Career success

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You Feel Like a Burned-Out Product Manager — Now What?
December 15, 2016
You Feel Like a Burned-Out Product Manager — Now What?

One slide, every few hours. That’s how a former colleague and friend told me that he put together his annual strategic plan. When I asked him why, he said, “If I thought…

The Product Plan vs. the Project Plan
December 13, 2016
The Product Plan vs. the Project Plan

Great product managers ask questions. Lots of them. But product managers need to answer questions too. And the more complex the work, the more questions abound. When I…

Hey Boss: You Are Wasting My Time
December 13, 2016
Hey Boss: You Are Wasting My Time

I once worked for a boss who had a Ph.D. in time-wasting. This person’s signature move? Pointless meetings. I would spend my days shuffling from one to the next. Few were…

4 Words That Make Hiring Managers Cringe
December 9, 2016
4 Words That Make Hiring Managers Cringe

I really cannot think of a company that wants to hire a jack-of-all-trades. I learned this the hard way early in my career when I was speaking with the VP of the group at…

Your Toxic Boss Gets Promoted — What About You?
November 29, 2016
Your Toxic Boss Gets Promoted — What About You?

Ever had a bad boss who seemed to fool everybody? I am sure you have. You know the type. They fire off indiscernible last-minute requests. Play favorites. And take sole…

Whoa! Product Manager: Your Customer Despises You
November 28, 2016
Whoa! Product Manager: Your Customer Despises You

I remember the first time a customer yelled at me. I was a senior product manager and the company was working on a new network optimization device — one we promised would…

I Never Had a Boss Who Said "I Am Sorry"
November 22, 2016
I Never Had a Boss Who Said "I Am Sorry"

There was the boss who yelled at me for doing what she asked. There was the CEO who threatened my career when I told him that I was leaving for a new company and a major…

How to Outsmart the Snake in Your Office
November 17, 2016
How to Outsmart the Snake in Your Office

Do you suffer from ophidiophobia? It is a common phobia — the fear of snakes. Before you answer “no” take a moment to think. Because although you might not be afraid of a…