The Daily Index — Friday, March 1, 2024

GENERAL

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fellow.app

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THE HYPE ECONOMY

There is a culture within some tech companies where ideas are promoted based on salesmanship rather than critical thinking and evidence. A shift towards evidence-guided development that emphasizes strategic context, clear goals, research-based ideas, and product discovery would create a healthier work culture and improve business results.

itamargilad.com · 5 min

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SOFTWARE HAS EATEN THE MEDIA

Both public and private markets prioritize revenue growth over product quality or human welfare, leading to layoffs and mismanagement in tech and media industries. Executives prioritize investor satisfaction over user needs, resulting in the decay of creativity, innovation, and journalistic integrity. Tech's obsession with AI reflects a broader trend of prioritizing symbolic value creation over genuine customer benefit, exacerbating societal issues like spam advertising and deceptive subscription practices.

wheresyoured.at · 16 min

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PERMISSION TO STAY FOCUSED

PM leaders empower their teams to maintain focus and make tough decisions. The language of money and high-level trade-offs can be used as strategies to justify and support PMs in declining urgent but non-essential requests.

mironov.com · 5 min

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GREAT PRODUCTS HAVE GREAT PREMISES

Great products start with a compelling premise that reshapes user behaviors and norms. A strong foundational belief can empower users to embrace actions they might have hesitated to take before.

workingtheorys.com · 4 min

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HOW GOOGLE PERFECTED THE WEB

Google's search algorithms have shaped the internet, leading to widespread search engine optimization practices that prioritize visibility over content quality. The consequences of this optimization include homogenized website designs and the proliferation of low-quality AI-generated content. Generative AI may cause a shift away from Google-centric strategies.

theverge.com · 12 min

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CATEGORIES OF AI PM WORK

AI PM work can be categorized into two main vectors: source and level of implementation. These distinguish core vs. growth vs. AI PMs based on their focus and how AI is utilized - either to enhance features, create new features, or develop entirely new products. There are unique challenges and rewards in each area.

twitter.com · 3 min

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THE BOTTOM-LINE BENEFIT OF THE PRODUCT OPERATING MODEL

It is important for companies to adopt a product and platform operating model to thrive in the digital age. There is a correlation between operating model maturity and business performance outcomes. The piece provides insights into how companies can improve their operations in key areas like "ways of working," culture and talent management, and tooling to achieve greater innovation, customer engagement, and overall success.

mckinsey.com · 8 min

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GOAT’S PATH TO PRODUCT-MARKET FIT — HOW A FAKE SNEAKER SPARKED A $4B IDEA

Eddy Lu's entrepreneurial journey from failed ventures to founding GOAT, a successful sneaker and luxury apparel platform, showcases the unpredictable path to product-market fit. Despite numerous setbacks and pivots, including a cream puff franchise and a social dining app, Lu and his co-founder, Daishin Sugano, persevered, demonstrating the importance of passion, problem-solving, and resilience in the startup world.

review.firstround.com · 10 min

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THE IMPORTANCE (AND SHORTCOMINGS) OF A DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH IN VC

Data-driven approaches are crucial in VC investment, particularly from the perspective of LPs. Data analysis can enhance various aspects of the investment process for LPs, including sourcing, underwriting, and accessing funds. Combining data-driven methods with experience and expertise in evaluating fund performance can lead to gaining access to top-performing funds.

patternventures.substack.com · 10 min

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HOW TO SHAPE YOUR OWN WORK IN THE SHORT-TERM

The work we do shapes us over time. We go from actively choosing our work to being fundamentally changed by it. The evolution from focusing on tangible outputs to prioritizing "managing optics" for career advancement can profoundly alter one's values and decision-making.

linkedin.com · 2 min

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SUPER SPECIFIC FEEDBACK: HOW TO GIVE ACTIONABLE FEEDBACK ON WORK OUTPUT

This article provides insights into delivering specific and actionable work feedback. It outlines several strategies to enhance its effectiveness, including seeking "permission" to give feedback while highlighting its benefits, explaining the reasons behind the feedback, offering genuine positive feedback without resorting to the "sandwich" method, and fostering a common language to facilitate clear communication.

newsletter.weskao.com · 12 min

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TRANSFORMATION THEATER

Different types of "theater" are seen in corporate efforts when changing product-building practices. These behaviors often mimic transformation without achieving real change. This needs to be tackled early on when shifting to product-focused models.

svpg.com · 4 min

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REDDIT’S IPO

Reddit's upcoming IPO reveals mixed financials: positive net income and adjusted EBITDA in Q4 2023 but overall cash burn. While diversification potential exists through data licensing, heavy reliance on advertising and concentrated user metrics raise sustainability concerns.

mostlymetrics.com · 4 min

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THE 3 KEY JOBS OF A PM: RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM, STRUCTURE A SOLUTION, AND EXECUTE

3 essential components of a PM’s job: identify the customer problem, turn a general problem into a tangible solution, and step in as needed to ensure the solution is effectively executed.

amivora.substack.com · 2 min