Defining Your Core Problem Statement

30/10/2025 4 min
Defining Your Core Problem Statement

Listen "Defining Your Core Problem Statement"

Episode Synopsis

In this episode of The Missing Kei, Edie Woelfle discusses the importance of staying focused in product development by having a clear core problem statement. The core problem statement guides the product's mission and serves to prevent 'feature bloat', the addition of unnecessary features that can lead to confusion and wasted resources. Edie provides a formula for creating a clarity-inducing problem statement which enumerates the 'who, what, and why' - the specific group the product is aimed at helping, the outcome they need, and the reason why they need it. With emphasis on being specific, avoiding vagueness and resisting the urge to jump to solutions, Edie underscores the need for every new feature to directly address the core problem. A practical example highlighting an $80,000 wasted feature serves as a warning case to further strengthen the presented theory. Edie then encourages listeners to test out their core problem statement for clarity and relevance. A to Z Tech Terms for First-Time Founders | Keiboarder