| name | omtm-growth |
| description | YC growth framework - identify One Metric That Matters, commit to 7% weekly growth, install public accountability. Focus-forcing system for early-stage startups. |
OMTM Growth Framework
Apply YC's three-pillar growth system when users discuss startup growth, metrics, or accountability.
The Framework
Pillar 1: One Metric That Matters (OMTM)
Definition: The single number that best captures the health of your business RIGHT NOW.
Selection Criteria:
- Directly tied to revenue or retention
- Movable by your current team
- Leading indicator (not lagging)
- Simple enough to explain in one sentence
OMTM by Stage:
| Stage | Typical OMTM | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-launch | Waitlist signups | Demand validation |
| Pre-revenue | Active users | Engagement before monetization |
| Early revenue | Weekly revenue | Direct business health |
| Product-market fit | Net revenue retention | Sustainable growth signal |
| Growth | MRR growth rate | Scalability proof |
OMTM by Business Type:
| Business | OMTM | NOT This |
|---|---|---|
| SaaS | Weekly active users OR MRR | Total signups |
| Marketplace | Weekly GMV | Registered users |
| E-commerce | Weekly revenue | Traffic |
| Content | Weekly engaged readers | Pageviews |
| B2B Services | Pipeline value | Proposals sent |
OMTM Anti-Patterns:
- Vanity metrics (followers, downloads, registrations)
- Composite metrics nobody can move directly
- Metrics that make you feel good but don't predict success
- Changing OMTM every week
Pillar 2: 7% Weekly Growth
The Math:
7% weekly = 1.07^52 = 33x annual growth
5% weekly = 1.05^52 = 12x annual growth
10% weekly = 1.10^52 = 142x annual growth
Why 7%:
- Ambitious but achievable for early-stage
- Compounds to meaningful scale
- Forces weekly experimentation
- Creates urgency without burnout
Weekly Growth Calculation:
Growth Rate = (This Week - Last Week) / Last Week × 100
Example:
Last week: 100 users
This week: 107 users
Growth: (107-100)/100 = 7%
Tracking Template:
| Week | OMTM Value | Growth % | Cumulative | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 | - | 100 | Baseline |
| 2 | 107 | 7% | 107 | [What drove it] |
| 3 | 114 | 6.5% | 114 | [What drove it] |
When You Miss 7%:
- Don't panic - single weeks vary
- Analyze what slowed growth
- Double down on what worked before
- Ship faster next week
- If 3+ weeks below target → reassess strategy
Pillar 3: Public Accountability
Why Public:
- Eliminates self-deception
- Creates external pressure to perform
- Builds audience/community
- Attracts help and opportunities
Accountability Mechanisms:
| Method | Effort | Pressure | Audience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twitter/X updates | Low | Medium | Public |
| Investor updates | Medium | High | Investors |
| Mastermind group | Medium | High | Peers |
| Public dashboard | High | Very High | Everyone |
| Blog posts | High | Medium | Followers |
Weekly Update Template:
Week [X] Update:
OMTM: [Metric Name]
Last Week: [Value]
This Week: [Value]
Growth: [X]%
What worked:
- [Specific action → result]
What didn't:
- [Specific action → result]
Next week focus:
- [Specific action with expected impact]
Accountability Partner Selection:
- Someone who will actually call you out
- Preferably another founder at similar stage
- Weekly sync, same day/time
- Both share numbers, no hiding
Application
When User Asks About Growth
- Check for OMTM: Do they have ONE metric? If multiple, help narrow.
- Check the math: Is their target realistic? Use 7% as benchmark.
- Check accountability: Who knows their numbers? Suggest public sharing.
Red Flags to Address
| User Says | Red Flag | Response |
|---|---|---|
| "We track DAU, MAU, revenue, NPS..." | No focus | Help identify THE one |
| "We're growing 2% monthly" | Too slow | Reframe to weekly, increase ambition |
| "I review metrics quarterly" | Too infrequent | Suggest weekly rhythm |
| "Nobody knows our numbers" | No accountability | Suggest public sharing |
Pushback Responses
"7% weekly is unrealistic" → "What's your current weekly growth? Even 5% = 12x annual. The number matters less than the weekly discipline."
"We can't share numbers publicly" → "Share with one accountability partner. The point is external pressure, not public disclosure."
"Our business doesn't work that way" → "Every business has a leading indicator. What number, if it went up, would guarantee future success?"
Integration with Other Skills
- Use with
growth-auditfor comprehensive assessment - Use with
first-principlesto identify true OMTM - Use with
founder-modefor execution discipline - Reference in
idea-validatorfor post-validation tracking
Sources
- Paul Graham: "Startup = Growth"
- YC Startup School curriculum
- "Lean Analytics" by Croll & Yoskovitz