Learn to Identify Customer Problems Worth Solving
Understand the core challenges of building products customers actually want to buy, through five short, practical lessons delivered to your inbox.
- 5–10 minute daily lessons, developed by IPL faculty and practitioners
- Frameworks you can apply the same day
- No cost, no obligation, unsubscribe anytime
Learning delivered straight to your Inbox
Free
No cost, ever
What You'll Learn, Day by Day
Each lesson builds on the last, taking you from core concepts to practical application.
day 1
Why Discovery Comes First
Understand why skipping discovery is the most common cause of products nobody wants.
day 2
Identifying Real Problems
A framework for separating what customers say they want from what they actually need.
day 3
Shaping a Value Proposition
How to translate a customer problem into a value proposition that resonates.
day 4
Testing Your Assumptions
Low-cost ways to validate a value proposition before committing engineering time.
day 5
Next Steps
Common mistakes in discovery, best practices, and resources to continue building the skill.
A Preview of Day 1
Here’s an excerpt of exactly what lands in your inbox on day one.
Institute of Product Leadership
Day 1 of 5: How Digital Marketing Evolved
Today's lesson
Most failed products aren’t badly built. They solve a problem no one has. Today, you’ll learn a simple test to check whether you’re solving a real customer problem before you build anything.
- Why customer interviews often mislead teams, and how to avoid it
- A three-question filter for separating real problems from imagined ones
- One question to ask before your next product review
Tomorrow: Identifying Real Problems.
Related Courses
Once you’ve completed this course, these are natural next steps.
Product Management Foundation
Develop an understanding of the product management discipline and its role within technology-driven organizations.
Product Marketing Fundamentals
Learn the core concepts of positioning and promotion and how to develop strategies that reach your audience.
Design Thinking
Apply an approach that enables structured, innovative thinking to solve product and business problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this course really free?
Yes. There is no cost, and no obligation to enroll in any IPL program, to receive the lessons.
How much time does each lesson take?
Each email is designed to be read in 5–10 minutes, with practical takeaways you can apply immediately.
Will I be contacted by an admissions advisor?
You may receive occasional relevant updates from IPL. You can unsubscribe at any time, and the course itself involves no sales calls.
Who is this course for?
Anyone responsible for deciding what to build next, including product managers, founders, and business analysts who want a structured approach to discovery.
What happens after the five days?
You will have a working understanding of customer discovery and value proposition design, and we will point you toward deeper resources, including IPL’s full programs, if you would like to continue
Your First Lesson Is One Step Away
Five days. Five focused lessons. No cost, no obligation.