Topics Covered:

• Why saying no is an essential part of being a product manager


• How to embrace the reality that there’s always more work than you can do


• Creating systems for capturing and evaluating ideas from anywhere


• Frameworks for deciding: Is it right for my team? Is it right right now?


• How to manage stakeholder expectations with transparency and regular rituals


• The difference between a hard no, a not yet, and an easy yes


• The importance of small wins and the value of a "Friday afternoon list"


• Balancing strategic focus with room for spontaneous moments of customer love

Key quotes:

• "You’re not Santa Claus. You can’t give everyone what they want."


• "Good ideas can come from anywhere — the hard part is choosing the right ones for right now."


• "A motivated engineering team is sometimes the best outcome you can deliver."

Resources & Links:

• Follow Teresa Torres: https://ProductTalk.org


• Follow Petra Wille: https://Petra-Wille.com

Mentioned in the episode:

• HIPPO prioritization model


• Shifting from Outputs to Outcomes: Why It Matters and How to Get Started


• 6 Guiding Principles for Effective Product Discovery


• Idea backlog


• Ask the Community: What Do You Do When You Inherit a Giant Product Backlog?


• Opportunity Solution Trees: Visualize Your Discovery to Stay Aligned and Drive Outcomes


• How Linear builds product from Lenny’s Newsletter


• Product Discovery Course by Teresa