How Linearity tricks us into making bad Product decisions

And how to become a non-linear thinker

Photo by Fabian Fauth

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All of us know that most plants need water to survive. i.e. if you don’t water your plants, they die. But that inference is not exactly accurate. Here’s what really happens:

If you don’t give the plant any water, the plant dies.

With too little water, the plant grows for a little but then dies eventually

You water it just right, the plant flourishes and grows.

You Water it too often, the plant starts wilting.

Too much water, the plant dies

In fact, the relationship between watering a plant and its growth is Non-Linear. And just water isn’t enough, some amount of sun is also involved.

It’s the same with food and animals (or humans). In fact, it turns out that some of the most important system relationships in our lives are non-linear.