The Recap

The EASY way to Empowering your Future: AI Innovations, Financial Insights, and Exciting Opportunities!

Recap Man — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 18:00:00 +0000

We now live in an Economy dominated by AI products (TM by Recap). We are living in a different era. In the last 15 years, 52% of the fortune 500 companies have disappeared. Toys "R" Us and Sears, have ceased to exist due to failing to adopt emerging technologies whereas companies such as Amazon and Google have emerged victorious, leveraging artificial intelligence. Similarly, stalwarts like Walmart successfully reinvented themselves, using AI for inventory management and even for in-store robots. So, what ties these winners together?

Imagine a future where AI doesn't just support our decisions but anticipates them. It's a world where AI-powered healthcare, like Google's DeepMind, can predict illnesses before symptoms appear, enabling preemptive treatment. A world where AI in agriculture, like John Deere's autonomous tractors, use precise data to seed and harvest crops, addressing food security. It's a future where AI-based learning products, like Century Tech, personalize education to each student, optimizing their learning process. Do not get stuck in the old world - aka traditional media - and old-school products, dominate the new world with “The Recap”. The AI Product Economy is here. The way we do business has fundamentally changed. ” There was a pre-Recap Bryan and a post-Recap Bryan. It was really painful before the newsletter came along.” Bryan Yayla, CPO, Advisor.

DYOR Recappers!

Here’s what we got for you today: Grab your cup of coffee and let's dive in!

🚨An Open Platform for Operating Large Language Models (LLMs)
🎮 Cracking the Code of Large Language Models: Fitting Books into A.I.'s Brain!
📝 Unlocking the Mysteries of Money
🛠️ New Product Management Jobs from Snowflake
🚨Trending Products, Building Product Sense and more…

Read time: 6 minutes

Our Software App + Infra Product Portfolio + S&P500

An Open Platform for Operating Large Language Models (LLMs)

Think of OpenLLM as a wizard's toolbox for operating large language models - the brainy software that can chat, write, and even understand languages like humans. It's like an all-in-one kitchen where you can tweak these models to your taste, easily serve them over the internet, and keep an eye on their performance. It's like a multi-tool that can work with many big names in the language model world.

Moreover, it loves teaming up with other tools like LangChain, BentoML, and Hugging Face, making it a cinch for you to cook up your own AI applications. OpenLLM is your trusty Swiss Army knife for working with language models in real-world scenarios!

This Week Product Management Offers 🛠️

Cracking the Code of Large Language Models: Fitting Books into A.I.'s Brain!

A time not too far from now where AI not only assists but anticipates our information needs, in real-time, with the precision of an entire book's worth of information. Picture this. In this brave new world, your AI companion effortlessly processes the content of an entire novel like 'The Great Gatsby', about 72,000 words, to answer your queries with unprecedented context and depth. Thanks to the recent leaps in Large Language Models (LLMs) technology, this future isn't as distant as it once seemed. Companies are leveraging transformative techniques, bringing us closer to making this vision a reality.

You, the innovator of tomorrow, have the potential to harness the power of these models, using new positional embedding, Sparse Attention, Flash Attention, Multi-Query attention, and high-capacity GPUs to handle the wealth of data. You can redefine how AI integrates into daily life, making it not just a tool but a proactive partner. Think of AI-enhanced literature discussions, where AI comprehends the entire plot, context, and literary devices, enriching your understanding and appreciation of literature. This is your chance to shape the future, using AI not just as a mere responder to prompts but as a catalyst for deep, meaningful conversations and interactions. The power of the new-age AI is at your fingertips - it's time to embrace it and rewrite the rules of engagement.

Unlocking the Mysteries of Money

Pricing Money is a beginner's guide to understanding the complex world of money, bonds, futures, and swaps. Crafted by J. D. A. Wiseman, the book offers insights into the subtle and intricate structure of fixed income markets, which differs significantly from other markets due to its deep connectivity. A trader in this realm must consider the cost of borrowing for different durations, channels, and classes of borrowers, each interconnected. Yet, despite its intricacy, the fixed income market is simpler than the equities market, where individual stocks like Apple or J.P. Morgan move in weakly-connected ways, influenced by a myriad of factors.

The book, written between autumn 2000 and April 2001, and published by Wiley in September 2001, has now been released online following the return of copyright to the author in November 2019. While the original text remains unaltered in its meaning, minor typographical errors have been corrected, and the author's modern commentary is highlighted in green boxes. The book's online version is offered freely, with a gentle ask that readers share a review on social media. However, be cautioned: despite its comprehensive content, the book does not promise instant expertise. While it outlines the broad strokes of financial markets and instruments, the book is a stepping stone in your journey of financial understanding, not the end destination.

Product Jobs - New 💼

Building Product Sense by Jules Walter

Building empathy:

Observe people interacting with products
Deconstruct everyday products

Improving creativity:

Learn from great product thinkers
Be curious about changes in technology and your domain

How to tell if you’re getting better at product sense 📈

Developing product sense takes time and practice. As you get better at it, you’ll:

Notice subtle things about products and people that you would have missed before (e.g. micro frustrations and delights)
Anticipate non-obvious user problems when you look at product experiences or before you present at product reviews
Develop higher-quality hypotheses about product experiences to build, even in the face of ambiguity
Contribute more unique insights to your team, given your improved understanding of users and the landscape
Be right more often than not about what impact a change to a flow has on metrics
And, potentially, receive comments from your design partner on how impressed they are with a detail you noticed

I hope you decide to invest in developing your product sense, and that the practices in this article, on strengthening empathy and creativity, are as useful to you as they’ve been to me.

And the other thing that perplexes me is that product leaders expect people to talk about a product being great. And people don't talk about a product doing exactly what they expected it to do. They talk about a product doing what they didn't expect. And you look at a product like Tesla. People are not going and talking about how they had a great drive today, but they're talking about the Easter egg they discovered on the dashboard or the cool new feature that they discovered that is associated with Christmas or whatever.
And so, it always is interesting to me. In consumer and even enterprise products maybe especially so, why aren't we optimizing for those things that people wouldn't expect the product to do as a way to get that surprise and delight to talk about it, to develop a relationship with our products? I think that's another piece of the puzzle.
Scott Belsky

Memes 🤣

See my recommendations

99 Problems But a Code Ain't One: How Imaginary Issues Derail Efficient Software Development

Recap Man — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 19:00:00 +0000

Good morning, Recappers!

Today we're serving a fresh brew of insights in the world of product management, entrepreneurship, startups, tech, and venture capital. Grab your cup of coffee and let's dive in!

Here’s what we got for you today:

🚨The Paradox of Imaginary Problems: How Tech's Creativity Can Hamper Simplicity.🚀
🛠️Shattering the Solopreneur Ceiling: How Justin Welsh Banks $135K/month on His Own Terms!
3 Products, 5 Jobs, Quote, Meme

Read time: 5 minutes

IMAGINARY PROBLEMS

Just read a fascinating piece about how 'imaginary problems' are messing up our software. Here's the deal:

Say you're a podcast host and you need a simple, efficient website for hosting your content and selling merch. Your primary requirements? Fast loading, crash-resistant, user-friendly, with integrated ad services and a link to your Zazzle shop. But when you get the product, it's a nightmare. It's slow, crashes often, and half the features don't work as intended. However, to the developers' eyes, they've created a masterpiece packed with 'exciting' features like a high-tech recommendation system, real-time transcript generators, and an entirely new streaming protocol.

The main issue here is a communication breakdown, with your simple needs getting lost in translation as they're passed down from sales guys to project managers, and then to the developers. What was once a straightforward project turns into a series of 'imaginary problems' they feel are more compelling to solve. And the real kicker? This isn't unique to developers. In many organizations, from management to HR, folks are creating and solving these imaginary problems rather than focusing on the real issues at hand. This usually happens because people want to make their jobs more interesting or illustrate their importance. A prime example mentioned is online banking. Despite being a straightforward process, many developers are constantly trying to 'reinvent the wheel' instead of refining and perfecting the existing system.

The bottom line? A big chunk of the tech world is overrun by the creation and solving of imaginary problems. They've lost sight of their main job: building functional, efficient solutions that meet the users' needs. Talk about losing the plot!

JUSTIN WELSH

Justin Welsh, a one-man-show pocketing a cool $135K a month! Not a typo, my friend.

Formerly an exec at a hot startup, he swan-dived into a burnout abyss and came out clutching the golden ticket to intentional living. No more panic attacks, just peace and profits. His monthly bread and butter? An email subscription offering plug-and-play templates, side dishes of course sales, coaching, newsletter ads, and affiliate stuff. His workday dances around his rhythm, not the ticking clock.

Solo-preneurship ain't all sunshine, though. Justin admits to missing the office banter. But hey, he wouldn't swap his lunch dates with the wife or the freedom to pivot on a dime for anything. His secret sauce? Being present, taking action, and embracing the 'winging it' ethos we all secretly subscribe to. Despite his dough-making machine, Justin's not eyeing the next Everest. He's about shrinking his world to amplify the joy - less work, same pay, zero babysitting a team.

Justin's tale is less about skyscrapers, more about building a cozy cabin aligned with his happiness blueprint.

This Week’s Winners and Losers💼

Trending Products 🛠️

Fix My Code with AI : Make experiences accessible & usable with compliant code. (link). The first coding assistant with expertise in digital accessibility & ADA compliance. Use it to produce more inclusive and usable end-user experiences! Interact conversationally, or simply feed it code. It outputs accessible code and explains changes.

Deepchecks Monitoring : Open source monitoring for AI & ML. (link). Deepchecks Monitoring takes the open source testing experience all the way to production: enabling you to send data over time, explore system status and receive alerts on problems that arise over time.

AI-Chat Interior Designer : Design your dream space with real-time AI chatbot. (link). Transform your interior design experience with AI-Chat Interior Designer. Chat with our AI to explore endless design possibilities, and watch as it generates new renderings of your room with updated layouts and furniture.

Product Jobs - New 💼

Senior Product Manager - Payments at UnitedMasters (link)
Staff Product Manager (Remote) - Super (link)
Product Management Intern - Remote - Ultra (link)
Product Content Specialist- Kaspr, Cognisim (link)
Director, Product Management - Veritone (link)

“The customers change. Every new cohort of new customers is different. The new customers you have in the early stages of your product are typically more willing and forgiving customers. And you might nail the onboarding process for them, and then suddenly realize that, "Wait, it's not being as effective anymore. And the reason is because now you're engaging more of those pragmatist customers, those later stage customers who are initially more skeptical, less forgiving, less willing to deal with your friction. And so, you have to reimagine the onboarding process all over again.”

Scott Belsky, Adobe CPO

🤖 NONIO: REDDIT, BUT BETTER? 🚀

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 19:00:00 +0000

Good afternoon, Recappers!

Today we're serving a fresh brew of insights in the world of product management, entrepreneurship, startups, tech, and venture capital. Grab your cup of coffee and let's dive in!

Here’s what we got for you today:

Read time: 5 minutes

Breaking News 📰

NONIO: REDDIT, BUT BETTER? 🚀

Out with the old, in with Nonio. A new Reddit-like platform is on the block, and it's giving directly back to content creators. Yep, you read it right, your subscription is not heading to some big corporate pocket, but split evenly between everything you upvote each month.

Here's the 101:

Nonio is not ad-dependent. Instead, it's powered by a $1 subscription fee to run the servers, and any extra buck goes straight to content creators. Sounds like Robin Hood became a techie, huh?
Browse for free, and pay just $2/month to interact. It's cheaper than your favorite cup of coffee.
Bring your content, all of it. Nonio is a content creator's playground. Whether you're into images, blogs, videos (up to 8k res), HTML, and soon audio, it's all welcome here.

So, are you ready to be a part of the content revolution? We'd suggest giving Nonio a go. We're all here for the change, and this seems like the next big thing!

P.S: It seems like the only thing Nonio doesn’t support yet is our laundry. But hey, you never know what’s coming next!

🎮 2D PLATFORMER WITH AN AI TWIST

Meet Dimension Hopper, the brainchild of robotics whiz Benjie Holson, who has brilliantly melded his love for general-purpose robotics with the newest AI trends. And the result? A 2D platformer with a unique twist!

The game lets players design their own levels and then employs generative AI to transform these into beautifully rendered art. In simple terms, Dimension Hopper is a platform where players become Picassos!

Holson's journey of integrating Stable Diffusion and Control-net to develop this game has been nothing short of an adventure. From proving the concept, to installing Stable-Diffusion, testing depth and scribble modes, experimenting with different prompts, and finally finding the right balance between an aesthetically pleasing image and gameplay functionality - it's been a ride.

😲 With more models, projects, and releases coming soon, we are excited to see what the community does next during the new year! Follow us to stay tuned!" / Twitter

One of the major challenges? Creating a clear distinction between playable and non-playable areas in a visually appealing manner. The solution: adding little 'lips' to platforms. And voila, it worked! The game also manages to handle character sprites effectively, even if it can't be very specific. As long as you're not too picky, you'll have new characters all day long!

Head over to dimensionhopper.com to play with it now. And for those who fancy a little bit of the nerd-talk, you can discuss more about the game development on Hacker News. Holson's journey with this game is a perfect reminder that if at first, you don't succeed, change your model. And if all else fails, put a lip on it!

MARKETS

📝 BLACKBOX: YOUR PERSONAL CONTENT BOT

BlackBox is revolutionizing the content creation landscape for bloggers, marketers, and hobbyists. It's not just a fancy black box of magic, but a powerful content curation engine ready to fuel your websites with fresh, readable material.

In essence, BlackBox uses advanced language models, polished by regular algorithmic updates, to create and curate blog posts for your site, helping you keep your audience informed at the speed of light.

So, how does one harness this power? Easy peasy!

It's like having a robot intern, but better, because BlackBox doesn't need coffee breaks. So why wait? Give BlackBox a go and keep your content game strong!

Remember, content is king, but curation is queen and she rules the house! With BlackBox, you have both!

Product Jobs - New 💼

Senior Product Manager - Payments at UnitedMasters (link)
Staff Product Manager (Remote) - Super (link)
Product Management Intern - Remote - Ultra (link)
Product Content Specialist- Kaspr, Cognisim (link)
Director, Product Management - Veritone (link)
From Lenny 👋
How a traumatic brain injury made me a better PM—and person

Product Pic of the Day

Coffee & Crypto Daily

The most fun way to learn about crypto. Join 75,000+ founders and investors that get our FREE 5-minute daily newsletter. 🧠 ☕️

thirdweb weekly

Each week we’ll be highlighting a web3 build or use-case that encapsulates the art of what’s possible, on-chain. Plus, don't miss out on the latest product updates, releases, guides, and workshops!

Must Read - Unpacking the Success Suitcase: Fast-Track Your Junior Career in FAANG

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 06:23:26 +0000

Get the rundown on the latest developments in Product Management, Venture Capital, Entrepreneurship and Start-ups before everyone else (USA and Turkey). Join daily readers from Microsoft, Tesla, Nasa, Amazon, Y-Combinator, Google and more.

Subscribe now

Happy Thursday!

Today, let's take a leisurely stroll down a path less traveled. I've put on my thinking cap and come up with a distinctive list, specifically for those of you aspiring to leave a mark on the FAANG stage (Facebook - now Meta, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google). There's a need for specific guidance aimed at those starting their journey as junior employees especially product managers.

It's exhilarating to see our newsletter family sprouting like a spring garden – a solid 18% growth this month alone! Given this heady expansion, maybe it's high time we started a merchandise line – Substack mugs and T-shirts, anyone?

So, tighten your seatbelts, it’s time for some enlightening exploration!

Read time: 5 minutes

Feedback is Good, Embrace it!

Many individuals miss out on a tremendous opportunity for personal growth by neglecting to seek feedback. It's truly astonishing to think about how many people never take the initiative to ask for input or advice from others. By opening ourselves up to feedback, we open doors to valuable insights and perspectives that can help us improve and develop in various aspects of our lives.

Here Ravi Mehta clearly yet powerfully explains : “One of the mst challenging things I think for both a PM as well as a product leader is to figure out how to grow yourself and grow your team. And a key way to do that is through feedback. It's really important to provide people with good feedback to help them understand how to grow. But the problem is, and this is true in a casual one-on-one, as much as it's true in an annual performance review, it's oftentimes the feedback that people provide is very surface level. It may focus on particular symptoms but not root causes. And so one of the ways that this framework can help is, I'll often encourage people when they're first starting to use the framework, just to go through each competency and rate themselves needs focus, on track or outperforming on each of the competencies to quickly get a read on where you feel like you're landing. You can ask your manager to do that same thing. You can do that in five or 10 minutes. And then the areas where your manager and you see eye to eye and the areas where you guys see differently is stimulus for a really deep conversation.

And so I think that is like the entry point to providing exponential feedback. And I think about exponential feedback as feedback that has compounding returns. So if you give someone feedback on a particular symptom or you give them feedback on something that's tactical and they fix that in a moment, the feedback, the conclusion of that feedback, it just happens and then it's gone. But if instead you help a person understand the underlying behaviors that led to that particular situation, then they can focus on growing themselves. They can also focus on helping to diagnose their own performance more effectively, and that leads to compounding returns where they just keep getting better and better over time… I think gets to the root cause of areas a person can grow in and that ultimately leads to more effective feedback that has those compounding returns.

One of the things you can do if you are in a product role is ask them to do this exercise and evaluate you. Your manager will almost certainly have some impression of your performance that they haven't necessarily... If they're not doing it proactively, they probably have it intuitively. And helping them get it down on paper and getting it more specific can be a really good way to start that conversation. So that's one thing that you can do.

A second thing is I think oftentimes people refrain from giving feedback when they feel like that feedback is going to be intrusive. So just inviting your manager to say, "Look, I'm really looking to level up. Please give me feedback whenever you see something. You can give it to me in real time. Don't worry about wordsmithing it. I just want to make sure that I'm getting better." That agreement with your manager and giving them permission to give you that feedback will make sure that the stream of feedback has a much higher volume and starting with the quantity of feedback as a way to get eventually to quality of feedback as well.

…It's so key because then you've rewarded the person for giving you feedback, even if it hurts inside, and then they'll want to do it in the future.”

The Art of First Impressions

Making a striking first impression can feel like balancing a teacup on a tightrope – one wobble and it's game over. But here's the good news: hard work pays off. It's not about knowing it all from day one; it's about showing your dedication to learn and grow.

Action Items:

Hit the ground running: Don’t just coast through your first weeks. Use this time to demonstrate your dedication and drive.
Show initiative: Volunteer for tasks and projects that can highlight your capabilities.

Remember, you might not be the most experienced player on the field, but you can certainly be the most determined. Kick off your journey with a sprint and let your momentum carry you forward.

Harness the Power of "Why"

Picture this. You're stuck on a problem, wrestling with it like you're in the main event of WrestleMania. And just like in the ring, your stubborn nature might make you feel like you're in a solo match against this monstrous issue. Instead of body-slamming it in frustration, what if we try a different approach? How about we tag-team with Curiosity?

Here's how you do it:

Don the cape of curiosity: Never hesitate to ask questions. There's no such thing as a silly question when you're on the path of knowledge. Don't believe me? Here's a brilliant TED Talk by Brian Grazer on the power of curiosity.
Form a Tag-Team: Encourage your team members to share their thoughts. Everyone has unique perspectives, and when combined, it becomes a collaborative problem-solving powerhouse!
Call for Backup: Stuck on a problem? Don't brood over it for hours. Promptly seek help from your mentors and peers.

And while you're at it, remember this gem from the genius himself

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence." - @AlbertEinstein

The FAANG ecosystem isn't a wrestling ring, where one person walks out victorious. Instead, think of it like a superhero team-up, where everyone works together, solves problems, and saves the day. So next time you're faced with a problem, instead of trying to body-slam it solo, tag-team with curiosity and your fellow superheroes! And remember, everyone loves a good team player!

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Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

The road to success is often lined with a dash of daring. Don't restrict yourself to tasks that are squarely within your comfort zone. Take the leap, offer your assistance, even if you're not the 'qualified' person.

Offer your assistance: Take the initiative and offer to help, even if the task seems a bit out of your depth.
Learn by doing: Don't be afraid to fail. Each stumble is a step forward in your learning journey. Don't hold back.

A fresh-faced junior product manager named Ben stepped onto the scene. He had a promising resume, but what set Ben apart was his tenacity. When a sudden bug wreaked havoc in our system, everyone scrambled to control the damage. As the team huddled, brainstorming solutions, Ben, though not a techie, offered to pitch in. He volunteered to communicate with the tech team, bridging the gap between them and the product management team. Despite his lack of experience, he dived into the deep end. He spent long nights pouring over bug reports, system analytics, and tech jargon. And guess what? He didn't just stay afloat; he swam with the current, navigating through the sea of codes and technical complexities.

Yes, he had a few stumbles along the way, but Ben proved that the willingness to learn outweighs any lack of initial expertise. He became a linchpin in resolving the issue and earned respect from both teams in the process. In the end, it's not about being the best from the get-go. It's about stepping up, stretching your capabilities, and embracing the opportunities that come your way. After all, you can't hit a home run if you're too afraid to swing the bat. So, put on your game face and dive into the deep end. Who knows? You might just surprise yourself.

Be a Social Maestro

The role of a product manager isn't confined to overseeing the product. It's about nurturing relationships that bear fruit. Earning the trust and camaraderie of your colleagues is key. Wondering about the secret recipe? A hearty dose of genuine interest, empathy, and active listening. Start with informal chats during office coffee breaks or virtual happy hours. Before you know it, your professional network will be stronger and more vibrant than a triple-shot espresso.

- Engage with colleagues informally, getting to know their interests and hobbies.

- Initiate virtual team-building activities that enhance bonding.

Make "Empathy" your Superpower

You're a product manager, and it's like being the conductor of a grand symphony, only instead of musicians, you have engineers, designers, stakeholders - the works. Every interaction needs to flow as smoothly as a well-rehearsed orchestra. But what happens when someone hits a wrong note? Do you yell 'Cut!' and storm off? Nope. That's where your superpower, 'Product Empathy', comes into play.

Here's your superhero guide to harnessing 'Product Empathy':

Master the art of active listening: It's not just about hearing what your team members say; it's about understanding their point of view. Check out this quick video on how to practice active listening.
Remember, everyone is human: People make mistakes. Instead of blowing a fuse, show patience and understanding. Use these situations as opportunities to learn and grow. Here's an inspiring TED talk about turning mistakes into stepping stones.
Be the communication superhero: Encourage open conversations and foster a culture of trust. When everyone feels heard, that's when the real magic happens.

"Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself." - @MohsinHamid

So, as the maestro of your team, keep these points in mind. Because just like an orchestra, your team can create a masterpiece, when there's harmony, empathy, and a little bit of patience.

Be Data Informed - Always

You're all fired up for an epic cross-country road trip. The energy drinks are stocked, your favorite road-trip playlist is queued up, and... plot twist! You decide to toss your trusty GPS in the nearest trash can, opting to rely solely on a faded map from the '80s and some vague directions scrawled on a post-it note. Safe to say, it doesn't sound like the brightest idea, does it? In the grand adventure that is product management, data is your equivalent to that modern, reliable GPS. It's the guiding star that helps you navigate through uncharted territories, past potential pitfalls, and ensures you're always on the quickest route to Product Success-ville.

Becoming a data whizz is not about getting the highest score in a statistics exam, but about knowing how to leverage data to inform your decisions. Here's how you can ace it:

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Get comfy with data tools: The first step is to get cozy with data analysis tools. Think of it as learning to use a new gaming console; you need to master the controls to play the game right. There are numerous tools out there, from SQL to Tableau, and each has its unique strengths. Choose the one that suits your needs best. 🎮
Make 'Data Digest' your routine: Just like you wouldn't skip your morning coffee, it's crucial to dedicate regular time slots for understanding and interpreting data. This routine will help you stay on top of trends and spot potential issues before they become significant problems. It's like having your very own crystal ball. 🔮
Data = Your Strategy Compass: Make data insights the backbone of your strategy and decision-making. When you're torn between options, let the data guide you. It's your trusty compass in the wild forest of product management decisions. 🧭

Geoffrey Moore puts it aptly when he says,

Use The Power of Teamwork

Being a good teammate isn't just a title; it's a role to be lived and breathed every day. Think of your team as a football squad - you might not all play the same position, but you're all heading towards the same goal. Empathy, patience, and respect are your uniform - wear them proudly.

Be respectful: This is non-negotiable. The same kindness you'd expect from others should be reflected in your actions.

Not long ago, a bright young PM named Kevin joined our ranks at Amazon. He was eager and full of ideas. During his first team meeting, he proposed an ambitious new approach to our workflow management. While his eagerness was commendable, he seemed dismissive of the processes already in place, creating tension within the team. Instead of winning allies, Kevin was inadvertently setting up a battlefield. If he had taken the time to understand our existing workflow and communicated his ideas with more patience and empathy, the team might have been more open to his suggestions. Remember, it's not about the best idea; it's about the best approach. Being a good team player isn't about being the loudest in the room. It's about being the most understanding, the most helpful, the most patient. Embrace these values, and your journey to becoming a successful PM will be that much smoother.

Ask for Help, Do not Get Stuck!

Here's the deal, my friend. It's great to be independent and try to figure things out on your own. It shows your resourcefulness and determination. But here's the catch: spending an entire week glued to your screen, desperately scouring the internet for solutions to a problem in your development environment? That's a major time drain and, quite frankly, a waste. Instead, don't be afraid to reach out for help when you find yourself stuck. Trust me, it's not a sign of weakness. In fact, it's the smart move. It's far better to admit that you need a little assistance than to waste precious time going down a rabbit hole of frustration.

If you're working on a complex project and hit a roadblock. Feeling stuck, you decide to put two powerful strategies into action. First, you gather all your questions and organize them into a list, rather than bombarding your co-workers with constant inquiries. This "batching" technique helps you be more efficient and considerate. Next, you reach out to a specific co-worker who's experienced and willing to lend a hand. They become your go-to mentor, offering guidance and insight. Together, you sit down, and you present your list of questions. In this supportive environment, you feel comfortable asking even the silly questions, knowing they won't judge you.

There you have it, traits to embody as you venture forth in the FAANG world. Remember, every journey is unique, so don't forget to make your own rules along the way. Till next time, keep climbing that ladder of success. We're rooting for you!

That's all for now!

If you have any interesting projects or ideas, please reach out to us by responding to this email or by sending us a DM on Twitter: @musepmturk

As always, thanks for reading, and see you next time. 🫡

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Like what you read? Click that like button, share it around, and let’s keep this conversation going in the comments. If you have other tips or traits that work well, I'd love to hear about them. Join me next week as we explore more exciting themes, and as always, keep being awesome!

Thank you for reading Musa’s Substack. This post is public so feel free to share it.

Managing up!

Sat, 27 May 2023 07:13:32 +0000

Amidst the whirlwind of meetings and product launches in a dynamic workspace nestled in the heart of Seattle, I found myself engaged in a surprisingly enriching conversation with a famous person (not Jeff B!.). As we delved deeper into our mutual passion for nurturing leadership skills, the topic of managing up surfaced. I found the concept captivating enough to pen down a series of articles discussing the principles, tactics, and implications of this essential workplace skill.

However, our conversation was far from finished. It ignited a volley of thoughts and insights that transcended the confines of just a few written pieces. Therefore, I am here today, presenting to you the full compilation of our dialogue, supplemented with an array of examples, additional insights, and practical tips that I wasn't able to fit into the original discussions.

If there's a specific aspect, you'd like me to delve into, I'd be more than happy to hear it. Feel free to send me a message or drop a comment below. Together, we can embark on this exciting journey of mastering the art of managing up.

"Even as Amazon towers as a global powerhouse today, its inception was marked by fragility. In its nascent stages, a mere 30 days of personal, meaningful interactions with our employees tipped the scales between obscurity and prominence."
— Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon

“Managing Up”?

The art of influencing your supervisor, often known as 'managing up,' is a crucial competency, vital to all ranks, including the CEO position. It not only facilitates your peak performance but also helps garner deserved acknowledgement. Here are some techniques and habits I've adopted that have greatly influenced my career trajectory:

Calibrate Expectations: Be pragmatic when defining the timeline, necessary resources, and anticipated quality for any task you undertake. Your superior gauges your performance based on their expectations - ambitiousness should be balanced with practicality.

To fully illustrate the principle of calibrating expectations, let me draw upon an experience from my tenure at Amazon. There was a significant project on the horizon - the implementation of a new machine learning algorithm to optimize our fulfillment operations. As the Single Threaded Owner, I was responsible for overseeing the project and setting expectations for our team as well as senior management. During our initial project planning meeting, the team was brimming with enthusiasm, buoyed by the potential of what this new algorithm could do. The data science team was confident they could get a working prototype in a month, while the software engineers wanted to implement the new algorithm in the existing system within two months. However, from my previous experience working on similar projects, I knew we needed to take potential hurdles into account. These could include data inconsistencies, algorithm tuning, and potential integration issues with the existing system. To calibrate expectations realistically, I persuaded the team to consider these potential challenges and we agreed on a more feasible timeline:

Prototype development and initial testing: 2 months
Integration with existing systems: 3 months
Buffer for unforeseen hurdles and final testing: 1 month

While ambition and enthusiasm are crucial drivers of innovation and progress, they must be balanced with practicality and a realistic understanding of potential challenges. Calibrating expectations is not about stifling ambition, but about ensuring a shared understanding of the journey ahead, thus paving the way for sustainable success.

"Set expectations based on reality, not just on dreams. It's the only way to keep your team and stakeholders in sync and avoid disappointment."

Illuminate the Trade-offs: Be candid about the impacts when requested to modify a plan. Don't operate on the assumption that they have your level of understanding. Which areas will be impacted negatively? What aspects will gain? What's your advised course of action? Join hands with your superior to arrive at the best decision.

Picture yourself at the helm of a ship navigating the vast ocean of project management. There's a sudden call from the Captain (your boss) to change course. They might not see the same map you see, and it's your job to let them know about the stormy waters ahead. This is where you light the lantern of trade-offs.

Mapping the Consequences: First, you've got to figure out how this new course will affect the journey. Will it get us to our destination faster but with more risk, or does it mean a longer voyage but safer waters? Understand how this new direction affects every crew member (your resources), the ship's supplies (budget), and the ETA at the destination (project timeline).
Lighting the Beacon: Next, you need to signal the Captain. But beware, the sea is a complex beast and so is your project. Speak clearly and avoid jargon. Your Captain might not be aware of the intricacies of every role on board, so translate your findings into a language they understand.
Navigating the Waters: After you've sent the signal, the next step is to propose alternate routes. If the new course means we might run into a storm, suggest other routes. Could we recruit more sailors, or maybe there's a trade wind we could catch? Offer ways to lessen the blow of the negatives while highlighting the positives.
Steering the Ship: Finally, give your opinion on which course to take. This shows the Captain you're not just a messenger - you're a seasoned sailor with a keen eye for the waters ahead.

In this voyage of project management, illuminating the trade-offs is all about open communication, shared decision-making, and guiding your Captain (and team) safely and successfully to the destination. It's about keeping the ship afloat and the crew content on the journey, no matter the direction of the wind.

Deliver Excellence: Your superior's trust in you is directly proportional to the quality of your work, thus leading to more independence and sway. If you sense being micro-managed while your colleagues are not, it could be indicative of performance issues on your part. Strive for excellence in your work and you'll notice a positive shift in your professional experience. Let's paint a picture!

Crafting Excellence: For Tom, each product feature is an opus, each bug fix a battle won, each enhancement a gift to the user. His mastery shines through every product he touches, like a trusted watchmaker ensuring the highest precision in each timepiece.

The Product Showroom: Imagine Tom's manager walking into a showroom, each product Tom has crafted displayed proudly. The manager’s eyes are drawn to the attention to detail, the sophistication in design, and the smiling faces of satisfied customers. With every product inspected, the manager’s trust in Tom’s skills deepens.

Stakeholder Trust: As Tom consistently delivers high-quality results, his manager views him not just as a 'Product Manager,' but a 'Trustworthy Architect.' His innovative ideas are welcomed, and he enjoys the freedom to experiment and make impactful decisions.

The Litmus Test: However, one day Tom notices his products aren’t getting the limelight they used to, while his colleagues' work is highly praised. He sees it as a wake-up call. Rather than feeling demotivated, he takes it as an opportunity to reassess, refine his strategies, and strive for excellence.

In a nutshell, Tom's journey illustrates that in product management, consistent delivery of high-quality products builds trust, leading to increased autonomy and influence. If ever under scrutiny, view it as a chance to reevaluate, improve, and reach new heights of excellence.

Keep Channels Open: Regularly relay your intentions, ongoing tasks, and completed projects. Overcommunication is almost an impossibility. A weekly routine I've followed is sending an email titled 'Weekly Update' to my immediate superior, detailing:

(1) my priorities,

(2) areas need unblocking,

(3) team priorities,

(4) big ideas,

(5) metrics,

This approach drastically improved my rapport with my boss.

Managing up is a practice that requires consistent effort and expertise. However, the fruits of this labor are immensely rewarding!!

….

In the bustling and expansive world of Amazon, Alex, a young Product Manager filled with ambition and enthusiasm, a self-taught tech enthusiast from a small town, had always dreamt of working at Amazon and was thrilled when he got his dream job. But as the saying goes, every dream has its trials and tribulations. Enter Brenda, Alex's manager, a hardened veteran at Amazon. Brenda had spent the last decade climbing the corporate ladder and was known for her razor-sharp acumen and no-nonsense attitude. But beneath the stern exterior was a leader who believed in pushing her team to their fullest potential.

Alex's team was a vibrant mix of individuals from various backgrounds - engineers, designers, data analysts, each an expert in their field. However, the diversity also meant a blend of different working styles, opinions, and occasional conflicts.

Alex trying to acclimate to Brenda's brisk, succinct communication style. Brenda, given her vast experience, was accustomed to making quick decisions and expected the same from her team. This posed a challenge for Alex, who was used to a more detailed and deliberative approach from his previous job. Despite feeling overwhelmed initially, Alex was determined to adapt. He muttered to himself, "I've got to find a way to speak Brenda's language." He spent countless hours revising his proposals, learning to articulate his ideas concisely. He also started observing Brenda closely during meetings, taking notes of her communication style. Alex's hard work paid off as he noticed a positive shift in his interactions with Brenda.

Just as Alex was settling into his role, he faced another hurdle. Brenda often gave him tasks at short notice, throwing him off his meticulously planned schedule. This left Alex grappling to meet deadlines, leading to late nights and mounting stress, feeling like he was always playing catch-up. Recognizing the need for a change, Alex devised a new strategy. He initiated regular one-on-one meetings with Brenda to understand her priorities and anticipate future tasks. He also started preparing a buffer in his schedule to accommodate unexpected requests, which helped him manage his workload more efficiently.

As Alex grew more confident, he faced a new challenge. Brenda's formidable experience often dominated discussions, and Alex found it hard to voice his opinions, especially when they diverged from Brenda's. This came to a head during a critical product strategy meeting, where Alex disagreed with Brenda's approach but hesitated to express his views. Drawing courage from his conviction in his ideas, Alex decided to express his disagreement. Armed with data and well-structured arguments, he respectfully presented his perspective. To his surprise, Brenda appreciated his insights and even incorporated his suggestions, leading to a positive shift in the team's strategy.

Alex's successful communication of his ideas marked a turning point in his relationship with Brenda. However, he realized that to "manage up" effectively, he needed to build a strong, trust-based relationship with Brenda. He had to understand her challenges and find ways to help her succeed. To build this relationship, Alex began offering assistance proactively, kept Brenda informed about his progress, and started taking an interest in Brenda's challenges. Over time, his sincere efforts led to a stronger bond with Brenda, who started involving him in critical decisions and gave him greater autonomy.

In this journey, Alex learnt the critical lesson that "managing up" is not about pleasing superiors but about understanding their needs, adapting to their style, and building a relationship of mutual respect and trust. Through resilience, adaptability, and empathy, Alex was able to overcome the trials and thrive in his role as a Product Manager at Amazon.

Resources I find valuable!!

5 Tips To Manage Up At Work:
1. Connection is key: Building a solid, personal connection with your manager fosters understanding and trust. Shared experiences, interests, or simply knowing each other's favorite coffee can create a better working relationship.
2. Be a mind-reader (almost!): Understanding your manager’s needs and pressures helps you align your efforts with theirs. By foreseeing the challenges your boss might face, and preparing to address them, you become an invaluable asset to your manager.
3. Be a firefighter: Problems are inevitable, but if you can solve them before they escalate and reach your manager, you're demonstrating your efficiency and reliability.
4. Feedback is your friend: Regularly seeking feedback shows your commitment to personal development and continuous improvement. It conveys to your manager that you're invested in your role and in the organization's success.
The 8 tips on how to manage up successfully:
1. Crack the code: Each manager communicates differently. Recognizing and adapting to your manager's communication style enhances mutual understanding and leads to effective collaboration.
2. Trust is a two-way street: Delivering reliable, consistent work forms a foundation of trust. It signifies to your manager that you're a dependable team member.
3. Be the hallmark of excellence: Consistently high-quality work distinguishes you as a committed, competent employee, boosting your manager's confidence in your abilities.
4. Be your manager's secret weapon: If you can make your manager's job easier by anticipating needs, offering solutions, or taking on extra responsibilities, you'll become an indispensable part of the team.
How to manage up:
1. Become a manager-whisperer: The more you know about your manager's goals, strengths, weaknesses, and working style, the better you can work together. It also aids in setting realistic expectations and preventing misunderstandings.
2. Walk a mile in their shoes: Understanding the challenges your manager faces can make you more empathetic, cooperative, and supportive.
3. Speak up, stand out: Regular, proactive communication about your work keeps your manager informed and avoids surprises. It also showcases your initiative and commitment.
4. Make feedback a two-way street: Providing constructive feedback to your manager demonstrates your investment in the team's performance and fosters a culture of open communication.
A Tactical Guide to Managing Up: 30 Tips from the Smartest People We Know:
1. Play detective: Understanding your manager's motivations and drivers aids in aligning your actions with their expectations. It helps in building a working relationship rooted in mutual understanding and shared goals.
2. Jump in and help: Demonstrating a willingness to take on responsibilities and make things easier for your manager signals your team spirit and commitment.
3. Clear the fog: Transparency in your tasks, challenges, and accomplishments fosters trust and aids in effective decision-making.
4. Navigate the minefield: Anticipating potential conflicts and navigating them wisely can save your manager unnecessary headaches and further build trust.
Managing Up: Advice from 5 Experienced Leaders:
1. Mirror their Style: Understanding and adapting to your manager's communication and working style is a key element in managing up. It enables more effective and harmonious interaction.
2. Always be Prepared: Preparation is key. Whether it's for meetings, projects, or unexpected challenges, being prepared shows your manager that you're reliable and committed.
3. Problem? Solution!: Rather than just highlighting problems, bring solutions. It shows your initiative and problem-solving abilities, making you an asset to your manager.
4. Speak their Language: Understand your manager's goals and priorities. Tailoring your communication and efforts towards these goals shows alignment and increases your value in your manager's eyes.
What Does It Mean to ‘Manage Up’?:
1. Build Strong Bridges: Develop a robust relationship with your manager. It forms a strong foundation for better understanding and mutual trust.
2. Open Doors, Don’t Wait for Them to Open: Take initiative. Be proactive in communication, seeking feedback, and offering assistance. It makes you stand out as an engaged and dependable team member.
3. Don’t be a Yes-Man/Woman: It's okay to disagree respectfully. Your manager will value your honesty and fresh perspectives, contributing to a healthy, dynamic working relationship.
4. Your Manager is Human, Too: Remember that your manager is also dealing with pressures and challenges. Be understanding, supportive, and ready to help when you can.

Key Summary: Building a strong relationship with your manager, taking initiative, expressing honest opinions, and understanding your manager's challenges are essential to effective upward management.

Best,

Musa👋

✨ The Product Manager's Journey: From Naval Engineering to The Heart of Amazon's Tech Action

Sun, 21 May 2023 01:33:37 +0000

Welcome to the thrilling narrative of my voyage, a journey that saw an Electrical Engineer from the Navy morph into a Senior Technical Product Manager at Amazon. In this captivating account, I aim to provide you with an array of valuable insights, backed by my personal experiences, that serve as a beacon for those daring enough to explore the exciting world of Product Management.

The role of a product manager (PM) has ascended as the most intriguing position in the tech landscape today. Standing at the epicenter of action, PMs hold sway over critical decisions and are often the springboard to the birth of new tech ventures. Little wonder then, that product management has started to dominate the charts of the best, the hottest, and the most promising career paths in the U.S. - and not just within the tech realm.

Approximately 5 years back, I found myself at a similar crossroad. As an engineer in the Navy, I felt the irresistible pull towards the dynamic realm of product management. Yielding to this lure, I initiated my transition into the product space, much akin to my decision to join Amazon. Since then, I have been a part of, and have assisted, multiple transitions into the PM role from a variety of functions including Engineering, Operations, Data Science, Military and more.

This post serves as a compendium of all the wisdom I have gathered over these years, a comprehensive guide for those seeking advice on this transition. I'll help you understand if product management is your true calling, provide tips on how to land your first PM role, and equip you with the skills required to excel in this riveting profession. Buckle up as we delve into the fascinating world of Product Management.

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Beginning at the Root: Understanding If PM is Your True Calling

The first stride into any new professional domain demands a crucial introspective dive: acknowledging your unique passions, strengths, and future goals. For me, my inaugural stride into the captivating arena of Product Management (PM) was triggered by a realization. I was passionately driven by problem-solving, strategic ideation, and the transformative power of technology on customer experiences. Allow me to illuminate how I discovered my PM path:

• During my Navy tenure, I relished the roles of leadership, handling crises, and making consequential decisions. These predilections seamlessly aligned with the PM role, setting the stage for my career metamorphosis.

It's essential to embark on a frank self-assessment before diving into the Product Management space. The role seeks a dynamic blend of technical prowess, business insight, leadership abilities, and a profound understanding of customer requirements.

Consider watching this enlightening video for some guidance: "Decoding the Product Management Conundrum"

After embarking on my unanticipated journey into Product Management, it's hard for me to picture myself in a different role. True, the path can often feel thankless, stress-ridden, and all-consuming. Yet, when all elements align, it feels like you've found your calling. The unparalleled joy of resolving challenges, propelling business growth, collaborating closely with diverse teams, conceptualizing strategies, and shaping memorable experiences for customers is simply fulfilling. However, it's equally critical to acknowledge that this role isn't for those seeking perennial recognition, solitude, or routine-driven work.

You don't need to strike a chord with every point I've listed, but if the broad essence resonates with your career ambitions, you're certainly heading in the right direction. So, if you find yourself drawn to the exciting task of shaping the future of technology, keep reading, as the journey has just begun.

Strategizing the Journey: Identifying Your Route Into PM

In the broad realm of Product Management, there's no singular, defined trajectory that suits all. The course I adopted was a strategic blend of my engineering background, a business-oriented MBA, and the indispensable hands-on experience I garnered at a startup. Comprehending the varied pathways into Product Management can aid you in charting your voyage:

• My transformation from an engineering role within the Navy to a product-centric position at a startup allowed me to apply my technical acumen in new and dynamic ways.

• By earning an MBA, I bridged gaps in my understanding of business operations, equipping myself for greater strategic responsibilities within Product Management.

The metamorphosis into a Product Manager is as unique as the individual undertaking it. The crux lies in capitalizing on your established skills, recognizing areas where your knowledge or experience may lack, and seizing opportunities for growth and learning.

To expand your understanding, check out this informative article: Four Pathways to a Career in Product Management

Or, if you're more of a visual learner, take a look at this insightful video on the same topic.

Remember, the wisdom of Google CEO Sundar Pichai: "There are many paths to success. Some paths are straightforward. Others have more twists and turns. Embrace your unique journey."

Looking at the myriad of experiences shared with me, it's evident that there are several routes to your first stint in product management. These include an internal transition within a large corporation, securing a junior PM role at a big company, joining a startup in need, or even establishing your own company. While each path comes with its own challenges and opportunities, the common factor lies in showcasing your intelligence, drive, and innate strengths in several key skills.

Though the transition into a product management career may seem shrouded in mystery or left to chance, remember that every existing product manager has walked this path in one way or another. Whether you're coming from engineering, design, data science, user research, program management, consulting, sales, marketing, or business school, you can pave your way into this exciting field with the right preparation and mindset.

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Building a Robust Skillset: Must-Have PM Skills

Transforming Your Skills into an Armoury: The Indispensable PM Skills

As a former PM at Amazon, my journey led me to the realization of the invaluable nature of possessing a multifaceted skillset. Each role I undertook offered unique challenges that called upon a different assortment of abilities, from conducting market research and in-depth data analysis to adept stakeholder management and cultivating customer empathy. A successful PM needs to wear several hats, as their role constantly evolves with the dynamics of the market and the requirements of the project at hand. Below, I share some of the essential skills that I found myself honing throughout my career:

Grasping Customer Pain Points: One of the most impactful experiences during my early days was my tenure at Clarusway, a promising start-up where I was fortunate enough to witness its growth from zero to a vibrant community of 4000 students. It was here that I realized the profound significance of understanding and addressing customer pain points. Through repeated interactions with students, CEO and CPO, I learnt that a good PM always keeps the customer in focus, making their needs and difficulties the centerpiece of all decision-making processes.
Data-driven Decision Making: As a PM at Amazon, I found that my decisions needed to be informed and guided by robust data analysis and insights. The environment was incredibly dynamic, with constantly shifting parameters. Being able to derive data-driven insights and leverage them into actionable strategies proved to be a vital skill.
User Empathy 👥 : A brilliant PM isn't just a strategist or executor but a translator of customer needs. Think of it like this: you're the biographer of your user. Your job is to know their wants, needs, and struggles better than anyone else, to the point that you can tell their story back to them in a way that feels real and personal. One powerful exercise: spend a day "in the shoes" of your user. If you're working on a productivity tool for teachers, spend a day in a classroom. If you're building a meal delivery app, talk to busy professionals about their dinner routines.

Recommended reading: "The Mom Test" by Rob Fitzpatrick and "Just Enough Research" by Erika Hall.

Cross-Functional Leadership 🤝 : PMs are leaders without formal authority. You need to bring together engineers, designers, marketers, and more, harmonizing their talents towards a common goal. It's a balancing act of respecting each team member's expertise while keeping an eye on the broader picture. Think about it as conducting an orchestra. Each musician is a master of their instrument, but they need you to blend their sounds into a symphony.

Suggested reading: "Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity" by Kim Scott.

As we continue to discuss PM skills, I'd like you to bear in mind a quote by the legendary chef and television personality Anthony Bourdain: "Skills can be taught. Character you either have or you don't have." This quote underscores the fact that while it's crucial to hone your skills, it's your innate character traits, like resilience, adaptability, and a keen sense of empathy, that will truly set you apart in your journey as a PM. As you embark on your path to becoming an exceptional PM, remember that each skill you develop is a new tool in your arsenal. Continually refine them, and you will find yourself well-equipped to conquer the challenges that the role of a product manager invariably presents.

In conclusion, being an effective PM calls for a diverse set of skills. These can range from a solid technical understanding and proficiency in data analysis to a knack for market research and stakeholder management. It's important to note that these are not skills one can master overnight. They require persistent effort, real-world application, and an insatiable curiosity to keep learning.

To further bolster your understanding, I recommend reading: "The Most Important Skills a Product Manager Needs". It offers valuable insights and hands-on advice from industry experts who have walked the path and faced the trials that come with this role.

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Extra Nuggets: Building Over Time to Remain Ahead in the Game

In Product Management, learning never stops. As a PM, you must continually refine your existing skills and pick up new ones. From understanding emerging technologies to getting grips with new market trends, constant learning and adaptation are a must:

While at Amazon, I had to rapidly adapt to new tools and technologies to maintain the pace of product development.
Understanding trends in automation and data science were necessary to align with the future direction of the company and industry.

As a PM, you must be committed to continuous learning. Stay curious, stay informed, and never hesitate to dive into new areas.

As a Product Manager, your journey doesn't end with acquiring core skills. To truly excel in the field, you must commit to ongoing skill development. Here are some additional skills that you'll need to build over time to stay ahead:

Vision 🌟

A great PM sets the direction for their team, painting a compelling vision of the future. It's about defining the "north star" and aligning everyone towards it. Communicate your vision clearly, get your team and stakeholders on board, and empower them to contribute their best towards achieving that vision.

Business Acumen 💼

To make strategic product decisions, you must understand the business landscape in which you operate. Deepen your knowledge of the industry, your company's business model, and the key metrics that drive success. By aligning your product roadmap with the business's goals, you can build the right things in the right order.

Obsession with Impact 💥

Every action you take as a PM should be tied to the impact it will have on your business and, most importantly, your customers. Develop a laser focus on understanding the desired outcomes, measuring success metrics, and driving meaningful results. Make impact a central part of your decision-making process.

Growth Mindset 🌱

Embrace a growth mindset, both for yourself and those around you. Believe in the potential for continuous improvement and encourage others to do the same. Embrace challenges as learning opportunities, seek feedback, and constantly strive for personal and professional growth.

Remember, building these skills takes time and dedication. Embrace the journey of continuous growth and development as you strive for excellence in your role as a Product Manager.

"Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence." - Abigail Adams

Watch this video: The Lifelong Learner's Mindset

Looking Ahead: What's Next After Breaking into Product Management

Transitioning into Product Management is just the start. The real journey begins once you're in the role. From navigating the intricacies of cross-functional teams to aligning product strategies with business goals, the life of a PM is filled with exciting challenges and rewarding experiences:

As a PM at Amazon, my typical day involved an intricate dance of meetings, strategy sessions, data analysis, and coordinating with various teams.
Every day was a new learning experience, each project an opportunity to apply and grow my skills.

Remember, the PM journey doesn't end once you've landed the job. In fact, it's just the beginning. Enjoy the ride, and embrace every challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Watch this video: A Day in the Life of a Product Manager

I hope that my journey and the insights I've shared serve as an inspiration and guidance for your own journey into the world of Product Management.

Sincerely,

Thank you for reading Musa’s Substack. This post is public so feel free to share it.

From Rainforests to Storefronts: My 5-Year Journey with Amazon

Sat, 20 May 2023 06:29:58 +0000

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Dear readers,

As we embark on this narrative journey together, we'll be traversing a landscape imbued with growth, evolution, and discovery. This narrative encapsulates a pivotal period in my life - my five transformative years at Amazon. I invite you to accompany me as we navigate through the fascinating maze that is Amazon, a maze I had the privilege of exploring. Amazon's reputation precedes it. We're all familiar with its awe-inspiring triumphs, its status as a titan of e-commerce, and its ground-breaking technological prowess. But as we appreciate these collective successes, there's a wealth of individual experiences that form the bedrock of these achievements. These are the untold stories that bubble beneath the surface, and today, we're going to tap into this undercurrent and explore these personal stories.

Learning to Navigate the Amazonian Landscape

Stepping into Amazon was like stepping into a vast rainforest. A rainforest teeming with biodiversity, where every organism has a unique role, contributes to the overall balance and harmony of the ecosystem. Amazon was no different. It was a vast ecosystem comprising a diverse array of roles, teams, and projects, all interconnected and all contributing to Amazon's collective growth and success. This new environment was defined by its scale and complexity, a space that demanded resilience, adaptability, and an insatiable desire to learn and grow.

My first year was akin to a freshman year. Just as a freshman navigates a new campus, learns about various subjects, participates in extracurricular activities, I too was finding my footing in this vast Amazonian landscape. This involved understanding the nuances of the Amazon website's search function, grasping how minor changes could have significant implications on user experience and website traffic. It was a year that stretched my abilities, tested my resilience, and above all, taught me that every challenge was an opportunity to learn and grow.

The initial year at Amazon, though intimidating, serves as a critical period of growth, nurturing resilience and adaptability. It's a year that reframes your perception of challenges, transforming them into intriguing puzzles that inspire rather than discourage.

How did I Learn to Navigate the Amazonian Landscape? Three Key Ingredients:

Navigating the dense Amazonian landscape was an intricate dance that required acclimation to its unique rhythm and pace. There were three key elements that played a pivotal role in my acclimation:

Immersive Experience: Amazon provided an immersive experience that required diving head-first into projects, learning as I navigated through challenges. Much like how the intricacies of the rainforest reveal themselves to the explorer who dares to venture deep, Amazon's complex landscape began to make sense as I delved deeper into my roles and responsibilities.
Mentorship and Collaboration: The ecosystem at Amazon thrived on collaboration and mentorship. Senior team members, leaders, and even peers were always willing to guide and support, fostering a culture of collective learning and growth. This collaboration was not limited to intra-team interactions but spanned across various teams and projects, creating an expansive learning network.

Here's a compelling video that outlines Amazon's leadership principles.

Main Takeaway: Learning to navigate the Amazonian landscape is a process that involves immersive experiences and leveraging the culture of mentorship and collaboration. These elements combine to form the bedrock of the Amazonian journey, fostering resilience and adaptability while encouraging continuous learning and growth.

The second year at Amazon felt like being drawn into the inner sanctum of the organization - into the very core of what defines Amazon - its unwavering customer obsession. As an employee, you are quickly made aware that Amazon is customer-obsessed, but it's only when you work on projects that directly impact the customer, that you appreciate the depth of this obsession. I had the opportunity to work on the Amazon Prime membership program, a role that allowed me to directly impact customer experience, a role that brought me face to face with Amazon's relentless commitment to its customers.

Amazon Prime was not just a program, it was a promise - a promise of superior service, of unparalleled value, of undying trust. Working on expanding the Prime Video content library, I realized that every decision we took, every change we made, was driven by a single question - "Will this benefit our customer?" This customer-centricity was not just a strategy, it was a way of life at Amazon, a philosophy that permeated every discussion, every meeting, every brainstorming session.

Amazon's 'customer obsession' is further explained in this article.

The second year at Amazon is a period of internalizing the 'customer obsession' principle. It teaches the importance of empathy in problem-solving and reaffirms the idea that at Amazon, the customer truly is king.

A Few Key Tools that I've Found Helpful:

Deep Dive Approach: Amazon's leadership principle of diving deep into problems is a tool that has proven invaluable in understanding and solving complex issues. Adopting a problem-solver mindset, asking questions, dissecting issues to their root cause are critical to understanding the nuances of customer needs and innovating effective solutions.
Two-Pizza Teams: This organizational concept at Amazon fosters agility and ownership. The idea is to keep teams small enough that they can be fed with two pizzas. This not only ensures quick decision-making and effective communication but also allows teams to stay close to the customers and respond quickly to their needs.
Working Backwards Process: At Amazon, new initiatives start with the customer and work backward. This involves writing an internal press release announcing the finished product. The process helps to drive clarity about what you're aiming to achieve and how it will benefit customers. This methodology has helped keep customer needs at the forefront of every project.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Amazon's culture of making data-backed decisions helps in objectively assessing situations and deciding the best course of action. I found various analytics tools such as Amazon QuickSight and AWS Data Pipeline to be extremely helpful in gathering, processing, and analyzing data for informed decision-making.

This insightful video gives a clear picture of Amazon's 'Working Backwards' approach.

Main Takeaway: The Amazon toolkit comprising deep-dive approaches, the concept of two-pizza teams, working backwards methodology, and data-driven decision-making is instrumental in internalizing and practicing 'customer obsession'. These tools foster a problem-solving mindset, encourage customer-centric thinking, and reinforce the culture of ownership, helping Amazonians turn customer obsession from a principle into a practice.

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The Power of a Growth Mindset

I experienced a significant shift in my professional trajectory. It was a transition that took me from the familiarity of web services and plunged me into the intriguing realm of voice-enabled technology. Working with folks from Alexa team was a leap of faith, a step into an unknown yet exciting territory. It was a shift that catapulted me out of my comfort zone and into a landscape that was as exciting as it was challenging.

The journey with Alexa was not just about developing new skills or learning about voice technology. It was about imbibing a growth mindset, about acknowledging that learning is a continual process, that one is never too old to learn something new. As we developed the Alexa Skills Kit, we were not just enhancing Alexa's capabilities, but also our own. Every new skill that Alexa acquired was a testament to our ability to learn, adapt, and evolve.

Here's a link to an interesting read on the evolution of Alexa and voice technology.

The phase is a testament to the power of a growth mindset. It underscores the importance of continual learning and agility, revealing that comfort and growth often don't co-exist.

Embracing a growth mindset at Amazon and thriving amidst its ever-evolving landscape was a blend of several ingredients:

Adaptability: The ability to adjust to new conditions swiftly and efficiently is critical. This isn't about merely coping with change but about welcoming it, embracing it as an opportunity for growth and learning.
Continuous Learning: Amazon's culture encourages an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Being proactive about learning, seeking new knowledge, and skills are crucial aspects of maintaining a growth mindset.
Courage: Stepping out of your comfort zone often requires a great deal of courage. It’s about the willingness to take risks, face potential failures, and view them as stepping stones to success.

I highly recommend reading this piece on how Amazonians innovate for customers.

Here are a few insightful videos that delve into the culture of Amazon, the power of a growth mindset, and the spirit of innovation:

Jeff Bezos Explains Amazon's Unique Company Culture: In this video, Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos explains the unique culture of Amazon, and how the company's philosophy of customer obsession and long-term thinking shapes its business practices.
The Power of a Growth Mindset by Carol Dweck: Psychologist Carol Dweck discusses "fixed mindset" and "growth mindset" in this TEDx talk and how our belief in our ability to learn can impact all aspects of our lives.
Inside Amazon: How Innovation Drives Amazon's Success: This video provides an inside look at how innovation drives Amazon's success, with insights from some of the company's key players.

These videos not only provide a peek into the internal workings of Amazon but also offer valuable insights that can be applied in various professional and personal contexts.

Main Takeaway: Unleashing the power of a growth mindset at Amazon involves adaptability, continuous learning, courage, resilience, and innovation. It's about learning to view changes and challenges not as obstacles but as exciting opportunities for personal and professional growth.

The Impact of Leadership Principles

My fourth year at Amazon was an exercise in understanding and appreciating the profound impact of the company's leadership principles. As I assumed the leadership of a significant project under a specific division, I recognized these principles' pivotal role in guiding every aspect of work at Amazon. These principles were not just a list of desirable traits, they were a code of conduct, a guide that influenced our decision-making process, our approach to problem-solving, and our attitude towards work.

The 'bias for action' principle, for instance, was not just about acting swiftly but about striking a balance between deliberation and action. It was about understanding when to dive deep into data and when to trust your gut. It was a principle that fostered decisiveness, discouraged overthinking, and promoted a problem-solving attitude. The leadership principles were not just posters on the wall or jargon in the employee handbook; they were principles that we lived by, principles that shaped the Amazonian culture.

Here's more on Amazon's leadership principles from this source.

Year four illuminates the integral nature of Amazon's leadership principles. It demonstrates how these principles are not mere words on a corporate mission statement, but an actionable blueprint for the company's success.

A Few Key Ingredients to This Process:

Integrating Amazon's Leadership Principles into daily work was a unique blend of multiple components. Here are a few:

Understanding: Grasping the essence and significance of each leadership principle is fundamental. Invest time in learning about each principle, its intent, and its implications in the workplace. Jeff Bezos talks about these principles in detail in this video.
Reflection: Periodically reflect on your actions and decisions to evaluate how they align with the leadership principles. This can be done through self-reflection or feedback from colleagues.
Application: The principles must be more than just theoretical knowledge. They should be applied in day-to-day decision-making, problem-solving, and teamwork. This article provides some insightful examples of how Amazonians incorporate these principles into their work.

Main Takeaway: The process of adopting Amazon's leadership principles involves understanding, reflection, application, sharing, and adaptability. These principles serve as more than just guidelines, they are a way of life at Amazon that drives decision-making and influences the company's unique culture.

Innovating at Scale

Moving on at Amazon was a testament to the company's spirit of innovation. I was witnessing the forefront of developing a seamless experience that was as seamless as it was revolutionary. Amazon Go was not just about streamlining the shopping process; it was about redefining it. It was about envisaging a world where shopping was not a chore but an experience, an experience untarnished by queues, delays, or hassles.

Building the 'Just Walk Out' technology was a journey marked by challenges, trials, and a persistent pursuit of excellence. It was about pushing the boundaries of what was considered possible, about challenging norms and setting new ones. This was the essence of the 'think big' principle, a principle that encouraged us to defy the status quo and create solutions that were not just effective but extraordinary.

Learn more about Amazon Go's revolutionary technology here.

This underscores the importance of innovation and thinking big. It shows how ground-breaking solutions often stem from innovative approaches to existing problems.

There are a Number of Key Ingredients to Successful Org Design:

Organizational design is a critical factor that fuels innovation at scale. Here are a few ingredients that contributed to successful organizational design at Amazon:

Empowerment: Empowering employees to take ownership and make decisions fosters a culture of innovation. By trusting employees to take the reins, Amazon fuels a culture of 'bias for action' and 'ownership'.
Agility: Amazon's org structure is designed to be flexible and agile. It supports rapid decision-making and adaptability, enabling the company to innovate and respond to market changes swiftly. More about Amazon's agile culture can be read here.
Open Communication: Amazon promotes a culture of transparency and open communication, encouraging employees to question, debate, and challenge ideas. This fosters an environment conducive to innovation.

Main Takeaway: The key to successful organizational design lies in customer-centricity, employee empowerment, agility, compact team size, and open communication. These elements not only foster a conducive environment for innovation but also drive the company's continual growth and success.

Embracing Failure and Risk-taking

My fifth year at Amazon was a turning point. I led a project that didn't pan out as expected. Instead of viewing this as a failure, Amazon celebrated it as a stepping stone to success, a philosophy that showcased the company's unique approach towards failure. At Amazon, failure was not a dead-end, but a detour, a detour that often led to better paths, to paths less trodden, to paths that unveiled unique perspectives and solutions.

The 'being right, a lot' principle was reinforced, underscoring the value of risk-taking and learning from failures. At Amazon, being right did not mean being infallible. It meant acknowledging your fallibility and learning from it. It meant embracing failure as a mentor, as a guide that helped us navigate the labyrinthine path of innovation.

An interesting article on Amazon's philosophy of embracing failure.

Culture of embracing failure and risk-taking shows that at Amazon, failure is seen not as a setback, but as a catalyst for innovation and success.

Maintaining High Standards in Embracing Failure and Risk-taking: A Dance with Uncertainty

Keeping the bar high for yourself and the team around you in terms of embracing failure and risk-taking is no easy feat. It demands an unshakeable belief in the idea of progress, a deep-rooted faith in the beauty of trial and error, and an indomitable spirit to persevere in the face of adversity. It is about promoting a culture of resilience, of grit, of relentless pursuit of excellence.

There are several key elements to foster such a culture:

Promote risk-taking: Encourage your team to take calculated risks. Risk-taking breeds innovation and can often lead to game-changing ideas and solutions.
Learn and Evolve: Make it a point to learn from every failure. Use these experiences as stepping stones towards success.
Stay Positive: It's important to maintain a positive mindset even when things don't go as planned. A positive attitude can make a world of difference in how you handle failures and setbacks.

Here are some excellent resources and perspectives on maintaining high standards in embracing failure and risk-taking:

How Amazon's culture encourages risk-taking
A compelling TED Talk on why the best hire might not have the perfect resume, underscoring the value of resilience and grit in the face of failures.

Key Takeaway: Keeping the bar high in embracing failure and risk-taking is about fostering a resilient, growth-oriented mindset. It's about understanding that failure is not a dead-end, but a detour towards success. It's about appreciating the beauty of resilience, the joy of learning from mistakes, and the thrill of rising from setbacks.

Long-Term Thinking

I took on strategic roles and worked on projects that prioritized long-term benefits over immediate gains. This shift in focus was not just a strategic decision; it was a reflection of Amazon's commitment to creating lasting value, to creating solutions that stood the test of time.

Being part of the team working on Amazon's lightweight WMS was an enlightening experience. It was a project that envisioned a future where integration systems transcended conventional boundaries, where accessibility was not constrained by geographical limitations. Working on Warehouse Technologies was a lesson in patience, in persistence, in keeping the bigger picture in sight despite immediate challenges.

Embrace Change: Amazon has instilled in me the value of embracing change. From working on the search function on the website to enhancing Alexa’s capabilities, adapting to new roles and technologies was a constant. This adaptability not only fostered personal growth but also catalyzed innovation. Here's an inspirational video by Amazon's CEO, Andy Jassy, where he emphasizes the importance of being comfortable with change.
Learning from Failure: One of the most profound lessons from my journey has been learning to embrace failure. Amazon views failures as stepping stones towards success, as opportunities for learning and growth. This TED Talk by Astro Teller on the unexpected benefit of celebrating failure resonates deeply with this Amazonian ethos.
Long-term Thinking: At Amazon, short-term gains never compromise long-term benefits. Amazon's focus on creating long-lasting value has taught me the importance of foresight and patience in innovation. This interview with Jeff Bezos provides a deeper understanding of why Amazon values long-term thinking.

Key Takeaway: Amazon not only hones your professional skills but also instills life-long learnings and perspectives. It’s a journey that transforms you, empowers you, and prepares you for the challenges ahead in the most incredible ways.

This five-year journey through Amazon's corridors has been an odyssey of growth, learning, and evolution. It's a journey that has left me with countless insights, unforgettable experiences, and a plethora of lessons that I'll carry forward in the new endeavors that await me. This journey has reiterated my belief that at Amazon, it's always 'Day 1' – a day for fresh beginnings, an unflinching commitment to creating a customer-centric future.

Join me next time as we delve deeper into projects, experiences, and lessons! Until then, stay curious, keep exploring.

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Resources I find valuable!!

✨ The Product Manager's Journey: From Naval Engineering to The Heart of Amazon's Tech Action

Beginning at the Root: Understanding If PM is Your True Calling

Strategizing the Journey: Identifying Your Route Into PM

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Extra Nuggets: Building Over Time to Remain Ahead in the Game

Looking Ahead: What's Next After Breaking into Product Management

From Rainforests to Storefronts: My 5-Year Journey with Amazon

Learning to Navigate the Amazonian Landscape

How did I Learn to Navigate the Amazonian Landscape? Three Key Ingredients:

A Few Key Tools that I've Found Helpful:

The Power of a Growth Mindset

The Impact of Leadership Principles

A Few Key Ingredients to This Process:

Innovating at Scale

There are a Number of Key Ingredients to Successful Org Design:

Embracing Failure and Risk-taking

Maintaining High Standards in Embracing Failure and Risk-taking: A Dance with Uncertainty

Long-Term Thinking