John McCracken

Great event, as always, #productTO, talking today about one of my favorite topics as product manager - empathy. Thanks Kartik Ravi (He/Him) for brining it up and leading the discussion. For me, it’s no doubt, a skill you need the most to be successful in product management. From my personal experience, it’s just makes your life and job easier, if you truly understand what others are need and going through and many more other benefits 😀. And it’s not just about your customers, your stakeholders and business owners too. Your family, kids, partner… you name it. What I like the most is questions that the group raised. Is it a skill you can develop or it’s a nature what is given? How to build an empathy towards you (we all want to be heard, right?). Great questions… resonated a lot with me. Some food for thoughts. For the amazing group of fellow product managers discussing this topic today, this is the short video I was referring to: Emathy vs Sympathy. https://lnkd.in/gX8JK_5D

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Wise and convicting words for all those in product and leadership. Don’t forgets what’s truly important, solving problems for your customer with solutions that work for the business.  David Pereira: It’s like a chef focusing on creating a perfect recipe without having the necessary ingredients. 🎯 Teams try to be agile but have neither a vision nor a goal. 🚀 Companies long for high-performing teams, while leadership has no intention of empowering anyone. 🗓️ C-level encourages product discovery while crafting yearly roadmaps. 🔃 Teams search for better prioritization methods while strategy is absent or pointless. 📈 Management talks about measuring outcomes while holding teams accountable for outputs. 📊 Leadership wants teams to create value while forcing teams to meet arbitrary deadlines. Seriously? This is nonsense⚠️ Like a chef, when ingredients are missing, you cannot get an outstanding dish no matter what. Agile frameworks will dramatically fail without vision, goals, strategy, trust, and empowerment. First, get the ingredients right, then figure out how to use them. Do you want to know how to break free from this trap? Get my book, Untrapping Product Teams: https://lnkd.in/gxhEJWDt Available now at Amazon, Pearson, and many other bookstores. Happy Thursday, everyone :)

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I like to ask technical folks during interview about their biggest professional failure. The answer can be pretty revealing, showing if the person is comfortable admitting mistakes or prefers a vague response. And let’s be honest, a vague answer isn’t great—because we all mess up, and it’s key to recognize and learn from those moments. It’s a bonus when a candidate shares not only what went wrong but also what they learned, without me having to ask a follow-up question. I don’t mind sharing my own failures in those conversations. It helps the person feel at ease and shows that I’m not afraid to admit my own mistakes as a potential manager. So here’s one of mine: Once upon a time, when I was a young engineer, I worked on a mission-critical PCRF/PCEF system for a mobile carrier. For those unfamiliar with this setup, it handles deep packet inspection (PCEF) of mobile internet traffic, sets bandwidth limits, and reports data for charging the customer. For instance, your mobile plan might not count data for Facebook or Apple Music, but you’ve got 100GB for everything else. The system had two parts: Cisco CSG acting as the DPI and a vendor-developed PCRF. Back then, 3G was just starting, and many customers still used phones running on the WAP protocol. Part of my job was reconfiguring the Cisco device—usually to update DPI settings—during the night service window, like 2 AM. The process required me to copy and paste a config file from Notepad. WAP traffic was the priciest, and one night, I forgot to include either a comma or a semicolon before that section. The PCRF stopped recognizing it as chargeable, and the issue wasn’t caught until the customer saw a drop in charges the next day. It took us a while to spot the mistake. After fixing it, I promised I’d never mess it up again—but guess what? Two or three weeks later, I did it again. I was frustrated, and after a tough chat with my manager, we had to apologize to a very angry customer. The next day, I realized that if it happened twice, it could easily happen again, whether by me or someone else. So, I spent 2-3 weeks writing a Perl script to verify consistency between Cisco configurations and the PCRF. We added this step to our process, and we all slept better afterward. A nice side benefit was that my Perl skills improved, and I even reused parts of that script years later as a PS engineer. So, how do you feel about sharing your failures?

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I really enjoy writing, so why don’t I post more on LinkedIn? Lots of excuses come to mind but it always feels like there is something more important to do. It took me a while, but I finally accepted the realization that I should carve out time to post more often and engage with different people on the platform. This post was motivated by a trend I have seen lately in my feed – the differences between less experienced and more experienced developers. There was a TV show that aired starting back in 1999 called “Third Watch”. It’s about first responders in New York City. My favorite character was an older cop named Sully. He would always say that being a cop is about solving problems. I view software development in the same way, it’s all about solving problems. One of the differences between less experienced and more experienced developers is understanding that so much of what we do in our profession is not about code at all, it’s about all the surrounding activities, personalities, and business constraints. Sure, we ultimately get paid to code a solution, but understanding what form that solution takes is where the magic happens. I can say from my own experience that these activities are fun and challenging. Don’t get me wrong, I love writing code and can do it all day long and get lost in it, but what I really enjoy is fitting all the odd shaped pieces together to form a solution that solves the business problem. So, what do those constraints look like? Thera are many… here are some of the common ones. Time Like it or not you may have to deliver something in a time window that is less than ideal. This may mean not delivering the solution in exactly the way you would have preferred. It may lead to the need to come back and spend some time refactoring post release. Technology There is often a set of existing technologies/systems that you must work with to deliver your solution. Some of these may be old, poorly designed, in some cases totally cringe worthy. Be that as it may, it’s what we must work with, so we must come up with the best solution in spite of any limitations. Personalities Some people have strong personalities and if they are in a decision maker role often can have final approval of the plan to deliver the solution. We may not agree with their position or reasoning, but we have to recognize the role they play. Ultimately the business has a concrete need and we while we may not agree with every aspect of the final solution, we must learn to disagree and commit. That is one of my favorite expressions that I hope less experienced developers take to heart. Make your opinions and the reasoning behind them known while always respecting others and then make Sully proud by getting down to solving the problem. #programming #coding #softwaredevelopment #software #alwayslearning

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Leaders, ask not what your reports can do for you but what you can do for your reports. Maximize your impact by fostering environments where people can do their best work. Great post from John Cutler about shifting a reactive perspective and getting clarity on how to respond when things seem too complex. #Leadership #ProductDevelopment #PeopleFirst #Empathy

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A handy visual guide for Product folks about to contemplate and communicate, well, just about anything. As with so much in our domain, simple at surface, elaborate to execute, but priceless when proper.

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Some takeaways for a Jeff Hinton interview with timeless insights. My POV as an app builder is that models are now being improved for better UX (faster response/multi-modal) and reasoning capability and cost continues to improve. The technology headroom remains strong, and the integration of LLM into all software experience will continue and expansion of the reach (invasion) of software + intelligence will also continue. - Next word prediction is not merely parroting of training data. To do next word prediction well, LLM needs and already exhibits strong reasoning behavior. This would continue to scale / improve with more data / training. - LLM is a compression of human knowledge. The compression mechanism is identifying similar concepts across domains and reduces duplications among them. This can also be a source of "creativity" as LLM "sees" correlations of seemingly unrelated ideas through this compression. LLM can be more creative as it sees similiarity / correlations across all domains beyond (human) convetional wisdom. - LLM can exceed the quality of its training data. Jeff gave an example of an experiment where a model trained on 50% intentionally incorrectly labeled data, can still perform at 90+% accuracy after training. - Multi-modal models can improve the overall world understanding and lead to better overall reasoning. It does not even need to generate multi-modal output. - Not ML specific, but an interesting life insights. Bad intuition comes from believing (or wanting to believe) everything you are told. It diminishes the ability to make a clear choice that would lead to differentiated success (or failure).

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Fellow #productleaders listen up! This is a steal for such a strong tool to add to your kit bag. Regardless of what type of company you are in, the concepts and frame of thinking discussed in Transformed by Marty Cagan will be a fortifying read. I've gone through it several times since it was released and have found multiple instances where there's affirmation of what my product team is doing and multiple AHA! moments where we can work better. At this price, get a copy for your entire product team and then read and discuss it together. Remember it's not about what to think - but how to think! #productmanagement #productdevelopment #team #leadership #productmodel #transformed

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We're looking for a senior-staff PM now at Honeycomb, who will drive and own a multi-year vision for a net-new, permanent and significant expansion of Honeycomb's product surface area: https://lnkd.in/g2sM_TfC I’ve sat in this role for 3.5 years now, on and off, so you’ll be inheriting a lot of my regretful decisions. But I’m here to help you navigate that! It involves big data (for real), deep OSS involvement, lots of customers who love the product, and a great team to boot. If you like the idea of thinking through how you’ll turn 10M events per second into 100k, without breaking the bank, and making it as semi-automatic as possible, without losing signal on that data, and building a compelling UI that lets people build and monitor this stuff, this might be up your alley! Wanna talk with tons of customers and spicy sales engineers who have to sometimes commit code crimes to make stuff work, and then tell you about it? Wanna make painful prioritization decisions? Wanna find a way to execute on a multi-year vision and not get lost along the way? Click the link above. Wanna eat shit in front of a customer whose exact set of constraints violates every tradeoff decision you made? And then go back to them 4 months later with the good news that you’ve fixed it all? Come say hi! Wanna try to wrap your head around someone's perceived notions of how observability works, and find creative ways to reorient their worldview? Hi hello please apply. Wanna get deeply involved in the #opentelemetry community, become a core contributor, attend lots of community events, and be continuously infused with customer problems and feedback and also overall industry directions? You know what to do. Wanna work with a very product-minded engineering team who will push you to get stuff done? Wanna be a part of a group that is usually fast, usually right on the first go of things, and isn't afraid to try things and maybe pull them back if they're not working? Wanna have fun too? Clicky clicky.

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HOPE may spring eternal... but it may also be DANGEROUS. Case point: in #sales or #presales, hope may lead you astray. A yes that is really a "maybe" may really be a NEVER. And if you are hanging your #quota or department objective on that big deal, well hope may prove lethal. And here's the thing. Everyone of us can fall for that trap. Because it is within our nature to be optimistic. #selling requires it. But too much of a good thing can still be BAD. One trick to guard against that overflow of optimism? Ask for a second opinion. From someone less close to that account. Perhaps that person will puncture your sense of hope a bit. It can sting for sure. But realize this: that discomfort may actually SAVE that account. It may force you to ask a few more questions to your client. And perhaps find what is blocking the deal.

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Making progress on my sprint for Maria Gabriela Ochoa Perez Waechter's YIBL-BAM. On to STRY0006--adding a top level (L1) navigation link to create a new contact. I jumped back into the core UI and dug up tables and got it working, but it turned out it is much easier with a nice UI in the Experience's advanced settings. Typical for me! On STRY0007, I was adding a pre-configured list filter to show me contacts to whom I have not yet out, reached (???). This is the main list of lists you see in the left hand nav and it's very common to want to change these. In the old UI it was a right click and a couple of records, but this one had me scratching my head even though I had done it before. I found my way back to the UX List table, which has more checkboxes than almost any form I have ever seen (Literally 1 Million Checkboxes https://lnkd.in/g9Nv7ivi), but hey, I'm not here to judge. Is there an easier way? Probably, but I couldn't find it so I don't care about an "easier" way, just as long as there is "a" way. Thanks MGOPW! #ServiceNow #ServiceNowDev #YIBL #BuildAlongMonth #UIBuilder https://lnkd.in/g65v22J8 https://lnkd.in/gKM3pi-i

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From Astrologer's Whispers to Real Connections: Reclaiming Belonging in a Lonely Age Have you ever consulted an astrologer, their predictions swirling in your head, only to feel empty when your day takes a different turn? The emptiness might not be about the details themselves, but about seeking outside approval for your happiness. This same feeling can creep in even when you achieve success. Remember climbing the career ladder, landing that dream apartment, only to find yourself lost in a quiet emptiness? In India's bustling cities, it's a familiar, painful emotion. We're surrounded by people, yet there's a little loneliness at the edges of our lives. Thinking back to Mrs. Deshmukh, your friendly neighbour with the legendary Til Gur Barfi's, who brought the whole neighbourhood together with tea and friendly chats. Those evenings of shared stories and laughter, a web woven by simple human connection, feel like a distant memory in our super-connected yet broken world. We chase success with thumbs glued to screens, building online bridges that leave us feeling more alone than ever. The pressure to create a perfect online self-drowns out the whispers of our own desires. But here's the real deal, that shiny designation and fancy car can't fill the hole left by genuine connection. There's hope, though! We can rewrite this story. Let's ditch the small talk and chase deeper connections. Share your fears and worries, break free from feeling isolated in this sea of ambition. Remember the warmth of family gatherings, the joy of shared childhood games? Revive those small traditions. Pick up the phone for a real heart-to-heart conversation rather than What's Apping. Every act of connection, no matter how ordinary, how small, builds a more satisfying life. Imagine hearing back from an old friend, reliving an old laugh, and being surrounded by people who truly see us, where we belong. Isn't that what life is all about? Together, one conversation, one meal, and one act of kindness at a time, we can tear down the walls of loneliness. We can rewrite the narrative of modern society, where connection becomes the foundation of a life well lived. It's not too late, or is it? #HumanConnections #BelongingMatters #OvercomeLoneliness #RealConversations #MeaningfulRelationships #CommunityOverConnectivity #AuthenticLiving #SocialWellbeing #RedefiningSuccess #TraditionsRewoven #FightIsolation #VulnerableAndReal #KindnessRevolution #SmallActsBigImpact #ReconnectingHumanity #IndianSociety #UrbanLoneliness #DigitalDetox #QualityOverQuantity #ConnectionCures Photo by Tim Marshall on Unsplash

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Santana Row shopping center in San Jose has implemented a ticketless parking system that eliminates the need for drivers to take a ticket upon entry and pay at a pay station upon exit. Instead, drivers can simply scan a QR code (see photo) posted throughout the garage using their phones, enter their license plate number and credit card information on the website that pops up, and a camera will read their license plate and open the gate as they exit. While this system may seem convenient and efficient, I think there is a significant security concern! There is a risk that perpetrators could replace the posted QR code with their own, which would redirect drivers to a fake website where they would unknowingly enter their credit card information. This could lead to unauthorized charges and potential identity theft. It is crucial for the shopping center to address this security concern by taking appropriate measures to protect drivers' personal and financial information. They must ensure that the QR codes posted are authentic and that there are no vulnerabilities that could allow perpetrators to manipulate the system. As an alternative solution, pay stations could be installed for shoppers to use instead of relying on their own phones.

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Now That Thanksgiving Has Concluded… And We’ve Bought ALL the Things 😎 Thanksgiving is behind us, and with it came the magical spell of Black Friday deals. I am sure we all bought something we were convinced was absolutely essential for survival (even if we didn’t need it a week ago). Among the haul, I bet Airtags found their way into many shopping carts. TBH I bought them too. Airtags are a genius piece of tech. They help you track down the keys that vanish into thin air, the bag you swore you left on the table, or even your luggage on a chaotic travel day. In those moments, Airtags are superheroes, helping in to saving us from disaster. But I kept wondering after buying them: Are we buying Airtags for genuine emergencies, or are we subtly letting them replace the discipline of staying organized? Before Airtags, we had “the bowl by the door” or the “hook on the wall.” You knew where your keys lived. Now? Toss them wherever, because hey, Airtags will handle it. While the tech is great for those occasional slip-ups, Is it meant to be a free pass to abandon all sense of order. When we rely too heavily on tools like these, we’re not solving the problem—we’re just masking it. Instead of creating habits that make life easier, we’re doubling down on chaos. Now, don’t get me wrong—Airtags are a brilliant Plan B. They’re there for the real moments when life throws you a curveball. But they’re not a replacement for Plan A: having a simple, reliable system that doesn’t require Bluetooth or GPS to find your essentials. So, where do you stand on this? Are you team “Airtags for emergencies” or team “Why bother organizing, tech’s got my back”? Or maybe you’ve got a hilarious story about the time your Airtag saved the day—or failed spectacularly? Share it in the comments! Let’s figure out how to navigate this tech-enabled world, one lost key at a time. #ThanksgivingHaul #Airtags #TechAsBackup #LostAndFound #JustAThought #Technology

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What's not being good at interviewing costing you? "I just cannot seem to interview well. I have lost out on roles to people who used to report to me." I was speaking to my client—let's call him Steve. He was a smart, accomplished product leader who had led successful launches of products you have probably heard of. He launched multiple hit products, drove millions in revenue, and all that jazz. But Steven had a problem—a big one. Despite being a total PM rockstar, he still interviewed like he had seven years ago. When he was interviewed, the impression he left was "Great product manager, not leadership material yet." Ever felt like you're the most accomplished person in the room, but when it comes to interviews, you can't seem to convey that? That was Steve. Do you know who didn't choke on interviews? The PM's Steve personally trained and mentored. That's right - Steve's own pupils interviewed well rose above their sensei by having better storytelling and positioning, and the executive presence and confidence that got them further in an interview. His pupils had risen to levels above him. Can you imagine how emasculating and demoralizing that must have felt? To have your star pupils, whom you groomed from scratch, outshine and outearn you just because they could describe their achievements better? Steve had already missed out on many years of success, new roles, and millions of dollars because he was worse at interviewing. He felt the sting of watching others, who he knew he was more qualified than, climb the ranks and achieve the success he deserved. This wasn't just a financial loss but a blow to his self-esteem. He wanted his kids to look up to him and be proud of his accomplishments. Enough was enough. He decided he couldn't afford to lose out anymore. He came to us as Intentional Product Manager, determined to turn things around. We worked with him to refine his narrative, boost his interview skills, and truly represent the outstanding professional he is. It took work, but he got there. The result? He's achieved a prime role at a company you would have heard of and now makes over a million dollars annually. Not only did he secure the financial success he always deserved, but he also earned the respect and admiration of his peers and, most importantly, his family. But as importantly, he carries his skills and executive presence every day. --- P.S., If this resonates with you, and you: - Are a product manager - You love to take action - You are committed to career growth But if you need help in landing that ideal next role. DM me "dream role" and I will send you details. We only work with selected folks and have started to limit how many people we accept every month.

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Reminds me of the Pegionhole principle: If there are n items and m containers (where n > m), then at least one container must contain more than one item.

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Here is a new Beta to check out https://lnkd.in/e7VNssqr Super pumped to see the team get this out on an iOS beta release as they bring something really cool and innovative to market. I tend to think of it more as Peloton for the Gym. This is an all new, beautiful vertical scrolling app meant for people going to the Gym for weights/strength training. Perhaps you are thinking about trying out the strength side of the Gym for the first time, perhaps you just want some help mixing up your strength routine, perhaps you are just all done with those expensive personal training sessions but still want some motivation and guidance. Where other apps feel like they are built for super gym bro's, this all new experience is an incredibly approachable way for anyone to get started or keep motivated in gyms. Totally different than standard Peloton content, it's worth a try. So do that! Sign up, try it out, and give feedback! #peloton

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There's an oft-cited stat from Pendo that 80% of software features are rarely, if ever, used. While it's impossible to know the accuracy of that, it's not hard to believe. I've been part of multiple feature factories, where emphasis was put on new features to 'claim' rather than taking time to ensure we've actually solved the desired problem before moving onto the next. If you're a Product Manager/Leader in the Indy area, join us on August 14 for a conversation around best practices for measuring product success. We'll have food, drinks, and hopefully some great learnings! (Registration link in the comments)

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