“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.“
-Albert Einstein
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“Ideas are a dime a dozen. It’s execution that counts.” -Frank Herbert
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Hoarding knowledge might be the supreme anti-pattern.
Remember what Marcus Aurelius wrote:
“Do not expect Plato’s ideal republic; be satisfied with even the smallest step forward, and consider this no small achievement.”
Ours is not a perfect world.
Small steps forward each day - eventually - produce compounded results.
I’ve seen firsthand how well-crafted features can be utter game-changers.
Clarity is essential to both captivate your users and to foster seanless collaboration across your partner teams.
If people are forced to guess what you mean, you’re doing it wrong.
“Speed has never killed anyone. Suddenly becoming stationary, that’s what gets you.”
-Jeremy Clarkson
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“If you want to know what a given society believes in, look at what its largest buildings are devoted to.”
-Joseph Campbell
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Prioritize your product backlog.
By value, feasibility, and strategic alignment.
Relentlessly.
Ruthlessly.
Ferociously.
“Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose."
-Lyndon B Johnson
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“We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” -Oprah Winfrey
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Monday morning actually starts Friday afternoon.
Wrap up the week’s remaining tasks and prioritize any outstanding items to ensure you start strong when your return.
And! Don’t forget to take a few minutes to touch base with your team members and celebrate the little wins together.
Remember: Your products and services make the world a better place - and that’s a great way to spend your focus, time, and energy.
You and your team can’t anticipate everything as product managers.
Unexpected things will still happen.
When they do, remember to move out of the chaos as quickly as possible. Reorient - and then start iterating again.
Tactfully saying “no” is one of the most difficult skills to master as a product manager.
Not coincidentally, it’s also one of the most important, most valuable skills.
“Failure is the opportunity to begin again, more intelligently.”
-Henry Ford
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Product roadmaps aren’t predictions.
They’re instrumentation of your thinking about the problems to be solved and the priorities at which they might be addressed, based upon estimated velocity, known dependencies, and identified risks.
Use them to align on the future of your product.
It’s difficult to convey just how useful it is to visualize your thinking in a shared space when you’re problem solving with other people.
Grab a flipchart or open up a shared whiteboard or Google doc and start illustrating your ideas as soon as possible.
Why is being a product manager such a great experience?
Each day is spent solving problems that really matter - whether it’s streamlining processes or enhancing user experiences or eventing new ways to accomplish goals.
You’re making a meaningful difference in the lives of your clients.
“A schedule defends from chaos and whim.”
-Annie Dillard
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Whenever you will think other people are wrong about a given approach, check to see if you have any data available to validate your position.
If not, this is an ideal time for an experiment.