Time to come out, I am an Serial Entrepreneur, CEO, COO, Technologist, Engineer, Consultant, Board Member, MBA, Cyclist, Runner, Marketer and much more but above all else I am by nature and Gods design a PRODUCT MANAGER!
Currently I am working Interim roles with small and mid-size companies helping align Product and Market. This is what I love! All of my roles are ones I have trained for or studied in school or life except one which is a core passion. I love to watch, learn and create solutions that add value.
My passion though I have learned is like any personality aspect, it has a dark side and a light side.
The Dark side is a pig headedness that is sure I am right! Sure the world will see my idea as the next great invention that will change the world.
The Bright side is an insight that leads me ahead of the market untethered to the path of innovation. Yes there is a book about this “the Innovators Dilemma” Read it in a greater context if possible.
Many including myself have used the term Pivot or Persevere. The pivot we can talk about later is easy once you let go of your initial vision and understand your core competences. Persevering though is a process of constant examination. It can seem at times that one is just delaying a Pivot or flushing money down the missed market hole.
The two traps of the persevere path or Pigheadedness and Procrastination. Guess what you can’t tell when you are in either. Great leaders and Product Mangers constantly seek sounding boards. One needs honest reflections from non-bound peers. Shine the light on your work constantly with a core group who are not vested in you personally. This is a business issue and don’t forget that for a moment.
As I have been fond of saying “Money in = Good — Money Out=Bad” make sure this equation works!
