The Happy Path Metrics Framework

When coming up with metrics for a product execution inteview, you must understand the what and why quickly. You need to list comprehensive metrics without going into too much details on the unimportant things. Before presenting my framework, I want to go through some must haves:

The Rules of the G.A.M.E.

1. K.I.S.S. - Don’t over complicate things. Keep it simple

2. Actions: Focus on User Needs to Get Done to be HAPPY

3. Evaluate: Marketplace Dynamics

4. Evaluate: what makes the product different

5. Key Actions Users Take

6. Goals

7. Top Metrics: Don’t forget: Secondary, Counter & Ecosystem (Guardrail) checks

Mistakes made along the way

When I started studying for Execution interviews, I was spending way too much time trying to think through all the steps. Then I tried to go high-level, but went too high and missed key actions and metrics. Then a wise woman told me: Think about the Happy Path. And so I designed the following Happy Path Metrics Framework.

Amazon meets Meta with this framework.

Work backwards from the end-user’s desired stated and the most important metrics become clear.

5 Step Happy Path Framework

1. The Product

   • How it Works

   • Why People Want It

2. Landscape

   • Competition

   • Differentiator

   • Audience/Stakeholder Alignment

3. Goals

   1. Biz

   2. User 1

   3. User 2

4. Happy Path Metrics

   1. Path Key User(s) Take

   2. Identify 3 to 5 Metrics

5. Top Metrics

   Remind yourself and the listener of the goal(s)

   1. North Star (Primary)

   2. Secondary

   3. Counter

   4. Guardrail/Ecosystem

Notes

The Happy Path

• Walk through a journey or path

• You will have more than 3 to 5 metrics swimming through your brain

• During the interview you can’t possibly list them all

• You need to naturally prioritize the metrics and edit out non-essential

The Top Metrics

• Focus on a top metric that covers both sides of the ecosystem

• Identify a key metric for each of the users

Special thanks to Rachana Mansinghka for the help and inspiration. The Happy Path approach is her brainchild.