Movin’ On Up
I’ve heard the argument that e-commerce is full of commodities. From where I’m standing, it is. Providers are having harder time competing on strictly feature set. It’s becoming more of a services and marketing game than anything else. So, where does product management fit into that equation? I’m now in a position to find out.
I don’t want to make out to sound like I’m complaining about what I do. At this point in my life, where I’m at is the most favorable spot I could be, and I love it to death. I also don’t want to come off sounding whiny, and like "what I do is so hard!", because at the end of the day, it’s just all about common sense and reading the right stuff.
When I thought up this post up about two seconds ago, I realized I wanted it to be about having doors opened and developing the confidence and know-how to walk through them. I’ve finally faced up to the fact that I’m hella inexperienced compared to the majority of folks around me. But, at the same time, I’ve also figured out that does not have to stop me from being ambitious. There are ways around inexperience, and those are what have allowed me to get to where I am.
One thing that I definitely have realized is: it’s a lot easier to be the "idea" man than it is to be both that and the "execution" man. Vision is simple; coming up with the ways to successfully execute that vision is not. Especially when you are dealing with putting a new role into a company that has never had it before.
Product management is not too hard. However, there are many moving parts. To be successful, it’s important to realize and communicate that you do not have to be a specialist in each discipline the job requires, but you need to have a solid understanding of how each aspect works, and the ability to perform each one. "Jack of all trades, master of none" is a good phrase that describes the job well. I’m realizing a lot of this stuff for the first time, and in parallel, being called upon to do many things that someone with 10 years on me would have a tricky time with.
Alright, enough complaining. I’m extremely lucky to be where I am. I am not going to give it up. It’s all a matter of realizing a few key things:
- You don’t have to know everything, you just need to search Google as much as it takes to figure it out
- Keep it simple stupid
- God is in the details
- Always give 110%
A list of really old, and seemingly stupid, clichés. BUT (and that’s a big but), they are true. After all, common sense tells us if they were not, they would not still be used today. Just don’t put them in your presentations. Keep them in your back pocket and relay the messages they deliver in your own way. Then you will sound like you know what you are saying, even if you are still just figuring things out.
I’m off to read some more books. Sorry for rambling and topic jumping. Although, isn’t blogging all about stream of consciousness anyway?
