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This Week #1: Must reads on growth, what PMs should focus on when joining a new team, and the value of an MBA

Sep 2019

Execution clarity precedes strategic vision

Before developing strategy, ensure everyone knows what they should be doing, unnecessary meetings are eliminated, blockers are addressed quickly, and deadlines are clear. You can't build a compelling vision on top of a chaotic foundation.
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Strategy is a set of actions, not a vision

A good strategy is a set of actions that is credible, coherent, and focused on overcoming the biggest hurdles in achieving an objective. Strategy without execution is just planning; execution without strategy is just activity.

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This Week #0: Advice on growth, product, and leadership

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Execution, strategy, vision—the PM's productivity stack

When your team is humming, work your way up from execution (blockers, processes, goals) to strategy (clarity, boldness) to vision (North Star, purpose). Each level builds on the last, and most PMs skip steps by jumping to vision without solid execution.

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Strategy clarity is a team-wide test

If you ask anyone on your team what your strategy is, would they be able to explain it? If not, your strategy isn't clear enough. A strategy that only lives in the PM's head isn't a strategy—it's a secret.

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This Week #2: Tackling the chicken-and-egg problem, building a growth team from scratch, and addressing overlap with PM peers 🤔

Sep 2019

Act before perfect clarity emerges

Don't wait for all details to be worked out before making organizational changes—this can take months or years. Identify the biggest issues, align on a few key improvements, and implement them while continuing to refine.

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What Seven Years at Airbnb Taught Me About Building a Business

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Problem statement clarity beats execution speed

Simple projects with vague problem statements circle for weeks; complex projects with strong problem statements sail smoothly. Crystallizing the problem you're solving is the single most important step before solving anything. Misalignment on the problem is invisible waste.

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