Best of 2023
A Look Back at Our Favorites from This Year
As we bid farewell to 2023 and look forward to 2024, we can all collectively give a sigh of relief and finally say, “we made it, barely.”
But before we do, let’s look back at some of the best articles, podcasts, and book reviews of the year. And then shake the dust from our feet and get the hell out of dodge.
Podcasts
Getting Your Pricing Strategy Right - A Conversation with CEO Marcos Rivera
This was the first podcast of the year, and it was a great one on product pricing strategies. I love this topic, and the information here is evergreen. So worth going back and listening to again.
Revolutionizing Meetings: The Power of AI
In this episode of Product by Design, I spoke with Artem Koren from Sembly.ai. We explored the revolutionary and ever-evolving world of AI and its application in meetings. Artem, the Chief Product Officer and co-founder at Sembly.ai, shared his background in technology and management consulting, and how the idea for Sembly.ai was born.
Amplifying Your Intelligence Through AI
In this episode, we explored AI tools that amplify productivity today, from coding to finding bugs in software, and how these tools will become as intertwined in our lives as computers or the internet. We also discuss becoming an expert in a field and applying expertise from one field into other areas of your life, whether in business or personal, like music or theater.
Fostering Product Excellence and Customer-Centricity with Vidya Dinamani
In this episode, I interviewed Vidya, founder of Product Rebels, who shared her experience in coaching product teams and transforming organizations. We explored the importance of understanding the customer problem and achieving product-market fit. We also discussed the challenges of pricing and the characteristics of successful product teams.
Articles
Why We're So Bad At Estimating
We, as humans, are bad at estimating. I remodeled our laundry room a little while ago. It was a project that I had on my list for a long time, so I was excited to get it done. We didn’t have any storage in that room, and too much wasted space, so it seemed like a good project.
A Healthy Dose of Skepticism
If something seems too good or too bad to be true, it probably isn’t true. Product Thinking is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. I was reminded of this in the past few days as I came across (yet another) CEO giving a cringe, company-wide call. (We’ll need to address this at some point. Why are so many
Lessons in Thinking Long Term
You probably remember the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. The uncertainty, the fear, the shift to working remotely. And if you tried to buy certain items, like masks or toilet paper, you may have faced aisles of empty shelves (like this photo I took in March 2020).
The Project Fallacy
It is no secret that we are all bad at estimating. We are too optimistic about our timelines and our own capabilities. Every home project I’ve ever done has fallen victim to the planning fallacy. You’ve likely seen this play out in your own life, both personally and professionally. Dates change, timelines extend, projects take longer.
Books
Customers Know You Suck
How often are we guessing at what customers want and then delivering mediocre experiences in the name of “moving fast?” We all like to say we’re customer-centric, but too often we fall well short of our customers’ expectations because we prioritize “good enough” or “MVP” or many other excuses.
The Alignment Problem: Machine Learning and Human Values
The book The Alignment Problem by Brian Christian has been on my reading list for a while now. It came up again in a Product by Design podcast interview I was doing as we discussed the implications of AI, good and bad. And with my own increased interest in AI (don’t forget to read and share the
Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World
The world is awash in bullshit. Mostly the figurative kind. Which is why it is critical we’re able to discern between fact and bullshit, especially as the bullshit becomes increasing dressed in data. Which is why this month we’re reviewing the book Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World