I've been reading a lot of great threads about the difference between "idealized" product management & "real world" product management.
as someone who contributes a fair amount of content, and interacts w/ a wide cross-section of teams, it has really gotten me thinking
1/n
as someone who contributes a fair amount of content, and interacts w/ a wide cross-section of teams, it has really gotten me thinking
1/n
2/n
It goes w/o saying, but one problem we have here is communicating about "the real world" is exceedingly hard! Even in books. It takes...words.
Much easier?
1) Generalized, high-level, good-sounding advice
2) Angst
3) Pragmatism ("apply in context","be curious")
It goes w/o saying, but one problem we have here is communicating about "the real world" is exceedingly hard! Even in books. It takes...words.
Much easier?
1) Generalized, high-level, good-sounding advice
2) Angst
3) Pragmatism ("apply in context","be curious")
3/n
One of my big challenges w/social media is that -- and I have the data to prove this -- the more angsty, pragmatic, or generalized the advice...the more it is consumed.
The more nuanced ... the less it is consumed.
Constant puzzle: reach or breadth?
One of my big challenges w/social media is that -- and I have the data to prove this -- the more angsty, pragmatic, or generalized the advice...the more it is consumed.
The more nuanced ... the less it is consumed.
Constant puzzle: reach or breadth?
3/n
Say you want to share some product advice to the world, and make it contextually relevant.
Either you:
1) Provide the advice, and then provide modifications/implications across a whole set of contexts
2) Clearly state your context
Both take...words.
Say you want to share some product advice to the world, and make it contextually relevant.
Either you:
1) Provide the advice, and then provide modifications/implications across a whole set of contexts
2) Clearly state your context
Both take...words.
4/n
Both are hard. Every Wed night when I sit down to write my weekly post, I swear I'm going to try to be better. And I fail. Every time.
I try to make up for it by dedicating ~50% of posts to "it is a mess" type themes.
cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-5352-the…
These are way less popular :)
Both are hard. Every Wed night when I sit down to write my weekly post, I swear I'm going to try to be better. And I fail. Every time.
I try to make up for it by dedicating ~50% of posts to "it is a mess" type themes.
cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-5352-the…
These are way less popular :)
5/n
Another big challenge is audience. The product audience is spread across a huge arc of orgs.
Some have spent their whole lives in reasonably functional/healthy (but by no means ideal) situations.
Others are trying to introduce PdM into companies for the first time!
Another big challenge is audience. The product audience is spread across a huge arc of orgs.
Some have spent their whole lives in reasonably functional/healthy (but by no means ideal) situations.
Others are trying to introduce PdM into companies for the first time!
6/n
A massive spread. I remember in an interview with @shreyas he clearly told me that his background was in a certain set of orgs.
amplitude.com/blog/shreyas-d…
His passion was answering the question...
"why, with these riches /advantages /knowledge, do these teams still fail?"
A massive spread. I remember in an interview with @shreyas he clearly told me that his background was in a certain set of orgs.
amplitude.com/blog/shreyas-d…
His passion was answering the question...
"why, with these riches /advantages /knowledge, do these teams still fail?"
7/n
Meanwhile, I remember having an amazing conversation with @lissijean where we talked about patterns across the whole swath of the product world.
This was way more zoomed out context wise compared to the chat with @shreyas.
produxlabs.com/product-thinki…
Meanwhile, I remember having an amazing conversation with @lissijean where we talked about patterns across the whole swath of the product world.
This was way more zoomed out context wise compared to the chat with @shreyas.
produxlabs.com/product-thinki…
8/n
So many things in product are like this ...
A wide distribution
So many things in product are like this ...
A wide distribution
9/n
Here's another way to look at. I asked people with a reasonable N in terms of organizations to describe 80% activities, 15% activities, and 5% activities...
Note how even these are pretty biased!
docs.google.com/document/d/1KL…
Here's another way to look at. I asked people with a reasonable N in terms of organizations to describe 80% activities, 15% activities, and 5% activities...
Note how even these are pretty biased!
docs.google.com/document/d/1KL…
10/n
I've done many of these "mandate level" exercises
The difference between these two orgs is vast...
cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-2752-man…
There are LOTS of people working in the leftmost model
I've done many of these "mandate level" exercises
The difference between these two orgs is vast...
cutlefish.substack.com/p/tbm-2752-man…
There are LOTS of people working in the leftmost model
11/end
So how do we fix this?
It feels like the only way here is MORE STORIES. Not of mass-dysfunction, but of making things work in different contexts.
If you've written a story and want someone to amplify it...reach out.
I will share it as broadly as possible.
So how do we fix this?
It feels like the only way here is MORE STORIES. Not of mass-dysfunction, but of making things work in different contexts.
If you've written a story and want someone to amplify it...reach out.
I will share it as broadly as possible.
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