Below is an archive of every blog post shared through this site since 2010. For posts by topic, check out articles on marketing, leadership, and building new products.
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I’ve been thinking about how anytime you have a conversation, there are actually two conversations happening.
There’s the topic. Then there’s the way both people are feeling about the topic. Those two are separate things. The way we're feeling about the topic can completely change the way we talk about it.
Read MoreA few exciting announcements…
First, I’m starting a company! I’m co-founding an edtech startup with Gagan Biyani and our goal is to make online courses more accessible & scalable. Gagan was co-founder of Udemy, so I’m thrilled about leveraging the best of what we’ve both learned about online education.
Read MoreI’ve loved books since before I could read. Every weekend, my parents would drive my sister and me to the Fremont Public Library.
In every major turning point in my life, I’ve turned to books. After breakups, preparing for new jobs, learning to manage people, troubleshooting a specific issue I was dealing with at home or at work. I’ve literally given myself therapy using books.
Books are more patient and readily available than human mentors. And maybe even more effective.
Read MoreThere’s a concept in medicine called the minimum effective dose.
It means don’t take 800 mg of ibuprofen if 250 mg will work.
It’s the same with validating your assumptions: Do the smallest, minimum amount of work to get the insight you’re looking for.
Read MoreLast month I published Spiky point of view: Let’s get a little controversial. Since then, I’ve loved reading your replies and Twitter or LinkedIn @ mentions about how the SPOV framework is helping you articulate what you stand for.
One common question I’ve seen: “Is my point of view spiky enough?”
I usually suggest drafting a list of at least 10+ spiky points of view. Some of them will end up being pretty tame. Others are spikier and worth doubling-down on.
Read MoreWhen you’re switching careers you might get skepticism about how your previous experience applies to the role you’re applying for. HR tends to anchor on what you did most recently.
That's why it's so important to create *proof points* to show you can do the new job.
What are proof points
Proof points are pieces of evidence that SHOW, NOT TELL that you've been doing the job unofficially.
Read More“If you have questions, just ask.”
We’ve all had bosses say that. But when you do ask them a question, they’re frustrated or impatient.
What gives?
Read MoreHave you ever solved a problem... then realized you accidentally created five new problems?
This is why it’s important to think about second and third order consequences.
The goal is to accurately weigh the true cost and benefits of a proposed solution. By thinking about potential side effects upfront, you save time by preventing unintentional ripple effects—before they happen.
Read MoreI hate surprises.
Do you know what’s worse than a surprise in my personal life?
A surprise at work.
Work surprises are more often stressful than they are pleasant:
Your boss surprises you with more work because you’re short-staffed.
Your coworker says surprise! You have to take over their project halfway through.
Your CEO surprises you by saying the board meeting got moved up, so the Keynote slides should be ready by tomorrow.
Mediocre copy is a missed opportunity.
As a marketer, you need every lever you have to win. You could invest everything into making an incredible product… But if you have poor messaging, all your hard work is wasted. The bad messaging obscures your value.
On the other hand, good messaging is an amplifier. It takes a seed of something good and aggrandizes it.
Read More