The most powerful phrases in Product Management
Powerful phrases in Product Management: Taking ownership, understanding sales motivation, listening to customers, and the limitations of salespeople.
Climbing the Corporate Ladder
Strategies for climbing the corporate ladder: Luck or the hard way?
Vendor Lock In
Vendor lock-in in SaaS and managed services is real and data portability is a challenge.
Bad times ahead - Travel
Airline travel during COVID-19: Flawed business models, stripped amenities, and the end of social distancing.
The myth of “good” jobs
Are employers really offering 'good' jobs? The myth of job scarcity and low wages.
Consensus Shopping
The email discusses the frustration and drawbacks of consensus shopping in organizations and the importance of strong leadership and decision-making.
Sales Lies Part II
Sales lie about the need for a price reduction, failing to understand market demand and the consequences of lower quotas.
Sales Lies Part 1 - Sales is Closest to the Customer
Sales may be closer to the customer, but alas their bias is telling, and that makes their priority not my priority
Troubled Business Models meet the Pandemic
The troubled business models of ride-share companies face an uncertain future amid the pandemic.
If Architects had to work like Programmers
A homeowner's vague and contradictory instructions for an architect's house design, including his wife's possible change of plans.
Sales Threats
Sales threats, excuses, and misconceptions are explored, emphasizing the role of product management in prioritizing development and addressing market needs.
Engineer to Order - a Primer
Exploring the challenges and benefits of custom contracts in the defense industry, and how Product Management aligns in this scenario.
Bullshit Interview Questions
Product manager interview expectations are unrealistic and should focus on high-level design goals instead of technical skills.
Whistleblower - some thoughts
Whistleblower’s experiences expose flaws in HR and the lack of support for employees in toxic work cultures.
If you want to flame out as a Product manager …
Piss off an executive admin and face the consequences.
Product Management Ethics
Product management ethics at tech companies and their complicity in habitual unethical behavior and shady practices. Don't do this
Difference between an IC and a Manager (or leader)
"Move up or move out" mentality: Demoralizing, creates tension, stagnates core competencies, and leads to a top-heavy organization structure.
Executive class indeed - another concrete example
Management consultants like McKinsey are blamed for destroying the middle class, as described in a chilling long-form article in The Atlantic.
Textbook Case: Human Resources circles the wagons
Human Resources circles the wagons: A textbook case of corporate cover-up and retaliation.
So, you want to be an executive…
Becoming an executive: what it takes, who it's reserved for, and the stacked deck against disadvantaged individuals.
Human Resources is not your friend
HR's real purpose? To protect executives and the company, not you. 'nuff said
Product Management in a nutshell
Product management at its core: identifying a problem, its impact, customer willingness to pay, and funding development.
The Product Manager is NOT the Customer
Product managers must remember that they represent the customer, rather than being the customer themselves, to avoid biased decision-making and narrow market focus.
Dashboards
The Dude reflects on the role of dashboards in product management, questioning their ability to provide meaningful insights and preferring a more in-depth analysis of data.
Toxic Product Management
How toxic and damaging product managers can hinder team dynamics, destroy trust, and deliver poor results.
Business Development Whiplash
The Dude wishes that Biz Dev was staffed with good people who add value, alas, they are mostly staffed with has-beens and ineffective individuals
Business Development - Musings
The frustrations and shortcomings of Business Development Managers and their impact on company growth.
Skunkworks Woes
Dude's latest skunkworks project proves to be another headache and disappointment.
Product Management Messes
In this edition, the author shares their experiences in product management roles and highlights the common theme of picking up messy and dysfunctional products.
Just in Time Product Management
Master the art of prioritization and Just in Time product management in the face of chaos.
Product Management as an Introvert
As an introverted Product Manager, I share coping mechanisms for successful communication in a world that often values extroversion.
Product vs. Project Management
A comparison between product managers and project managers, exploring differences in responsibilities, scope, resources, and constraints.
Product Management Truths II
The Product Management Dude shares timeless truths about product management and highlights the limitations of popular tools and organizational structures.
Life as a Contract Product Manager
Life as a hired gun product manager on a contract is far from a simple 9-5 job, as emotional attachment and long-term thinking often come into play.
Reading People
Mastering the art of people watching: How observing behaviors and non-verbal cues can lead to accurate profiles and successful management.
The Sales Cycle - Observations
Sales observations: Hockey Stick bookings, outrageous specials requests, and inefficient sales cycles hinder productivity and growth.
Product Management Time Management - Meetings
Pithy Product Management: Avoid scheduling meetings and minimize the number you attend for maximum productivity.
Product Marketing Vs. Product Management
Contract-based product management and product marketing roles are compared, highlighting the differences and challenges of each.
Feature Request: Reply All action change
Limiting the overuse of Reply All in Microsoft Outlook by implementing a mental challenge before sending.
Expectations for a new Product Management Job
Navigating the different scenarios when taking on a new product manager role at an organization, ranging from best-case scenarios of support and alignment to worst-case scenarios where engineering takes control and tears the roadmap apart.
Focus - an Important Strategy Discipline
Focus on niche markets is crucial, but beware of threats to organizational discipline that can undermine your strategy.
Existential Blues - What do you want to be when you grow up
Avoid "Me Too" strategies and focus on under-served markets or differentiation to beat the leader.
To MBA or not to MBA, that is the question
"Should I get an MBA to boost my career in Product Management?" - The Product Management Dude offers advice.
How to Not Get Your Features
Balancing, vague requests, and exaggerated sales claims - the challenges of being a product manager.
Features vs. Value
A product manager emphasizes the importance of value over features when selling a product.
What if other groups set prices
Sales, engineering, and senior management all have a tendency to set the wrong prices for products.
What do different groups look for in Product Management?
Challenges of product management: meeting diverse expectations from operations, finance, sales, marketing, and executives.
The "Myth" of the Product Manager as CEO
Product management is not equivalent to being the CEO of the product, as true CEOs have more authority and control.
Product Management Lesson from the Apollo Program
The Apollo missions exemplify well-defined goals, adequate resources, risk-taking, and unwavering focus.
Engineering needs the Whole Product Picture
Engineers dismissing valuable product features as irrelevant to sales can hinder product development and competitiveness.