“In order for a product to be loved you need to set the bar higher than your users themselves”
- Rahul Vohra
Rahul Vohra's Approach to Exceeding User Expectations
by Nasreen Shengal on September 28, 2025
This quote captures a profound insight about creating products that truly resonate with users on an emotional level.
Core Meaning
- Beyond satisfaction: The quote suggests that merely meeting user expectations isn't enough to create love for your product
- Anticipatory excellence: Products should deliver solutions users didn't even know to ask for
- Aspirational design: Creating experiences that elevate users beyond their current expectations
- Emotional connection: Love requires surprising and delighting users in ways they couldn't articulate
Why This Matters In Product
- Differentiation strategy: In crowded markets, exceeding expectations creates meaningful separation from competitors
- Emotional loyalty: Users develop stronger attachment to products that surprise them positively
- Innovation driver: This mindset pushes teams to think beyond feature parity or incremental improvements
- Word-of-mouth catalyst: People enthusiastically share experiences that exceed their expectations
How To Apply
For product leaders:
- Foster a culture where teams are encouraged to think beyond user requests
- Create space for innovation that might initially seem unnecessary but creates delight
- Measure emotional responses alongside functional metrics
For individual contributors:
- Ask "How might we solve this problem better than users expect?"
- Look for opportunities to remove friction users have accepted as normal
- Consider both functional needs and emotional needs in your solutions
- Study how users react emotionally to your product, not just if they can complete tasks
The quote reminds us that truly beloved products don't just solve problems—they transform experiences in ways users couldn't have imagined for themselves.