Growth Leader Playbook
Scaling what works
Who This Is For
Growth PMs, growth marketers, founders focused on acquisition
Post-PMF, Series A+
You've found something people want and now need to find more of those people
Growth is not a team—it's a way of working. The best growth comes from product improvements, not marketing tricks. If your product has retention, growth will follow. If it doesn't, no amount of marketing will save you.
1. Confirm PMF First
Don't pour gas on a fire that isn't lit. Make sure you have retention before scaling acquisition.
Measuring Product-Market Fit
Product-market fit is not static; changes in the external economic environment can effectively reset...
View Skill → →Retention & Engagement
Retention is the primary driver of success for consumer subscriptions, as it reduces the pressure fo...
View Skill → →Analyzing User Feedback
Unfiltered community platforms like Reddit provide higher-signal feedback on product flaws and 'real...
View Skill → →2. Find Your Loop
Sustainable growth comes from loops, not one-off campaigns. Find yours.
Designing Growth Loops
Effective growth strategy requires a deep understanding of the specific loops that drive acquisition...
View Skill → →User Onboarding
The transcript contains a detailed breakdown of how to design a first-use experience that leads to a...
View Skill → →Pricing Strategy
Shifting to a direct-to-consumer subscription model requires building a 'destination-first' approach...
View Skill → →3. Optimize the Funnel
Once you have a loop, systematically remove friction at each step.
Usability Testing
AI tools allow PMs to bypass engineering bottlenecks to create functional prototypes for real-world...
View Skill → →Writing North Star Metrics
The value of a North Star metric lies more in its ability to galvanize and align an organization tha...
View Skill → →Setting OKRs & Goals
Avoid 'toddler soccer' (everyone chasing the same metric) by detangling goals into specific input me...
View Skill → →4. Scale Channels
Find channels that work and double down before diversifying.
Content Marketing
Consistency in content creation is a 'vegetable'—a difficult task that requires repeated exposure to...
View Skill → →Community Building
Internal 'Nerd Clubs' or strategy salons create high-value insights by using 'yes, and' norms to fil...
View Skill → →Launch Marketing
High-quality product demos and 'building in public' on social media can drive massive organic growth...
View Skill → →Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Scaling acquisition before fixing retention
- Chasing vanity metrics (signups, downloads)
- Copying competitors' growth tactics without understanding why
- Treating growth as marketing's job
- Optimizing for short-term metrics that hurt long-term health