Rishab Chaturvedi

In my years working in product management, I’ve learned one invaluable truth: there’s no such thing as a bad idea — only untested ones. This principle is core to the product thinking mindset, which focuses on understanding customer problems and iterating on solutions until they bring real value.

Let me share an example from my own experience. My team was tasked with developing a customer engagement tool to automate interactions to improve efficiency. It seemed like a solid concept, but when we ran early tests, the feedback told a different story. Our users wanted personalized, human-driven engagement rather than blanket automation.

At first, it felt like the idea was a bust — a “bad” idea. But product thinking isn’t about scrapping ideas at the first sign of trouble. Instead, we applied what we’d learned and shifted focus, redeveloping the tool into a highly customizable messaging platform. By doing so, we turned a concept that could have been abandoned into a successful product.

Why Product Thinking Requires an Idea-Neutral Mindset

One of the most important lessons product thinking has taught me is that ideas aren’t inherently good or bad. What truly matters is how well you test and iterate on them. Early in my career, I fell into the trap of labeling concepts as “good” or “bad” too quickly. But over time, I’ve seen firsthand that many so-called “bad” ideas simply hadn’t been explored deeply enough to find their real value.

Take, for example, a project where we were developing a multi-functional team management app. At first, it was overloaded with features, trying to do too much at once. The early feedback was lackluster, and the product seemed headed for failure. But by focusing on the core problem — integrating seamlessly with existing project management tools — we were able to strip away the unnecessary features and build something our users truly valued.

This is the essence of product thinking: allowing space for exploration and iteration. Instead of dismissing ideas, we test them, learn from the feedback, and adapt them until they solve the right problems.

Testing Ideas: The Heart of Product Thinking

The real power of product thinking lies in its process of evaluation and iteration. It’s not enough to simply have a great idea; you need to test it with real users, gather data, and pivot when necessary. One of the most useful tools I’ve employed throughout my career is the business model canvas. It helps break down ideas into manageable components like customer segments, value propositions, and key activities, allowing me to see where an idea is strong and where it falls short.

A recent project of mine involved creating a mentorship program for one of the most engaged alumni groups in the company. At first, I was confident that a mastermind-style peer mentorship group would be perfect. However, through surveys, focus groups, and one-on-one interviews, I discovered that the time commitment and pricing were misaligned with the needs of our audience.

By testing the idea with our target group, I was able to pivot before launching, saving time and resources. We ultimately restructured the program to focus on more flexible interactions and a lower price point, which made it far more attractive to our audience.

The Value of Iteration: Turning Assumptions into Insights

When you start testing ideas, you quickly realize that assumptions can only take you so far. Even if you think you know your audience well, the real test comes when you validate those assumptions with data. For example, in the mentorship program, I initially assumed our alumni wanted long-term, intensive mentorship. However the research showed that what they valued more was the ability to deepen existing relationships in shorter, more frequent interactions.

This iterative process — testing assumptions, gathering feedback, and adjusting the idea — is what drives successful product development. In fact, I’ve learned that some of the most impactful products I’ve worked on started as ideas that seemed too ambitious or too simple, but through testing and refinement, they became valuable solutions.

Embrace Progress Over Perfection

The most important takeaway I can offer from my experience is this: progress is more valuable than perfection. The goal of product thinking isn’t to land on a perfect idea right away. It’s to iterate toward a solution that solves real problems for your customers.

When we focus on making incremental progress, rather than expecting every idea to be brilliant from the start, we open up space for creativity and innovation. It’s not about getting it “right” on the first try — it’s about using the process to build something meaningful over time.

So the next time you’re faced with what seems like a bad idea, remember: it’s not bad — it’s just untested. Use product thinking to explore its potential, test it with your audience, and iterate until you find the value within it.