Anthropic’s $1B to $19B growth run: how Claude became the fastest-growing AI product in history | Amol Avasare

1. Automate Growth Experiments with AI

Leverage AI tools (like Anthropic’s CASH) to automate the growth experimentation loop, including identifying opportunities, building features, testing, and analyzing results, to accelerate impact and free up human teams for more complex tasks.

2. Prioritize Big Bets in AI Growth

For AI-first products, focus on larger, transformative growth bets over micro-optimizations, as the exponential nature of AI capabilities means future product value can be orders of magnitude higher, opening entirely new markets.

3. Deputize Engineers as Mini PMs

Formally deputize product-minded engineers to lead smaller projects (e.g., under two weeks) by handling stakeholder management and execution, allowing PMs to focus on higher-leverage strategic guidance.

4. AI for Team Alignment

Utilize AI tools connected to internal communication platforms (e.g., Slack) to proactively identify potential team misalignment or overlapping work, enabling quicker resolution and more efficient collaboration.

5. Automate Admin & Managerial Tasks

Leverage AI to automate personal admin like expense reports and email archiving, and managerial tasks such as summarizing direct reports’ work, identifying key observations, and suggesting feedback based on team goals.

6. AI for Personalized Manager Coaching

Configure an AI agent with your manager’s public and internal communications to receive personalized feedback and insights on your performance, helping you align with their priorities and perspectives.

7. Focus on AI Product Activation

Prioritize early activation in AI products to help users overcome “capability overhang” and understand the product’s full potential, as models improve rapidly and users may not grasp new capabilities.

8. Master AI Tools Continuously

Stay current with and actively use the latest AI tools and model releases to understand their evolving capabilities, applying them to your work to boost productivity and develop product sense for AI.

9. Cultivate Interdisciplinary Skills

Develop skills beyond your core role, such as a PM learning design or an engineer learning product management, to increase your versatility and value in a rapidly changing, AI-driven work environment.

10. Adapt to New AI Playbooks

Be highly adaptable and willing to discard outdated playbooks, as a significant portion of past operating models may become irrelevant in an AI-first world, requiring new approaches to stay effective.

11. Minimize PRDs, Prioritize Action

Avoid extensive PRDs for most projects to reduce bureaucracy and accelerate action, relying on quick communication and prototyping; reserve detailed documentation and formal kickoffs for larger, more complex initiatives.

12. Use Strategic Friction in Onboarding

Don’t shy away from adding friction in onboarding if it helps users understand the product’s value or guides them to the right features, as this can lead to higher conversion and long-term engagement.

13. Quality-First Onboarding Strategy

Prioritize quality in your product’s initial user experience, even over immediate metrics, as a superior experience can significantly improve onboarding completion and drive long-term growth.

14. Prioritize Safety Over Short-Term Growth

Be willing to forgo immediate metric gains by prioritizing product safety, brand, and user experience, as this long-term view fosters trust, quality, and ultimately drives sustainable growth.

15. Embrace Constraints for Freedom

Recognize that constraints, whether in business or personal life, can foster adaptation, focus, and creativity, ultimately leading to greater freedom and unexpected paths to success.

16. Double Down on Unique Strengths

Identify and cultivate your unique competitive advantages or “spikes” in skills, focusing on becoming exceptionally good in those areas to maximize your value and impact in an evolving professional landscape.

17. Deep Meditation for Resilience

Practice deep meditation regularly, including retreats, to build emotional resilience, cultivate awareness, and maintain a level head amidst intense and rapidly changing environments.

18. Prioritize Regular Work Breaks

Schedule and take short, regular breaks throughout the workday, even during intense periods, to maintain physical and emotional well-being and sustain high performance.

19. Find Contentment in Non-Attainment

Develop the ability to be content even when desired outcomes are not achieved, fostering inner freedom and preventing suffering from resisting reality, allowing for adaptation and sustained happiness.

20. Master Cold Email Outreach

Perfect cold email by using a high-open-rate subject line, finding personal emails, keeping the message short, and following up persistently until a definitive “no” is received, as this can unlock opportunities not publicly advertised.

21. Transparent Investor Communication

For founders, maintain consistent monthly investor updates, particularly during difficult periods, to ensure transparency, avoid surprises, and build trust, even if the venture ultimately fails.

22. Use Internal Notebook Channels

Establish internal “notebook channels” for employees and leaders to share thoughts and principles, fostering an open culture, scaling organizational beliefs, and helping new hires align with values and strategy.