Case 2 — Feature Request #

Novice founder Daichi in the Valley of Infinite Dreams was renowned for his attentiveness to users. Each morning he would read their feedback, and each evening he would modify his creation to fulfill their requests. His app, which began as a simple tool for writers, grew features like a tree, branching in every direction.

“Add video sharing!” asked one user.

Daichi added it.

“Make it send newsletters!” demanded another.

Daichi built it.

“It should have a marketplace!”

And so Daichi created a marketplace too.

Soon the once simple writing tool had become a tangled forest of features, each branch reaching out toward a different sun. Users praised his responsiveness, yet somehow they were using his app less and less.

Troubled, he visited Master Lang, who sat by a stream sculpting branches into walking sticks.

“Master,” he said, “I have listened to every voice, handled every request. Why does my creation feel more empty with each addition?”

Master Lang held up a branch she had worked on once. “This branch asked to become a flute,” she said, “so I carved holes in it. Then it asked to become a spear, so I sharpened its end. Then it begged to become a cup, so I hollowed it further.” She held up the ruined wood, now too full of holes to be anything at all. “In trying to become everything, it has become nothing.”

The founder watched as she threw the deformed stick into a nearby stream.

“This stream has its wisdom,” said Master Lang, noting his gaze, “it listens to the rocks, but remembers where it’s going.”