Product Therapy: January Updates 🌱
a December comedown, my relationship with ChatGPT, plant-based cravings, etc.
[Insert Obligatory Happy New Year greeting]
The sun is shining in Brooklyn today (January 8th, bless up), mirroring my excitement for new projects I’m launching this quarter. But, before I harnessed this energy, I faced an end of year comedown that had me grappling with motivation and energy.
The December comedown.
In December, I wrapped up a semester of Coaching at Cornell Tech. The engagement was billed as a full time role and had me on campus at least 2x a week, serving as an anchor for my time and work limitations. I was eager to wrap up the engagement, mostly to have the space to figure out my 2024 business strategy.
But, once I had that space, I felt like a whirling dervish, dizzy with options. This dizziness hit right in the apocalyptic “between Christmas and New Year’s” week, and I was struggling to say the least. Do I watch the newest season of The Great British Bake Off or should I figure out automated client emails? Should I go see the Christmas Windows on 5th Avenue or should I write OKRs for 2024? Sadly I did both, which meant, I did neither very well.
But, somewhere in the muck of that week, I took some crucial steps to get my own house in order. And, as a result, I’m not the puddle of a person I was two weeks ago:
⛹🏻♀️ I hired a business coach. It’s amazing I went this long without one. In just a month’s time, I feel grounded and better equipped to tackle the new year running my solo business.
📒 I completed quarterly planning. I used to HATE planning when I worked full time. Which is probably why I put it off for so long. But I did it, and the way the exercise gave me peace reminded me how important goal setting really is.
🗄️ I got (ok, I’m getting) my business stack in order. I love the coaching and the writing parts of this journey. I hate figuring out which software I need to use to make it all happen. I’m biting the bullet at organizing myself, despite the pain.
✨ I set a January mantra: I’m putting myself out there. I have a lot to say about posting on LinkedIn that isn’t fully articulated in my brain. I’ll get back to you on that when it is. For now, I’m going for it and putting myself out there on LinkedIn, despite the discomfort.
Thoughts on the robots
I’m going to let you in on a little secret that I’m feeling….torn up about?
More and more of my brainstorming process starts with ChatGPT.
At first it was entertaining to see what it would spit out for a holiday card. Then it was helpful when I planned a solo trip last year. Now, it’s where I go to write my first draft on nearly anything (minus this newsletter).
But, it feels like cheating. Because it’s quicker to type some words into a text box and get a perfectly crafted paragraph in less than one second rather than doing it on my own.
It’s a slippery slope too. The more it worked, the more I started my writing process with ChatGPT. One of my greatest writing strengths is getting a first draft down on paper quickly. But what if a robot can do that better than me?
I’ve balked at a lot of *new* technology over the past few years - at times not even pretending to care about NFTs or Blockchain - but this feels really different. What happens if the very notion of writing original thoughts disappears? I know I’m not the first to ponder this reality. In fact, this arrived in my inbox as I was drafting this post! But as someone who works for herself and has a LOT of content to produce to to keep her business *popping* it's hard to imagine doing it all alone.
Though the robot gets me going, I always need to edit considerably. Sometimes ChatGPT writes trash paragraphs. And as much as that’s inconvenient, I’m also holding onto that for dear life. The robots don’t have full control.
Some Product Things
I was anticipating a slow December but it was rich in content, retrospection and networking.
VIDEO: I joined the Pragmatic Institute for an EOY Product chat which led to making many fruitful connections. Hey to you if you’re here from that chat. 👋
LINKEDIN: I wrote about mock interviewing, creating community, reflections from 2023 and a reminder to take the recruiter calls if you're currently interviewing.
TOOLS: Speaking of interviewing, my dear friends/colleagues at Intentional Product developed some great material for interviewing product managers: the Intentional Product Toolkit. Forward along to anyone on the hunt.
PREVIEW: I’m launching a coaching group next month. I was hoping to have all the details ironed out for this email but, best laid plans, ya know. I can’t wait to preview what I’m doing here first! Watch this space. 👀
Some non product things
🌱🐮You Are What You Eat - Ok, I’m not usually SO impressionable but this, similar to Seaspiracy, has really sent me in a spiral contemplating how to go more plant-based next month. Did I make a spreadsheet to help me transition to eating plant-based next month? Perhaps I did. Do I know what I’m doing? Absolutely not. Send metips! Here’s a trailer…
🎹 Khruangbin Lives - Khruangbin is my reigning #1 artist on Wrapped. They dropped a handful of new compilations at the end of last year that are the perfect soundtrack to your workday: Live at the Sydney Opera House, Live at the Fillmore Miami, Live at RBC Echo Beach, etc.
🌅Waking Up: We got a Hatch. Yes, it's great. Yes we are giving New Year's Resolutions energy.
Great start for the new year!