This week, Shopify changed how compensation works so that Makers (Crafters) can now become compensated without becoming Managers. This has me thinking about Paul Graham’s classic Maker’s Schedule vs Manager’s Schedule post. The premise is simple: Maker time is different than Manager time. Managers have the classic, meeting packed schedule. Makers require focused time for […]
Maker vs Manager Schedules Read More »
I’ll say it: the world needs more Ted Lasso. Ted is a fictional soccer coach from the Ted Lasso TV show, but despite his fictional status, he offers some valuable lessons for product managers. From his positive attitude to his high emotional intelligence, if you’re a PM looking to improve your skills and make a
6 Product Management Lessons from Ted Lasso Read More »
Tomorrow, a new Apprentice Product Manager (APM) starts working with me. They’ve never done this job before, so here’s how I’m going onboard them quickly and why it works for almost every job: 1. Talk to everyone Customers, coworkers, colleagues in different departments. Every person you talk to will give you a different perspective and
3 Tips for Onboarding a PM Read More »
When it comes to understanding mathematical jargon, it can be easy to get lost in all the technical terms. But, one thing that you should definitely know is the difference between basis points and percent. They may sound similar, but they are not interchangeable and have different implications for what they represent. What is a
PM Essentials: Basis Points vs. Percent Read More »
I first wrote this blog post about the Peter Principle and why your boss might suck… but that doesn’t help you much. You already know they suck, so let’s talk about what the Peter Principle is how to avoid getting caught in the trap. What is the Peter Principle? The Peter Principle is a concept
The Peter Principle: Why your boss might suck but you don’t have to Read More »
The content isn’t incredibly insightful, the blog posts don’t have social sharing, our email list doesn’t have an automatic welcome email, and we’ve posted nothing on social media. We offer categories focusing on two groups of people (PMs & aspiring PMs) which breaks the cardinal rule of having only one target audience. The unique niche
Why PMBetter is *slightly* embarrassing Read More »
There’s a lot to know as a PM. Here’s a cheat sheet of terms that are helpful to know: Product Management APM: Apprentice Product Manager or Associate Product Manager. This is often the first role an aspiring PM will get. Agile development: A flexible and iterative approach to product development that focuses on delivering working
The Ultimate Dictionary for Product Managers Read More »
In a startup, you live day-to-day. Just trying to survive and figuring out your next steps on the fly. Somewhere along the line, roadmaps become a bit more stable. You start talking about monthly and quarterly plans. This is exciting, it feels less reactive and you can finally breath a bit. Then you enter the
Measure weekly to move faster Read More »
Have you ever had a shower thought? I know I have. That’s where I first came up with the idea for Grobo Pods which grew into a multi-million dollar business. Shower thoughts are a result of white space. Empty moments in time where your mind can relax and wander. This time is crucial for generating
How white space fuels creative thinking Read More »
After 8 years of leading product at my own company, I joined Shopify as a Senior Product Manager in April 2022. I’ve gotten settled into the company and role, so now it’s time to focus on developing my PM skills. Here’s my plan for levelling up in 2023: How will you level up in 2023?
How I’m becoming a better PM in 2023 Read More »