MatHamlin.com

• GTD in 60 Seconds
  (tags: gtd)

If the answer key is offered to you, do you take it and use it to get a good grade?

Absolutely. Cheat. Cheating is Good

Believe it or not, this concept of “Cheating is Good” was introduced to me this weekend (05.04.08) at church. To the best of my memory, here’s the story that was told…

I had a good friend in college; let’s call him Joe. Joe was working his way though his last semester, trying to finish all his classes, and he had to take the “class of death”… Advanced Theory of Corporate Finance. Now, the class material was not the hard part, Joe could do the work, the hard part was deducing what the professor was asking on the test. He would ask things like: What would be the best strategy for not maximizing the negative demand of a waning, bullish market? Huh?

This particular professor was notorious for difficult exams, and had been around for a long time, so multiple copies of old tests were available all over campus in the Dorms or Fraternities. Joe did not have to look far to get all the information he needed. Because of his high moral standards, Joe chose not to cheat, and did not fair so well on the test.

After the test, he went to the professor to discuss his grade and the professor’s difficult delivery. Joe said, “I’m very frustrated with your tests, because I know the material, I just don’t understand what your asking… how are we supposed to figure it out?” … The professor said, “Didn’t you hear how hard my tests are?” “Yes”, said Joe. “Did you ask around and get one of the many copies of my test that float around campus?” …. “uh… No”… “Why not? … You had access to the answer key and you didn’t use it?”

What a great lesson for us Product Managers.

Our answer key lies with our potential customers. They have the formula for a successful product…. are you cheating? Did they give you the answer key? Or are you still reading through the test, trying to understand what they are asking for? Don’t sit back and watch for the crease in the market; the need not being fulfilled. Ask! Ask your potential customers for the answer key. Most of the time, they want to give it to you.

Cheat.