“Life doesn’t follow a straight path” is a cliché, but as my mama always says, “They’re called truisms […]
Manage your Life Like You Manage a Product: Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exit—and Reflect
Continuous Reflection: Driving Success Across the Product Lifecycle
Every product has a lifecycle, and every company navigates it differently. Some ideas take root and grow into […]
Strategy is Not War; It’s Gardening
When most people think of strategy, they think of war. And it’s no wonder—our history books, leadership courses, […]
Decoupling OKRs: It’s Time to Let Go
OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) are supposed to make everything faster, clearer, and more focused. And when you’re […]
Agile, Lean Startup, and OKRs: Cinderella’s Glass Slipper
Agile, Lean Startup, and OKRs weren’t created by sprawling corporations. They were developed by small teams trying to […]
The Internal “How”: Building Strategic Capabilities In-House and Leveraging Process Power
When it comes to creating a sustainable, competitive strategy, the “how” question is central to your organization’s success. […]
The “How” Question: Building Competitive Advantage with Seven Powers
Once you know who you’re serving, where you’ll grow, and what value you provide, it’s time to address […]
The “What” Question: Defining the Value You Give and Receive
When it comes to building a meaningful strategy, “what” is all about value. What do you bring to […]
Book Review: No Rules Rules by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer
No Rules Rules is one of those rare business books that’s both nuanced and a total page-turner. Netflix […]
The “Where” Question: Mapping Out Your Path to Growth and Workplace Strategy
In building a clear, actionable strategy, location and structure matter. The “where” question in the Tiny Strategy framework […]
The “Who” Question: Identifying Key Players Inside and Out
In building a successful strategy, the “who” question is fundamental. Every organization is built on people: the people […]
The Power of “Why”: Defining Your Mission for Clarity and Purpose
When it comes to strategy, there’s no question more foundational than “why.” Understanding the purpose behind your work […]
Tiny Strategy: Crafting a Clear, Flexible Plan with Six Questions
Balancing opportunity with strategy is one of the trickiest challenges in any organization. Opportunities are constantly presenting themselves—new […]
Unlocking Competitive Advantage with “7 Powers”
If you’re working in product or strategy—or teaching others to think like strategists like I am—you’ve probably felt […]
Thinking in Metrics
Effective product management hinges on selecting and using the right metrics. Not all metrics are created equal—only those […]
Building a Strategy: Answering the Five Essential Questions
When it comes to building a successful strategy, start with clarity around your mission and vision. Your mission […]
The Tale of the Two Bakeries: A Business Fable
In the small town of Glenhaven, there were two bakeries. At the north end was Whisk & Whittle, […]
The Importance of Giving Feedback Early: Don’t Let Resentment Fester
Giving feedback can be uncomfortable. But holding back and letting small frustrations simmer is far worse. When we […]
Getting Started with Outcome Thinking
One of the biggest challenges people face when adopting OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) is shifting from output […]
Switcheroo for Practicing Difficult Conversations
A great role-playing exercise for practicing difficult conversations is The Switcheroo, which helps participants step into different perspectives […]
What Does Good Look Like?
One of my favorite teaching tricks is having students create their own rubrics for projects. At work, you’re […]
Why We Struggle to Get Things Done: Common Pitfalls
We all have things we want to achieve—whether it’s personal goals like getting fit or professional milestones like […]
Building a Product Management Class
When I set out to create a course on product management three years ago, I knew it would […]
Five Effective Ways to Quiet a Room After a Workshop Exercise
Getting a room of workshop participants or students to settle down after a lively exercise can be tricky. […]
The Easiest Way to Start Working with OKRs
If you’ve ever found yourself knee-deep in a project and wondering, “What the hell are we really trying […]
What You Want isn’t Always What You Want
I was sitting on a patio with two of my dearest friends, polishing off a second bottle of […]
The Product Journey and the Product Portfolio
A product’s journey from inception to decline involves several distinct phases. Understanding these phases is crucial for anyone […]
Fast Ways to Estimate Capacity
Estimating the capacity of your organization or team quickly is crucial for setting realistic goals and effectively planning […]
Understanding Organizational Capacity: Why It Matters in OKR Practice
Setting goals is crucial for any organization, and one effective method for doing this is through OKRs (Objectives […]
Building an Instinct for Metrics
In any organization, informed decision-making relies heavily on the use of analytics. Analytics is the systematic analysis of […]