TLDR PRODUCT MANAGEMENT 2026-01-02

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PROOF OF CONCEPT IN 2025

When building became cheap, judgment became scarce. In 2025, the real advantage shifted from execution to deciding what deserves to exist.

THE EFFICIENCY PARADOX: WHY MAKING SOFTWARE EASIER TO WRITE MEANS WE'LL WRITE EXPONENTIALLY MORE

Lowering the cost of software creation doesn't reduce work, it reveals hidden demand. With AI, the bottleneck moves from building things to deciding what's worth building.

BEYOND THE REPLICA: THE CASE FOR FIRST-PRINCIPLES AGENTS

Copying human workflows makes AI legible but limits its power. Real breakthroughs come when agents solve problems directly, even if the solution looks alien.

YOUR CAREER NEEDS A BREAKING CHANGE

Goals are fragile because they depend on certainty, while behaviors are fully within your control. Changing what you stop, keep, and start creates a durable shift that makes progress inevitable.

HOW TO DESIGN TO ALERT USERS WITHOUT OVERWHELMING THEM

When everything demands attention, nothing gets it. Designing clear hierarchies between alarms and anomalies prevents fatigue and helps users act on what truly matters.

BOUNCING BACK FROM BURNOUT

Burnout in tech comes from chasing goals that don't matter, not from personal inadequacy. Real recovery starts by changing your relationship to work, not just taking a break.

“PRODUCTIVITY”. YOU KEEP USING THAT WORD

Software teams optimize what they measure, and too often that isn't user or business impact. This is why AI productivity gains look dramatic in metrics but barely register in real outcomes.

THE NOT-SO-LAZY HOLIDAY READING LIST

As AI makes execution cheap, prediction loses value and reflection gains it. The real advantage shifts to judgment, restraint, and understanding how systems change.

THE NEXT BIG THING IN 2026 WILL BE…

AI will make execution cheap, but human judgment and connection will matter most.

MICROMANAGEMENT? OR STAYING CLOSE TO REALITY?

Direct visibility is often mistaken for micromanagement.