But how do I know who to talk to? What do I even say? The cringe of it all!
As I freelance researcher focused on enablement, I help teams actually talk to their users. This has never been more relevant. We’ve built tons of AI VC-backed products that no real user asked for or ended up using.
It works so well because I practice what I preach. In my own Laid off & fabulous founder learnings and in my community, I talk to people constantly. I’ve successfully passed on my operational and research knowledge to the my own company.
That’s what I gotta say:
To every laid off & fabulous person – no matter what you do – start talking to people you know, and people you don’t know.
To every product team: talk to your users and non-users. Then keep expanding.
Why am I such a big fan of this?
It’s not just about gathering insights or landing your next job (though those are nice side effects).
I love that it forces you back into the real world. Yes, it’s scary to talk to the users you designed for. It’s easier to check your data dashboard and say you understand your user just fine. Yes, it’s scary to ask for help and referrals. It’s easier to send CVs into the void.
But if you actually engage with people, this long game always pays off. Human references beat everything else. All of a sudden, your work turns into something that actually has value, and you’re part of it.
Don’t get me started on synthetic users and AI-automated outreach. Zero real impact on your personal growth.
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