Weekly Product Hits: Interviewing with No Customers, Faster Horses, Pruning to Make Space
Product Hits: May 19, 2025Every week, I share three great product resources from a variety of perspectives. Let's dive in! Finding People to Interview Before You Have Customers by Teresa Torres Teresa Torres, founder of Product Talk, highlights how PMs can kickstart continuous discovery even before having customers. She shares practical strategies for recruiting interviewees through platforms like LinkedIn, Craigslist, and UserInterviews. Torres emphasizes that weekly customer conversations are critical for building products grounded in real user needs. Let’s Talk About Faster Horses by Noa Ganot Pruning to Make Space for More by Deb Liu Deb Liu, CEO of Ancestry.com, explains that letting go of outdated practices creates space for new opportunities. Product managers can apply this mindset by pruning unproductive habits or strategies, making room for innovation and greater impact. Behind the Scenes Hey there, it’s Clement! A few PMs I coach recently asked how to make more space for strategic thinking, without letting execution slip through the cracks. Personally, I've found that one of the highest-leverage ways to do this is by improving how you delegate. The point of delegation isn’t to hand off tasks and hope for the best. Instead, we want to create the right setup so our teams can fully own the outcome. Here’s a simple lens I like to use:
When all three are true, delegation becomes a multiplier. For example, if you're leading a major product launch, you might sketch out the key message, then let your PMM take the lead on internal communications. Give direction, check in once or twice, and let them run with it. If you’re feeling stuck in reactive mode, try this: Take 15 minutes and list out everything on your plate. Then ask: what could someone else take on if I gave them the right instructions and context? The best way to make space for the work that matters is to hand off the right things the right way. With love, Let's do more together!
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Product Teacher
In-depth essays and thought-provoking reads for product managers.
Product Hits: July 21, 2025 Every week, I share three great product resources from a variety of perspectives. Let's dive in! Networking, Reframed by Deb Liu Deb Liu, CEO of Ancestry.com, reframes networking as long-term community-building rooted in generosity and consistency, rather than selfish short-term transactions. When PMs invest early in authentic relationships, they can draw on that trust when it’s time to seek support. Avoid incepting negative ideas by Wes Kao Wes Kao, co-founder of...
Product Hits: June 30, 2025 Every week, I share three great product resources from a variety of perspectives. Let's dive in! Saying No Is a Strategy, Not a Sacrifice by Noa Ganot Noa Ganot, founder of Infinify, argues that trying to please everyone is the fastest path to mediocrity. She urges PMs to treat “no” as a strategic tool (not a reluctant compromise!) because focus and trade-offs are what make a product truly valuable to the right customers. 6 Principles for Structuring...
Product Hits: June 16, 2025 Every week, I share three great product resources from a variety of perspectives. Let's dive in! You’re more free than you think by Linda Zhang Linda Zhang, founder of Product Lessons, argues that remote and asynchronous work have unlocked new levels of career freedom. She encourages product managers to embrace flexibility, focus on learning, and build resilience by seeking out rejection. One Foot in Front of the Other by Deb Liu Deb Liu, CEO of Ancestry.com,...