Amy Mitchell
@amycmitchell.bsky.social
Product manager and author of Product Management IRL
https://amycmitchell.substack.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amycmitchell/
https://amycmitchell.substack.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amycmitchell/
Ever been in a product debate that loops for weeks—same smart people, same arguments, no decision?
It’s rarely about who’s right. It’s about what kind of decision everyone’s actually trying to make.
It’s rarely about who’s right. It’s about what kind of decision everyone’s actually trying to make.
Spot the Real Blocker in Heated Product Debates
Why most arguments aren’t about what you think
buff.ly
November 12, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Ever been in a product debate that loops for weeks—same smart people, same arguments, no decision?
It’s rarely about who’s right. It’s about what kind of decision everyone’s actually trying to make.
It’s rarely about who’s right. It’s about what kind of decision everyone’s actually trying to make.
Ever launched a feature that landed with silence?
Customers are curious but unsure how to buy.
The SKU exists — but no one’s quoting it.
That’s an offer gap — where your product stops translating into something people can buy.
You can fix it without a single line of code.
Customers are curious but unsure how to buy.
The SKU exists — but no one’s quoting it.
That’s an offer gap — where your product stops translating into something people can buy.
You can fix it without a single line of code.
November 11, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Ever launched a feature that landed with silence?
Customers are curious but unsure how to buy.
The SKU exists — but no one’s quoting it.
That’s an offer gap — where your product stops translating into something people can buy.
You can fix it without a single line of code.
Customers are curious but unsure how to buy.
The SKU exists — but no one’s quoting it.
That’s an offer gap — where your product stops translating into something people can buy.
You can fix it without a single line of code.
Could someone actually buy your product today?
Not demo it.
Not pilot it.
Buy it.
If you can’t answer that fast, you might have found your next growth blocker — and your next opportunity.
Your roadmap builds features.
Your offer drives growth.
Not demo it.
Not pilot it.
Buy it.
If you can’t answer that fast, you might have found your next growth blocker — and your next opportunity.
Your roadmap builds features.
Your offer drives growth.
November 10, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Could someone actually buy your product today?
Not demo it.
Not pilot it.
Buy it.
If you can’t answer that fast, you might have found your next growth blocker — and your next opportunity.
Your roadmap builds features.
Your offer drives growth.
Not demo it.
Not pilot it.
Buy it.
If you can’t answer that fast, you might have found your next growth blocker — and your next opportunity.
Your roadmap builds features.
Your offer drives growth.
"Brand isn’t a marketing exercise anymore. It’s a product responsibility."
Reasons brand is a product job:
1️⃣ Your product is the brand
2️⃣ User-generated content and reviews outweigh traditional product visibility
3️⃣ Think about how your product makes people feel
buff.ly/z7Hb1LY
Reasons brand is a product job:
1️⃣ Your product is the brand
2️⃣ User-generated content and reviews outweigh traditional product visibility
3️⃣ Think about how your product makes people feel
buff.ly/z7Hb1LY
Brand… a Product job now?
A lot of PMs won't like this.
www.elenaverna.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:56 PM
"Brand isn’t a marketing exercise anymore. It’s a product responsibility."
Reasons brand is a product job:
1️⃣ Your product is the brand
2️⃣ User-generated content and reviews outweigh traditional product visibility
3️⃣ Think about how your product makes people feel
buff.ly/z7Hb1LY
Reasons brand is a product job:
1️⃣ Your product is the brand
2️⃣ User-generated content and reviews outweigh traditional product visibility
3️⃣ Think about how your product makes people feel
buff.ly/z7Hb1LY
“50% done with the UX refresh” doesn’t move the room.
But:
“40% of support tickets come from confusion this refresh will eliminate”
That reframing turns progress updates into business insight. And keeps your quiet pilot visible at the right altitude.
But:
“40% of support tickets come from confusion this refresh will eliminate”
That reframing turns progress updates into business insight. And keeps your quiet pilot visible at the right altitude.
November 7, 2025 at 2:05 PM
“50% done with the UX refresh” doesn’t move the room.
But:
“40% of support tickets come from confusion this refresh will eliminate”
That reframing turns progress updates into business insight. And keeps your quiet pilot visible at the right altitude.
But:
“40% of support tickets come from confusion this refresh will eliminate”
That reframing turns progress updates into business insight. And keeps your quiet pilot visible at the right altitude.
You’re not “cleaning up” the UX.
You’re reducing support tickets and unlocking expansion.
Quiet work only stays tactical if you describe it that way.
Frame outcomes, not effort. That’s how invisible work becomes strategic work.
You’re reducing support tickets and unlocking expansion.
Quiet work only stays tactical if you describe it that way.
Frame outcomes, not effort. That’s how invisible work becomes strategic work.
November 6, 2025 at 2:05 PM
You’re not “cleaning up” the UX.
You’re reducing support tickets and unlocking expansion.
Quiet work only stays tactical if you describe it that way.
Frame outcomes, not effort. That’s how invisible work becomes strategic work.
You’re reducing support tickets and unlocking expansion.
Quiet work only stays tactical if you describe it that way.
Frame outcomes, not effort. That’s how invisible work becomes strategic work.
Everywhere I look: modernization, AI, transformation, automation.
All urgent. And all landing at once.
My latest article looks at how product managers can translate that swirl into progress through
• architecture alignment,
• incremental automation,
• platform maturity.
All urgent. And all landing at once.
My latest article looks at how product managers can translate that swirl into progress through
• architecture alignment,
• incremental automation,
• platform maturity.
From Swirl to Steps: Turning Big Themes into Progress
When every strategy says “modernize” or “AI" your edge is turning the swirl into steady, visible wins.
buff.ly
November 5, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Everywhere I look: modernization, AI, transformation, automation.
All urgent. And all landing at once.
My latest article looks at how product managers can translate that swirl into progress through
• architecture alignment,
• incremental automation,
• platform maturity.
All urgent. And all landing at once.
My latest article looks at how product managers can translate that swirl into progress through
• architecture alignment,
• incremental automation,
• platform maturity.
You run a pilot, it works. And suddenly you’re the only one who knows how to keep it running.
No headcount. No roadmap.
Before you start, ask:
- What’s my exit plan once this works?
Quiet pilots build systems. Product leaders make sure they don’t get stuck maintaining them.
No headcount. No roadmap.
Before you start, ask:
- What’s my exit plan once this works?
Quiet pilots build systems. Product leaders make sure they don’t get stuck maintaining them.
November 4, 2025 at 2:05 PM
You run a pilot, it works. And suddenly you’re the only one who knows how to keep it running.
No headcount. No roadmap.
Before you start, ask:
- What’s my exit plan once this works?
Quiet pilots build systems. Product leaders make sure they don’t get stuck maintaining them.
No headcount. No roadmap.
Before you start, ask:
- What’s my exit plan once this works?
Quiet pilots build systems. Product leaders make sure they don’t get stuck maintaining them.
Some of the most valuable product work looks invisible:
→ Forward-selling a service that doesn’t exist yet
→ Building a catalog no one asked for
These “quiet pilots” quietly shape product direction long before the roadmap catches up.
The trick? Making sure your quiet impact doesn’t stay invisible.
→ Forward-selling a service that doesn’t exist yet
→ Building a catalog no one asked for
These “quiet pilots” quietly shape product direction long before the roadmap catches up.
The trick? Making sure your quiet impact doesn’t stay invisible.
November 3, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Some of the most valuable product work looks invisible:
→ Forward-selling a service that doesn’t exist yet
→ Building a catalog no one asked for
These “quiet pilots” quietly shape product direction long before the roadmap catches up.
The trick? Making sure your quiet impact doesn’t stay invisible.
→ Forward-selling a service that doesn’t exist yet
→ Building a catalog no one asked for
These “quiet pilots” quietly shape product direction long before the roadmap catches up.
The trick? Making sure your quiet impact doesn’t stay invisible.
How do you make change stick in your product?
1️⃣ Fund value streams, not projects
- Teams stop waiting for permission
2️⃣ If your feedback loop runs quarterly, you are not learning fast enough
3️⃣ Architecture that enables incremental change
- Invest in the boring plumbing
buff.ly/eexcklp
1️⃣ Fund value streams, not projects
- Teams stop waiting for permission
2️⃣ If your feedback loop runs quarterly, you are not learning fast enough
3️⃣ Architecture that enables incremental change
- Invest in the boring plumbing
buff.ly/eexcklp
Why Agile Transformations Fail (and how to get back on track in 90 days) | ProdPad
Most teams get stuck mid-transformation. Here’s why Agile transformations fail and how to make agility stick for good.
www.prodpad.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:36 PM
How do you make change stick in your product?
1️⃣ Fund value streams, not projects
- Teams stop waiting for permission
2️⃣ If your feedback loop runs quarterly, you are not learning fast enough
3️⃣ Architecture that enables incremental change
- Invest in the boring plumbing
buff.ly/eexcklp
1️⃣ Fund value streams, not projects
- Teams stop waiting for permission
2️⃣ If your feedback loop runs quarterly, you are not learning fast enough
3️⃣ Architecture that enables incremental change
- Invest in the boring plumbing
buff.ly/eexcklp
When onboarding improves, everything downstream feels lighter.
Fewer escalations.
Cleaner handoffs.
Faster proof of value.
Revenue starts arriving sooner — and sticking longer.
That’s the quiet power of focusing on Time to First Success.
Fewer escalations.
Cleaner handoffs.
Faster proof of value.
Revenue starts arriving sooner — and sticking longer.
That’s the quiet power of focusing on Time to First Success.
You Closed the Deal. Why Isn’t There Revenue Yet?
Why Time to First Success Is an Overlooked Growth Lever
buff.ly
October 31, 2025 at 1:06 PM
When onboarding improves, everything downstream feels lighter.
Fewer escalations.
Cleaner handoffs.
Faster proof of value.
Revenue starts arriving sooner — and sticking longer.
That’s the quiet power of focusing on Time to First Success.
Fewer escalations.
Cleaner handoffs.
Faster proof of value.
Revenue starts arriving sooner — and sticking longer.
That’s the quiet power of focusing on Time to First Success.
Onboarding isn’t failing because people don’t care.
It’s failing because it relies on people caring that much.
You don’t need another workshop. Turning good intentions into structure, clear roles, and small feedback loops makes it easier next time.
It’s failing because it relies on people caring that much.
You don’t need another workshop. Turning good intentions into structure, clear roles, and small feedback loops makes it easier next time.
October 30, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Onboarding isn’t failing because people don’t care.
It’s failing because it relies on people caring that much.
You don’t need another workshop. Turning good intentions into structure, clear roles, and small feedback loops makes it easier next time.
It’s failing because it relies on people caring that much.
You don’t need another workshop. Turning good intentions into structure, clear roles, and small feedback loops makes it easier next time.
Product management gives you a front-row seat to change.
Outages. Reorgs. Launches that flop. Every product manager has lived through at least one of them.
The trick is learning how to recover fast, steady your team, and move forward stronger.
Outages. Reorgs. Launches that flop. Every product manager has lived through at least one of them.
The trick is learning how to recover fast, steady your team, and move forward stronger.
Still Standing: The Nine Lives of a Product Manager
Leading through the hard stuff
buff.ly
October 29, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Product management gives you a front-row seat to change.
Outages. Reorgs. Launches that flop. Every product manager has lived through at least one of them.
The trick is learning how to recover fast, steady your team, and move forward stronger.
Outages. Reorgs. Launches that flop. Every product manager has lived through at least one of them.
The trick is learning how to recover fast, steady your team, and move forward stronger.
Most teams try to fix onboarding before they ever define success.
What’s your real moment of first value — setup complete, data flowing, or the first dashboard used?
Without that shared definition, everyone’s running toward a different finish line.
What’s your real moment of first value — setup complete, data flowing, or the first dashboard used?
Without that shared definition, everyone’s running toward a different finish line.
October 28, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Most teams try to fix onboarding before they ever define success.
What’s your real moment of first value — setup complete, data flowing, or the first dashboard used?
Without that shared definition, everyone’s running toward a different finish line.
What’s your real moment of first value — setup complete, data flowing, or the first dashboard used?
Without that shared definition, everyone’s running toward a different finish line.
Your calendar says “Prepare business case.”
Your day says “Handle onboarding issues.”
It’s wild how fast onboarding work takes over.
One escalation turns into a pattern, and suddenly PMs are the safety net.
If that’s happening, it’s not a people problem — it’s a system one.
Your day says “Handle onboarding issues.”
It’s wild how fast onboarding work takes over.
One escalation turns into a pattern, and suddenly PMs are the safety net.
If that’s happening, it’s not a people problem — it’s a system one.
October 27, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Your calendar says “Prepare business case.”
Your day says “Handle onboarding issues.”
It’s wild how fast onboarding work takes over.
One escalation turns into a pattern, and suddenly PMs are the safety net.
If that’s happening, it’s not a people problem — it’s a system one.
Your day says “Handle onboarding issues.”
It’s wild how fast onboarding work takes over.
One escalation turns into a pattern, and suddenly PMs are the safety net.
If that’s happening, it’s not a people problem — it’s a system one.
Practical measures for product success with stakeholders:
1️⃣ Focus on the right stakeholders
2️⃣ Build trust with stakeholders
3️⃣ Engage stakeholders early and often
- Keep them involved in why and how a decision is made
buff.ly/kzZd7p3
1️⃣ Focus on the right stakeholders
2️⃣ Build trust with stakeholders
3️⃣ Engage stakeholders early and often
- Keep them involved in why and how a decision is made
buff.ly/kzZd7p3
5 Tips to Succeed with Stakeholder Management
This article shares five practical measures for product managers to succeed with stakeholder management and engage key players effectively.
www.romanpichler.com
October 25, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Practical measures for product success with stakeholders:
1️⃣ Focus on the right stakeholders
2️⃣ Build trust with stakeholders
3️⃣ Engage stakeholders early and often
- Keep them involved in why and how a decision is made
buff.ly/kzZd7p3
1️⃣ Focus on the right stakeholders
2️⃣ Build trust with stakeholders
3️⃣ Engage stakeholders early and often
- Keep them involved in why and how a decision is made
buff.ly/kzZd7p3
You can be flawless and still feel sidelined.
If your value shows up after the work is done, you’ll always be the fixer, not the shaper.
Start earlier. Ask what success could look like, not just what’s wrong.
That’s how precision becomes influence.
If your value shows up after the work is done, you’ll always be the fixer, not the shaper.
Start earlier. Ask what success could look like, not just what’s wrong.
That’s how precision becomes influence.
October 24, 2025 at 1:07 PM
You can be flawless and still feel sidelined.
If your value shows up after the work is done, you’ll always be the fixer, not the shaper.
Start earlier. Ask what success could look like, not just what’s wrong.
That’s how precision becomes influence.
If your value shows up after the work is done, you’ll always be the fixer, not the shaper.
Start earlier. Ask what success could look like, not just what’s wrong.
That’s how precision becomes influence.
You won’t always hear it directly, but you’ll feel it.
You’re praised for catching issues, not for shaping direction.
Decisions happen before you’re looped in.
Your feedback lands like a verdict.
It’s not a performance problem; it’s a perception shift waiting to happen.
You’re praised for catching issues, not for shaping direction.
Decisions happen before you’re looped in.
Your feedback lands like a verdict.
It’s not a performance problem; it’s a perception shift waiting to happen.
October 23, 2025 at 1:06 PM
You won’t always hear it directly, but you’ll feel it.
You’re praised for catching issues, not for shaping direction.
Decisions happen before you’re looped in.
Your feedback lands like a verdict.
It’s not a performance problem; it’s a perception shift waiting to happen.
You’re praised for catching issues, not for shaping direction.
Decisions happen before you’re looped in.
Your feedback lands like a verdict.
It’s not a performance problem; it’s a perception shift waiting to happen.
When a team keeps looping on the same decision, it’s rarely about the topic.
It’s about the layers underneath — framing, process, values, sponsorship.
Seeing those layers is what finally turns debate into progress.
It’s about the layers underneath — framing, process, values, sponsorship.
Seeing those layers is what finally turns debate into progress.
The Hidden Pattern Behind Circular Product Debates
What’s missing when smart teams can’t make a decision
buff.ly
October 22, 2025 at 1:07 PM
When a team keeps looping on the same decision, it’s rarely about the topic.
It’s about the layers underneath — framing, process, values, sponsorship.
Seeing those layers is what finally turns debate into progress.
It’s about the layers underneath — framing, process, values, sponsorship.
Seeing those layers is what finally turns debate into progress.
Being decisive and detail-oriented keeps teams safe.
Until it starts making people hesitate to share ideas with you.
It’s not that you’re “too much.”
It’s that your sharpness shows up before your curiosity does.
If you want more influence, lead with openness before accuracy.
Until it starts making people hesitate to share ideas with you.
It’s not that you’re “too much.”
It’s that your sharpness shows up before your curiosity does.
If you want more influence, lead with openness before accuracy.
October 21, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Being decisive and detail-oriented keeps teams safe.
Until it starts making people hesitate to share ideas with you.
It’s not that you’re “too much.”
It’s that your sharpness shows up before your curiosity does.
If you want more influence, lead with openness before accuracy.
Until it starts making people hesitate to share ideas with you.
It’s not that you’re “too much.”
It’s that your sharpness shows up before your curiosity does.
If you want more influence, lead with openness before accuracy.
Ever notice how the most reliable product managers don’t always get pulled into strategy?
They’re trusted to protect the product, but not to shape it.
It’s not about competence. It’s perception.
When people see you as the safety net, they stop seeing you as the strategist.
They’re trusted to protect the product, but not to shape it.
It’s not about competence. It’s perception.
When people see you as the safety net, they stop seeing you as the strategist.
October 20, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Ever notice how the most reliable product managers don’t always get pulled into strategy?
They’re trusted to protect the product, but not to shape it.
It’s not about competence. It’s perception.
When people see you as the safety net, they stop seeing you as the strategist.
They’re trusted to protect the product, but not to shape it.
It’s not about competence. It’s perception.
When people see you as the safety net, they stop seeing you as the strategist.
The days of top-down control in product are over. You don't need to have all the answers to lead anymore.
3 steps to empower your product team:
1️⃣ Match people's strengths to where they're needed
2️⃣ Communicate the goals of the organization
3️⃣ Help decisions travel quickly
buff.ly/Q5dgZbO
3 steps to empower your product team:
1️⃣ Match people's strengths to where they're needed
2️⃣ Communicate the goals of the organization
3️⃣ Help decisions travel quickly
buff.ly/Q5dgZbO
How to Lead Through Systems, Not Skills
Being "the best" got us into leadership. Learning how to build effective systems and retain great people propels you into the executive levels.
news.yuezhao.coach
October 18, 2025 at 1:31 PM
The days of top-down control in product are over. You don't need to have all the answers to lead anymore.
3 steps to empower your product team:
1️⃣ Match people's strengths to where they're needed
2️⃣ Communicate the goals of the organization
3️⃣ Help decisions travel quickly
buff.ly/Q5dgZbO
3 steps to empower your product team:
1️⃣ Match people's strengths to where they're needed
2️⃣ Communicate the goals of the organization
3️⃣ Help decisions travel quickly
buff.ly/Q5dgZbO
Use a capability checklist and maturity model in your product to:
✅ Show what’s feasible today
✅ Expose what’s risky tomorrow
✅ Connect maturity work to revenue impact
The goal isn’t to slow momentum — it’s to make sure it lasts
✅ Show what’s feasible today
✅ Expose what’s risky tomorrow
✅ Connect maturity work to revenue impact
The goal isn’t to slow momentum — it’s to make sure it lasts
October 17, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Use a capability checklist and maturity model in your product to:
✅ Show what’s feasible today
✅ Expose what’s risky tomorrow
✅ Connect maturity work to revenue impact
The goal isn’t to slow momentum — it’s to make sure it lasts
✅ Show what’s feasible today
✅ Expose what’s risky tomorrow
✅ Connect maturity work to revenue impact
The goal isn’t to slow momentum — it’s to make sure it lasts
When leadership says “We’re going after enterprise,” you don’t need to argue.
You just need to map readiness.
Start with:
A capability checklist → what’s in place vs. missing
A maturity model → where you stand today
You just need to map readiness.
Start with:
A capability checklist → what’s in place vs. missing
A maturity model → where you stand today
October 16, 2025 at 1:05 PM
When leadership says “We’re going after enterprise,” you don’t need to argue.
You just need to map readiness.
Start with:
A capability checklist → what’s in place vs. missing
A maturity model → where you stand today
You just need to map readiness.
Start with:
A capability checklist → what’s in place vs. missing
A maturity model → where you stand today
Risks circle back. Decisions move forward.
The small shift that made product work calmer (and faster):
Stop Logging Risks. Start Driving Decisions.
The small shift that made product work calmer (and faster):
Stop Logging Risks. Start Driving Decisions.
Stop Logging Risks. Start Driving Decisions.
The tool that helps product managers escape endless alignment battles
buff.ly
October 15, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Risks circle back. Decisions move forward.
The small shift that made product work calmer (and faster):
Stop Logging Risks. Start Driving Decisions.
The small shift that made product work calmer (and faster):
Stop Logging Risks. Start Driving Decisions.