How do you maintain passion for your product?

The most successful product managers I've worked with — and the people who seem to stay passionate the longest —?are people whose passion isn't actually for the product they're building... it's for the *problem* they're solving. When you're passionate about the problem (instead of the product), you don't get married to a specific product solution... and are very willing to throw a product away + explore different solutions if you start getting signs that it's not working. On the flip side, if your passion is for the product, you will do everything you can to "save" the product... and will be less likely to realize (and willing to admit) when it just doesn't have a path forward + new products/solutions should be explored instead.

Out of the many ways to maintain passion, I focus on two: 1. Connect to your purpose: If the product you are creating is delivering significant value to others, you'll continue to be passionate about its evolution. 2. Surround yourself with passionate people: They say passion is contagious, so be sure to bring in people who will continue to fuel the enthusiasm.

Product is built to solve a problem for your users. Being passionate with your users is the key to build successful products.

Understand your user's motivation to use your product. Why should they care? Understand their emotional and cultural context. What does it mean to their reality to use your product? Until you think deeply about this, you won't reach the core of the problem you are trying to solve. I loved my experience at The Knot Worldwide where any conversation starts with the couples'reality (they're not called users!). The couples' journey, the couples' needs, etc. I think that's why it's such a succesful company.

What personally is important to you? What motivates you to make the world a better place? As an example, I went through some pretty big health issues a while back, and after my healing process I realized that others are likely experiencing the same issues. I want to help others go through the healing process faster, and so I merged my background of tech and UX with my passion of healthcare.

Validating assumptions keeps us grounded in reality and ensures we're building something people truly want and need. It helps us stay agile and adaptable, like a superhero with the ability to adjust their plan on the fly. So, whether you're creating a product, designing a game, or crafting anything new, always remember to put on your detective hat and validate those assumptions to increase the chances of success!

Assumption validation is more of a product philosophy being a product person, one should welcome the mysteries while cherishing every revelation and perpetually adapting to the discovery of new discoveries and feedback on the product. As product visionaries, our zeal is not just confined to the end product but extends to the exhilarating voyage of exploration. Assumption validation acts as our guiding star to explore and further enhance the product to reach its true destination, steering us confidently through the boundless seas of innovation. Also, one should not just be carried away just validating the assumption from one dimension but should be validating from different angles, metrics and perspectives.

Again, leverage sales teams, UX teams, market research teams,... - the more and ideally diverse the input, the better. Every department and user probably has a different 'core functionality' they care about. One very useful tool I've found is to watch the usage pattern of clients to see how they actually navigate the UI vs what we as developers and product owners expect.

A good product is one that meets the needs and demands of the market. Instead of creating a product based solely on your own ideas and assumptions, it is important to conduct market research and understand what the customers want and need. By identifying market demand and trends, businesses can develop products that provide value and address specific pain points or challenges faced by users. Market-driven product development ensures that the product has a higher chance of success in the market because it is aligned with customer preferences and requirements. It allows businesses to focus on creating solutions that solve real problems and offer benefits to users.

Validating assumptions is essential to stay passionate about your product. ?? In my experience, testing beliefs about your market, customers, and competitors helps you stay grounded. ?? Use data, research, experiments, and feedback to confirm your assumptions. This process prevents you from wasting resources on unwanted features and keeps your product relevant. ?? Regularly validating your assumptions ensures you are building something valuable and needed, maintaining your enthusiasm. ??

Maintaining passion for your product involves your team through: Sharing and Inspiring: Clearly communicate your vision and mission. Inspire your team by showing how their work contributes to the bigger picture. Regularly update them on progress and celebrate milestones to keep motivation high. Empowering and Collaborating: Encourage team members to share their ideas and feedback. Foster a collaborative culture where everyone’s skills and perspectives are valued. Empower them to take ownership and make impactful decisions. Listening and Appreciating: Actively listen to your team’s concerns and suggestions. Show respect and appreciation for their efforts. Recognize achievements to build a committed and passionate team.

One thing I've found helpful is - pitching your vision, problem statement repeatedly and discussing the queries/feedback openly - so that the entire team is leading the product. Involving everyone towards a single vision / problem helps us to facilitate ownership and commitment.

Involving your team is crucial for maintaining passion for your product. ?? In my experience, sharing your vision and inspiring your team fosters a collaborative and creative culture. ?? Empower your team to contribute their ideas and feedback, and listen to their insights. This creates a sense of ownership and commitment, enhancing their motivation. ?? Recognizing and appreciating your team's efforts builds a passionate and dedicated group working towards a common goal. ??

A very crucial part of this step is to make sure that the team understands how the product works as a whole. They need to have a concept of the big picture and should ideally be able to use the product like a client would. Make sure they get trained an real world use cases and have them sit in on sales calls and demos. Yes, this takes time out of their schedule initially but will pay off in the long run when they will design features and workflows in a way that makes sense for users instead of a in a vacuum.

Involving your team members helps you get more perspectives and diversities, also helps you build great team ownership on the product.

While seeking feedback, avoid making assumptions based on preconceived notions, as they can cloud your understanding of the complete feedback. Instead, focus on carefully listening to both shared and unshared feedback to gain a comprehensive perspective. Valuing the unsaid can provide valuable insights, allowing you to make well-informed decisions and tailor your product to better meet the needs of your users.

Build an effective feedback loop to understand the needs of your users, listen to their pain points and actively act on their feedback in a timely manner.

Often security perspective design will lead to compromise on the user experience, which may come as feedback to tackle in the design

Seeking feedback is vital for keeping your passion alive. ?? In my experience, actively asking for and listening to feedback helps you understand customer needs and improve your product. ?? Use diverse methods like surveys, interviews, and prototypes to gather insights. Be open-minded and curious, and act on the feedback received. ?? Continuous feedback loops ensure your product stays relevant and innovative, fueling your passion. ??

Celebrating milestones provides an opportunity to look back at the journey, reflect on the progress made, and express gratitude to the support and team that contributed to your success. It’s a moment of retrospection and acknowledgment of the collective effort that brought you to that point.

Celebrating milestones keeps the momentum and passion high. ?? In my experience, acknowledging achievements, big or small, boosts team morale and motivation. ?? Reflect on what you’ve learned and recognize the efforts and results of your team. This not only builds a positive culture but also reinforces the value of your work. ?? Regular celebrations help maintain a sense of progress and excitement, driving further achievements. ??

Working in a product and trying to get new features out the door, it's easy to see the flaws, the parts that are not ready yet, the missing functionality in an MVP... It's easier to get caught up in the negative and look at what's missing. Take a step back, let the team and everyone else involved know how much you appreciate their work and make an effort to celebrate the achievements so far. Maybe have a retro session for a release where everyone shares their favorite aspect of a new feature or the work they are most proud of.

Typically we need a couple iterations of different designs and revisit our visions and re-think about the values we bring to customers or users.

A way to look at the vision is to communicate the WHY your product exists. Thinking deeply anout the why will help you create a long lasting vision that is always helpful at staying focused on the right issues

Revisiting your vision is essential for sustaining passion. ?? In my experience, regularly reviewing and updating your vision keeps it aligned with evolving goals and market trends. ?? Communicate your vision clearly and engage your audience to keep the excitement alive. Share your story and the impact you aim to achieve. ?? A dynamic vision helps you stay relevant and inspired, ensuring continuous alignment and passion. ??

Articulate the success stories, commemorate great customer feedback, milestone deliveries, market rollouts. They should act as reminders to the fact that your team can rise to the occasion and achieve the impossible especially when the going gets tough.

Sometimes you may end up raising/ developing a product which was originally not your baby. In such a case, two things become very important: 1. To understand the core problem the product was meant to solve 2. The product journey so far If the above two are clear and you are aligned with them, it's a pretty good start. To keep the enthusiasm going, stay curious and in touch with your customers, watch industry trends and celebrate milestones with all your team.

It's crucial to create interesting narratives when engaging with key stakeholders and sponsors. This skill will make you gain confidence but also fosters support for ongoing product development, ensuring you have the necessary capabilities to succeed.

In my experience, sharing success stories and customer feedback can reignite your passion. ?? Highlighting the positive impact of your product reminds you of its value. ?? Stay curious and connected with industry trends to keep your enthusiasm fresh. Regularly engaging with your customers helps you stay motivated to solve their problems. ?? Celebrating small wins and staying aligned with your vision ensures continuous passion and commitment to your product journey. ??

Maintaining passion is a continuous journey, not a destination. By implementing the right strategies, motivation and staying true to your core values, you can keep the fire burning for your product and achieve long-term success. Always keep in mind that you are building your product which gonna solve user's problem with simple user experience. so make sure you study the problem well.