Mike Chowla
@chowla.com
I wrote about how product managers should imagine themselves in their customers' shoes and figure out if they would buy their own product
open.substack.com/pub/pmmaxims...
open.substack.com/pub/pmmaxims...
Maxim #7 - Figure out if you would buy your product
I often ask myself if I would choose the products I work on if I switched jobs to be on the customer side.
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:47 PM
I wrote about how product managers should imagine themselves in their customers' shoes and figure out if they would buy their own product
open.substack.com/pub/pmmaxims...
open.substack.com/pub/pmmaxims...
The Trump’s H1-B changes are a disaster. The arbitrary granting of exceptions is a recipe for graft and corruption. Applying $100k fee to people already holding visas is crazy.
Trump is going to kill the tech industry in the US.
Trump is going to kill the tech industry in the US.
September 20, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The Trump’s H1-B changes are a disaster. The arbitrary granting of exceptions is a recipe for graft and corruption. Applying $100k fee to people already holding visas is crazy.
Trump is going to kill the tech industry in the US.
Trump is going to kill the tech industry in the US.
The best system for H1-B fees is a Reverse Dutch Auction which would ensure the visas are allocated to their highest economic use.
The government is poor at setting prices. Auctions remove the need to set a price.
The government is poor at setting prices. Auctions remove the need to set a price.
September 20, 2025 at 3:08 AM
The best system for H1-B fees is a Reverse Dutch Auction which would ensure the visas are allocated to their highest economic use.
The government is poor at setting prices. Auctions remove the need to set a price.
The government is poor at setting prices. Auctions remove the need to set a price.
Not looking forward to two more months of dueling yes on Prop 50, no on Prop 50 ads.
Each side is tracking to showing me 100+ adds which seems like a waste of ad money to me.
Each side is tracking to showing me 100+ adds which seems like a waste of ad money to me.
September 9, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Not looking forward to two more months of dueling yes on Prop 50, no on Prop 50 ads.
Each side is tracking to showing me 100+ adds which seems like a waste of ad money to me.
Each side is tracking to showing me 100+ adds which seems like a waste of ad money to me.
Debating whether to buy @aripaparo.com 's Yield as an e-book or audiobook. Leaning towards audiobook since when I listened to the sample, it felt like Ari was personally telling me the story, like one of the framing devices one sees in a movie.
August 6, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Debating whether to buy @aripaparo.com 's Yield as an e-book or audiobook. Leaning towards audiobook since when I listened to the sample, it felt like Ari was personally telling me the story, like one of the framing devices one sees in a movie.
It’s the height of first world arrogance and faux environmentalism to say that it’s better to scrap a diesel train than send it a city that badly needs i.
Apparently State Senator Dave Cortese thinks it better Lima residents sit horrible in traffic
www.kqed.org/news/1201727...
Apparently State Senator Dave Cortese thinks it better Lima residents sit horrible in traffic
www.kqed.org/news/1201727...
Caltrain Is Sending Its Old Diesel Fleet to Peru. One State Lawmaker Is Not Happy | KQED
San José Sen. Dave Cortese introduced a bill to block such transfers, saying that sending the fossil-fuel-burning engines abroad is just shifting pollution from one place to another.
www.kqed.org
July 17, 2025 at 4:38 PM
It’s the height of first world arrogance and faux environmentalism to say that it’s better to scrap a diesel train than send it a city that badly needs i.
Apparently State Senator Dave Cortese thinks it better Lima residents sit horrible in traffic
www.kqed.org/news/1201727...
Apparently State Senator Dave Cortese thinks it better Lima residents sit horrible in traffic
www.kqed.org/news/1201727...
Gave up on Caltrain mid-commute this morning due to the indefinite delay and am taking a Lyft the rest of the way to work.
Annoyingly, Caltrain is just saying “police activity” so there’s no clear reason for the delay.
Annoyingly, Caltrain is just saying “police activity” so there’s no clear reason for the delay.
ONGOING: Caltrain Passengers Are to Remain to Expect Major Delays, Due to Police Activity. http://goo.gl/TU4ZDK
July 17, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Gave up on Caltrain mid-commute this morning due to the indefinite delay and am taking a Lyft the rest of the way to work.
Annoyingly, Caltrain is just saying “police activity” so there’s no clear reason for the delay.
Annoyingly, Caltrain is just saying “police activity” so there’s no clear reason for the delay.
Oh, good lord. The Gatsby movie has Daisy call Gatsby at the end which makes which makes her far less monstrous than in the book.
It’s a complete rewriting of the story.
It’s a complete rewriting of the story.
July 15, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Oh, good lord. The Gatsby movie has Daisy call Gatsby at the end which makes which makes her far less monstrous than in the book.
It’s a complete rewriting of the story.
It’s a complete rewriting of the story.
For a bit, I thought the Gatsby movie might be tolerable but then the writers of the movie decided to tell the story in a different order than Fitzgerald told it.
🤦
The mystery surrounding Gatsby is an important part of the story. It’s not supposed to get resolved half way through.
🤦
The mystery surrounding Gatsby is an important part of the story. It’s not supposed to get resolved half way through.
July 15, 2025 at 4:15 AM
For a bit, I thought the Gatsby movie might be tolerable but then the writers of the movie decided to tell the story in a different order than Fitzgerald told it.
🤦
The mystery surrounding Gatsby is an important part of the story. It’s not supposed to get resolved half way through.
🤦
The mystery surrounding Gatsby is an important part of the story. It’s not supposed to get resolved half way through.
After re-reading the Great Gatsby earlier this year, I decided I’d watch the DiCaprio film.
I’m five minutes in and I’m like WTF? Nick is in a sanatorium, going on about how is disgusted with every one except Gatsby?
This film is going to murder a great American novel
I’m five minutes in and I’m like WTF? Nick is in a sanatorium, going on about how is disgusted with every one except Gatsby?
This film is going to murder a great American novel
July 15, 2025 at 2:53 AM
After re-reading the Great Gatsby earlier this year, I decided I’d watch the DiCaprio film.
I’m five minutes in and I’m like WTF? Nick is in a sanatorium, going on about how is disgusted with every one except Gatsby?
This film is going to murder a great American novel
I’m five minutes in and I’m like WTF? Nick is in a sanatorium, going on about how is disgusted with every one except Gatsby?
This film is going to murder a great American novel
I wrote about why product managers should focus on the problem they are trying to solve
open.substack.com/pub/pmmaxims...
open.substack.com/pub/pmmaxims...
July 14, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I wrote about why product managers should focus on the problem they are trying to solve
open.substack.com/pub/pmmaxims...
open.substack.com/pub/pmmaxims...
Costco delirium (n) a state of confusion induced by spending too much time wandering the aisles of a Costco.
Those afflicted often put large quantities stuff they do not need into their cart while forgetting what they came to Costco to buy in the first place.
Those afflicted often put large quantities stuff they do not need into their cart while forgetting what they came to Costco to buy in the first place.
July 4, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Costco delirium (n) a state of confusion induced by spending too much time wandering the aisles of a Costco.
Those afflicted often put large quantities stuff they do not need into their cart while forgetting what they came to Costco to buy in the first place.
Those afflicted often put large quantities stuff they do not need into their cart while forgetting what they came to Costco to buy in the first place.
Happy Canada Day!
I've been fortunate to be in Canada for Canada Day several times. I love the energy of Canada Day. People have a happy-to-be-Canadian energy that makes the celebrations special.
I've been fortunate to be in Canada for Canada Day several times. I love the energy of Canada Day. People have a happy-to-be-Canadian energy that makes the celebrations special.
July 2, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Happy Canada Day!
I've been fortunate to be in Canada for Canada Day several times. I love the energy of Canada Day. People have a happy-to-be-Canadian energy that makes the celebrations special.
I've been fortunate to be in Canada for Canada Day several times. I love the energy of Canada Day. People have a happy-to-be-Canadian energy that makes the celebrations special.
Got love the WiFi on United’s older planes.
It’s so slow, it’s impossible to get many types of work done.
It’s so slow, it’s impossible to get many types of work done.
May 23, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Got love the WiFi on United’s older planes.
It’s so slow, it’s impossible to get many types of work done.
It’s so slow, it’s impossible to get many types of work done.
It never ceases to amaze me how 10 across turned the 777 into the worst economy flying experience in the sky.
A 30 year old 737 is more comfortable.
My flight is only 4 hours today. I do everything possible to avoid long haul flights in these awful seats.
A 30 year old 737 is more comfortable.
My flight is only 4 hours today. I do everything possible to avoid long haul flights in these awful seats.
May 19, 2025 at 3:00 PM
It never ceases to amaze me how 10 across turned the 777 into the worst economy flying experience in the sky.
A 30 year old 737 is more comfortable.
My flight is only 4 hours today. I do everything possible to avoid long haul flights in these awful seats.
A 30 year old 737 is more comfortable.
My flight is only 4 hours today. I do everything possible to avoid long haul flights in these awful seats.
Listening to Unlicensed Season 3 on Audible.
It’s good but there’s little things that bother me. One doesn’t have to find an ancient Amiga to read an old Amiga floppy disk. There are emulators for all old computers.
You’d need find a compatible drive but once you did, you’d block the whole disk.
It’s good but there’s little things that bother me. One doesn’t have to find an ancient Amiga to read an old Amiga floppy disk. There are emulators for all old computers.
You’d need find a compatible drive but once you did, you’d block the whole disk.
May 18, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Listening to Unlicensed Season 3 on Audible.
It’s good but there’s little things that bother me. One doesn’t have to find an ancient Amiga to read an old Amiga floppy disk. There are emulators for all old computers.
You’d need find a compatible drive but once you did, you’d block the whole disk.
It’s good but there’s little things that bother me. One doesn’t have to find an ancient Amiga to read an old Amiga floppy disk. There are emulators for all old computers.
You’d need find a compatible drive but once you did, you’d block the whole disk.
1/ I recently listened to the audiobook of the Great Gatsby and it was surprising how much my perceptions of the book shifted from when I read it high school.
This time I could appreciate how great a writer Fitzgerald is. Jake Gyllenhaal nails it as the narrator and voice of Nick.
This time I could appreciate how great a writer Fitzgerald is. Jake Gyllenhaal nails it as the narrator and voice of Nick.
May 9, 2025 at 1:03 AM
1/ I recently listened to the audiobook of the Great Gatsby and it was surprising how much my perceptions of the book shifted from when I read it high school.
This time I could appreciate how great a writer Fitzgerald is. Jake Gyllenhaal nails it as the narrator and voice of Nick.
This time I could appreciate how great a writer Fitzgerald is. Jake Gyllenhaal nails it as the narrator and voice of Nick.
I'm quoted in this article on Privacy Sandbox. Glad to see players from across the Ad Tech ecosystem see value in working on privacy tech, even if every effort doesn't succeed.
www.adexchanger.com/programmatic...
www.adexchanger.com/programmatic...
Most Chrome Privacy Sandbox Testers See A Silver Lining In Their Investment | AdExchanger
While some Privacy Sandbox testers lamented their seemingly wasted effort, they remain committed to post-cookie targeting and measurement.
www.adexchanger.com
May 5, 2025 at 6:31 PM
I'm quoted in this article on Privacy Sandbox. Glad to see players from across the Ad Tech ecosystem see value in working on privacy tech, even if every effort doesn't succeed.
www.adexchanger.com/programmatic...
www.adexchanger.com/programmatic...
One thing I would like AI to do for me is annotate my email with times in my time zone when someone sends me times in another time zone for a meeting.
Bonus points if it can check my calendar and recommend the slots when I’m free.
Bonus points if it can check my calendar and recommend the slots when I’m free.
April 28, 2025 at 8:47 PM
One thing I would like AI to do for me is annotate my email with times in my time zone when someone sends me times in another time zone for a meeting.
Bonus points if it can check my calendar and recommend the slots when I’m free.
Bonus points if it can check my calendar and recommend the slots when I’m free.
California Poppies
Calfiornia poppies at the Gamble Garden in Palo Alto
Calfiornia poppies at the Gamble Garden in Palo Alto
California Poppies
Calfiornia poppies at the Gamble Garden in Palo Alto
l.chowla.com
April 11, 2025 at 3:45 AM
California Poppies
Calfiornia poppies at the Gamble Garden in Palo Alto
Calfiornia poppies at the Gamble Garden in Palo Alto
Tariffs are a prisoners dilemma except both players can communicate and it’s a multi-round game.
Thus there is no High-Low end point.
With two reasonable players, you end up at Low-Low.
Unfortunately, if one is side is an idiot, then you get stuck at High-High and everyone is worse off.
Thus there is no High-Low end point.
With two reasonable players, you end up at Low-Low.
Unfortunately, if one is side is an idiot, then you get stuck at High-High and everyone is worse off.
April 4, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Tariffs are a prisoners dilemma except both players can communicate and it’s a multi-round game.
Thus there is no High-Low end point.
With two reasonable players, you end up at Low-Low.
Unfortunately, if one is side is an idiot, then you get stuck at High-High and everyone is worse off.
Thus there is no High-Low end point.
With two reasonable players, you end up at Low-Low.
Unfortunately, if one is side is an idiot, then you get stuck at High-High and everyone is worse off.
Everyone will hate it but airlines should charge for overhead bin space.
Shortages of bin space delay boarding and thus waste every passenger’s time. There’s no way to fix this without instituting a charge. Anything free is always over subscribed.
Shortages of bin space delay boarding and thus waste every passenger’s time. There’s no way to fix this without instituting a charge. Anything free is always over subscribed.
March 27, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Everyone will hate it but airlines should charge for overhead bin space.
Shortages of bin space delay boarding and thus waste every passenger’s time. There’s no way to fix this without instituting a charge. Anything free is always over subscribed.
Shortages of bin space delay boarding and thus waste every passenger’s time. There’s no way to fix this without instituting a charge. Anything free is always over subscribed.
1/ When I was doing my MBA, there many case studies about Southwest Airlines. In that era, Southwest took a unique approach and was unusually profitable for an airline.
The market has shifted and many of Southwest’s unique attributes no longer provide a competitive advantage.
The market has shifted and many of Southwest’s unique attributes no longer provide a competitive advantage.
March 13, 2025 at 5:35 AM
1/ When I was doing my MBA, there many case studies about Southwest Airlines. In that era, Southwest took a unique approach and was unusually profitable for an airline.
The market has shifted and many of Southwest’s unique attributes no longer provide a competitive advantage.
The market has shifted and many of Southwest’s unique attributes no longer provide a competitive advantage.