On working in product — a miniseries
Part I
Working in product has always been pretty sexy. But right now, product management is having a Moment. At least in Tel Aviv, it is. Every other person that I meet tells me that their long-term goal is to transition into product management.
As a product-obsessed person, I totally get it. I think it’s the best job in the world. Does it suit everyone? Not sure. Should everyone give it a go? Definitely.
Thinking about it? Here are some musings about why you should work in product:
You love products (…duh)
You’re aware of the different everyday things that you interact with in your life — your kitchen tap, water bottles, as well as websites and apps — and constantly noticing what you love about them, or how they can be improved. You can spend hours discussing the different strategic choices of <insert company here>’s latest offering.
You love people
People fascinate you. You want to know why they act the way they do, how they will react to different situations. You’re empathetic — you want to understand how people will feel when faced with different challenges.
You love to look at the big picture
You don’t want to work on a small part of a system. You want to know how the entire machine functions, why it’s functioning in the way that it is — and what its purpose is. You like to have overarching goals — and know how and when you’re moving towards them.
But you’re not afraid to dive deep into the details
You also want to know how the machine was built. Nothing makes you happier than learning all there is to know about a niche subject.
You like to ask why
You’re curious & fascinated by everything: you want to know why things are the way they are. You love to discover new ideas. You lie awake at night thinking about different problems that you have observed in everyday life.
You care
You want to improve things. You know you can make a difference.
What are other reasons you should work in product?
