Many people consider Linear the gold standard in B2B software. Their focus on craft, the end-user experience, and building strongly opinionated software is inspiring a new generation of founders. It's also one of the most beloved and fastest-growing B2B products out there today. In my conversation with Nan Yu... (Nan Yu), head of product at Linear, we discuss: 🔸 Why it's a red flag if you think speed and quality are at odds 🔸 Linear’s philosophy on deadlines 🔸 The “double triangle” framework for product management 🔸 Nan’s systematic approach to creativity 🔸 Nan’s approach to landing his dream product roles 🔸 Their unique approach to product development 🔸 Much more Listen now 👇 • YouTube: • Spotify: • Apple: Thank you to our wonderful sponsors for supporting the podcast: 🏆 Sinch — Build messaging, email, and calling into your product: 🏆 Paragon — Ship every SaaS integration your customers want: 🏆 Wix Studio — The web creation platform built for agencies: itshow more

Some key takeaways: 1. Speed and quality aren’t actually at odds—they’re often positively correlated. The best practitioners in any field, from chefs to programmers, work quickly because they’re experts. The speed doesn’t come from rushing or cutting corners but from competence. Skilled teams that have mastered their craft move faster because they know what works and can quickly iterate, making decisions and improving the product in real time. 2. To prevent software bloat, Linear has a strict policy against customization features requested by middle managers that would make IC workflows worse. Instead: a. Focus on solving core problems extremely well b. Only build native features that deliver high-quality experiences c. Push back on customization requests that add complexity d. Help customers understand why limiting customization benefits them 3. One of the best ways to break out of a product or feature rut is to ask yourself, “What’s the most extreme version of this idea?” For example, instead of trying to figure out a perfect draft-saving feature, ask, “What’s the fastest version we could do? What’s the safest?” This approach helps you explore different extremes and forces you to break out of the usual boundaries. Build both extremes, test them internally, and then converge toward a balanced solution that works. 4. When implementing software, you’re not just solving a problem—you’re buying into a new way of working. Whether it’s an ERP system or a product tool, you’re adopting a set of best practices and ways of thinking. When choosing tools for your team, make sure they align with the practices you want to cultivate, and be ready to adjust how your team works to fit those processes. 5. When interviewing for PM roles: a. Treat it like a product discovery exercise b. Understand the hiring manager’s key problems and OKRs c. Ask specific questions as if you already work there d. Make yourself the clear solution to their problem e. Connect with other stakeholders to gather context 6. Take deadlines extremely seriously, but use them sparingly: a. When you commit to a deadline, make it the absolute priority b. Cut scope aggressively to ensure you can ship something c. Start fast and iterate early to give optionality d. Recognize that marketing moments are limited and precious e. Don’t waste time on detailed estimates—focus on shipping

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@linear Finally started using Linear and subscribed to Lenny late last year. No looking back.

@linear we’re just a team of two devs and a designer. We use @linear since day one and our velocity is really good. One Figma file (Source of truth), imperfect, I write a bit of a story then devs build tasks and I follow their progress Best combo ever

@linear Couldn't agree more. Product-led growth at its finest.

@linear brillant épisode, thanks Lenny!!

@linear @thenanyu 👏👏👏

@linear I’m there!

@linear Maybe to get market share over the default (Jira) focus on the experience had to be the focus but not necessarily as relevant in other products?

@linear I agree, but I also believe that with so much competition and so many entrenched incumbents, design/craft/user experience is going to be an increasingly big lever for disruption/differentiation.