Hey everyone! Over the past few months, I've embarked on an incredible reading journey, completing 10 diverse books that range from humorous to deeply profound. My adventure began with an exploration of Stoic Philosophy, delving into the spiritual and intellectual depths it offers. As the year progressed, I shifted gears towards lighter, more entertaining reads with a focus on physical health and well-being. I'm excited to share my thoughts and the valuable insights I've gained from each book. I found these reads not only enjoyable but also instrumental in enhancing my happiness and inner peace. So, without further ado, and in no particular order, let's dive into these remarkable books:

The women in my life have been the cornerstone of my journey, shaping me into who I am today. Each of them not only faced and overcame the unique challenges of their times but also excelled, carving out their own successful paths in their respective fields.

My grandmother was a force of nature – providing, nourishing, and supporting with an unwavering strength. She never tolerated nonsense and always managed to look impeccable, no matter the circumstance. My mother, equally intolerant of foolishness, bravely left home at 13, journeying from Ireland to England. She became a skilled nurse and an incredible actress, eventually raising a family in America. My wife, an entrepreneur at heart, founded her own art business. She's a multi-talented force – an ultra-runner, rock climber, exceptional painter, and now, an accomplished potter. Whatever she undertakes, she commits to fully.

When I first stepped into the realm of Product Management, I was under the impression that having all the answers was part of the job description. It seemed logical — I was the one who was supposed to solve problems, align disparate pieces of information from users, the team, and the data, then present this neatly tied package to the executive team. It was a constant struggle to make the right decision, a battle I thought I needed to win. But after a decade in the field, my perspective has shifted dramatically. I've realized that my true role isn’t necessarily to have all the answers or even make every decision. Instead, it's about asking the right questions and facilitating discussions that lead to the best possible solutions.

💡Reflect on your current approach to problem-solving. Begin shifting your focus from providing answers to facilitating discussions that explore various solutions.

In my journey through numerous self-help and philosophy books, I've discovered a profound truth: the most crucial lessons often trace back to our earliest teachings. I was fortunate to learn from two extraordinary men – my grandfather and father – whose lives embodied principles found in many of these books. They were disciplined, successful, and carried a quiet wisdom worth sharing.

Alright gang, I am now a part of the layoff club (wahoo, fuck, now what?). Instead of wallowing in my sorrow and eating a pile of chocolate (which I plan to do later), I will write something helpful not only for myself but for others impacted by this. So, coming from someone who is anxious about literally walking around the neighborhood, this is truly a nightmare come true. So here’s what I suggest we do together!

First, let's just feel all the feelings and fucking swear at the top of our lungs (I usually do this at the top of hills during my trail runs like a mad man, but it’s up to you where you want to do this). Then, we dust the shit off our ass and get up and move. This can be done in a few ways: cleaning, making your bed, writing up a routine, applying to a few jobs. The key is to just act and not THINK. I swear to god if you start thinking, I will come over there and take you out on a run or a walk.

As coined in the famous book "7 Habits of Highly Effective People," I want to write about the importance of Habit 7: Sharpening the Saw. This has been the most important aspect of my new routine in the last nine months as I've been on a quest to recharge and strengthen my mental and physical self. We've all been through a lot over the last three years and undergone collective trauma that we all need to repair and heal from. For some of us, it may take longer than others, but it's important to remind yourself to sharpen your saw and take time to build that endurance back up. Here are a few things that I personally have done, and I hope these may help others on their quest to rebuild and refresh themselves from the last few years.

I’ve been running my entire life. I started running as a 9-year-old kid. My mom’s boyfriend at the time was a Marine and would take me on runs in my hometown. This is where it all started. I then went to boarding school in Colorado in a small town called Evergreen. I was there from the ages of 10 to 11 years old and ran with the headmaster, Jodi. He was an avid runner, and we ran around the lake a few times a week. This was one of my most cherished outlets, and it has remained in my life since then. I ran cross country in high school and tended to stick to the 5k-10k routes. I ran through the incredible fall season of New Hampshire in a school located in Tilton. I was a great runner and ended up being the captain of the team for a year. I had a cycling friend who was also incredible at running. He was a great source of motivation for me to run faster, as I often tried to keep up with him. I then moved on to college and didn’t really run regularly. I was on my feet so much for work that I ended up being in fantastic shape just from working in restaurants and riding my bike everywhere since I had no car. I then started working at a gaming company in the city and began running with my wife after work in a running group she started. At the time, she was qualifying for Boston and doing boot camp workouts with friends. I started running longer distances with her and some of my coworkers for fun, and this is where it started to get a bit more serious. At one point, we were running half marathons at least once a month (sometimes once a week) and signing up for a few marathons a year. We then dipped our toe into the ultra scene, and I ran a 50K and my wife ran a 50 Miler. This was a fantastic period, but we were utterly wrecked from all the training and spent most of our time repairing our destroyed legs by taking ice baths and napping on the weekends. We now live in the East Bay, and I am the only one running. I run with both dogs up trails and am training once again for the next big thing! So now that I’ve explained the history of my running experience, I’ll fill in the blanks of why this is such an important part of my life.

I have faced failure more times in my life than I'd like to admit. School was never my forte, and accolades in sports or extracurricular activities were rare. Neither was I the smartest or the best in my professional endeavors. Yet, mastering the art of handling failure has become an indispensable skill for me. This is crucial for several reasons: to hone your skills, persevere through challenging times while maintaining physical and mental strength, and to remain compassionate towards your loved ones during such periods.

I often find myself immersed in books penned by individuals who have surmounted towering athletic feats. This inclination is likely not a coincidence given my athletic background. I am continually inspired by those who have reached the pinnacle of physical prowess. These stories reveal a multitude of virtues—grit, physical and mental fortitude, a knack for enduring repeated failures, self-awareness, analytical and methodical thinking, resilience in overcoming childhood traumas, and a profound admiration for inspiring figures accompanied by the guidance of remarkable mentors and role models. I discern a pattern here, and in these narratives, I see a reflection of my own journey. My avid reading about athletes stems from a firm belief that they have invaluable lessons to impart about leadership and spirituality, which are often under acknowledged.

I have interviewed more times than I’d like to admit. This means I’ve gained a very wide range of experience interviewing as a PM in technology, and I’d like to share all my learnings with you so you can avoid having to interview quite as much as I have. I consistently receive the question from mentees on how to get into gaming and how to interview as a PM in gaming, so I’d like to share those tips. I have interviewed people and sat on hiring committees and also been the interviewee, so I am fortunate to know both sides of the table. Here are some general topics I cover in interviews and how to answer them well and what we grade for.

I was inspired by a recent podcast by Tim Ferriss, where he discussed various engaging topics. One topic that resonated with me was the idea of creating unbreakable rules instead of continually struggling to muster discipline, especially when facing the headwinds of temptation. This is a tactic Daniel Kahneman utilizes to instill structure in his life. For instance, he mentioned never agreeing to anything over the phone to avoid being overly susceptible to manipulation and bias due to the significant role heuristics play in verbal conversations. Inspired by this, I want to share some of my unbreakable rules that have recently been aiding my mental and physical health. These rules also have a positive impact on my professional life and work ethic.

So far, I’m about 3 months into my recovery. I have been attempting recovery before this but not actively pursuing it. Over the last 3 months, I’ve done some of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and they seem like the easiest and often fun things to some people, like going to the beach for the weekend, but sadly for me, they are terrifying. I am going to share a few experiences with you all in hopes of inspiring you to start or continue your journey to recovery.

Switching gears slightly, I feel compelled to share my impressions on the last season of Sex Education, which was astounding. This resonates with me as a neurodivergent individual, having had close friendships within these groups. The season illuminated many vital mental health issues, intertwining them with our sexuality, gender roles, and diversity among non-binary groups. The exploration of the impacts on these groups and the tackling of myriad other issues was remarkable, showcasing a wide range of significant topics within a single season. These topics echo my struggles with fitting in, especially professionally. Now more than ever, it's crucial to foster an inclusive culture that encourages individuals to fully express themselves at work, regardless of the challenges in altering the entrenched social norms we abide by.

In a recent interview on 20VC with one of The General Partnership Founders Phin Barnes, the broken venture capital (VC) business model was discussed, highlighting the need for change and proposing potential solutions. The conversation delved into the limitations of the traditional VC model and the reasons why it fails to fully support entrepreneurs. Based on the insights shared, here are some key takeaways and potential solutions to fix the broken VC business model.

One of the most recurrent inquiries I encounter as a mentor in the gaming realm is, “How do I penetrate the gaming industry with zero experience in gaming?” It’s a formidable question, given the myriad of pathways and opportunities within the gaming universe. Rather than offering a rigid roadmap, I intend to furnish you with various categories of skills and actionable tasks to aid you in carving your niche in this vibrant industry.

Greetings, future visionaries and dynamic leaders! Today, let’s embark on a journey through the profound insights shared by Matt Abrahams on the HBR IdeaCast with Alison Beard, exploring the essence and mastery of spontaneous speaking—a skill often overshadowed yet crucial for every startup founder, leader, and product manager.

This blog, inspired by David Goggins' transformative journey, explores the essence of personal and professional evolution, emphasizing resilience, humility, and continuous learning. It highlights the impact of a leader's attitude on team dynamics and underscores the importance of quick, informed decision-making, self-reflection, and embracing discomfort for growth. The narrative, interspersed with personal insights and experiences, advocates for transitioning from good to great and stresses the pivotal role of surrounding oneself with individuals who foster growth and the pursuit of excellence. The core message is one of relentless self-improvement and the pursuit of higher standards in all life’s facets.

David Goggins' books outline his journey of overcoming extreme adversities using unique mental tactics. Among the strategies he shares are the 40% Rule, emphasizing that people often tap into just 40% of their capacity; Callousing the Mind, which involves seeing challenges as growth opportunities; the Accountability Mirror, which stresses self-reflection and goal-setting; the Cookie Jar, which encourages drawing strength from past achievements; and Taking Souls, which focuses on turning negativity into motivation. These principles, drawn from Goggins' personal experiences, offer valuable insights for personal and professional growth, especially for those dealing with anxiety. Goggins' teachings emphasize resilience, self-accountability, and continuous self-improvement.

I’ve worked for 5 small startups as a Product Manager, and when a company is in its nascent stages, your role is profoundly influenced by the CEO and founders. 🚀 Thus, finding leaders that complement your work style is crucial for your mental well-being and professional success. 🤝 Each CEO has their own strengths and weaknesses. As a PM, it's essential not only to recognize these but also to navigate them effectively. 💼 Recognizing the pressures and challenges of such a role, it's equally crucial to prioritize your mental health, ensuring that you remain resilient and adaptive in the face of varying leadership styles. 🧠 I've compiled a list of common issues I’ve encountered over the years, along with tactics that can support you on your journey.

Being a Product Manager transcends just understanding the nuances of products; it delves deeply into human connection, understanding, and leading with intention and empathy. This perspective isn't drawn from textbooks but from a deeply personal space - my struggle and journey with generalized anxiety. Guided by insights from Ray Dalio's "Principles: Life and Work" and "The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership" by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman, and Kaley Warner Klemp, I've molded a leadership approach that recognizes vulnerability as strength.