Lessons from a Year of Diving into Experiments

Photo by Carlos Muza on Unsplash

Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to flex my experimentation muscles, churning out an average of four experiments every month. Here are some golden nuggets I’ve gathered along the way:

1. Embrace the Unpredictable— Let’s be real, there are no guarantees in the world of experimentation. The very essence of it is rooted in uncertainty. If we could predict outcomes with 100% accuracy, we’d be doing something else entirely. Initially, I admit, the unpredictability was a bit daunting. I wasn’t always the poster child for risk-taking. But here’s the trick — I learned to fall in love with the problem rather than fixating on a solution. It’s like a dance with curiosity where the results, whether positive, neutral, or negative, power a flywheel of eagerness to learn even more.
2. Silver Linings exist in Neutral or Negative Results— Remember Rihanna’s tattoo that says, “Never a failure, always a lesson”? It’s a powerful mantra to live by. The traditional education system tends to overlook the beauty of failure. We’re conditioned to chase victories, to come out on top. But experimentation bows to no one. It’s a realm where you must welcome both the negative and the neutral outcomes. A keynote from Ami Vora at the Women In Product Conference this year was a game-changer for me. I swiftly subscribed to her newsletter and soaked up her wisdom, devouring her articles like: turning “what a failure” into “what a useful experiment”, 0 failure means 0 growth, and budgeting for failure. These resources were my compass through choppy waters.
3. Celebrate Failure for Growth— Here’s a gem from the great Thomas Edison: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Let’s face it — most experiments will fail. Yet, it’s these very experiments that push my intuition to the brink and teach me the most. Growth sprouts happen at the edge of discomfort — that sweet spot where you’re challenged but not overwhelmed. That tug-of-war between the familiar and the uncharted is precisely what I’ve experienced in the past year. Majority of my experiments have failed, but they’ve provided valuable insights into the behaviors of our customers.
4. Innovation is a team sport — Spoiler alert: Some of the brightest ideas didn’t spring from my brain alone. Engineers, designers, and analysts on my team have been the creative powerhouses behind some of the best ideas. As we democratize innovation, the well of ideas deepens, and experimentation blooms. Collaboration isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a lifeline. It allows for a diverse pool of ideas and also ensures that we stay accountable to the goal. It’s absolutely vital to carry partners along and the RASCI framework can be leveraged in doing so.
5. Hands-On Learning is Key— Buckle up, because there’s no fast track to becoming an experiment aficionado. You’ve got to roll up your sleeves and dive in. Sure, it might feel like walking on hot coals at first, but that’s how you build the muscle. Stick to the problem, keep your goals measurable, and get cozy with a solid hypothesis. Test, learn, document, and adapt. Oh, and don’t dump the baby with the bathwater at the first sign of trouble. Sometimes, it’s all about refining and iterating. The more you do, the more adept you become. Embrace that discomfort — it’s your golden ticket to the growth zone.

So, there you have it — a glimpse into the whirlwind year of experimentation that’s transformed me into a bona fide champion of curiosity. It’s been a wild ride filled with lessons, failures, and unshakeable growth. If I could sum it up, I’d say: Dance with the unknown, toast to setbacks, and relish the thrill of turning each experiment into a stepping stone toward something greater. Your journey might be unpredictable, but trust me, it’s a ride worth taking.