"The 3 Stages of a Product Manager's Career: 6 Strategies That Will Make You a Better Reader and Person"

"The 3 Stages of a Product Manager's Career: 6 Strategies That Will Make You a Better Reader and Person"

As a product manager, advancing in your career requires more than just improving your product sense, analytical skills, and execution. The role evolves as you progress, and it's important to understand the different stages and the new responsibilities that come with each one.

In the first stage of a product manager's career, the focus is on shipping products. This involves the day-to-day work of the product lifecycle, from discovering new opportunities to delivering the final product. It's about understanding the process of product development and ensuring successful outcomes. However, reaching the senior product manager level requires more than just mastering these skills.

The second stage is where the job changes significantly. As a senior product manager, your role is to identify new opportunities and develop strategies to win them. This means looking beyond the immediate product lifecycle and thinking strategically about the future. It requires a broader perspective and the ability to see the bigger picture. To succeed in this stage, you need to be proactive in seeking out new opportunities and creating plans to capitalize on them.

The third and final stage of a product manager's career is about building a great team. As you progress to a leadership position, your responsibility is to hire and coach talented individuals and establish processes that enable your organization to create winning strategies and ship successful products at scale. This stage requires not only strong leadership skills but also the ability to be a strategic advisor to the rest of the company. You must contribute to the overall vision and direction of the organization.

Now, let's shift gears and discuss strategies that can make you a better reader and, ultimately, a better person. Reading is not just about consuming information; it's about how you read and what you choose to read.

The first strategy is to stop reading books you aren't enjoying. Life is too short to spend time on books that don't captivate you. Set a rule for yourself, like reading 100 pages minus your age, and if a book fails to engage you by that point, it's okay to put it down and move on to something else. Enjoyment and personal fulfillment should be key factors in your reading choices.

The second strategy is to keep a commonplace book. This practice involves collecting quotes, passages, and ideas from the books you read. It allows you to reflect on and internalize the wisdom and insights that resonate with you. By creating a personal repository of meaningful quotes and thoughts, you can revisit them whenever you need inspiration or guidance.

Rereading the masters is the third strategy. As Seneca wisely advised, we should linger among a limited number of master-thinkers and digest their works. By revisiting books that have deeply impacted you in the past, you can gain new perspectives and insights. Both you and the world are constantly changing, and what you take away from a book can evolve with time.

Another strategy is to ask people you admire for book recommendations. Learning from the experiences and insights of others is invaluable. If a book has had a profound impact on someone's life, regardless of its topic or style, it's likely worth exploring. Expand your reading horizons by seeking recommendations from those you admire.

Don't limit your learning to your own experiences. General James Mattis once said, "If you haven't read hundreds of books, you're functionally illiterate." There is a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to be gained from the experiences of others throughout history. Study history, philosophy, and various disciplines to broaden your understanding of the world and avoid the pitfalls of ignorance.

Lastly, if you find yourself in a reading dry spell, try rereading something that has resonated with you in the past. Returning to a book that has spoken to you on a deep level can reignite your love for reading and inspire new ideas. Sometimes, all it takes is reconnecting with familiar words to break through a reading slump.

In conclusion, as a product manager, advancing in your career requires adapting to the changing responsibilities and expectations of each stage. Similarly, becoming a better reader and person involves thoughtful reading choices, reflection, and continuous learning. By incorporating these strategies into your life, you can enhance your career and personal growth. Remember, it's not just about what you read but also how you read and apply the knowledge gained.

• Actionable advice:

1. Continuously seek new opportunities and develop strategies to win them, even as you advance in your product management career.
2. Keep a commonplace book to collect and reflect on meaningful quotes and passages from the books you read.
3. Embrace a diverse range of reading materials and seek recommendations from people you admire to expand your knowledge and perspectives.