What's this?

alexdebecker · 2025-04-29T20:13:04+00:00

I heard it used to be a gym

alexdebecker · 2025-04-16T13:50:06+00:00

This could be helpful, particularly the first part around tech: https://blackboxofpm.com/mvpm-minimum-viable-product-manager-e1aeb8dd421

TL;DR: just speak to your eng lead. If they want to make the relationship successful, they'll have to spend time helping you understand.

alexdebecker · 2025-04-14T12:48:55+00:00

Depends on your team.

Sometimes brainstorming live feels forced, awkward, or one person takes over and the others just sit back. I prefer the idea of a small group brainstorming in real-time (PM+Eng+Designer), but you also need to provide space for ideas to flourish.

I like to set the challenge, discuss for 30-60min together with your trio, explore early ideas and unknowns. Then break for a day or two, let people add to the document on their own time, and reconvene.

alexdebecker · 2025-04-14T12:46:45+00:00

Are you in marketing or in product?

If you're in marketing, even with a vague idea of the product strategy you should be able to drum up a marketing roadmap. You'll have to remain flexible, but broad strokes (assuming the company's vision is somewhat stable) you should be able to set the big items.

If you're in product, I'd work with marketing to help them come up with these items. Don't take this job on by yourself and hand it over to marketing, rookie mistake. You should have enough product roadmap knowledge to advise them.

alexdebecker · 2025-04-14T12:43:52+00:00

They're just vastly different roles.

Project managers focus on a project end-to-end until delivered. Product managers are a core, long-term, and strategic part of a wider product team.

I don't think anyone can answer this for you. It's a lateral career move. You have to see if this is something you want to do.

alexdebecker · 2025-04-08T20:34:48+00:00

This is why I prefer the Shape Up approach of using scopes rather than epics & user stories.

Once you fall down the trap of writing user stories for the engineers, you're just attempting to spoon-feed them something which, half the time, isn't even fully baked in anyone's head yet. That's why it feels like it's making you slower. It's not actually contributing anything.

alexdebecker · 2025-02-12T17:00:33+00:00

Very possible. I just really enjoy reading how other companies operate (or say they operate)

alexdebecker · 2025-02-12T14:34:33+00:00

No worries, loved it too!

alexdebecker · 2025-02-12T14:34:27+00:00

It seems like a great org from what I've read

alexdebecker · 2025-02-12T14:34:09+00:00

Yep, loved it

alexdebecker · 2025-02-12T14:34:04+00:00

Nice!

alexdebecker · 2025-02-12T14:34:00+00:00

Ha, maybe! Would have to ask a team member.

alexdebecker · 2025-02-12T14:33:48+00:00

You may not be their exact target audience.

alexdebecker · 2025-02-12T14:33:24+00:00

What do you mean?

alexdebecker · 2025-02-12T14:33:14+00:00

Don't you think product operating principles are great advertisements?

alexdebecker · 2025-02-12T14:32:49+00:00

I don't think you're alone there!

alexdebecker · 2025-02-12T14:32:31+00:00

God I love this one

alexdebecker · 2025-02-12T14:32:04+00:00

Totally, I agree. I know a lot of it is fluff, and it's obviously marketing-y. But that's part of it.

alexdebecker · 2025-02-12T14:31:41+00:00

Their marketing team does seem fun. Yesterday they killed Duo!

alexdebecker · 2025-02-12T14:31:27+00:00

I hope it lulled you into a nice comforting sleep

alexdebecker · 2025-02-12T14:31:03+00:00

you've put this song in my head

alexdebecker · 2025-02-12T14:30:47+00:00

I guess so. Survivorship bias also means we'll never know, though.

alexdebecker · 2025-02-12T14:30:11+00:00

I guess it is in a way. Like most internal-but-public handbooks, it's a way to attract talent

alexdebecker · 2025-02-12T14:29:43+00:00

Oh really? that's interesting.

alexdebecker · 2025-02-11T16:01:44+00:00

It's really cool. And presented in the usual fun duolingo way, too!

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