Here's how you can navigate common logical fallacies in a Product Innovation career.

My parents always said: "Follow the rules. Stay within your limits. And success will find you." Sadly, this mantra didn't fit my aspiring marketer journey. Growing up in a small town, creativity was my escape. My parents, immigrants seeking stability, emphasized hard work and security. But I lost sight of my passion in my pursuit of fitting in. Following the rules stifled me, and staying within limits confined my potential. I realized true growth comes from pushing boundaries and taking risks. Now, I break the rules in marketing, explore new techniques, and embrace unconventional ideas. I push beyond limits, network, promote my work, and create my own opportunities

The Straw Man fallacy can be a silent killer of innovation. I've seen it happen too often --> a team dismisses a competitor's product or an internal idea by oversimplifying it (been there...) But here's the thing, by misrepresenting arguments, we rob ourselves of valuable insights and opportunities. Instead, we should: 1. Seek to truly understand: Dive deep into competitors' offerings or team proposals. 2. Encourage devil's advocates: Have someone defend the "opposing" view. 3. Ask "WHY" relentlessly: Uncover the reasoning behind ideas we might initially dismiss. 4. Foster a culture of intellectual honesty: Make it safe to admit when we've misunderstood.

Innovation teams sometimes fall into the trap of relying on authority alone, assuming that a product idea is solid just because it's endorsed by an expert or senior executive. However, authority doesn't always guarantee correctness. I believe in challenging ideas by evaluating the evidence and reasoning behind them, no matter who proposes them. This critical approach ensures that our product development is based on solid arguments rather than just someone's reputation

Early in my career, we faced a tough choice: enhance our existing product or start fresh. Feeling trapped, I questioned if these were our only options. I urged my team to think creatively. Could we integrate new features without starting over? Our brainstorming revealed a hybrid approach: leveraging our current product’s strengths while adding innovative enhancements. This solution saved resources and exceeded expectations. This taught me the power of questioning false dilemmas. By thinking outside the box, we found a better path. Innovation thrives when we break free from binary thinking!

As a performance marketer for an ecommerce brand, I faced a critical campaign launch for a new product line. The CEO feared a misstep could trigger a series of negative events. To counter this, I proposed an AI-driven marketing strategy targeting a specific audience, presenting data-driven insights to alleviate concerns. Despite initial skepticism, the campaign launched successfully, boosting sales and earning industry recognition. This experience taught us to assess decisions on their own merits and evidence, rather than fear, leading to groundbreaking innovations and setting a new company benchmark.