MuST
Use it when your roadmap's just a random feature list, use must when you need every initiative tied to a clear success metric.
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What is it?
MuST is a lean product strategy framework that puts your North Star metric at the top, anchors it in clear strategic pillars, and cascades into concrete tactics.
It tackles the all-too-common issue of scattered roadmaps and misaligned teams by demanding you define one core Metric of Success, outline the high-level approaches (Strategy) to move that metric, and then list the Tactics, experiments, features, or channels, that will execute on each pillar.
By enforcing this three-layer hierarchy, MuST ensures every action on your roadmap directly impacts your key business objective.
Why it matters?
MuST turns vague roadmaps into growth machines by forcing alignment between your core metric, the strategies that move it, and the tactics you deploy. That discipline means you stop guessing what to build, reduce wasted dev cycles, and fuel sustainable business outcomes like higher activation rates, improved retention, and more predictable revenue growth.
How it works
Growth co-pilot turns your toughest product questions into clear, data-backed recommendations you can act on immediately.
1
Choose a single Metric of Success
Pick the one key KPI that best captures the health and growth of your product, your North Star. This prevents dilution of focus and lets you measure real progress.
2
Define your Strategic Pillars
Identify 2–4 broad themes or approaches that will move your chosen metric. Think of these as the levers you'll pull (e.g., onboarding optimization, viral loops, pricing experimentation).
3
Brainstorm Tactics under each pillar
For every strategy, list 3–5 specific initiatives, features, experiments, marketing campaigns, that could drive that pillar forward. Be concrete.
4
Prioritize and score
Evaluate each tactic by estimated impact on your metric versus required effort. Use a simple scoring model to rank them and focus on high-impact bets.
5
Review, measure, and iterate
Run your tactics in short cycles, measure movement on your metric, then recalibrate your strategy and tactics every sprint or quarter.
6
Communicate alignment
Share your MuST framework across teams to keep everyone focused on the same metric, strategy, and prioritized action list.
Frequently asked questions
Growth co-pilot turns your toughest product questions into clear, data-backed recommendations you can act on immediately.
You've nailed down your MuST and prioritized your top tactics, now feed them into the CrackGrowth diagnostic to expose hidden UX roadblocks and spin up high-velocity experiments that drive your North Star faster.