🎾 Unlock AI PM Prompts, Quitting Decision Tree, Value Validation Projects For Job Search & Modern Project Management Guide For PMs
+ Boost Product Design & Inner vs. Outer Scorecards
Estimated read time: 2 minutes 55 seconds.
This is Sunday 1-1-2-3 with George.
Welcome to the 104th edition. Happy Holidays! ✨🎊🎊🎅
🆕 In today’s edition:
🔒 Access to AI Prompts for PMs (Notion database)
🔒 3 actionable tasks (no dependencies) you can take right now to forward your product & career
Value Validation Project Approach for Job Search
Decision Tree for Quitting
Inner vs. Outer Scorecard
🆓 Modern Project Management for Product Managers
🆓 10x Product X Design: Product & research team collaboration
❓ 1 Thought-Provoking Question
What single change could you make in your next team meeting to DOUBLE the quality of collaboration?
🌟 1 Useful Quote
🎓 2 Learning Opportunities
Article: Modern Project Management for Product Managers
Time: 10 minutes
Video: 10x Product X Design: Product & research team collaboration
Time: 22 minutes
🛠️ 3 Actionable Tasks Less Than 30 Minutes Each
Value Validation Project Approach for Job Search
Objective:
To differentiate yourself in the job market by creating a personalized value validation project (VVP) to demonstrate your understanding of and potential contributions to a target company, bypassing the conventional resume submission.
Required Inputs:
Deep understanding of the target company, including its challenges, culture, and industry position.
Clear understanding of the role you're targeting and how your skills and experience align.
Steps:
Target Company Research:
Dedicate time to thoroughly research the target company. Understand its mission, values, industry standing, recent news, challenges, and initiatives. Look into the specific department and role you are interested in.
Identify Challenges or Opportunities:
Based on your research, identify a significant challenge or opportunity the company is facing that you can address. Think about how your skills and experience can contribute to a solution or enhancement.
Develop the Value Validation Project (VVP):
Create a 5-7 slide deck focused on the identified challenge or opportunity. Structure it as follows:
Slide 1: Introduction of yourself and the purpose of the VVP.
Slide 2: Brief overview of the company and its current position.
Slide 3-4: Deep dive into the identified challenge or opportunity.
Slide 5-6: Your proposed solution or contribution, showcasing how your skills and experience make you the right candidate.
Slide 7: Conclusion and a call to action for further discussion.
Personalize Your Presentation:
Use your own design and language to reflect your personal brand and professional approach. Make it visually appealing and ensure that the content clearly communicates your value proposition.
Prepare for Follow-Up:
Be ready to discuss your VVP in depth. This means understanding every aspect of your proposal and being able to answer questions or provide further details during conversations.
Networking and Delivery:
Use your network to find a way to deliver your VVP to the right person in the company. Follow up a previous networking conversation with the VVP, or find a new contact and introduce yourself with the project as a talking point.
Track and Reflect:
Keep track of each VVP sent, the responses received, and any feedback. Use this information to refine your approach for future applications.
Outcome:
By using a Value Validation Project instead of a traditional resume, you will stand out to potential employers by demonstrating a proactive, innovative, and problem-solving mindset.
This approach not only showcases your skills but also your commitment and unique understanding of the company and role you are applying for, potentially leading to more engaged conversations and opportunities.
Decision Tree for Quitting
Objective:
To provide a structured framework for individuals contemplating quitting a task, job, or any other significant commitment.
Duration:
30 minutes
Required Inputs:
Pen and paper or digital tool for creating the decision tree.
Personal reflection and honest assessment of the current situation.
Steps:
Define the Situation:
Clearly state what you are considering quitting (job, project, etc.). Write a brief description of the current state and why the thought of quitting has arisen.
Initial Question - Thinking of Quitting?
Start the decision tree with the question: "Am I thinking of quitting?" If the answer is "No," then the process stops here. If "Yes," move to the next step.
Identify the Reason:
Branch into two paths based on the reason for considering quitting:
a. It's hard (Hardship).
b. It sucks (Emotional/Mental Dissatisfaction).
For Hardship (It's Hard):
What is the reward?
Name the reward that can be expected over 3-6-12 months
How likely is the reward to happen? Is it linear or non-linear?
Linear: Do X, get reward. E.g. “make a sale > get commission”.
Non-linear: Do X > something else happens > get reward. E.g. “complete project > have a good performance review > get promotion”.
Is the hardship worth the rewards?
Yes: Don't quit. Consider strategies to manage and overcome the hardship.
No: Proceed to quit. It's not worth continuing something hard and meaningless.
For Emotional/Mental Dissatisfaction (It Sucks):
Can you make it not suck?
Yes: Move to the next question.
No: Quit. If there's no viable way to improve the situation, it's healthier to step away.
For Possible Improvement (Can Make It Not Suck):
Is the effort worth the reward?
Yes: Stay and fight to improve the situation. Plan actions and seek support.
No: Quit. Even if improvement is possible, it's not worth the effort.
Action Planning:
Based on the final decision from the tree:
If quitting, plan the next steps for a graceful and constructive exit.
If not quitting, outline a clear strategy for overcoming hardship or making the situation better.
Outcome:
This decision tree will help you methodically consider the reasons for quitting and evaluate the potential outcomes of your decision.
By the end of this exercise, you should have a clearer idea of whether to persevere or to leave the situation, along with a preliminary plan for the next steps based on your decision.
Inner vs. Outer Scorecard
Objective:
To internalize the concept of the Inner vs. Outer Scorecard and evaluate personal and professional decisions against it. This aims to enhance decision-making aligned with true values and long-term vision, moving away from the ephemeral satisfaction of external validation.
Duration:
30 minutes
Required Inputs:
Notebook or digital document for reflection.
Quiet, uninterrupted space.
Recent decisions or milestones related to your job.
Steps:
Understand the Concept:
Spend 5 minutes revisiting the Inner vs. Outer Scorecard concept. Reflect on the essence of making decisions based on personal integrity and values (Inner) versus societal or peer recognition (Outer).
Identify Decisions:
List down 3-5 recent decisions or actions you've taken in your role as a product manager. These could be related to strategy, product changes, team management, or personal career moves.
Categorize Motivations:
For each decision, write down what drove it. Assign whether it was more influenced by the Inner Scorecard (personal values, long-term vision, genuine belief in the action's benefit) or the Outer Scorecard (seeking approval, comparison with competitors, external accolades).
Evaluate Outcomes:
Reflect on the outcome of each decision. How did it make you feel? Was the satisfaction or dissatisfaction based on internal fulfillment or external recognition? How did it align with your core values and the product's long-term success?
Plan Adjustments:
Identify at least one decision influenced significantly by the Outer Scorecard. Brainstorm how this decision could have been approached differently by prioritizing the Inner Scorecard. Outline a small, actionable plan to adjust this approach in the future.
Commit to Action:
Choose one tangible action or mindset shift to implement in the coming weeks that will strengthen your Inner Scorecard. Write this down and commit to reviewing its impact in one month.
Outcome:
By the end of this exercise, you'll have a clearer understanding of what drives your decisions and how closely they align with your true values.
This reflection will guide future actions and decisions towards more fulfilling and value-driven outcomes, enhancing your integrity and effectiveness as a product manager.
“If you really want to practice this, try to make something you won’t show anyone else.”
💽 1 Database
Ok… That's a wrap for today. Stay focused and see you next week! If you want more, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@nurijanian)
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Who's George?
I’m an underdog product manager. I’ve had to learn the craft the hard way.
To become better, I learn and explore new ideas every day, relentlessly.
Then I share high-quality, tried-and-true ideas that can be used right away.
See you next week.
— George.