Been pondering recently what makes the Product role so opaque, especially in organisations with low product maturity. This description from Tom Dolan, really sums up the inherent messiness and tug-of-war nature of the role. Definitely one I’ll be using with my PM’s.
“the messy dance between top-down strategy, bottom-up insight, and the annual tides of our organisation”
Weeknote+VAT - 6th May 2024 - Getting Going - Leaning Forward
So I’m angry because that’s the logic of big tech evangelists. To drive down the meaning and value of everything so that whatever’s being hoiked this year at CES is seen, by contrast, as the most valuable and important thing ever. That’s why you can stand on stage showing a gadget that orders the most popular pizza for you and in the same few minutes have someone equate that technology with solving crumbling planetary and social health. And people just keep believing it.
..for the past couple of years I’ve taken to walking around the woods and meadows of Hampstead Heath early every Sunday morning. The Japanese have a term for it. Shrinrin-yoku. Forest bathing. Immersion in the green light and forced perspectives beneath a forest canopy. The birdsong and the cathedral hush.
Absolutely this. Whilst having a baby has been largely an unmitigated joy, one of the drawbacks is the lack of time to get out of London and spend the day(s) bathing in the quiet calm of the forest.
Recalling past wars is the most dangerous thing a nation can do. Too much remembering has lain at the root of almost every conflict in Europe’s history. We say we learn war’s lessons, but we seldom do. Memory distorts and emotionalises history. By its nature it dwells on grievance, enmity and retribution. Why is it we all recall war but never peace?
It’s time to move on from these overblown commemorations of war
When you delegate the outcomes and not the activities, you help employees not just execute for the task at hand, but equip them for every future task after that. You’re giving true ownership to your team.
Big fan of the John Portman oeuvre. It’s completely over the top, but I would love to visit one of these hotels.
Via the Guardian - Disneyland for adults
Squareeyez