I’d like to suggest an alternative that will recognize the problems we experience but in a way that points to a lighter path forward. — It appears the very terms and conditions of social media platforms require us to complain and argue about everything. Life is apparently awful and we should all make it more miserable by piling on with our comments and opinions. I would like to make a case for something else: optimism.

Knowing what the next product breakthrough is might be staring you right in the face. — If you want to know for certain what we will value next in the evolution of products look no further than the mirror. Why do we invent new stuff in the first place? To improve their chances of survival, early humans made primitive tools. But until recently, it has not easy for humans to manipulate the world around them without…

Underlying assumptions are undermining our ability to assemble and lead teams in healthy ways. — The goal of product leads should be to provide a healthy environment for their teams to confidently do their work and deliver on their commitments. …

Great leadership often happens when you’re not in the room. — Several years ago I was interviewing David Cancel, co-founder of Drift, on the art of running a product business. I asked him how his role was changing as the company evolved from being a small startup to having hundreds of employees. His answer really made an impression on me. “I…

Avoiding being stupid is easier than trying to be smart. — When my wife died I realized I’d be an emotional and cognitive mess for a while. However, as a father and only breadwinner I still needed to make important decisions. In tough situations your ego tries to convince you that you can think your way through the situation with brute…

Understanding how leaders make decisions and what drives them is an important part of aligning them with your team and culture. — While all hires are important, hiring leaders will pose the biggest opportunity or threat to an existing team’s dynamic. The right leader will amplify an organization's success while the wrong hire can lead to tension, confusion, and even the departures of great people.

I’ve started to notice something in successful leaders. They pay attention at the extremes. — They care about the big picture and the final edits. We might call these two areas of focus “frame and finesse.” Here’s the problem; leaders lose focus when they get pulled in too many directions. …

Just because you can do something does not mean you should. — Most of us use the ‘what we know’ lens to determine, ‘what we do’. But it’s wrongheaded and leads to a trap that’s hard to escape. It’s that time of year when I receive calls from either students about to enter the workforce or people switching jobs because they are…

I talk to my five year old about death every day. As my wife’s cancer progressed my son had many questions. There’s nothing like the unvarnished directness of a child’s questions to make you stop and think. “When will mommy die?” “Will she come back from the hospital?” I made…