Marty Cagan, Author at Silicon Valley Product Group · Marty Cagan
articleprincipleStrong Opinions, Loosely Held
11 September 2026Product
Note: This is the narrative version of a keynote talk for the Lenny & Friends Summit. Recently I was asked a question that I haven’t been able to get out of my head: “In light of all that has changed, what are the things that you used to argue were true, that you no longer... The post Strong Opinions, Loosely Held appeared first on Silicon Valley Product Group.
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Apollo layer
What a founder can learn
Founder takeaway
Treat conviction as provisional: periodically revisit the beliefs guiding your company and deliberately update those that no longer fit current evidence or conditions.
Why it matters
Founders need strong views to act decisively, but outdated assumptions can harden into strategy, product, and organizational constraints. Separating enduring principles from changeable beliefs preserves both speed and adaptability.
Relevant guides
Put it to work
Ask your leadership team: “Which belief behind our current plan would we argue differently today, and what evidence should change what we do next?”