Tales of Product
Because every product has a story and every product manager has a tale to tell

Latest

18
Dec
Uniformed man points to moon in data center, AI woman on monitor in a data center.

Bang! Zoom! To the Moon

On a streaming service, in an alternative universe, The Honeymooners is just starting. Ralph Kramden storms into the data center
2 min read
10
Dec
Four robed jedi like figures study a holographic chart as cloaked shadows loom in the background.

The Phantom Nonsense

A long time ago on a Zoom call far, far away (well maybe last week).… a product debate broke out
3 min read
26
Nov
Major General at Thanksgiving table under spotlight as kids in pirate costumes cheer.

I Am the Very Model of a Modern Product Manager

That yearly Thanksgiving question, "So what do you do again?" gets a Broadway twist. Spotlight on. A PM parody of the Major General song begins.
2 min read
20
Nov
Mr. Monopoly dancing joyfully on a tilted Monopoly board.

New Podcast Episode: Taking the Monopoly Iteration Story Off the Page

A while back I broke down what Monopoly and Hugh Grant can teach us about iteration. The article sparked a
1 min read
05
Nov
A blue-skinned genie in a suit emerges from a monitor, smiling as glowing wishes appear behind him.

Be Careful What You Optimize For: The Wishmaster and the Coming AI Genie

Every algorithm grants a wish. The question is whether we’re ready for what it delivers.
4 min read
15
Oct
A dim 1980s office with an empty chair and a glowing monitor reading ‘Shall we play a game?’

The Product War Game: Shall We Play?

In WarGames (1983), Matthew Broderick plays a young hacker who accidentally accesses a military supercomputer named Joshua, capable of simulating
4 min read
02
Oct
Man interacts with futuristic holographic banking screens inspired by Minority Report.

PreCog Banking: JPMorgan’s AI Future and the Safeguards We Need

In the sci-fi thriller Minority Report, the brilliance of the world-building was how completely AI permeated everyday life. Billboards scanned
3 min read
03
Sep
Serpentor running a Scrum meeting, shouting “This I Command!” at a sprint board.

This I Command! How Not to Genetically Engineer Your Next Big Product

If you grew up on G.I. Joe, you remember Serpentor, Cobra’s genetically engineered “super-leader.” Dr. Mindbender, Destro, and
3 min read
27
Aug
1970s-style illustrated poster featuring Snowman, his truck, and the bold title “Snowman and the Retro.”

Snowman and the Retro: Talking About the Good Times in Product Teams

I still remember one retro where the room felt heavy. The board filled quickly with complaints, frustrations, and missed expectations.
2 min read
19
Aug
A man and woman talk on a path to growth.

The Adoption Imperative: How Product and Customer Success Co-Own the Customer Journey

Let’s get on the same page - it’s not enough to build great products. Customers need to adopt
2 min read

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