666 Roadmap Template

Created by Paul Adams, VP of Product at Intercom, this roadmap addresses the challenge of traditional timelines, which are often too short or too long to account for market unpredictability. The 666 roadmap helps teams effectively plan with adaptability, while maintaining a clear long-term vision.

What is a 666 Roadmap?

A 666 roadmap helps product managers plan and prioritize what to build by focusing on three key timelines:

• The next six years: Consider how the world and market trends will evolve in six years. This encourages future thinking and industry forecasting to inform long-term product strategy.
• The next six months: This is a flexible, rolling timeline that can be updated quarterly. Over six months, teams can build 50-75% of the product while leaving room for unexpected changes, ensuring adaptability as circumstances shift.
• The next six weeks: These are your immediate, concrete priorities, with updates every two weeks. Teams should be fully aware of the design work and the product elements committed for development during this period.

The 666 roadmap method helps product managers and their teams balance a long-term vision and key milestones with the day-to-day work needed to achieve those goals.

When to Use 666 Roadmaps

666 roadmaps are ideal for product managers and teams who need to plan strategically while addressing the realities of weekly workloads. They provide a practical framework for balancing long-term goals with immediate priorities.

You may also use a 666 roadmap when presenting to leadership or agile development teams. These roadmaps showcase your ability to balance customer needs with business objectives, helping to secure buy-in from stakeholders.

Roadmaps should complement other product management tools. For instance, you can link roadmap goals to team progress by breaking down initiatives into epics within your product backlog, and further into requirements and user stories.

Product managers can pitch the 666 roadmap approach as an alternative to traditional timelines, offering a more dynamic way to manage both long-term vision and short-term execution.

Creating a 666 roadmap is easy with FigJams whiteboard tool. Follow these steps to build your own using the 666 Roadmap Template:

1. Record your goals for the next six years:

   These represent your long-term product vision. Update them every two weeks to ensure accuracy and maintain a shared source of truth for the team.

2. Record your goals for the next six months:

   These quarterly goals might include launching new features. Provide enough detail for stakeholders and team members to consult the roadmap independently for status updates without needing to ask you directly.

3. Record your goals for the next six weeks:

   These are your short-term, daily team goals, such as quality assurance or implementing specific features. Limit each timeline to six goals to help keep teams focused on both long- and short-term objectives.

4. Review and adjust:

   Regularly revisit and update each timeline as needed. Ensure the roadmap is accessible by adjusting your board’s Share settings, and keep the team aligned through automated updates or scheduled check-ins.

This method ensures everyone is on the same page, keeps work organized, and balances both long-term ambitions and daily tasks.