Gobi
@gobiraj.bsky.social
Product Manager who questions the obvious | Building lovable products ❤️ | Sharing insights with a dash of humor | https://gobiraj.substack.com/
7 Rules of Power: The Career Advice No One Gives You
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#ProductManagement #Power #Career
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#ProductManagement #Power #Career
November 12, 2025 at 2:47 AM
7 Rules of Power: The Career Advice No One Gives You
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#ProductManagement #Power #Career
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#ProductManagement #Power #Career
Move the Needle or Keep the Lights On: The Real Difference Between Great Product Leaders
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#ProductManagement
gobiraj.substack.com/p/move-the-n...
#ProductManagement
October 30, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Move the Needle or Keep the Lights On: The Real Difference Between Great Product Leaders
gobiraj.substack.com/p/move-the-n...
#ProductManagement
gobiraj.substack.com/p/move-the-n...
#ProductManagement
Is being consistent always good?
October 26, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Is being consistent always good?
Lake shimmering in the morning sun
October 13, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Lake shimmering in the morning sun
Guardrails to prevent think-slop:
1️⃣ Define intent before prompting
2️⃣ Generate & compare multiple options
3️⃣ Fact-check and stress-test assumptions
4️⃣ Add your perspective and decision rationale
AI is a force multiplier, not a thought replacement.
#AI #ProductManagement
1️⃣ Define intent before prompting
2️⃣ Generate & compare multiple options
3️⃣ Fact-check and stress-test assumptions
4️⃣ Add your perspective and decision rationale
AI is a force multiplier, not a thought replacement.
#AI #ProductManagement
September 30, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Guardrails to prevent think-slop:
1️⃣ Define intent before prompting
2️⃣ Generate & compare multiple options
3️⃣ Fact-check and stress-test assumptions
4️⃣ Add your perspective and decision rationale
AI is a force multiplier, not a thought replacement.
#AI #ProductManagement
1️⃣ Define intent before prompting
2️⃣ Generate & compare multiple options
3️⃣ Fact-check and stress-test assumptions
4️⃣ Add your perspective and decision rationale
AI is a force multiplier, not a thought replacement.
#AI #ProductManagement
Innovation = Creativity + Implementation + Value Creation
Innovation is disciplined creativity that ships value to real people solving real problems.
Everything else is just expensive experimentation.
#ProductManagement #Innovation
Innovation is disciplined creativity that ships value to real people solving real problems.
Everything else is just expensive experimentation.
#ProductManagement #Innovation
September 17, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Innovation = Creativity + Implementation + Value Creation
Innovation is disciplined creativity that ships value to real people solving real problems.
Everything else is just expensive experimentation.
#ProductManagement #Innovation
Innovation is disciplined creativity that ships value to real people solving real problems.
Everything else is just expensive experimentation.
#ProductManagement #Innovation
Business: "Increase revenue!"
PM: "What product metric should I move?"
Business: "Just... revenue!"
PMs: build KPI trees. Start with business goals, work backwards through drivers until you find the user actions you can actually influence.
That's where your power lives.
#ProductManagement
PM: "What product metric should I move?"
Business: "Just... revenue!"
PMs: build KPI trees. Start with business goals, work backwards through drivers until you find the user actions you can actually influence.
That's where your power lives.
#ProductManagement
September 16, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Business: "Increase revenue!"
PM: "What product metric should I move?"
Business: "Just... revenue!"
PMs: build KPI trees. Start with business goals, work backwards through drivers until you find the user actions you can actually influence.
That's where your power lives.
#ProductManagement
PM: "What product metric should I move?"
Business: "Just... revenue!"
PMs: build KPI trees. Start with business goals, work backwards through drivers until you find the user actions you can actually influence.
That's where your power lives.
#ProductManagement
Tesler's law: If complexity in a system cannot be eliminated, it can be moved around.
You can either:
1️⃣ Make users deal with it (poor design)
2️⃣ Make developers handle it (good design)
3️⃣ Push it to the platform level (best design)
#ProductManagement #UX
You can either:
1️⃣ Make users deal with it (poor design)
2️⃣ Make developers handle it (good design)
3️⃣ Push it to the platform level (best design)
#ProductManagement #UX
September 14, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Tesler's law: If complexity in a system cannot be eliminated, it can be moved around.
You can either:
1️⃣ Make users deal with it (poor design)
2️⃣ Make developers handle it (good design)
3️⃣ Push it to the platform level (best design)
#ProductManagement #UX
You can either:
1️⃣ Make users deal with it (poor design)
2️⃣ Make developers handle it (good design)
3️⃣ Push it to the platform level (best design)
#ProductManagement #UX
How to embody high agency?
1️⃣ Take ownership of their life and choices
2️⃣ Act intentionally
3️⃣ Find or create solutions instead of getting stuck in obstacles
4️⃣ Turn ideas into action
5️⃣ See setbacks as problems to solve, not as reasons to give up
#Agency
1️⃣ Take ownership of their life and choices
2️⃣ Act intentionally
3️⃣ Find or create solutions instead of getting stuck in obstacles
4️⃣ Turn ideas into action
5️⃣ See setbacks as problems to solve, not as reasons to give up
#Agency
August 16, 2025 at 2:47 PM
How to embody high agency?
1️⃣ Take ownership of their life and choices
2️⃣ Act intentionally
3️⃣ Find or create solutions instead of getting stuck in obstacles
4️⃣ Turn ideas into action
5️⃣ See setbacks as problems to solve, not as reasons to give up
#Agency
1️⃣ Take ownership of their life and choices
2️⃣ Act intentionally
3️⃣ Find or create solutions instead of getting stuck in obstacles
4️⃣ Turn ideas into action
5️⃣ See setbacks as problems to solve, not as reasons to give up
#Agency
WhatsApp does something genius with release notes/tips: they send them as regular messages within the app.
No separate notifications, no "check our blog" links, no context switching.
Users get updates in their natural workflow. This is contextual design at its finest.
#ProductManagement #UX
No separate notifications, no "check our blog" links, no context switching.
Users get updates in their natural workflow. This is contextual design at its finest.
#ProductManagement #UX
August 7, 2025 at 1:49 PM
WhatsApp does something genius with release notes/tips: they send them as regular messages within the app.
No separate notifications, no "check our blog" links, no context switching.
Users get updates in their natural workflow. This is contextual design at its finest.
#ProductManagement #UX
No separate notifications, no "check our blog" links, no context switching.
Users get updates in their natural workflow. This is contextual design at its finest.
#ProductManagement #UX
Feeling FOMO about AI in product management?
You're not alone.
Truth: AI is still nascent in products. Focus on user value, collaborate with experts, and stay curious.
Tech skills evolve, but great PM instincts are timeless.
#ProductManagement #AI
You're not alone.
Truth: AI is still nascent in products. Focus on user value, collaborate with experts, and stay curious.
Tech skills evolve, but great PM instincts are timeless.
#ProductManagement #AI
August 3, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Feeling FOMO about AI in product management?
You're not alone.
Truth: AI is still nascent in products. Focus on user value, collaborate with experts, and stay curious.
Tech skills evolve, but great PM instincts are timeless.
#ProductManagement #AI
You're not alone.
Truth: AI is still nascent in products. Focus on user value, collaborate with experts, and stay curious.
Tech skills evolve, but great PM instincts are timeless.
#ProductManagement #AI
Do PMs need to code?
No, but you DO need to speak the language.
Understand system constraints, discuss architecture intelligently, and earn the trust of engineers.
That's how you build better products and stronger teams.
#TechnicalPM #ProductManagement
No, but you DO need to speak the language.
Understand system constraints, discuss architecture intelligently, and earn the trust of engineers.
That's how you build better products and stronger teams.
#TechnicalPM #ProductManagement
July 27, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Do PMs need to code?
No, but you DO need to speak the language.
Understand system constraints, discuss architecture intelligently, and earn the trust of engineers.
That's how you build better products and stronger teams.
#TechnicalPM #ProductManagement
No, but you DO need to speak the language.
Understand system constraints, discuss architecture intelligently, and earn the trust of engineers.
That's how you build better products and stronger teams.
#TechnicalPM #ProductManagement
Stop building features. Start solving problems
Tim Herbig's hypothesis:
"We believe [user] has [problem] because [assumption]. We'll know we're right if [measurable outcome]"
From "Let's add a dashboard" → "Let's help users make faster decisions"
#ProductManagement
Tim Herbig's hypothesis:
"We believe [user] has [problem] because [assumption]. We'll know we're right if [measurable outcome]"
From "Let's add a dashboard" → "Let's help users make faster decisions"
#ProductManagement
July 25, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Stop building features. Start solving problems
Tim Herbig's hypothesis:
"We believe [user] has [problem] because [assumption]. We'll know we're right if [measurable outcome]"
From "Let's add a dashboard" → "Let's help users make faster decisions"
#ProductManagement
Tim Herbig's hypothesis:
"We believe [user] has [problem] because [assumption]. We'll know we're right if [measurable outcome]"
From "Let's add a dashboard" → "Let's help users make faster decisions"
#ProductManagement
Effective "How Might We" (HMW) questions are:
1️⃣ Broad enough to allow creative freedom
2️⃣ Narrow enough to provide clear direction
3️⃣ Human-centered - focused on user needs
4️⃣ Action-oriented - implying that solutions exist
1️⃣ Broad enough to allow creative freedom
2️⃣ Narrow enough to provide clear direction
3️⃣ Human-centered - focused on user needs
4️⃣ Action-oriented - implying that solutions exist
July 23, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Effective "How Might We" (HMW) questions are:
1️⃣ Broad enough to allow creative freedom
2️⃣ Narrow enough to provide clear direction
3️⃣ Human-centered - focused on user needs
4️⃣ Action-oriented - implying that solutions exist
1️⃣ Broad enough to allow creative freedom
2️⃣ Narrow enough to provide clear direction
3️⃣ Human-centered - focused on user needs
4️⃣ Action-oriented - implying that solutions exist
Struggling to communicate with executives?
Use the "What, Why, So What" framework:
What: Feature X usage dropped 30%
Why: New onboarding flow created friction
So What: We're rolling back tomorrow & A/B testing a simplified flow
Your stakeholders will appreciate the clarity.
#ProductManagement
Use the "What, Why, So What" framework:
What: Feature X usage dropped 30%
Why: New onboarding flow created friction
So What: We're rolling back tomorrow & A/B testing a simplified flow
Your stakeholders will appreciate the clarity.
#ProductManagement
July 11, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Struggling to communicate with executives?
Use the "What, Why, So What" framework:
What: Feature X usage dropped 30%
Why: New onboarding flow created friction
So What: We're rolling back tomorrow & A/B testing a simplified flow
Your stakeholders will appreciate the clarity.
#ProductManagement
Use the "What, Why, So What" framework:
What: Feature X usage dropped 30%
Why: New onboarding flow created friction
So What: We're rolling back tomorrow & A/B testing a simplified flow
Your stakeholders will appreciate the clarity.
#ProductManagement
Two ways to nudge customers with 3‑tier prices:
1️⃣ Decoy Effect
Small $3 • Medium $6 • Large $7
The so‑so $6 “decoy” makes the $7 large look like a steal → upsell
2️⃣ Anchoring / Goldilocks
Small $3 • Medium $5 • Large $10
The $10 anchor makes $5 feel “just right” → most pick medium
#PricingStrategy
1️⃣ Decoy Effect
Small $3 • Medium $6 • Large $7
The so‑so $6 “decoy” makes the $7 large look like a steal → upsell
2️⃣ Anchoring / Goldilocks
Small $3 • Medium $5 • Large $10
The $10 anchor makes $5 feel “just right” → most pick medium
#PricingStrategy
May 5, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Two ways to nudge customers with 3‑tier prices:
1️⃣ Decoy Effect
Small $3 • Medium $6 • Large $7
The so‑so $6 “decoy” makes the $7 large look like a steal → upsell
2️⃣ Anchoring / Goldilocks
Small $3 • Medium $5 • Large $10
The $10 anchor makes $5 feel “just right” → most pick medium
#PricingStrategy
1️⃣ Decoy Effect
Small $3 • Medium $6 • Large $7
The so‑so $6 “decoy” makes the $7 large look like a steal → upsell
2️⃣ Anchoring / Goldilocks
Small $3 • Medium $5 • Large $10
The $10 anchor makes $5 feel “just right” → most pick medium
#PricingStrategy
A "1-door" decision is irreversible
A "2-door" decision is reversible
This framework helps PMs prioritize their effort appropriately:
For 1-door decisions: Emphasize thorough research and careful consideration over speed
For 2-door decisions: Emphasize speed and action over perfect information
A "2-door" decision is reversible
This framework helps PMs prioritize their effort appropriately:
For 1-door decisions: Emphasize thorough research and careful consideration over speed
For 2-door decisions: Emphasize speed and action over perfect information
April 23, 2025 at 5:58 AM
A "1-door" decision is irreversible
A "2-door" decision is reversible
This framework helps PMs prioritize their effort appropriately:
For 1-door decisions: Emphasize thorough research and careful consideration over speed
For 2-door decisions: Emphasize speed and action over perfect information
A "2-door" decision is reversible
This framework helps PMs prioritize their effort appropriately:
For 1-door decisions: Emphasize thorough research and careful consideration over speed
For 2-door decisions: Emphasize speed and action over perfect information
Product Managers: Like restaurants serving quick meals vs fine dining experiences, your roadmap changes when you focus on user outcomes, not feature outputs.
What experience are you creating?
#ProductThinking #CustomerSuccess
What experience are you creating?
#ProductThinking #CustomerSuccess
March 29, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Product Managers: Like restaurants serving quick meals vs fine dining experiences, your roadmap changes when you focus on user outcomes, not feature outputs.
What experience are you creating?
#ProductThinking #CustomerSuccess
What experience are you creating?
#ProductThinking #CustomerSuccess
True innovation isn't just about technology; it's about finding better ways to solve problems and improve lives.
What makes innovation powerful is the combination of creativity, practicality, and purpose.
#ProductManagement
What makes innovation powerful is the combination of creativity, practicality, and purpose.
#ProductManagement
March 27, 2025 at 5:54 AM
True innovation isn't just about technology; it's about finding better ways to solve problems and improve lives.
What makes innovation powerful is the combination of creativity, practicality, and purpose.
#ProductManagement
What makes innovation powerful is the combination of creativity, practicality, and purpose.
#ProductManagement
💡 Great innovation happens at the intersection of Desirability, Viability, and Feasibility (DVF).
Ask yourself:
✨ Do people WANT it? (Desirability)
💰 Can it make money? (Viability)
🔧 Can we BUILD it? (Feasibility)
The sweet spot for innovation is where all three intersect.
Ask yourself:
✨ Do people WANT it? (Desirability)
💰 Can it make money? (Viability)
🔧 Can we BUILD it? (Feasibility)
The sweet spot for innovation is where all three intersect.
March 12, 2025 at 4:58 AM
💡 Great innovation happens at the intersection of Desirability, Viability, and Feasibility (DVF).
Ask yourself:
✨ Do people WANT it? (Desirability)
💰 Can it make money? (Viability)
🔧 Can we BUILD it? (Feasibility)
The sweet spot for innovation is where all three intersect.
Ask yourself:
✨ Do people WANT it? (Desirability)
💰 Can it make money? (Viability)
🔧 Can we BUILD it? (Feasibility)
The sweet spot for innovation is where all three intersect.
The Homer car wasn't just a Simpsons joke—it was a masterclass in misapplying startup advice. "Build what you want" works when you're a reasonable proxy for your market, not when you add three horn sounds and a $82K price tag.
The lesson? Founder preferences matter, but so does market reality.
The lesson? Founder preferences matter, but so does market reality.
February 27, 2025 at 7:53 AM
The Homer car wasn't just a Simpsons joke—it was a masterclass in misapplying startup advice. "Build what you want" works when you're a reasonable proxy for your market, not when you add three horn sounds and a $82K price tag.
The lesson? Founder preferences matter, but so does market reality.
The lesson? Founder preferences matter, but so does market reality.
Chaos -> Coherence: Product Managers transform mayhem into meaning, confusion into clarity, and random requirements into remarkable experiences.
PM superpower? Making sense of nonsense.
#ProductManagement
PM superpower? Making sense of nonsense.
#ProductManagement
February 22, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Chaos -> Coherence: Product Managers transform mayhem into meaning, confusion into clarity, and random requirements into remarkable experiences.
PM superpower? Making sense of nonsense.
#ProductManagement
PM superpower? Making sense of nonsense.
#ProductManagement
From hiring humans to buying software to delegating to AI agents - our relationship with work is evolving. But perhaps the future isn't about replacement; it's about synergy: humans providing wisdom, software as the deterministic backbone, and AI agents amplifying both. #FutureOfWork
February 3, 2025 at 3:36 AM
From hiring humans to buying software to delegating to AI agents - our relationship with work is evolving. But perhaps the future isn't about replacement; it's about synergy: humans providing wisdom, software as the deterministic backbone, and AI agents amplifying both. #FutureOfWork