Weekly Product Hits: You're More Free Than You Think, One Foot After Another, Struggles with AI
Product Hits: June 16, 2025Every 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, reflects on how growth often requires enduring the repetitive and unglamorous parts of work and life. She reminds product managers that consistent effort, even when the work feels monotonous, is essential for long-term progress. Why Hollywood and gaming struggle with AI by Andrew Chen Andrew Chen, partner at Andreessen Horowitz, explains why entertainment and gaming incumbents hesitate to adopt AI, citing risk aversion, legal uncertainty, and talent gaps. He encourages product managers to focus on "the art of the possible" rather than forcing AI into old models. Behind the Scenes Hey there, it’s Clement! Lately, I’ve been reflecting on something that doesn’t show up in most PM toolkits, but probably should. That tool is curiosity. I’ve seen one well-timed question change the course of an entire initiative. Not because it solved the problem on the spot, but because it uncovered what we hadn’t thought to look for. I once worked with a team where users kept saying onboarding felt “complicated.” We had tried countless iterations, and nothing was clicking. So, this time around, instead of jumping straight into design changes, we asked: “What were you expecting to happen next?” That one question uncovered a mismatch between what the product assumed users understood and what they actually expected. A single line of text, added at the right moment, boosted successful registration rates by 17%. Curiosity also reshapes how we approach competitor research. Instead of asking “What features are they building?”, try asking, “What do they believe that we don’t?” That lens helps us see underlying assumptions, not just feature side-by-side comparison. And more often than not, that’s where new ideas start to emerge. Even stakeholder feedback benefits from this mindset. When someone says, “This plan feels too risky,” instead of defending the plan, pause and dig deeper. What risk are they reacting to? What past experience is shaping that response? Curiosity is a tool that can be used any time, in any context. But, it requires us to embrace the craft of product management, rather than simply racing to the next deadline. Deadlines are important, yes. But solving problems is even more important - and curiosity ensures that we solve the right problem at the right time. What’s one time curiosity helped you uncover something unexpected? I’d love to hear the story! 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 9, 2025 Every week, I share three great product resources from a variety of perspectives. Let's dive in! The Right Principles of Agile by Noa Ganot Noa Ganot, founder of Infinify, explains that Agile succeeds when teams focus on core principles like flexible planning, continuous assessment, and early value delivery. She urges product managers to prioritize learning and adaptability, even if the broader organization isn’t fully agile. Know Your Weaknesses by Victor Cheng...