The author uses a graph to analyze customer usage patterns and make informed decisions about feature prioritization. They acknowledge that not all features are created equal and that there is no correlation between effort spent and user satisfaction. This concept is referred to as "Physics Envy," where developers try to enforce rationality on a system that doesn't always obey them. The author suggests using the graph to identify "quick wins" - features that deliver disproportionate value to customers, such as improving app copy or adding keyboard shortcuts. These quick wins can help maintain user engagement while larger features are being worked on, ensuring that users don't feel the application has been abandoned.