Journeys before features; how to nurture fragile ideas; when to document; and absolutely unambiguous outcomes — Hello readers! Funny things can happen when you do something for long enough. Maybe you started your career in tech because the offer package showed some lovely numbers. Maybe your besties and seniors from college were migrating west in droves. Maybe frontier life seemed hot and exciting.

How to present information convincingly; 7 questions to improve clarity; and why the words count — Hello readers! When I was a kid high off of X-Men episodes, I’d play this game with myself all the time: What superpower would I choose, if I could choose? Flying seemed neat. But duh telekenesis was the smarter choice (it is a superset of flying, after all!) And don’t…

Hello readers! This week’s tidbits: Honesty The deepest truth Lies builders tell themselves From the Archives: Seven incredibly non-intuitive things about growing your career For paid subscribers: Subscriber Mailbag: Follow-up questions to Higher Level Design How do I know if I am truly honest with myself? The well goes deep …

A long-form post: what does it mean to achieve higher and higher levels of design? — I’ve gotten asked a few times what I thought of Brian Chesky’s talk on leading through uncertainty: a design-led company. So I’m shoving aside the regularly scheduled issue for a spicy take on Should we get just get rid of all those pms? Just kidding! This essay isn’t about that…

How to convince someone in <50 words; remember what you pushed for; freedom to decide is an illusion — Hello dear readers! Introducing the influence edition — tidbits on the beating heart of collaboration and the art of getting others to agree with you. How to convince someone in <50 words Remember what you pushed for Freedom to decide is an illusion From the archives: Advisor mindset versus solver…

3 mantras, your early-stage start-up is not a good fit, and my asian heart — Hello readers! This week’s tidbits: Love the problem Your early-stage start-up is probably not a good fit for someone who… A design + data person From the archives: On taste (part 1) For paid subscribers: Subscriber mailbag: What mantra(s) do you live by? Loving someone My asian heart It’s June…

Also: References make the world go round, ingredients for influencing, and why pickleball is well designed — Hello readers! This week’s tidbits: The most operationalized product teams References make the hiring world go round From the archives: The prices of greatness For paid subscribers: Subscriber mailbag: What are the best and worst parts of being an entrepreneur? Ingredients for influencing Why is pickleball well designed?

Beautiful status updates, navigating tightropes, building products, and meeting Taylor Swift — Hello readers! This week’s tidbits: 7 questions to impress your boss Beautiful status updates Navigating the tightropes of life From the archives: Building Products For paid subscribers: Subscriber mailbag: How do you run a start-up and aspire for excellence as a mom? My problem with coding Meeting Taylor Swift

Run more experiments, what discipline is, scripts for tough feedback, and making magic — Hello readers! This week’s tidbits: What AI won’t change Run more experiments What discipline is From the archives: Diagnose with Data; treat with Design For paid subscribers: Subscriber mailbag: How to deliver feedback without reducing trust? A script for giving tough feedback 50 words for a winning Making magic