-do-we-waste-toggling-between-applications?ref=cesarrg.com) Quote from the week: > This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.” — Alan Watts ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Tasks not roles URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/tasks/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:48:49.000Z #66 - Jun.2023 This is what technology really eliminates through automation. If you look through each technology wave in history you will notice a similar pattern: repetitive tasks being automated through emerging technologies moving human capabilities into more specialized skills. But while tasks can be replaced by technology, ownership, and responsibilities linked to work roles are less likely to be impacted by such innovations - and this becomes then an opportunity. While roles are usually an organizational construct, they are related to the key outcomes you want to achieve, not the number of tasks you accomplish. Tasks are just the tactical path to get there. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/06/Tasks.png) A sense of ownership and purpose drives meaningful work. Is with this perspective that you define your outcomes: innovate on behalf of customers, find the best solution to your client, make a production process more efficient and sustainable, etc. Whenever I hear news about jobs replacements, as the new anticipated wave through AI, it makes me think how we can ensure jobs are linked to value-added roles instead of pure tasks. Sure, AI and, to that extend any future technology, would likely replace tasks. But roles will still be there as long as worthwhile and valuable work is needed. So the real question is: how you can leverage such innovations to make your role more effective? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) 💡 For more ideas like this one, I encourage you to [subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) or follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) and stay up-to-date with the latest posts. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey! ### [Weekly Retro] Clear design challenges URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/weekly-retro-clear-design-challenges/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T14:55:18.000Z #1 - Jun.2023 Happy Friday! Sharing some ideas before you head off for the weekend. Any design journey is a constant discovery of customer needs, opportunities and potential solutions. Setting a clear design challenge, acknowledging what you know and what you don’t, and deciding what to focus on are just a few things you need to consider during the process. Here are some practical tips you can apply: 1. [Framing and abstraction](https://www.cesarrg.com/framing/) of complex concepts to simply communication. 2. Acknowledge your [assumptions, doubt and facts](https://www.cesarrg.com/being-right/) to drive your research. 3. Remember that [change management](https://www.cesarrg.com/change/) requires a solid vision and how you get there. 4. Focus is key. Most of the time, [progressing](https://www.cesarrg.com/85-rule-and-design/) is much more important than a perfect solution up-front. Here are interesting links I found during the week: - [Leveraging LLMs in product design: opportunities and challenges](https://uxdesign.cc/leveraging-llms-in-product-design-opportunities-and-challenges-6f69ccdccfeb?ref=cesarrg.com) - [Have Courage as a Product Leader](https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=N3hhAUuQfl8&ref=cesarrg.com) - [Jeda AI: AI Tool for Strategy Planning](https://www.jeda.ai/online-whiteboard-strategy-planning-tool?ref=cesarrg.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) ## Get weekly inspiration 💡 Every week I share quick knowledge bites about design, tech innovation, and creativity. Join others and subscribe for FREE to stay up-to-date with the latest ideas. Try it Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. All practical learnings. No spam, ever. ### Probabilistic experiences URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/probabilistic-experiences/ Last updated: 2024-10-16T16:24:14.000Z #65 - May.2023 As AI and predictive solutions scale, we'll tend towards experiences that rely on probabilistic results, rather than deterministic ones. The challenge of this approach is how you incorporate in your design core principles such as clarity and [trust](https://www.cesarrg.com/trust/). A deterministic experience is highly correlated with a clear understanding and interpretation of what the software is doing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/05/Probability.png) On the other hand, an experience based on probabilities, as many of the regression and classification algorithms in AI, requires prioritizing better handling of uncertainty, consistent feedback loops, and transparency. Ultimately, clarity may results in higher trust from your users even if [anecdotal experience](https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/what-makes-employees-trust-vs-second-guess-ai?ref=cesarrg.com) still plays a big role in decision-making when using such technologies. Some practical ideas to consider when designing this type of experience: calibrate your data assumptions through real-time customer feedback, provide visibility on how you are reaching the outputs, and give context on the degree of uncertainty when conveying a recommendation. ![César Rodríguez](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/09/image-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2024/02/CR_sign_2024-3.png) **César Rodríguez** [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/crodriguezguevara/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cesarrg.blog/?ref=cesarrg.com) / [X](https://x.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) ****Get your weekly dose of inspiration!** 💡 Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join other innovation leaders, product managers, and creatives curious about actionable strategies, insights, and stories on design, tech innovation, and creativity. ****Subscribe for Free!** ### Design for the future URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/design-for-the-future/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:48:18.000Z #64 - May.2023 Fixing [Climate Change](https://thecarbonalmanac.org/?ref=cesarrg.com) will require collaboration from every one of us. It is not only about finding more efficient ways to produce, grow things, or get around. How we design and lead digital products can also have an impact. And a very important one. The cloud and the scaling capabilities of today's technology sometimes give us a false sense of limitless resources when designing for digital experiences. Still, electronic devices and data centers make up roughly 50% of the consumption of electricity in the [technology sector](https://www.climateimpact.com/news-insights/insights/infographic-carbon-footprint-internet/?ref=cesarrg.com) while we tend to ignore how product decisions can increase or reduce this consumption. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/05/Planet.png) The new generation of sustainable digital products will continue to be desirable, feasible, and viable, but should also consider our planet's needs without lowering the quality bar of the experiences it offers. As regulations and social pressure scale, sustainable design is now a competitive lever. Buying decisions from customers are starting to shift as premiums for 'green' products are more competitive. Making the right thing is becoming a good business. Incorporating this mental model means embedding into our design and software decisions core principles for sustainability. These principles translate primarily into how we store, load, offer, and transfer data in digital applications. Some good starting points: - Optimizing pre-loading content - Data compression - Reduce data transfer; opt for local storage when possible - Use streaming wisely - Evaluate processing demand shifting - Be aware of the energy sources of your infrastructure [Learn more](https://principles.green/?ref=cesarrg.com) and take action. Our decisions can have a profound effect on our future. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) 💡 For more ideas like this one, I encourage you to [subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) or follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) and stay up-to-date with the latest posts. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey! ### Trust URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/trust/ Last updated: 2025-04-16T08:21:22.000Z #63 - May.2023 Trust is foundational for any economy. It has been human currency since we started exchanging things. We create social and [business bonds](https://www.cesarrg.com/customer-bonding/) by trusting others. Institutions build their branding by creating awareness of how trustful they are. At the origin of the consumption era, trust was built over physical products which were built to last, or at least under the promise to do so. These bonds were created slowly, at every purchase. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/05/Trust-2.png) The digital era brought this same concept at the scale and speed of digital products and services, adding more complex nuances such as the affinity between customer values or shared causes. Trust was important then - and it is now, more than ever. In an [AI-driven economy](https://www.cesarrg.com/design-thinking-and-ai/), experiences are built through each interaction. You might have only one single chance to show yourself as a trustworthy business. Trust bonds are now volatile. Customers now deposit their trust in algorithms and their capacity to take decisions aligned with their expectations and values. Data is now at the center of the creation of new trust bonds. Customers are entitled to own their data and they will trust in your product based on your capacity to keep your promise of transparency, privacy, security, and reliability. Design for trust. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) 💡 For more ideas like this one, I encourage you to [subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) or follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) and stay up-to-date with the latest posts. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey! ### Observe URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/observe/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:47:58.000Z #62 - May.2023 In design, listening to customers' feedback is good. Working *with* customers in their environment and watching all the nuances of their day-to-day is priceless. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/05/Observe.png) Human tasks are full of [workarounds](https://www.cesarrg.com/workarounds/). It's people finding their ways to solve problems or accomplish goals. It's human nature. Observing these workarounds and learning from them is a proxy to find insights and opportunities for adding value. Focus on finding the tasks with the highest cognitive complexity (deep thinking and decision-making) or [loops](https://www.cesarrg.com/loops-vs-low-volume/) (repetitive low-value work). Reduce cognitive load and remove loops through technology. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) 💡 For more ideas like this one, I encourage you to [subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) or follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) and stay up-to-date with the latest posts. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey! ### AI and good design URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/ai-products-and-good-design/ Last updated: 2024-08-31T20:51:07.000Z #61 - May.2023 Making a product "[understandable](https://www.cesarrg.com/good-design/)" is one of the principles of good design. This is when a product is self-explanatory. It is predictable. We achieved this by aligning the user expectations with the intended behavior of our product. It means ensuring we cover common [affordances](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affordance?ref=cesarrg.com) through our product experience. But with the advent of AI-driven products, how we can ensure we apply this principle? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/05/AI_trust.png) One of the common claims of AI is that is hard to understand. Part of the effect of why people are amazed by AI progress is precisely because it surprises us with unexpected results, beyond our initial expectations. Take [AI-generative](https://www.cesarrg.com/generative-ai/) art tools or ChatGPT: is a "Wow"-effect mixed with "How *he* knows this?". While this excitement effect enhances the experience, it is becoming a design challenge. AI encompasses prediction algorithms and concepts that most people don't understand today. And while you might argue that they shouldn't understand this complexity, predicting how a product will behave is a proxy for customer trust. In simple words: If customers do not trust your product, they will not use it. I see 3 foundational areas to consider in this new technology iteration: **Education** \- informing people on what AI is, basic concepts, and the potential of this technology. **Context** \- improving experiences giving visibility of the key factors used to make a decision. **Transparency** \- explaining how data is handled, how bias is prevented, and further ethical considerations. Trust will continue to be the backbone of good product experiences. Design for trust. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) 💡 For more ideas like this one, I encourage you to [subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) or follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) and stay up-to-date with the latest posts. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey! ### A 16-year run URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/a-16-year-run/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:47:15.000Z #60 - Apr.2023 16 years ago and without any running experience I thought for the first time: "Would I be able to run a Marathon?". At that time, I couldn't imagine how someone could bare such a physical and mental challenge. This Sunday I completed the 42 km of Madrid's Marathon and had the chance to experience it myself. From all the reflections from such an experience, I realized that we usually ignore all the small steps we give toward our goals. Each stone, big or small, lay out the road toward an outcome. These steps are precisely what make the journey enjoyable. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/04/Race.png) Is during the journey that you trial & error. Where you look for ways to improve. It is gathering knowledge. Is training, learning, and course-correcting. Is sometimes walking away and coming back with renewed motivation. I trained 443 km and spent +42 hrs preparing for this run. This is 10X the actual race. It was the upfront investment to get to the finish line. But thinking deeper, this race started much before. Was through the first 5K races, the 10K, and the half marathons during all these years. I now understand it was not only a 42km run...it was a race that I started 16 years ago. Enjoy the small steps. Enjoy the journey. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) 💡 For more ideas like this one, I encourage you to [subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) or follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/cesarrgv?ref=cesarrg.com) and stay up-to-date with the latest posts. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey! ### Art and science URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/art-and-science/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:47:06.000Z #59 - Apr.2023 complement each other during your design journey. While it's important to make data-driven decisions our rational bias can limit the potential of novel ideas, experimentation, and [divergent thinking](https://www.cesarrg.com/abstraction/). This is the art vs. science paradox. What is the right balance between intuition and rational thinking for decision-making? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/04/Intuition.png) I think we can use the best of both approaches. In the business context, intuition is often misunderstood or linked only to higher management hierarchies. Nevertheless, I believe it is a key strategic skill that every professional should develop. Intuition should be informed. It builds on top of empiric and structured knowledge. [What you consume](https://www.cesarrg.com/questions/) and how you reflect on learnings refine your intuition - in design, this can be how deeply you understand your customer's needs. It then becomes a proxy for insights and wisdom from your experience. Intuition and [emotions aren't blockers](https://hbr.org/2022/09/emotions-arent-the-enemy-of-good-decision-making?ref=cesarrg.com) for good decision-making. Acknowledging the role your emotions play is much more important. Informed intuition can promote speed of action when a decision is stuck within rational debates. If nurtured properly, your intuition can become a powerful design tool. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Design & plan URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/design-plan/ Last updated: 2024-03-06T20:32:10.000Z #58 - Apr.2023 Designing and planning require very different drivers but yet we tend to mix them up all the time. Defining actions, deadlines, and dependencies, on its own, is not designing for a problem. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/04/IMG_0890.png) A plan relies on a key assumption that the problem is defined, well-understood, and aligned across the team. Planning is then laying out a strategy on the most efficient way of \[building, developing, crafting\] something. Designing, on the other hand, is about deeply [understanding](https://www.cesarrg.com/improve-your-design/) what you are trying to solve and come with a framework to deliver the solution. Is not only about efficiency but gathering insights, discovery [trends](https://www.cesarrg.com/being-right/), and [setting hypotheses.](https://www.cesarrg.com/words-matters/) Both live in constant tension within an iterative process even if their mindsets are different. The secret is to keep track of the problem definition before committing to an execution strategy. Avoid being very efficient at building the wrong thing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Improve your design URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/improve-your-design/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:46:44.000Z #57 - Apr.2023 Any design process requires an in-depth understanding of who you are designing for, the problem you are solving, and how likely the solution fits the problem. Here are 3 things you can do now to increase your chances of success in your next design journey: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/04/IMG_0889.png) - **Understand your customer**: sound familiar, right? Yet, many times we fail to identify [who is the customer](https://www.cesarrg.com/talking-to-customers/) and understand their needs. Use empathy as your north star. Follow their journey. Learn from their [workarounds](https://www.cesarrg.com/workarounds/). Create [trust bonds](https://www.cesarrg.com/customer-do-not-really-care/) and [listen actively](https://www.cesarrg.com/active-listening/). - **Discover opportunities**: prioritizing which specific problem to solve is a mix of [outcome-driven decisions](https://www.cesarrg.com/product-discovery/) and good instincts. Map your [assumptions](https://www.cesarrg.com/being-right/), link your opportunities to the outcomes you want to achieve, and experiment. - **Validate**: design is about validating your hypothesis and being humble enough to discard it if needed. There are many [validation techniques](https://www.cesarrg.com/test-it/) based on what you are trying to test. Be open-minded. Let the data and learnings speak for themselves. Apply these 3 approaches and you will be better positioned to serve your customers and innovate on their behalf. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Design Thinking and AI URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/design-thinking-and-ai/ Last updated: 2024-08-31T20:50:53.000Z #56 - Mar.2023 The latest [Design in Tech](https://maeda.pm/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/designintech2023-001.pdf?ref=cesarrg.com) report from John Maeda shed light on the opportunities for designing new products and services in the digital world. Design methods change over time and require different tools to address new problems. How are design thinking techniques impacted? Many agreed that we entered a new era in design. From the design origins focused on the physical world (designing objects), through the rise of design thinking (business + customer-centric design) to the latest iteration: [Computational Design](https://www.oneistox.com/blog/computational-design-guide?ref=cesarrg.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/03/6F6DFB36-2E3A-4626-86DF-5C5910029BBD.png) In this new iteration algorithms and data models are the engine behind each product. Is about building better experiences by combining foundational models, contexts, and computational power. The traditional diverge-converge dynamic from design thinking techniques can be augmented through new technology such as AI. Starting with the [discovery](https://www.cesarrg.com/product-discovery/) phase, we can now process large data sets and find problem trends faster through AI classifications. Ideation can be powered by [AI interactions](https://www.cesarrg.com/ai-chatgpt/) to understand how others have solved similar problems. [Prototyping](https://twitter.com/cesarinedu/status/1636052787204087809?s=61&t=2bqdJ3SHXcldHDd0QOWrQA&ref=cesarrg.com) and [testing](https://www.cesarrg.com/test-it/) can be optimized by AI-based visualization and simulations. Just to name a few examples. I believe this is the tip of the iceberg of the true potential of AI. Such augmentations will continue to increase productivity and our ability to solve bigger problems, not only in business but more [complex social issues](https://www.gatesnotes.com/The-Age-of-AI-Has-Begun?ref=cesarrg.com) such as health, education, and economic growth. Interesting times ahead of us. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Active listening URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/active-listening/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:46:11.000Z #55 - Mar.2023 There are tons of techniques to capture and probe customer needs for your [design](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/design/) process. One of them is mostly underrated: Active Listening. As simple as it sounds, active listening in today's accelerated world requires a lot of effort for being present and attentive to what others had to say. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/03/33DC8F44-A3F8-4973-BD3F-C6CBBFF228E3.png) Active listening is the entrance door to real empathy and creating long-term [trust](https://www.cesarrg.com/customer-do-not-really-care/) bonds. Is the hidden backbone for building personal and business relationships. Is the guardrail against our own biases and prejudgements. The best designers are great listeners. They resist the temptation of creating [solutions](https://www.cesarrg.com/ideas/) and building upfront [assumptions](https://www.cesarrg.com/product-discovery/). They listen, question, and reflect before jumping to solutions. Listening is a skill. Requires training. There's always room for improvement. This skill is fed by curiosity, focus, and the humility of not knowing. Pause. Focus. Listen. Act. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Trails and rails URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/trails-and-rails/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:46:01.000Z #54 - Mar.2023 Methodologies and frameworks can be a double-edged sword. On one side, they capture common knowledge across a discipline making it easy to use. On the other, they are generic and primarily prescriptive. But responding to [change](https://www.cesarrg.com/change/) in a complex environment as today requires more than just following a set of procedures. Taking a one-size-fits-all approach and trusting blindly the outcomes is risky. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/03/Way.png) Does this mean you don't need a structured plan or conceptual guidance? Of course not, but you need to adapt it - you are entitled to do so. Seek to understand the mental models and [first principles](https://www.cesarrg.com/abstraction/) behind such frameworks and methodologies. Consider your context, constraints, and opportunities. Build your own conceptual frameworks and iterate across the common knowledge. Improve over it. As the poetic license for writers, you should override the things you need to succeed in your practice. Sticking to a prescriptive approach only to follow a methodology is losing the opportunity to learn, adapt and thrive. Consider them as walking trails and not track rails. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Generative AI URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/generative-ai/ Last updated: 2024-08-31T20:49:54.000Z #53 - Mar.2023 Similar to the disruption in [conversational experiences](https://www.cesarrg.com/ai-chatgpt/), AI is now creating art. Generative AI art is getting traction but is interesting to think about what this means for our creative confidence. This type of art is a result of AI models trained by billions of images across the internet. When prompted through text, these applications are capable to diffuse multiple images into what seems a novel picture. The [results](https://openai.com/dall-e-2/?ref=cesarrg.com) are quite impressive. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/Dali.png) The open debate: can consider this art? Are these tools "creative" by themselves? As it scales, where can we draw the line between human and AI-based creativity? I am not sure we even *need* to draw a line. The [creative act](https://www.cesarrg.com/about-creating/) is much broader than just the end result (a song, a photograph, a watercolor, etc). Is the story behind why you want to express yourself in a particular way; is the crafting process; is the timing of knowing when to release a piece of art. There are so many nuances that I don't feel AI, and to that extent, any other tech tool will completely replace human creativity. These are augmentation tools that will help us express ourselves in new ways. Even if new roles start emerging (e.g. imagine a future with AI-prompt designers), the intention & story behind any piece of art will continue to have a human touch...or at least this is what I look forward to. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Inside the Box URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/inside-the-box/ Last updated: 2024-07-30T23:09:32.000Z #52 - Feb.2023 "Think out of the box" is a very common *cliché* when teams are searching for novel and disruptive ideas. Is a way of challenging the status quo, bringing lateral thinking, and exploring new ways of doing things. But to break the rules, you need to know them first. You need to know "what's in your box" before thinking out of it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/Box.png) You need to understand the music cannons to find new harmonies; you need to know meter in poetry to write modern verses; you need to extensively use a design framework before you think you need a new one. It is by [understanding](https://www.cesarrg.com/good-design/) these constraints that you can find better ways of doing things. These *limitations* will then show you the exit doors to [discover](https://www.cesarrg.com/product-discovery/) unexplored options. As humans, we are always driven by new ideas and it might be tempting to just change your tools, framework, or environment to solve a problem. But before you search for the next "new thing", understand your context today. Sometimes solutions are closer than your think. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG4-1.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Who wrote this? URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/ai-chatgpt/ Last updated: 2024-02-02T11:19:24.000Z #51 - Feb.2023 This might be the question we'll need to make ourselves more often. The increasing trend in AI, and in particular, Large Language Models ([LLMs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Large%5Flanguage%5Fmodels?ref=cesarrg.com)) such as ChatGPT, opens an interesting debate on accuracy and creativity. Distilling the current hype on what this type of AI can do, I believe that its true value is being an enabler for solving complex problems. I don't believe AI will replace you; but someone using AI will, as [Santiago](https://twitter.com/svpino/status/1610984481342771200?s=61&t=4YJMVzHp5cjZyzASrEKPMg&ref=cesarrg.com) well pointed out. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/image.png) At each technology iteration, we had been able to solve problems at a higher level of [abstraction](https://www.cesarrg.com/abstraction/). Is the same as writing did for inventory tracking centuries ago; what calculators did for executing arithmetic calculations; what applications are doing to abstract complex coding. I think tools like ChatGPT are one of these iterations, augmenting how we search, synthesize, and consume data. But as abstraction increases, answers are less binary and deterministic and this is precisely the biggest challenge for AI. Tools like ChatGPT are indeed enablers but require deep probing, questioning, and fact-checks. Clear design principles to increase acurracy, reduce bias and control the current overconfidence in AI answers seems like a good starting point to turn AI into a reliable and powerful tool. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/sign_CRG5.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### A counterintuitive challenge URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/counterintuitive-challenge/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:44:52.000Z #50 - Feb.2023 It might be counterintuitive but managing well-established and mature products is *way* more difficult than dealing with the ambiguity of new ideas. You might think about what could go wrong for a mature product that already has a clear value proposition, market-fit coverage, and a well-tested strategy. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/Mature.png) But is precisely this status quo that signals an upcoming decline. Extending the lifecycle of a product at this stage requires to re-think what's really important for customers. You might go different ways: either diversify (evolving into new products or features) or declutter (going back to the essentials). Either way, you need to act fast and this is one of the most demanding stages for a product team. You will need to deal with customer expectations and biases on what should, or should not, be the next step. Let your customer's needs guide your decision. Active listening and in-depth understanding, as in the early stages of the product lifecycle, become key for long-term growth. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Time machine URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/time-machine/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:44:31.000Z #49 - Feb.2023 We build new things from the inspiration of others' concepts and ideas. Rarely, what we create is genuinely novel. As we iterate through this upward spiral, we add new nuances, perspectives, and personal contributions. Raising the bar. Pushing the known limits. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/02/Time_Machine.png) Looking to the past is accessing an unlimited library of knowledge. Sure, the "how" changes over time, as technology evolves, but deep in each [iteration](https://www.cesarrg.com/value-and-availability/) the first principles of a solution are constant. At our core, we all keep behaviors and affordances that can help us design solutions for new challenges. We can pull from this invisible thread to learn how people dealt with problems in the past to combine today's capabilities and lay out a new horizon. Historical research is your time machine. Look for building blocks and core principles from the past that can help you build the future. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### 3-stars reviews URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/3-stars-reviews/ Last updated: 2024-07-30T23:09:40.000Z #48 - Jan.2023 Getting feedback from your customers is foundational for improving your product or service. Satisfied customers will quickly become promoters, sharing with others the good news - everything is great for them. Angry customers, most of the time, will provide feedback mixed with emotional elements such as frustration and hate. What about feedback in between? Usually, these 3-star ratings are considered neutral. Not useful. Neither good nor bad. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/01/3_Stars.png) Yet I believe that it is precisely in this space where you're likely to find the most insightful and constructive inputs. These customers acknowledge there good and bad things in your offering. They're happy but conscious that there's room for improvement. They're likely more inclined to collaborate and co-create with you. With the proper probing, what seems like neutral feedback can become a great source of insights for your design process. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Thank You URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/50/ Last updated: 2023-01-29T09:10:33.000Z 50 posts later... I want to celebrate this milestone with all of you! This is my 50th post on [this blog](https://www.cesarrg.com/about/). My writing journey had up and downs, with a couple of frustrated tentatives in the past to become consistent. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/01/image-1.png) This time I was able to commit to sharing my ideas with you, trying my best to translate into words things that I believe can be valuable for your craft. If you are a [subscriber](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) or a frequent reader, a HUGE THANKS for being part of this journey and for keeping me motivated. If you are just passing by, [Welcome](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/featured/) and hope you enjoy ideas I share on [design](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/design/), [technology](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/technology/) and other [insights](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/insights/). Let's continue this journey! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) ### Words matters URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/words-matters/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:43:33.000Z #47 - Jan.2023 > "Language is so powerful" - [Jony Ive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jony%5FIve?ref=cesarrg.com) In design, words matters. The way you frame a problem or a solution can constrain innovation. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/01/Words.png) [Framing](https://www.cesarrg.com/framing/) a problem too broad will generate a lack of focus; framing it too specific and you will miss the big picture. Specify upfront that your solution will be "\[you name it\]", you are immediately eliminating many other alternatives without even thinking. The story you set will drive your design. Remove upfront bias - set a hypothesis instead. Be [flexible](https://www.cesarrg.com/embrace-chaos/) during the process and be open to find the solution along the way. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? You can get future posts directly to your email by [subscribing here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup). No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Two questions URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/questions/ Last updated: 2024-03-06T20:32:18.000Z #46 - Jan.2023 We live in a consumption era. Every day we consume an endless amount of online content and services through digital products. It is easy to fall into a consumption loop. Your [creative](https://www.cesarrg.com/about-creating/) muscle stops growing. You become numb by the constant exposure to a rather infinite source of information. Distraction becomes the new norm. Your learning and in-depth understanding of a skill or craft are reduced to splashes of unstructured stimuli. You consume more. You create less. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/01/Questions.png) Remember that what you consume is actually upstream of what you create. Two questions can help you regain focus. The next time you catch yourself in these endless loops of consumption reflect on: (1) is this helping me to create something new? and (2) is this teaching me something that will enhance my craft? You will be impressed by how many times we invest valuable time in worthless content. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? You can get future posts directly to your email by [subscribing here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup). No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Under the hood URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/under-the-hood/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:42:59.000Z #45 - Jan.2023 Every year it seems that I go back to my go-to resolution of being more constant in my [meditation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation?ref=cesarrg.com) practice. As with any habit, meditation requires discipline. Is saying "yes" when your mind says "not today". ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/Meditation.png) Contemplating how your mind works can help you understand how & why you react to certain things and makes you more aware of your own feelings. Is hard to think about how we go into our day-to-day lives without this perception. It helps you *live*. That's precisely why is called a *practice*; so that you can be mindful at any time. Start simple. 5 mins are enough. Keep it constant, even if you don't feel motivated. The practice compounds over time. Look under the hood of your mind! You'll be surprised by what you will find. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Neuroplasticity as a service URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/neuroplasticity-as-a-service/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:42:47.000Z #44 - Jan.2023 In a world where everything is becoming a *service* is not exaggerated to think about how core cognitive functions can also become one of them. What are the implications of rewinding our brains "as-a-service"? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/NAAS.png) When you think about neuroplasticity - our brain's capacity to adapt in response to experiences - it is hard to ignore how new technology, such as [VR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual%5Freality?ref=cesarrg.com), can have an impact in the future. As VR experiences become more [realistic](https://www.cesarrg.com/virtual-or-reality/) and accessible is interesting to think how this can become a bridge towards learning and defining new behavior. Think about even more critical applications of VR and neuroplasticity for [brain recovery](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34352269/?ref=cesarrg.com). The potential is huge! *Neuroplasticity-as-a-service* will become a game-changer. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### 2022 book list URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/2022-book-list/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:42:27.000Z #43 - Dec.2022 Is time for sharing the books I read during 2022! This is an updated list from the [mid-2022 post](https://www.cesarrg.com/2022-mid-year-books/), and I'm including a quick highlight for each book. Usually, I mix topics around the year; in 2022 I ended up choosing more books in Spanish as I wanted to get more in touch with [my native language](https://www.cesarrg.com/nocticulas/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/07/Books_2021-2-1.png) 1. **[The New One Minute Manager](https://www.amazon.com/New-One-Minute-Manager-ebook/dp/B00MMG19OG?ref=cesarrg.com) (K. H. Blanchard, S. Johnson)** **\-** This is a classic and was recommended to me some time ago. I like the simplicity of the ideas, wrapped within a story narrative on how to become a better manager. 2. **[Pequeno Manual Antirracista ](https://www.amazon.com/Pequeno-Manual-Antirracista-Autografado-Portugues/dp/8535932879?ref=cesarrg.com)(Djamila Ribeiro)** \- Djamila is a Brazilian activist and, in this book, she covers topics of structural racism in society and some handy tips on being more conscious about our daily biases. 3. **[Being You: A New Science of Consciousness](https://www.amazon.com/Being-You-Consciousness-Anil-Seth-ebook/dp/B07ZG1BXL5?ref=cesarrg.com) (Anil Seth)** \- This book was dense - in a good sense. Consciousness is one of the most complex and fascinating topics in science and Anil makes a great job navigating through what he believes is the origin of perceptions, emotions, and the self. 4. **[En Tierra de Todos ](https://www.amazon.com/tierra-todos-Pozo-Siquen-Spanish/dp/8429329242?ref=cesarrg.com)(José María Rodríguez Olaizola)** \- A loved how this Jesuit priest brings topics that most of the time we consider taboo within our Catholic-Religious debates, but they are so important to be addressed for us to evolve both socially and spiritually. 5. **[12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos ](https://www.amazon.com/12-Rules-Life-Antidote-Chaos/dp/0345816021?ref=cesarrg.com)(Jordan B. Peterson)** \- Through a mix of philosophical ideas and personal anecdotes Jordan's book tries to summarize key rules for a more fulfilling/happy life. Great insights for re-assessing your personal behavior and mental models. 6. [**Homo Sidera - Nascimento**](https://www.amazon.com/Homo-Sidera-Nascimento-Diego-Oliveira-ebook/dp/B0B2M9SZ79?ref=cesarrg.com) **(Diego de Oliveira)** \- This is in fact my first book of science fiction and was recommended by a friend (who is the author!). I need to admit that I was engaged in this interesting story - which combines physics, technology, time travel, and more - about an AI system and its journey to save its creators from a scary future due to climate change. 7. [**Silent Spring**](https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Spring-Rachel-Carson/dp/0618249060?ref=cesarrg.com) **(Rachel Carson)** \- Published in 1962, this book is considered a pioneer in creating awareness of how humans impact the environment. Framed through the dangers of pesticides, Rachel goes very deep into data points on how these chemicals ended with entire ecosystems. 8. **[El baile tras la tormenta](https://www.amazon.es/Baile-Tras-Tormenta-Biograf%C3%ADas-Testimonios/dp/8432144258?ref=cesarrg.com) (José Miguel Cejas)** \- I believe this is the most impactful book I read this year. Through small anecdotes from people in Baltic countries during the challenging times of Russian Communism and German Nazism, they share their stories of how they kept their faith in such hard times. 9. **[La señorita Cora](https://ciudadseva.com/texto/la-senorita-cora/?ref=cesarrg.com) (Julio Cortázar)** \- I had never read short stories before ("Cuentos"). This one from Cortázar was a great introduction. In a self-contained story, the narrative is addictive and pushes you to continue reading until the end. 10. **[Clases de Literatura: Berkeley 1980](https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Julio-Cort%C3%A1zar-ebook/dp/B00GJ2A5PI/ref=sr%5F1%5F2?keywords=Literature+Classes%3A+Berkeley+1980&qid=1670774936&s=books&sr=1-2&ref=cesarrg.com) (Julio Cortázar)** \- Keeping the Cortázar's theme, this book is a transcript of a series of lectures he gave in Berkeley. You feel like you're part of the class; very instructive on different literary genres, through examples from his books. 11. **[Lo uno y lo diverso: la riqueza del idioma español](https://www.amazon.es/uno-diverso-PR%C3%81CTICAS-INSTITUTO-CERVANTES/dp/8467061979?ref=cesarrg.com) (Instituto Cervantes)** \- This book captures different authors talking about the nuances and (funny) stories about the Spanish language; spoken across many countries, Spanish has evolved in each region, generating new words and expressions. 12. **[El infinito en un junco](https://www.amazon.es/El-infinito-junco-invenci%C3%B3n-Biblioteca/dp/8417860797?ref=cesarrg.com) (Irene Vallejo)** \- Recommended! Irene takes you through the journey of how books were created, and the stories behind such a simple/powerful technology that changed the world. Happy reading! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Consciousness and organizations URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/consciousness-organizations/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:42:13.000Z #42 - Dec.2022 The study of [consciousness](https://www.cesarrg.com/virtual-or-reality/) is a fascinating world! It is amazing how little we know about the mysteries of what makes you, you. When you are conscious you acknowledge your identity. You have intentions. You build more complex ideas such as purpose and life goals. When unconscious, you are in an idle state as when you are sedated or heavily brain-injured. Intentionless. Static. Some scientists [theorize](https://youtu.be/xRel1JKOEbI?ref=cesarrg.com) that consciousness is a mix of the level of **information** (inputs/ideas) and **integration** (the overall experience). *Both* properties are needed to consider a conscious state, not just one of them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/11/Orgs_Consciousness.png) Isn't this surprisingly similar to how an organization behaves? We could agree that some organizations are much more conscious than others; they are driven by intention and purpose. They acknowledge their identity as a group. They are not idle and [static](https://www.cesarrg.com/change-blindness/). I believe 'unconscious organizations' lack information and integration properties. They either lack a valuable flow of information to make better decisions at every level or they don't promote the proper integration between teams, creating silos between teams. Unconscious organizations are like sleeping creatures. Wake-up! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Move forward URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/move-forward/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:42:02.000Z #41 - Dec.2022 You don't need to move forward only at the speed of your rational analysis. Full rational decisions do not always crystallize your best ideas. You can still think long-term while experimenting and course-correcting along the way. Having the freedom of reverting whenever needed (making[ ](https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/why-emotionally-intelligent-people-embrace-2-way-doors-rule-to-make-better-faster-decisions.html?ref=cesarrg.com)*[two-way-door decisions](https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/why-emotionally-intelligent-people-embrace-2-way-doors-rule-to-make-better-faster-decisions.html?ref=cesarrg.com)*) can be handy. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/11/Move_Forward.png) Rational thinking will always lead you to suggestions & possibilities, which can block you from taking action, leading you to infinite loops of options. Intuitions and feelings - when well trained through learnings from your previous experiences - can be the right balance needed to move forward. You can keep your goal on target, while testing, adjusting, and iterating. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Debts URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/debts/ Last updated: 2024-02-12T21:00:22.000Z #40 - Dec.2022 I find teams use the concepts of functional and technical debt interchangeably. However, solving each requires a very different approach. Functional debt is much more related to the lack of *capabilities* in your solution that limits users on how they solve their problems. At a software level, things work and can even scale at the speed needed. But the solution lack core features, it might not be intuitive enough, not delightful, or simply does not address the problem most efficiently. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/11/Debts.png) Technical debt, on the other hand, is a key technology limitation that compromises how fast your solution can scale. It usually goes along with a high maintenance cost to keep things running, and adding new features is not trivial without foundational changes. You don't solve functional debt purely through software refactoring; similarly, you don't solve technical debt by only evaluating your feature list. Each solution is driven by two different mindsets. Functional improvements come through a deep [understanding](https://www.cesarrg.com/the-journey/) of your customer, to design better ways to solve their problems. Reducing technical debt requires a deep understanding of your solution architecture and the leverage of the best [design patterns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software%5Fdesign%5Fpattern?ref=cesarrg.com) to scale. They will always be a mix of both, and surely both are not 100% avoidable given the incremental nature of how solutions a built. But differentiating both will increase your effectiveness in solving the right problem. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Outliers vs. loops URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/loops-vs-low-volume/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:41:21.000Z #39 - Nov.2022 When the topic is automation companies usually open a pandora's box with infinite opportunities. The tasks candidate for automation vary across multiple purposes: operational, efficiency, recurrent, time-sensitive,...and the list never ends. Focus in this space tends to be challenging. What is the real value we get through automation? Should we automate every human task by default? What should we prioritize given the limited tech resources? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/11/Loops.png) I like to think of *outliers* and *loops*. Is inevitable for companies - specially the ones that are fast-speed & innovative - to operate with a high volume of manual tasks. This is not always bad; not all tasks are the breed that leads to business inefficiencies. The *outliers* are tasks that are not recurrent and, although manual by nature, are related to in-depth analysis work and require a high investment of intellectual effort. They are required ad-hoc and the simplification does not impact the outcomes. Loops, on the other hand, are repetitive low-value work, where the tradeoff of effort vs. outcomes is totally unbalanced. These tasks grow slowly at the backstage of your organization; they sometimes become *invisible,* accepted by everyone as "has been always this way" or "this is the standard process". These loop tasks are the ones that you should seek to reduce through technology as soon as possible. Most of this low-value and low-efficient work is what really prevents companies to scale and they should be on the top of your list. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Stakeholders URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/talking-to-customers/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:41:06.000Z #38 - Nov.2022 Are you confusing stakeholders with users of your product? Seems like a trivial question but I find many times that teams are not clear on the nuances of this difference. Don't get me wrong; there is a very thin line between being impacted by your product (stakeholder) and an actual user. Separating both, in particular for products used within your organization, can be challenging...but very much needed. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/11/Stakeholders.png) Considering stakeholders as users can take you to places where you are not focusing on real outcomes but rather on strategic & business constraints. Pure stakeholder-led prioritization can take you out of the route. Priorities should be driven by the outcome of solving real problems for users. Your probing and [discovery](https://www.cesarrg.com/product-discovery/) efforts should be focused on them, hearing and empathizing with people actually using your product. Does this mean stakeholders are out of the equation? Surely not. They play a key role in bringing inputs on the constraints, assumptions, and risk assessment. They are just not the main source you should use to deeply understand a problem [your user](https://www.cesarrg.com/customer-do-not-really-care/) is facing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Virtual or Reality URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/virtual-or-reality/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:40:52.000Z #37 - Nov.2022 In these times when it seems that the digital world is becoming our new world is inevitable to ask: are these experiences *real*? Sure, we can fallback to our simple understanding of reality, on being whatever happens in the *physical* world. A non-illusional experience. However, the debate between virtual and physical reality is a much deeper philosophical question that is now in the spotlight. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/11/_Virtual.png) The work from [David Chalmers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard%5Fproblem%5Fof%5Fconsciousness?ref=cesarrg.com) brings nuances about whether we should consider virtual experiences genuine. Although different in content (atoms vs. bits) both experiences have much more things in common regarding how our consciousness grasps these realities. How can we argue about the deepness of such virtual experiences? Can we even prove our hypothesis? Are people able to live a meaningful life in these new *worlds*? What are the opportunities for people limited in the physical world due to accessibility problems? At this point, I have much more questions than conclusions. It is exciting to think about the future...but it's also a bit scary. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Customers do not really care URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/customer-do-not-really-care/ Last updated: 2023-11-24T13:33:35.000Z #36 - Oct.2022 Customers don't really care about your internal business bureaucracy. They don't care about the latest innovation framework you are using. They don't really care about the progress and challenges of achieving your business outcomes. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/10/Dont_Care.png) Customers are much more interested in finding trustable people and partners to get their problems solved. They thrive for great experiences - those particularly great that are difficult to forget and that urge them to tell others. Is not a trivial task to trace this line while designing a product. We constantly mix business needs with those of your customer, either because we use our [own assumptions](https://www.cesarrg.com/being-right/) or because we rely on unproven hypotheses. Make [curiosity](https://www.cesarrg.com/product-discovery/) & empathy your close allies in this journey. Focus on what customers really care about. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Intentional change URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/intentional-change/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:39:59.000Z #35 - Aug.2022 There is a big difference between intentional change and saying yes to every demand your product team receives. If you are not being intentional about what you really need to deliver to your customers you are just being reactive to whoever comes up with the best pitch. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/08/Intentional_Change.png) Making intentional change starts with a deep understanding of what your customer needs and identifying the opportunities with high potential to solve such problems. This understanding comes from constant customer probing, curiosity, and proactive discovery and, from there, you can be able to frame what's important and what's not. Delivering any random request that you receive without connecting it to real customer opportunities is just worthless agility. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Download URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/download/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:39:43.000Z #34 - Aug.2022 I once read: *"If you’re thinking without writing, you only think you’re thinking."* As I continue to reflect on this quote by [Leslie Lamport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie%5FLamport?ref=cesarrg.com) I can't agree more. Downloading your ideas, either through paper or conversations, is key for in-depth understanding and for refining your thoughts. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/08/Download.png) Raw ideas are very [fragile](https://www.cesarrg.com/ideas/). They precisely gain form & body by turning them into something concrete that others (and you) can refer to. They are polished through interactions. [Scribbling](https://cesarrg.ghost.io/ghost/?ref=cesarrg.com#/editor/post/60a6fded464079003b81a32e), journaling, and sharing with others, are all great ways for downloading your thoughts. Writing, for instance, is a creative process and, as you reflect on it, you validate your assumptions. History has good examples of the benefits of this technique. Stoics like Seneca and Epictetus called out the importance of [journaling](https://dailystoic.com/journaling/?ref=cesarrg.com). Sharing ideas with others is what made [Feynman's approach](https://fs.blog/feynman-technique/?ref=cesarrg.com) of "learning through teaching" so effective. Share your ideas. Make them public. Debate upon them. Refine your understanding of the truth. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### 2022 mid-year books URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/2022-mid-year-books/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:39:13.000Z #33 - Jul.2022 Is time for the mid-year checkpoint of the [books](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/books/) I had read so far in 2022\. There is always a mix of topics that I jump across so I'm including a few insights in case you're interested in diving deep into any of these books: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/07/Books_2021-2-1.png) 1. **[The New One Minute Manager](https://www.amazon.com/New-One-Minute-Manager-ebook/dp/B00MMG19OG?ref=cesarrg.com) (K. H. Blanchard, S. Johnson)** **\-** This is a classic and was recommended to me some time ago. I like the simplicity of the ideas, wrapped within a story narrative on how to become a better manager. 2. **[Pequeno Manual Antirracista ](https://www.amazon.com/Pequeno-Manual-Antirracista-Autografado-Portugues/dp/8535932879?ref=cesarrg.com)(Djamila Ribeiro)** \- Djamila is a Brazilian activist and, in this book, she covers topics of structural racism in society and some handy tips on being more conscious about our daily biases. 3. **[Being You: A New Science of Consciousness](https://www.amazon.com/Being-You-Consciousness-Anil-Seth-ebook/dp/B07ZG1BXL5?ref=cesarrg.com) (Anil Seth)** \- This book was dense - in a good sense. Consciousness is one of the most complex and fascinating topics in science and Anil makes a great job navigating through what he believes is the origin of perceptions, emotions, and the self. 4. **[En Tierra de Todos ](https://www.amazon.com/tierra-todos-Pozo-Siquen-Spanish/dp/8429329242?ref=cesarrg.com)(José María Rodríguez Olaizola)** \- A loved how this Jesuit priest brings topics that most of the time we consider taboo within our Catholic-Religious debates, but they are so important to be addressed for us to evolve both socially and spiritually. 5. **[12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos ](https://www.amazon.com/12-Rules-Life-Antidote-Chaos/dp/0345816021?ref=cesarrg.com)(Jordan B. Peterson)** \- Through a mix of philosophical ideas and personal anecdotes Jordan's book tries to summarize key rules for a more fulfilling/happy life. Great insights for re-assessing your personal behavior and mental models. 6. [**Homo Sidera - Nascimento**](https://www.amazon.com/Homo-Sidera-Nascimento-Diego-Oliveira-ebook/dp/B0B2M9SZ79?ref=cesarrg.com) **(Diego de Oliveira)** \- This is in fact my first book of science fiction and was recommended by a friend (who is the author!). I need to admit that I was engaged in this interesting story - which combines physics, technology, time travel, and more - about an AI system and its journey to save its creators from a scary future due to climate change. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Customer bonding URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/customer-bonding/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:39:01.000Z #32 - Jul.2022 Customer loyalty is directly related to the game you're in. The game most companies play is the one obsessively focused on the competition instead of connecting with customers. This approach is broken not only because you might be replicating wrong decisions from others for the mere purpose of "closing the gap", but because your strategy is not focused on what customers need. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/07/customer_Bonding.png) Loyalty is a result of *bonding* with customers. Is having people trusting in your promises. Is through long-term engagements with transparency and fair relationships. Bonding requires constantly listening to customers and [discovering](https://www.cesarrg.com/product-discovery/) new ways to solve their problems; requires empathy and removing biases for [experimenting](https://www.cesarrg.com/what-if/) with new ideas. A few years ago, I found the[ Delta Model](https://www.amazon.com/Delta-Model-Reinventing-Business-Strategy/dp/144191479X?ref=cesarrg.com) framework which I believe contains most of these key ingredients, but more importantly, the right mindset. It combines innovation (solving real customer problems) and strategy (planning towards your goals) connecting your company's capabilities & processes towards a converging goal: bonding with your customers. This should be a company-wide strategy and not restricted to specific teams (e.g. product, marketing, etc.) Think long-term. Create long-lasting relationships with your customers. This is the game you should be playing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Embrace chaos URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/embrace-chaos/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:38:40.000Z #31 - Jun.2022 Creativity is chaotic by nature. Whenever you create something new, several ideas compete & collide to find the best solution to tackle a problem. While order leads us to predictability, is within chaos where we break our thinking patterns toward new insights. Is through the chaos that we break our biases and we envision new perspectives. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/06/Chaos.png) For sure, is not a comfortable place. We constantly try to avoid it. Is a place of unknowns, fragile assumptions, and a lack of facts. You question your capacity to solve a problem and if you are even on the right path. In short, is divergent thinking. But design requires chaotic moments. Is precisely through these swings between chaos and order that you find and refine your best ideas. Is between divergent and convergent thinking that you move forward. Embrace chaos. It might lead you to your next discovery. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Change blindness URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/change-blindness/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:38:19.000Z #30 - May.2022 In consciousness science, there is a particular phenomenon called "change blindness" which refers to how we fail to perceive slow changes around us. Today, you are slightly different than yesterday but you don't necessarily acknowledge this change. Nevertheless, we are all in constant transformation due to our experiences and learnings. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/05/Change_Blindness.png) In design, many times we fail to recognize this phenomenon. We assume our customers are *static*. They are stereotypes defined upfront and fixed through time. But customers change. All the time. Their expectations, needs, and motivations are constantly evolving. Ignoring this change is losing the chance to [discover](https://www.cesarrg.com/product-discovery/) new needs and opportunities. From time to time, reassess your assumptions about your customers. Is likely that your initial thoughts are now outdated and new insights will arise. Design for constant [change](www.cesarrg.com/change/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Gift wrap URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/gift-wrap/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:38:04.000Z #29 - May.2022 One of the common pitfalls in product strategy is assuming that a good story is just a nice gift wrap for selling purposes once the product is ready to launch. The true value of a story is when it becomes a mechanism to guide your product [vision](https://www.cesarrg.com/your-vision/) from the inception of the idea throughout the entire lifecycle. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/05/Gift.png) The narrative should serve as a prediction of the future, shaping your product during the different [iterations](https://www.cesarrg.com/product-discovery/). It should become that *inner voice* that reminds you who is your real customer and what they want to accomplish through your product. Using [storytelling](https://www.cesarrg.com/stories/) simply as a sales pitch is not taking full advantage of the power of a strong narrative. Your product story should be created *upfront*; to guide, to focus...to inspire. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### 85% rule and design URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/85-rule-and-design/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:37:39.000Z #28 - May.2022 Recently I revisited a great episode from "[The Tim Ferris Show](https://tim.blog/2020/06/26/hugh-jackman/?ref=cesarrg.com)" with Hugh Jackman and I came across the *85%-rule* concept. In the episode, they were highlighting how top-performance runners seek relaxation prior to a race. They don't target a 100% effort. Instead, they try to keep consistency, calm down, and target 85% effort. It might seem counterintuitive, but in fact targeting, 85% effort result in a better performance. Feeling the pressure of delivering 100% adds an unnecessary burden and, in most cases, has the opposite effect. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/05/85.png) I believe this same principle applies not only to Sports but to any professional career. When designing a new product, when trying to solve a particular need/opportunity, when preparing a presentation, or when writing a post. In design, for instance, usually you deal with a lot of ambiguity and uncertainty. Sometimes we force ourselves to identify all possible causes, and all pain points, map all potential customers and brainstorm all possible solutions. While all this is important, having this pressure (targeting 100%) generally takes us out of track and prevents us from seeing the nuances of the key areas, or even more, not having the big picture in perspective. Having the right balance between focus and relaxation is the key. Slow down. At least in design, you should acknowledge that this is an iterative work, so you can always (and should) revisit your assumptions & insights. In the long-run, consistency is much more important than intensity. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### “The universe is made of stories, not of atoms” URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/stories/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:37:15.000Z #27 - Mar.2022 [Muriel Rukeyser](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muriel%5FRukeyser?ref=cesarrg.com) was right in this quote. Is amazing how stories are profoundly connected to our human nature. Is a key element of what makes us humans and a building block of our daily lives. What makes storytelling so compelling? I think some part of it is related to our desire of [bringing order to chaos](https://www.cesarrg.com/about-creating/). We all constantly search for ways how to connect the dots across randomness. A good story can bring clarity to this chaos. It can inspire. it moves us forward. It generates change. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/03/Stories-1-1.png) Mere facts do not have this same effect. Storytelling requires facts & emotions to have a deeper connection on how we engage with a narrative and, as a result, drives empathic thinking. This is a powerful tool for our work and our personal lives. You can start by practicing narratives focusing on the "why" of things; using metaphors to [frame](https://www.cesarrg.com/framing/) a topic; connecting impact and purpose when proposing a plan. Let's use more stories. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### João URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/joao/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:36:57.000Z #26 - Jan.2022 I recently finished reading [Amoroso](https://www.amazon.com/Amoroso-biografia-Jo%C3%A3o-Gilberto-Portuguese-ebook/dp/B09G73975X?ref=cesarrg.com), a biography of João Gilberto by Zuza Homem de Mello, a Brazilian musicologist, and journalist. I got hypnotized by João Gilberto in 2006 when a close friend introduced me to a live recording of one of his most-known songs: [O Pato](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj0m8v3otf1AhXcDWMBHSmzDHMQtwJ6BAgFEAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DhEpe9Gz1trg&usg=AOvVaw0B3CMnguzXqMMYjJCLM4i6). The dynamic of the melody, voice & guitar building the harmony, the minimalistic approach of playing mostly through 4-note chords, the calm of his voice, the rhythm through an invisible beat of Brazilian music...It shaped the way I hear/play music. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/01/JB.png) Almost 15 years later, I'm still discovering nuances of his music. The book gave me a back-stage perspective of his controversial life and a deep dive into his music. João kept innovating through mostly the same repertoire of songs, finding new workarounds in the harmony that constantly transformed each song into something new. This reminds me of how sometimes we don't need to constantly reinvent the wheel - our solution for something amazing might be right around the corner. We just need to be curious enough to find it. In his minimalistic style, each chord had a purpose. There was no space for extras. Just the essence. A reminder of the value of uncluttering - in our craft and our personal lives - which brings clarity and peace. Joao's music is timeless. In Caetano's words: "*The only thing better than music is silence. The only thing better than silence is João.*" ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Your vision URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/your-vision/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:36:35.000Z #25 - Dec.2021 These are days of retrospective and forward-thinking for 2022 plans. Is likely that you are also reviewing your learnings from this year and setting your goals for next. In other words, recalibrating your own vision. I really like Simon Sinek's mental model on [unimagined visions](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/simon-sinek%5Funimagined-vision-ugcPost-6874070129127260160-7YqX/?ref=cesarrg.com), which I believe applies both in a professional environment (product innovation) and in our personal lives. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/12/Evolution.png) We constantly try to fit ourselves into a fixed vision that we imagined, sometimes even emulating others' visions, and we struggle to fit and mold ourselves toward that expectation. Simon argues that great companies constantly look for the next *"fastest simplest thing with the highest probability of success"* and, as they learn, they set their new target*.* Evolution is incremental. You try, you learn and you improve. This mental model requires the discipline of being open to experimenting and, naturally, to fail. But this is what sets you towards a constant evolution of improvement, opening new horizons and surely exceeding whatever pre-fixed vision you had (your unimagined vision!). Let us make 2022 a year of incremental evolution toward our best versions. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### 2021 book list URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/books-2021/ Last updated: 2024-10-02T19:43:37.000Z #24 - Dec.2021 Sharing the [books](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/books/) I had read during 2021\. A mix of everything! Updating the list shared in the [middle of 2021](https://www.cesarrg.com/mid-2021-book-checkpoint/) and including a quick highlight. You can check other books I have read in [GoodReads](https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/74901249-c-sar-rodr-guez?ref=cesarrg.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/07/Books_2021-3.png) 1. [**The World Atlas of Coffee**](https://www.amazon.com/World-Atlas-Coffee-Explored-Explained/dp/1770854703?ref=cesarrg.com)(James Hoffman) - James Hoffmann has been my go-to (youtube) guru when I want to learn about coffee. If possible, go with the hardcover version of this book (I got it as a b-day present!). Informative and very didactic on the fascinating world of Coffee. 2. [**Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most**](https://www.amazon.com/Difficult-Conversations-Discuss-What-Matters/dp/0143118447?ref=cesarrg.com)(D. Stone, B. Patton, S. Heen)\- Through a very simple narrative and great examples, this is a great guide to master challenging conversations in your day-to-day life. 3. [**El Caribe frente a los desafíos del Futuro**](https://www.fundacionyuste.org/206713-2-2/?ref=cesarrg.com) (Viktor Sukup) - I found this book while staying in an Airbnb. Informative and a great overview of the history and challenges of the Caribbean region, with some highlights of [Honduras](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honduras?ref=cesarrg.com) (my country). 4. [**The Double Helix** ](https://www.amazon.com/Double-Helix-James-Watson-ebook/dp/B008UXLHN8/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=3OAIBNOB09FMZ&keywords=The+Double+Helix&qid=1640036296&sprefix=the+double+helix+%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com)(James D. Watson)\- A story behind the scenes of the race towards discovering the DNA structure, narrated from the lens of one of its protagonists. 5. [**The Meaning in the Making**](https://www.amazon.com/Meaning-Making-Behind-Human-Create/dp/1681987236?ref=cesarrg.com)(Sean Tucker)- Very inspiring book. A mix of art and philosophy and the constant pursuit of our creative voice. I wrote a dedicated [post](https://www.cesarrg.com/about-creating/) and definitely one of my best for 2021. 6. [**A República das Milicias** ](https://www.amazon.com/Republica-Das-Milicias-Esquadroes-Bolsonaro/dp/6556920614?ref=cesarrg.com)(Bruno Paes Manso) - This was a friend's recommendation on the crude reality of "milicias" - popular armies - and the complex situation on how they're embedded into Rio de Janeiro's city. 7. [**Fear and Trembling**](https://www.amazon.com/Trembling-Penguin-Classics-Soren-Kierkegaard/dp/0140444491?ref=cesarrg.com) (Søren Kierkegaard) - This is a mix of the theological and moral debate using the story of Abraham, challenged by God to sacrifice his own son, as a philosophical canvas. Søren offers his view on how ethics, morals and faith fit into our human nature. 8. [**La Guerra civil española**](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0062X80EM/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fbr-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&ref=cesarrg.com) (Paul Preston): One of history's most complex conflicts. This is a great book to have an overview of the origins, key actors and ideological perspectives of the Spanish civil war. One of the best history books I had read so far. Thanks to my friend [Antonio](https://ajmaradiaga.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) for the recommendation. 9. [**INSPIRED**](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077NRB36N/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fbr-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&ref=cesarrg.com) (Marty Cagan): If you are a product manager (or are pivoting to become one), this book is for you. Marty synthesized in this book some 101 concepts while highlighting common trends from great product organizations. 10. [**Information is Beautiful** ](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BAJ6G4O/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fbr-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&ref=cesarrg.com)(David McCandless): I love visualizations and I'm always curious about ways to convey simple ideas with images. This book is packed with many examples of how to process information into great infographics. 11. [**How to Avoid a Climate Disaster** ](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YRY461Y/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fbr-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&ref=cesarrg.com)(Bill Gates): Bill Gates focused on one of our biggest challenges for the next century: climate change. He shares his ideas on potential solutions, bringing insights into some of the key misconceptions about the root-causes of climate change. 12. [**Principles: Life and Work**](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071CTK28D/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fbr-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&ref=cesarrg.com) (Ray Dalio): Highly personal, Ray Dalio's shares in this book his core life & work principles inspiring people on how to create their own. I found very interesting his systematic approach towards building/refining personal principles. 13. [**The Almanack of Naval Ravikant**](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FF8MTM6/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fbr-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&ref=cesarrg.com) (Naval Ravikant): I highly recommend reading Naval's ideas. Clear, concise, and insightful content on Naval's mental model towards wealth and happiness. 14. [**NoEstimates**](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FWMSBBK/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fbr-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&ref=cesarrg.com) (Vasco Duarte): If you are into the software development world this book will give you a different perspective on project estimates. Although I don't agree with certain points (sometimes highly ambiguous/context-driven) I liked how this book challenges some common practices towards a more agile and iterative approach of managing projects. 15. [**Show Your Work!**](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GU2RGGI/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fbr-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&ref=cesarrg.com) (Austin Kleon): Part of the reason I started blogging again was an outcome of reading this book. This is a short and insightful reading on creating more and sharing your skills with the world. 16. [**Good Economics for Hard Times**](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QXQBWGF/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fbr-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&ref=cesarrg.com) (Abhijit V. Banerjee, Esther Duflo): You don't need to be an economist to understand this book. Highly recommended to know more about today's economic challenges including highly debated topics like immigration, globalization, and strategies for economic growth. 17. [**O livro da Barista** ](http://loja.coffeelab.com.br/pd-884ce2-o-livro-da-barista.html?ref=cesarrg.com)(Isabela Raposeiras): I'm a coffee lover! Isabela is the owner of Coffee lab, one of Brazil's (and the world's) most famous coffee shops/lab. This is a quick overview of coffee origins and techniques. Just the tip of the iceberg of coffee's amazing world. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### New value chains URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/new-value-chains/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:35:55.000Z #23 - Dec.2021 Lately, I've been thinking about the opportunities that the new Web 3.0 evolution could bring to the way how to connect, engage and create. A decentralized internet, the core idea behind Web 3.0, radically changes the way we understand today's common concepts like ownership, regulations, and royalties. A digitalized and creative-based economy changes paradigms on how to generate and consume value; it lowers the entry bar for anyone open to share their work and contribute to a particular (digital) tribe. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/12/NFT.png) The rise of NFTs boosting the generative art market is just the tip of the iceberg; digital ownership and smart contracts can be the building blocks of more complex value chains. Of course, there is a huge work ahead of us to balance all these opportunities vs. more important issues like climate change given the high energy demand of Web 3.0 core engine: blockchain. Nevertheless, the benefits of an economy where value can easily be digitally interchanged can be one of the ways we can reach a more equitable world. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Ideas URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/ideas/ Last updated: 2024-04-26T15:20:33.000Z #22 - Nov.2021 Ideas at an early stage of the design process are very fragile. You need to nurture them properly to avoid killing them too early. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/11/Ideas.png) Frame them too narrow and you will ignore potential opportunities; frame them too broad and you'll lack focus. They can come from anyone on the team. An unexpected idea could become a novel way of solving a problem. Be open - listen and learn from others. Bringing solution assumptions too early might take the idea down without evaluating its real value. Diverging without converging, on the other hand, will slow you down. Balance is the key here. Bring focus by prioritizing on [opportunities](https://www.cesarrg.com/product-discovery/). Invest your energy in a deep understanding of the problem before jumping into the solution. Yet, ideation is just the beginning of the journey. Customer value should be [delivered](https://www.cesarrg.com/value-and-availability/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Our creative voice URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/about-creating/ Last updated: 2024-04-26T15:19:01.000Z #21 - Sep.2021 There are tons of books about finding your craft. But Sean Tucker's approach to addressing this complex topic left me with lots of insights. His recent book ["The Meaning in the Making"](https://www.amazon.com/Meaning-Making-Behind-Human-Create-ebook/dp/B092WZR6LK/ref=tmm%5Fkin%5Fswatch%5F0?%5Fencoding=UTF8&qid=1628202383&sr=8-1&ref=cesarrg.com) explores one simple idea: what moves us towards *creating?* I'm sure that at some point in your life you also had these sorts of questions on what's our real purpose and questioning your creative voice. Independent of the tools we use to express ourselves - painting, music, photography,...code - we all look to have an authentic way of sharing our craft. But, what does being authentic mean, and why do we seek this in the first place? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/09/Order.png) Sean shares great insights on how our creative force could be linked back to our desire to be part of a whole (our contribution to society) and how we constantly - as humans - try to bring *order to chaos*. And is precisely this constant fight towards ordering chaos that eventually keeps us moving/seeking for more. Being authentic is about being true to ourselves. Creativity requires making intentional space. Our craft should be a constant balance between our rational and feelings. We should embrace our *shadows,* they are a key component of our true expression. These and other profound ideas mixed with philosophical provocations are covered by Sean's book. Very recommended read. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Mix & balance URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/mix-balance/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:34:42.000Z #20 - Aug.2021 One of the most fascinating aspects of technology is its **combinational** nature. Great innovations usually come from several iterations of mixing and balancing disruptive technologies instead of a [single and novel idea](https://www.cesarrg.com/what-if/). From the printing machine to the personal computer all these inventions are a result of leveraging multiple technologies, compounding the value that each one could generate on its own. These iterations are not always clear and comprehensible in the short term; a great example is the recent growth of [NFTs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-fungible%5Ftoken?ref=cesarrg.com) (Non-Fungible Tokens). People are going crazy understanding how NFTs - driven by blockchain technology - are becoming a marketplace where people are open to [paying millions](https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/11/22325054/beeple-christies-nft-sale-cost-everydays-69-million?ref=cesarrg.com) for a piece of art. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/08/NFT.png) But zooming out you'll start to see a lot of questions & opportunities on how this mix of technologies could change our future. How could this change the way we envision art? How could this democratize the way creators share/sell their content? What will ownership mean in a digital world? How might this change the way finance/investments work? How might we regulate a fast-paced and decentralized system? How does this connect with our concerns about caring about our planet? Each of these questions might be a branch of a new set of iterations of mixing & balancing other technologies to solve these challenges. I'm looking forward to observing & contributing to such innovations. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Backlogs URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/backlogs/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:34:22.000Z #19 - Aug.2021 Huge product backlogs should be a symptom that you are probably trying to *predict* things that you don't know yet about your users. Is likely that you will end up having solutions searching for problems. And this is a waste. Building a solution should be an iterative process - a constant discovery of confirmed/failed hypotheses to improve a *real* customer need. There is no rush in trying to map any single opportunity that comes to mind but, instead, you should focus on increasing your chances that you are building the [right thing](https://www.cesarrg.com/test-it/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/08/backlogs.png) Anything that your map as a feature or [opportunity](https://www.cesarrg.com/product-discovery/) should be tightly linked to your product's goal; in other words, addressing a real pain-point of the user you're helping. An extensive backlog does not mean that your product is in better shape. Aim for a few *high-value* features to launch. Then listen, learn and improve. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### The journey URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/the-journey/ Last updated: 2024-02-13T20:55:48.000Z #18 - Aug.2021 Mapping a customer journey can sometimes be intimidating. How many steps should I consider? What level of detail is relevant? When should I consider a map complete? I'm not a visual person, will I be able to build one? Stop. Breath. You can start very simple and still get the benefits of this tool. Customer [journey maps](https://servicedesigntools.org/tools/journey-map?ref=cesarrg.com) are important tools to drive a design conversation and synthesize the team's understanding of customer behavior and they work as a great communication artifact. The purpose is to map the key interactions of a customer while using your product or service. The level of complexity can vary - as with other design tools, the goal is not to focus on the aesthetics but to turn it into a practical *living* document as you understand and find new ways to improve that experience. The more you socialize the map, the more feedback you get, the more insights are captured, and the more you can test your hypothesis - a virtuous cycle. Here are some key elements that I usually consider: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/08/journey.png) 1. **Moments** \- these are the key steps of the customer experience. Keep it simple. Aim for synthesis - 5-7 key moments are enough. Evolve as you need. 2. **Customer intention** \- keeping the key intention of the customer (job-to-be-done) at each step is a constant reminder for driving the conversation around the [customer's goal](https://www.cesarrg.com/workarounds/). 3. **Touch-points** \- I like to frame touch-points as any tool or mechanism the customer uses to solve their problem. From interactions with other persons to technology, these are important clues for optimization. 4. **Pain-points** \- As you discover the customer needs, this is a great place to list the challenges and capture key insights of your learnings. This is also a good place to map [assumptions](https://www.cesarrg.com/being-right/) and open questions. 5. **Opportunities** \- As you progress on the design, new ideas can be included in the map. Then you can use other [techniques](https://www.cesarrg.com/product-discovery/) to prioritize and test your solutions. Journey maps are not one-size-fits-all. Adapt it to your project needs. Push the boundaries & rules if it adds value to the collaboration within your team. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### What if URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/what-if/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:33:43.000Z #17 - Jul.2021 Ideas novelty is less common than you think. Most innovations are iterations of reframing the problem and building on top of existing solutions. And that's ok - innovation should be more about value-driven solutions than just original ideas. Back in the '40s, [Genrich Altshuller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genrich%5FAltshuller?ref=cesarrg.com) saw this trend in engineering: by reviewing thousands of patents across several fields he connected the dots between a few core principles shared by all solutions (a total of [40 principles!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRIZ?ref=cesarrg.com)). In other words, most *inventions* were iterations of solutions from other fields. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/07/WhatIf.png) And this is a powerful mental model. Removing the boundaries of the industry you work on while exploring solutions is a key aspect of diverging thinking for discovering new approaches. [Abstraction](https://www.cesarrg.com/abstraction/) and analogies can sometimes lead you towards the piece of the puzzle that you're looking for. Here's a simple exercise that I learned some years ago when studying Service Design: when exploring solutions, choose a company that you admire from a *totally* different industry (say you work in food services - so you choose a company in tech or automotive). Then ask yourself this question: "**What if* \[Company\]*were to enter my industry? how they might solve this problem?". This cross-field thinking can get you into very wild brainstorming sessions - connecting core principles used by other successful companies from very different industries can get you to insightful findings. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Discovery URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/product-discovery/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:33:28.000Z #16 - Jul.2021 Building new products should be a constant discovery journey. As we dive deep into new ideas there are so many [assumptions](https://www.cesarrg.com/being-right/) on what might work or not. It is easy to fall into an "idea chaos" where each solution fights for attention and focus. Without a north, we build new things without real intention or purpose. Continuously discovering and testing your ideas should be the go-to approach to increase the likelihood that what you are building will offer the expected value. But how to prioritize which idea to test? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/07/tree.png) Teresa Torres' concept of [opportunity solution trees](https://www.producttalk.org/opportunity-solution-tree/?ref=cesarrg.com) is an excellent tool to solve this prioritization problem. This simple framework connects outcomes, opportunities, solution proposals, and experiments, helping drive alignment across the team on what really worth investing time and what should be discarded. Solutions are only important if they are linked to a concrete opportunity/outcome. You use experiments to evaluate which solution will better address an opportunity. Align your opportunities to real outcomes. Do more experiments. Iterate. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### 2021 mid-year books URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/mid-2021-book-checkpoint/ Last updated: 2024-10-02T19:43:47.000Z #15 - Jun.2021 This is a mid-year checkpoint of the [books](https://www.cesarrg.com/tag/books/) I had read so far in 2021\. I'm including some key ideas/insights in case you're interested in diving deep into any of these books: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/07/Books_2021.png) 1. [Fear and Trembling](https://www.amazon.com/Trembling-Penguin-Classics-Soren-Kierkegaard/dp/0140444491?ref=cesarrg.com) (Søren Kierkegaard) - This is a mix of theological and moral debate using the story of Abraham, challenged by God to sacrifice his own son, as a philosophical canvas. Søren offers his view on how ethics, morals and faith fit into our human nature. 2. [La Guerra civil española](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0062X80EM/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fbr-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&ref=cesarrg.com) (Paul Preston): One of history's most complex conflicts. This is a great book to have an overview of the origins, key actors, and ideological perspectives of the Spanish civil war. One of the best history books I had read so far. Thanks to my friend [Antonio](https://ajmaradiaga.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) for the recommendation. 3. [INSPIRED](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077NRB36N/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fbr-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&ref=cesarrg.com) (Marty Cagan): If you are a product manager (or are pivoting to become one), this book is for you. Marty synthesized in this book some 101 concepts while highlighting common trends from great product organizations. 4. [Information is Beautiful ](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BAJ6G4O/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fbr-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&ref=cesarrg.com)(David McCandless): I love visualizations and I'm always curious about ways to convey simple ideas with images. This book is packed with many examples of how to process information into great infographics. 5. [How to Avoid a Climate Disaster ](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YRY461Y/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fbr-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&ref=cesarrg.com)(Bill Gates): Bill Gates focused on one of our biggest challenges for the next century: climate change. He shares his ideas on potential solutions, bringing insights into some of the key misconceptions about the root-causes of climate change. 6. [Principles: Life and Work](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071CTK28D/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fbr-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&ref=cesarrg.com) (Ray Dalio): Highly personal, Ray Dalio's shares in this book his core life & work principles inspiring people on how to create their own. I found very interesting his systematic approach towards building/refining personal principles. 7. [The Almanack of Naval Ravikant](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FF8MTM6/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fbr-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&ref=cesarrg.com) (Naval Ravikant): I highly recommend reading Naval's ideas. Clear, concise, and insightful content on Naval's mental model towards wealth and happiness. 8. [NoEstimates](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FWMSBBK/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fbr-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&ref=cesarrg.com) (Vasco Duarte): If you are into the software development world this book will give you a different perspective on project estimates. Although I don't agree with certain points (sometimes highly ambiguous/context-driven) I liked how this book challenges some common practices towards a more agile and iterative approach to managing projects. 9. [Show Your Work!](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GU2RGGI/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fbr-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&ref=cesarrg.com) (Austin Kleon): Part of the reason I started blogging again was an outcome of reading this book. This is a short and insightful reading on creating more and sharing your skills with the world. 10. [Good Economics for Hard Times](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QXQBWGF/ref=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fsin?ie=UTF8&tag=x%5Fgr%5Fw%5Fbb%5Fbr-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325&ref=cesarrg.com) (Abhijit V. Banerjee, Esther Duflo): You don't need to be an economist to understand this book. Highly recommended to know more about today's economic challenges including highly debated topics like immigration, globalization, and strategies for economic growth. 11. [O livro da Barista ](http://loja.coffeelab.com.br/pd-884ce2-o-livro-da-barista.html?ref=cesarrg.com)(Isabela Raposeiras): I'm a coffee lover! Isabela is the owner of Coffee lab, one of Brazil's (and world's) most famous coffee shops/lab. This is a quick overview of coffee origins and techniques. Just the tip of the iceberg of coffee's amazing world. Happy reading. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Abstraction URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/abstraction/ Last updated: 2024-04-26T15:21:01.000Z #14 - Jul.2021 The complexity of design and engineering challenges is usually driven by the fact that analyzing *only* concrete facts is not enough to find a simple solution. Some of the most common frameworks for problem-solving - first principles, mental models, diverge & converge - rely on the same thinking approach: Abstraction. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/07/abstractionv3.png) Abstract thinking takes you from focusing on concrete facts - heavily based on "what" questions and specific steps - to understand how things relate to each other, the bigger picture, trends... Both concrete and abstract thinking are useful in different moments of your design journey but is through abstraction that you can identify patterns, ask foundational questions on "why" things work certain ways, and [reframing problems to find solutions in other disciplines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRIZ?ref=cesarrg.com). Want a practical way for starting using abstraction? Ask more "why" questions. Use analogies to [explain things](https://www.cesarrg.com/framing/). Apply more [metaphors](https://cesarinedu.medium.com/use-metaphors-and-boost-creativity-8fd2be8648dc?ref=cesarrg.com). Make thought experiments. Rely more on storytelling. Transform "what" into "what-if" questions. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### The right questions URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/the-right-questions/ Last updated: 2024-02-12T21:00:47.000Z #13 - Jun.2021 Don't focus your attention on scaling questions if you are not sure you're solving the right problem. Aligning your value proposition to what customers really need should be your priority when starting any product. Product adoption is hard. You need to acknowledge that most of your ideas of what *you* believe is valuable for your customers might be wrong. Increase your odds of [being right](https://www.cesarrg.com/being-right/) by experimenting and [testing your ideas](https://www.cesarrg.com/test-it/) quickly and at a low cost. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/06/scale.png) Spend your energy on delivering real value. As you evolve, you can start asking more fundamental questions on scaling (technology, operations, etc). Focus on building the right thing first and evolve towards optimizing *how* you build it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Delivery gap URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/delivery-gap/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:31:48.000Z #12 - Jun.2021 In the service design and business strategy world, there is a concept called **Delivery Gap**. A simple way of understanding this [concept](https://www.bain.com/contentassets/41326e0918834cd1a0102fdd0810535d/bb%5Fclosing%5Fdelivery%5Fgap.pdf?ref=cesarrg.com) is: how a company *perceives* its value proposition versus how customers actually *do*. The bigger the gap, the less loyal customers. I think this concept can be a proxy for a larger mental model. In essence, value propositions are *promises*. Promises of offering an experience; promises of simplifying a problem; promises of [getting something done](https://www.cesarrg.com/workarounds/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/06/gap_v3-2.png) As professionals, we do promises all the time. You engage with stakeholders, peers, and managers setting expectations over a value proposition you created (managing a project, delivering a task, reaching a goal). You are conscious of the size of your promises and failing to commit to them increases the delivery gap. The result: lack of trust, frustration, and stress... Try to close this gap. Clearly understand the key needs of your customers; make clear and transparent promises; look for feedback loops for constant alignment. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Available Value URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/value-and-availability/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:31:23.000Z #11 - Jun.2021 Whenever I think about a good product design I always remember **the clothespin**. Elegant, simple & timeless. It resembles what good product design should be all about: adding value to people. The clothespin hasn’t changed drastically for over 100+ years. Still, it is difficult to debate how useful and practical it is. I believe this is driven by ***value* and *availability*** *.* Many innovations are valuable, however, if the product or service has low availability (infrastructure, coverage, reliability...) it can't deliver its value. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/06/clothespin.png) Think about the value of electric cars. The first models appeared in 1880 - almost the same time as the clothespin models we know today! - but their real *availability* is just getting traction in recent years. The comparison might seem disproportionate but the same elements - value & availability - play a critical role at any scale. Making valuable products and services is key but how you make them available to your customers will drive the real adoption. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Workarounds URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/workarounds/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:30:59.000Z #10 - Jun.2021 Want a great source of inspiration when designing a new solution for your customers? Look at the workarounds they use. If people can't solve their problems as expected (existing systems, processes, policies, etc.) they'll find a way. You can see workarounds as a negative connotation or limitation, or you can use them to discover hidden **intentions** of what users really want. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/06/workaround.png) The shared macro spreadsheet; the "informal" process; even the post-it documenting the most-used system codes. These are shortcuts from people trying to get their job done. Most of the time is an unconscious way of saying: "the way it was designed simply doesn't work". When building a new experience or technology look for these hidden gems - they might become insights into how the solution should work. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Change URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/change/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:30:11.000Z #9 - Jun.2021 Both our professional and personal lives are about *Change*. We learn and develop new skills; we iterate to find our passion; we pivot our strategy on how we might solve a business problem. Some years ago, while studying how professional services firms work, I got to know a variation of the famous change formula that became a simple reminder: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/06/change.png) Change is a function of acknowledging a *Dissatisfaction* (D) or desire to make a shift. This desire must be driven by a *Model* (M) or vision of the future. However, your vision should have a clear *Process* (P) and plan on how to get there. But, what about the final factor Ɛ? Well, that is just a bit of *Luck* added (or rather serendipity) to achieve your goals : ) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Understandable URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/good-design/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:29:52.000Z #8 - Jun.2021 One of Dieter Rams' timeless principles of [good design](https://designmuseum.org/discover-design/all-stories/what-is-good-design-a-quick-look-at-dieter-rams-ten-principles?ref=cesarrg.com) is: > Good design makes a product understandable "It clarifies the product’s structure. Better still, it can make the product talk. At best, it is self-explanatory." From physical to software-based products, this principle is a great reminder of our goal anytime we design a new experience. One practical way of applying this mental model is knowing how *affordances* work. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/06/switch.png) What is your expectation when you see a light switch button on a wall? It either turns something on or off, right? It's just obvious. Affordances are embedded properties within an object that simply show the user the actions they can take. When you leverage common affordances on your design users just know what to do - no instructions needed. But when your design fails to the promise of common affordances you get frustration and irritation. Users feel like they failed. Make it predictable. Make it understandable. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### What you don't see URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/what-you-dont-see/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:29:21.000Z #7 - Jun.2021 In service design, there is a common understanding of breaking your service into two components to evaluate the customer's experience: *frontstage* \- or what's visible to the user - and *backstage.* In practice, however, I constantly see teams focusing all their energies only on what's visible: product aesthetics, UI, channels, the physical touchpoints of the journey, communication, etc. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/06/backstage.png) Backstage details are as important as what's visible. There is no play without the team behind the curtains. There's no restaurant experience without a great team working in the kitchen. What the customer doesn't see - organization structure, technology, infrastructure, support processes, policies - is also a core element of your service. An *intentional* design of your service backstage will help you provide a cohesive experience to your customers. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Being right URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/being-right/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:29:01.000Z #6 - Jun.2021 There's nothing worse than blindly thinking that you are right. This illusion is not only bad for your professional work but for your day-to-day life. Reading through Ray Dalio's [Principles](https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Life-Work-Ray-Dalio/dp/1501124021/ref=tmm%5Fhrd%5Fswatch%5F0?%5Fencoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=&ref=cesarrg.com), I connected with the notion of constantly asking yourself "How do I know I'm right?". This small change in perspective can make you more open to exploring new ideas, listening carefully to others' opinions or simply engaging in deep thinking. This reminded me of a very simple - but effective - tool that I learned from [Luis Alt](https://luisalt.com/?ref=cesarrg.com) when studying service design: the CSD Matrix. The name comes from the PT version (certezas, suposições & dúvidas) but in a free translations, this is: *facts, assumptions & doubts*. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/06/CSD-1.png) The tool comes in handy for project kickoffs but you can consider it a living asset for both personal and teamwork. To make it work, you need to be brutally honest about what you really *know* and what *you don't*. The items mapped as assumptions & doubt becomes, then, your agenda for discovery and research. Keep it updated as new facts, assumptions and doubts appear. Look for the facts. Be open-minded. Listen to others. This way you'll increase your odds of being right. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Design for the 99% URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/design-for-the-99/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:28:31.000Z #5 - May.2021 Prioritizing the next feature you want to deliver to your customers is always a challenge. If you are evolving any tech product is certain that you already faced this type of decision and most of them are not trivial. It is easy to get lost in *noise*. Everyone has a slightly different understanding of what's important, urgent, and *valuable*. There are countless techniques for prioritizing but wanted to share a simple intuition that might help you: design for the 99%. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/05/Img_99.png) Focus on providing the best experience for 99% of your customers; focus on removing blockers from the 99% of users struggling with your software; try to keep as happy as possible 99% of your customers. Avoid "just-in-case" features if the basics are not ready yet. Sometimes we get distracted by immediate problems or customer pain-points (or *[fires](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-best-entrepreneurs-let-fires-burn-reid-hoffman/?ref=cesarrg.com)*). Things *will* burn. Aim for features that provide value for most of your customers (high impact) and don't get distracted with the 1%. Instead, invest on faster iterations. Learn to live with these *fires* until you find leverage opportunities to add value. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Framing URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/framing/ Last updated: 2024-01-29T10:19:37.000Z #4 - May.2021 Searching for clarity as you speak is a lifetime skill that is worth developing. Making yourself clear when explaining or teaching others is great - and people will appreciate it. The human brain doesn't deal well with tiny bits of random information - it looks for some level of abstraction or patterns that help connect the ideas. There are very interesting details in Ray Kurzweil's '[How to create a mind](https://www.amazon.com/How-Create-Mind-Thought-Revealed-ebook/dp/B007V65UUG/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=2860PJZXV4LN9&dchild=1&keywords=how+to+create+a+mind&qid=1621905968&s=books&sprefix=how+to+create+a+mind%2Caps%2C280&sr=1-1&ref=cesarrg.com)' on how this works if you are interested. People search for these connections. They look for a frame to understand things. As you speak, is *your* job to give them that frame. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/05/frame-1.png) Look for patterns I use a simple trick: before even start explaining anything set a hard number of categories in your mind (3-4 is the magic number). Force yourself to describe whatever you're explaining within those 3-4 categories - this is your frame. This will force you to synthesize and will give people a base to follow you. Start with an overview using that frame and then jump into details. This might seem obvious, though so many times we struggle by communicating unstructured ideas. Frame it first - using levels of abstraction will make you a more effective communicator. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Sketch your notes URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/sketch-your-notes/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:27:26.000Z #3 - May.2021 There is something magical when you get out of the traditional way of note-taking - bullet points, lists, etc - and try to express your ideas through simple drawings. There is a good amount of scientific evidence on how *art,* in all forms, enhances brain function. In my experience, sketching as a proxy for note-taking - when reviewing books, researching, and meetings - definitely works like a boost for deep thinking. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2021/05/sketch-1.png) My book notes on *Leonardo da Vinci* (Walter Isaacson) Is not a matter of making good or bad sketches but simply relying on images instead of plain words - or mixing both. It's interesting how the brain retains much more details and connections between your ideas. This is known by psychologists as the “[drawing effect](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0963721418755385?journalCode=cdpa&ref=cesarrg.com)”. Give it a try - is not only useful but fun! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Test it! URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/test-it/ Last updated: 2023-07-17T06:26:56.000Z #2 - May.2021 The benefits of quick iterations to learn from customers and refine your product's value proposition is nothing new. However, is extremely common to see product teams failing to follow this simple principle. Some years I found this concept called **Pretotype** \- named by [Alberto Savoia](https://www.pretotyping.org/?ref=cesarrg.com), a former Google Engineer - and, since then, the concept resounds on my mind every time I'm testing a new idea. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2023/04/IMG_0888-1.png) The is approach is simple: test many times in a very short period, with the minimum of resources required. The value of these rapid cycles for product discovery is what makes strong product management teams. Marty Cagan in his book [Inspired](https://www.amazon.com/INSPIRED-Create-Tech-Products-Customers-ebook/dp/B077NRB36N?ref=cesarrg.com) takes this idea even further, setting the bar for strong product teams: 10-20 of these tests per week! Here are some of the pretotype [techniques](https://www.albertosavoia.com/uploads/1/4/0/9/14099067/summary%5Fof%5Fpretotyping%5Ftechniques.pdf?ref=cesarrg.com) that I particularly like: 1. **Fake Door**: Test the level of interest of your idea. You can do this even before developing your product by simply pretending you have a working software (e.g. landing page with a "learn more" button). This can help you understand if people would buy it. 2. **Pinocchio**: This is particularly useful for physical products. Create a dummy version of your product and *imagine* as you are using it on your day-to-day. There is a great story of [Palm's prototype](https://albertosavoia.medium.com/the-palm-pilot-story-1a3424d2ffe4?ref=cesarrg.com) using this technique. 3. **Mechanical Turk**: Great for software-based/online products. You simulate the desired experience by using real people in the back-end. When the logic is complex this technique can help you to learn before investing time and money. Test it. Make it simple. Do it as much as possible. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png) 💡 Interested in more ideas like this one? [Subscribe here](https://www.cesarrg.com/#/portal/signup) and get future posts delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, don’t worry. If you’re already a subscriber, thanks for being part of this journey. ### Hello World! URL: https://www.cesarrg.com/hello-world/ Last updated: 2023-12-31T10:56:49.000Z #1 - May.2021 This the beginning of a new writing journey - I'm considering this blog as my *journey notebook* where I can share insights on my latest learnings and experiences that might be useful to others. > Randomness is the theme 😄 Below you'll find older posts shared through [Medium](https://medium.com/?ref=cesarrg.com): 1. [Humanizing big data approach](https://medium.com/@cesarinedu/humanizing-big-data-approach-49b87e04344c?ref=cesarrg.com) 2. [Motivation & Sprints](https://medium.com/@cesarinedu/motivation-sprints-5de1433f6fd6?ref=cesarrg.com) 3. [Social project management](https://medium.com/@cesarinedu/social-project-management-5fb554ae9a32?ref=cesarrg.com) 4. [Use metaphors and boost your creativity](https://medium.com/@cesarinedu/use-metaphors-and-boost-creativity-8fd2be8648dc?ref=cesarrg.com) 5. \[🇧🇷 PT\] [Desenhando experiências para a internet das coisas ](https://brasil.uxdesign.cc/desenhando-experi%C3%AAncias-para-a-internet-das-coisas-1f4be30170cd?ref=cesarrg.com) 6. \[🇧🇷 PT\] [Empatia: cognitiva, emocional e compassiva](https://medium.com/@cesarinedu/empatia-cognitiva-emocional-e-compassiva-71806e55bb28?ref=cesarrg.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/10/f4/10f4a52f-1b7d-4284-b66d-0fccfd9dc5da/content/images/2022/12/sign_CRG2.png)