Don’t fall in love with the product

Instead of a false sense of exceptionalism about a product, it’s better to be passionate about the customers and solving their problems.

It’s okay if you’re not head over heels in love with the product you’re working on. In fact, it’s probably for the best that you aren’t. After all, “Love is blind,” and you can’t afford to see your product through rose-tinted glasses.

It pays to be scrupulous and not overlook the flaws. Critically and objectively assessing the state of your product is an important part of your work as a Product Manager (PdM).

Still, over the past six-plus months, I’ve talked to many companies and Product Managers during consulting calls and interviews, looking for what’s next in my career. It was clear that many CEOs and product people I talked with expected PdMs to be head over heels for the products they were working on. It was as if they believed that not being genuinely enamoured or exceptionally excited about a product or industry would prevent you from doing your job.

Last year, after several rounds of interviews for a spot on a team working on a new finance tool, I was told that I didn’t seem excited enough about building an expense management platform; instead, I seemed to just want a new job. On the contrary, I was very excited about solving this problem for businesses and had previously run into these issues as a small business owner.

Maybe some of it’s the market, and hiring managers are being extra picky about who they hire. That’s fine, but they may be better off hiring someone with limited experience in the industry who’s maybe never even used the product before or who can’t stand the tools currently available. The fresh perspective and lack of nostalgia for things that aren’t working could go a long way in making products better.

Wouldn’t it be great to see more people who can’t stand air travel working in leadership roles where they can improve boarding or how seats are configured? Maybe they can fix the whole snack situation in economy class, too. What if a few more Android users worked on the next iPhone? Maybe we wouldn’t have had to wait so long for call screening.

Realistically, most customers are not in love with your product either; it’s a utility or tool they use to get their work done or to move from A to B. It’s the cheapest, best in class, simplest solution, or least sucky way to get something done. Sure, there are exceptions, but as much as a parent might brag about their child being their perfect little angel, thinking the sun rises and sets on them, don’t let this unconditional love and cognitive bias for your product percolate through your company. You’re building a business, not raising the next Mother Teresa.

I said a lot there, so to put it plainly, your product is probably not the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Instead of a false sense of exceptionalism about a product, it’s better to be passionate about the customers and solving their problems. Driven by goals of improving and reaching new milestones. Fall in love with the chase, and don’t settle on the destination.