A diary entry that as a young Product Manager I wish could have read...

The last few weeks I’ve spent a lot of time deep in thought preparing these texts for you all. In a strange way, it has felt similar to the feelings experienced after crossing the Thorong-La summit. High up in remote Himalayan mountains, the dry and cold air pressing sharply against my lungs with every breath, I found myself in a moment of zen, completely focused on the adventure of reaching my summit, with no thought on the outside world. The lessons learned on that long, winding path to the top that seemed so insurmountable at the base were strikingly powerful upon reflection.

As I type away on my MacBook in the climate controlled comforts of my office, it is hard to believe the memories of that journey. Fine dust ingrained in my clothes, lips cracking dry, my cheeks prickling from the sharpness of the cold, the taste of honey, lemon and ginger tea served to me by the generous locals. This campfire will be about finding our moment of zen at the edge of our path, reflecting on the lessons learned in the hope that we can pass these onto others and make the journey just a little less rugged.

"It’s the people I’ve worked with, the products I’ve built, the customers I’ve spoken to, the wins I’ve celebrated, and the mistakes that I’ve shouldered; thousands and thousands of small moments have taught me incremental lessons that have added up to a wealth of knowledge. That knowledge has allowed me to succeed when the challenges have appeared overwhelming. However, it took me over a decade to get to where I am today, and I continue to learn every single day."

Martin Röver-Parkes, Chief Product Officer @ Scrive

Lessons from the Climb

It is often I find that these moments of clarity arise only once you’ve reached the summit, clearing the clouds to reach the goal that once seemed so unattainable. Looking back on my product journey, vivid memories flash by: confused engineers staring blankly at me as I struggle to describe an epic, choking on the frog in my throat as I tell respected colleagues, or significant customers, that the feature they’ve passionately screamed for will not be built, it doesn’t fit into the wider mission to the summit, the late nights at the office hammering out the final details of an endless stack of slide decks, and enthusiastically describing our vision, our roadmap, what our function does to various audiences. I decided to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard rather) and build this series, not to generate likes or idolise myself, but because I want to share in the hope that it will help others reach the regarding warmth of the campfire, having reached the top of their summit, or those that have, onto their next…

We are a mixed group around our digital campfire: some of us veterans of the trade with encapsulating stories to tell of our adventures whilst others just starting along the path. That diversity in experience is a powerful opportunity for us all to grow together; the veterans offering new, fresh perspectives on the world while rising stars are able to peer into the minds of those who built the community around them.

"The exuberance that the youth of a new journey brings, balanced with the calming experience of those that have weathered many a storm on similar paths, we owe it to each other to maximise the power that this beneficial symbiosis brings - the veteran and the junior, the old and the new, the past and the future"

Martin Röver-Parkes, Chief Product Officer @ Scrive

Guiding Principles for the Journey

I’ve jotted down some of the things I wish I had learned early on in the hope that it will provide tools for those of you walking a similar path, or guiding others.

1. Learn to say no: It sounds so simple, but it is one of the hardest responsibilities as a Product Manager. I want to stop for a second and double down on a key word: responsibility. You as a Product Manager are responsible for bringing value to your users and customers, ensuring multiple teams around you work together while keeping the right course. That requires prioritisation because you can’t, shouldn’t, and won’t do everything there is to do. To make the best decisions it really comes down to one syllable. No. It isn’t always the easiest word to say, especially if you love the idea. You have to say no, not just to others, but yourself as well.

2. Organise your hats: Product Managers need to be versatile in their role, often thrown from situation to situation with little time to prepare. One day you’ll be speaking with Engineers ruthlessly focused on organisation and detail whilst the next you’ll face CEOs and VPs who only want the details that will help them identify overarching strategies. Each of these encounters require us to carry ourselves differently, educate tailored to the recipient’s needs, and handle requests in a prioritised manner. Learn what works best with each of your stakeholders and make sure to switch hats so you succeed regardless of who you are working with.

3. Put the customer first, your ego last: It is easy to fall into the trap of viewing your product’s future as a reflection of your own self-worth. Who wouldn’t when you are investing countless hours, tears, and sweat into driving its evolution? However, you alone won’t find the right answers and you alone won’t make it a success. Focus on establishing collaborative processes that identify the right path instead of wearing blinders to others and only focusing on what you want.

4. Love weird, question normal: Never shy away from unorthodox ways of working or thinking. Find your unique colour and make sure to always bring it with you. If you find yourself making decisions because that is how things have always been done, grab a crowbar and pry yourself loose. Be an adventure, do what others have dared not! Even if you fail you’ll have succeeded by learning what others don’t know.

5. Care about the little things: It is easy to get caught up in grand schemes and strategies, but ultimately the sum of your success will be the incremental steps you take each and every single day. The small wins and defeats will add up to a vault of information to work off of. So educate yourself in the details and learn how they contribute to the whole.

6. Enjoy not knowing: In today’s Age of Information many of us are used to having every answer delivered to us in seconds. When we reach a point of not knowing we quickly google and carry on satisfied. However, when it comes to Product Management there is no Google. Many of the answers you want aren’t available to you. And that is ultimately a gift because it offers you a journey of learning. Become obsessed with discovering new truths. Utilise data and analytics to question why things are the way they are. Who knows, maybe you’ll stumble onto an amazing treasure that will allow you to change an entire industry or start your own company!

7. Pick up the phone: Not to check social media, but to reach out to those who can help you. Building a network around yourself is extremely important if you want to reach your summit. Mentors, colleagues, industry peers, and friends all have perspectives different from your own, and that richness in thinking can boost your productivity by several multitudes.

8. Invest in yourself: In the end, you are responsible for your growth and success. Set aside time to learn often, whether that means signing up for courses, watching webinars on YouTube, speaking with industry experts and mentors, or by reading books. I dedicate at least an hour every day to my own growth and have seen tremendous value added to my resume as a result. This is often overlooked as we get so bogged down by the weight of our everyday tasks.

However, we must stay mindful of the future dividends from today’s action. A quote that has always struck a chord with me is “...never give up what you want most for what you want now”. I know you’ll be tired after an intense 8-hour work day, but power through, invest in yourself for 60 minutes. Who knows what amazing adventures that will lead you to!

Martin Röver-Parkes, Chief Product Officer @ Scrive

I’ve spent my fair share of time at the summits of my effort, staring into the bright heart of a fire warming my cold face as my mind reflects over the adventures behind me. It is at these moments that life seems to reveal the lessons gained from hardship, as the stars twinkle above, each an explosion of silver in a dark canvas.

However, I’m never alone in these moments, and I invite you all to share your reflections as we sit here at our campfire. If you are a veteran, what words of wisdom do you have to offer? If you are starting on the path, what questions linger in your heart as you look ahead?