✍🏻 Inspiration of the week
Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
- Lao Tzu
Hi friend,
Have you ever wondered how Notion, the all-in-one workspace tool, came to life? It's a story filled with bold decisions, personal sacrifices, and a relentless pursuit of a vision.
Ivan Zhao and Simon Last, the founders, began working on Notion as a side project while still in college. They wanted to create a tool that combined note-taking, task management, and project planning into one flexible platform. However, their initial efforts were met with numerous challenges. The early versions of Notion were built on an outdated tech stack, causing frequent crashes and stability issues.
In 2015, facing these setbacks, Zhao and Last made a daring decision. They let go of their entire team and borrowed $150,000 from Zhao’s mother to keep the dream alive. Seeking a fresh start, they moved to Japan to escape social distractions and focus entirely on rebuilding Notion. This risky gamble paid off when they launched Notion 1.0 in 2016, which quickly gained popularity and became the #1 Product of the Day, Week, and Month on Product Hunt.
Their story is a testament to the power of resilience and innovation. Notion’s success lies in its ability to adapt and evolve based on user feedback. The platform's flexibility allows users to create custom workflows, making it a favorite among individuals and teams worldwide.
UX Lesson: Embrace Flexibility and User Feedback
What We Can Learn: Notion's journey teaches us the importance of listening to users and being willing to pivot when necessary. By staying flexible and open to change, they created a product that truly meets user needs.
Application to Our Next Project:
- User-Centric Design: Continuously gather and act on user feedback to refine the product.
- Flexibility: Build adaptable features that allow users to customize their experience.
- Resilience: Stay committed to the vision, even in the face of challenges.
Cheers, UX Letter
P.S: Notion’s story is not just about overcoming technical challenges but also about the adventure and risk-taking that comes with creating something truly innovative. Let's take inspiration from their journey as we work on our next project!
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