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2020 is off to a great start! I’m leading a team working on an exciting new initiative at Abstract, continuing my consulting work, running a monthly product manager peer group, and toying around with a new side project idea. I spent this past weekend with Carole and some of our friends in a cool Airbnb a couple hours north of SF (more on that in the next post).
It’s been tough to find time to write a lot but I’m determined to keep sending the newsletter with consistency to help cement the habit. Today’s newsletter includes thoughts about a new model for distributed teams, some George-inspired tweets, a couple recommendations near Big Sur, a funny meme, and a recap of my big book giveaway from December.
Wishing you all a great week, thanks for reading 🙏
Remote work is still in its nascent stage so everyone’s pretty much figuring it out for themselves. My experience with it over the last year has shown me a lot of the pros and cons aka “the tradeoffs”.
My biggest pain point as a product manager with remote work has been the lack of time together in person during quarterly planning periods. This results in more drawn out planning phases with a lot of asynchronous feedback. One daylong planning meeting could accomplish what sometimes takes weeks of back and forth over documents and calls.
The biggest advantage of remote work has been the autonomy, productivity, and focus that come with the lack of distraction during long stretches of heads down execution. Offices tend to get in the way of productivity during execution phases.
I see a remote work model in the future where four times per year the product/eng/design people involved with planning spend a week together in person somewhere with the goal of planning the next quarter. When planning is complete, everyone returns to their various home bases and executes asynchronously for the duration of the quarter.
This is different than how remote companies plan in-person time together today; I mostly see companies bring their employees together once or twice a year for fun and team building. My sense is most companies don’t use this time to plan work.
The model I’m picturing would offer the best of both worlds for people like me who are deeply involved in planning. I recognize that it wouldn’t be cheap and some people couldn’t take 4 weeks of time away from their families. That said, I think there’s a there there. If a week of planning in person could replace 3-4 weeks of going back and forth remotely, it just might be worth it. Speed of decision making is essential in a startup.
The future of work is evolving and the marketplace of ideas will determine the best ways of operating remote companies in the years to come. It’ll be fun to observe and learn.
Some related tweets from the end of 2019:
Remote thought of the day 💭
While offices may go obsolete, in-person time never will.
Offices are meant to maximize in-person time between coworkers. It just ignores that there are diminishing returns to in-person time.
More is better, until it isn't. Moderation is 🔑.
2:14 PM · Nov 14, 2019
8 Likes
+ I crave the ambient awareness you pick up in an office.
The quiet shuffling of people b/w rooms. Their facial expressions coming out of long meetings.
We’re social animals so these are contextual inputs we can incorporate into our mental models.
In remote you lose these.
4:22 PM · Dec 22, 2019
7 Reposts · 156 Likes
Carole and I took a little trip down the coast the first weekend of the year to enjoy nature and relax a bit before the year officially kicked off with work for both of us.
We started the weekend at Refuge in Carmel Valley, where they offer day-long access to amenities like saunas, hot springs, cold pool, fireplaces and hammocks. We did a few cycles of their suggested thermal cycle: sauna (5-10 min), cold pool (10-60 seconds), relax time (15 min), hot spring (5-10 minutes). It’s first come first serve and costs around $50/person for the day. If you’re ever in the Carmel area and looking to relax for 3-4 hours, I highly recommend it.
The next day we hiked this trail just north of Big Sur. 5.5 miles with pretty steep elevation made it a bit challenging but the panoramic views were worth it. The California coastline never gets old.
This is from the top:
Walking George for 10+ hours per week gets me thinking some odd thoughts 🤦🏻♂️
I increasingly find myself wanting feedback from my dog. I'm sure there's room for improvement on the walks, the treats, the playtime, etc.
6:42 PM · Jan 10, 2020
17 Likes
I have a theory that people who walk their dog for at least an hour every day (like me) don’t meditate.
The hypothesis is that meditating isn’t as needed for me because walking my dog gives me a steady mindful window to reflect and observe my thoughts.
12:39 AM · May 31, 2019
2 Reposts · 69 Likes
Not a lot of memes actually make me laugh. This one did.
I did a book giveaway over Twitter at the end of last year which included brief commentary on each of the books I was giving away.
My coworkers were the only ones who ended up taking me up on the offer. They’re smart; it’s free books!
These are still available so lmk if you want any:
There are a lot of tweets coming up next so you won’t be missing out on anything else if you don’t scroll down all the way… unless you want to see a cute picture of George with some books 😉
I'll be doing a big book giveaway between now and the rest of the year 📚
Here's the deal:
1) No charge, you just have to pick it up from me in SF. DM me for info.
2) When you're done, you have to let me know what you thought about it.
First come first serve. List of books 👇
1:27 AM · Dec 11, 2019
6 Likes
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig.
It took me five years on and off to finish this book. I got so much from it each time that it felt like a real journey. I highly recommend it 👌M
1:27 AM · Dec 11, 2019
4 Likes
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. This one's a great introduction to the body of philosophy known as Taoism. The Tao is slippery, ever-present but impossible to see. If you think you understand the Tao, you don't. Those who know the least, know the most, etc.
Super interesting read!
1:29 AM · Dec 11, 2019
1 Like
Endurance by Alfred Lansing. I picked this one up after recommended it. It was a fantastic nonfiction telling of one of the craziest adventures of the modern era, based on the diaries of those in Ernest Shackleton's expedition to Antarctica. It gets very real.
1:32 AM · Dec 11, 2019
3 Likes
Three-Body Problem trilogy by Cixin Liu. This is now my favorite sci-fi trilogy. The scope of the story is incredible and timespan covered is unmatched in any book I've read. It's a masterpiece in storytelling and I highly recommend for sci-fi lovers.
1:36 AM · Dec 11, 2019
2 Likes
How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan. I'm fascinated by psychedelics and IMO this is the most credible book about the state of the science today.
Pollan goes as far as participating in psychedelic journeys and capturing them with great detail (he did his best 😀).3
1:41 AM · Dec 11, 2019
2 Likes
American Gods by Neil Gaiman. This was such an interesting book. It blends elements of mythology with modern day American in a way I've never seen before. For people who appreciate beautiful prose and "real" fiction, I think you'll find it enjoyable.
Shoe Dog by Phil Knight. Easily one of the most enjoyable biographies I've read about the founding of Nike and the larger than life characters who played supporting roles. This book has a sense of adventure, trust and optimism rarely found in business circles these days.
1:49 AM · Dec 11, 2019
3 Likes
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson. This was the first Neal Stephenson novel I read. I've been hooked ever since.
The book plays out an insanely ambitious scenario over a LONG timeframe: what would happen if the moon exploded? Lots of incredible science and physics here!
1:55 AM · Dec 11, 2019
2 Likes
Dune by Frank Herbert. If Three-Body Problem is my fav sci-fi trilogy, this might be my favorite sci-fi book (there are many sequels in the series but this one stands on its own perfectly well; didn't feel the need to read on).
The upcoming movie by Denis Villeneuve will be 🔥v
2:51 AM · Dec 11, 2019
1 Repost · 1 Like
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes. This was a very interesting novel about people, relationships and how childhood memories aren't always what they seemed. Recommend for folks who can appreciate a well-written drama.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Probably the most fun book in the giveaway, this one's a favorite. Having grown up in the 90's, I got most of the references but missed some of the 80's ones. I highly recommend and it has lots more than Spielberg was able to fit into the movie.
2:56 AM · Dec 11, 2019
3 Likes
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. Tbh, I read this years ago and remember most of it going over my head but it's still the most approachable book about the universe from a thoughtful, once-in-a-generation figure.
3:00 AM · Dec 11, 2019
1 Like
A Really Good Day by Ayelet Waldman. There's a lot of discussion happening these days around microdosing and I was curious to get my hands on a first-person account. Ayelet has a no-BS style of writing and I encourage giving this one a read if you're curious to learn more!
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. This one kept coming up so I had to finally read it. Being Jewish myself, I grew up reading about the Holocaust a lot. Since most of this book takes place in concentration camps, it's quite heavy. But also full of deep insights.
3:06 AM · Dec 11, 2019
3 Likes
The Stormlight Archive Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. This is the best fantasy series I've read since The Kingkiller Chronicles. Brandon Sanderson is a masterful world builder and I found myself super drawn to these (quite thick) novels. HIghly recommend for some escapism!
Hyperion series by Dan Simmons. I still think about this one randomly sometimes, months after finishing it. It's hardcore sci-fi with beautifully woven narratives that cross across characters in many ways. Super, super good. Can't recommend enough. You're in for a treat.
3:17 AM · Dec 11, 2019
4 Likes
Behind the scenes of the book giveaway. George is wondering what the hell I'm doing.
3:18 AM · Dec 11, 2019
6 Likes
That’s it for this one - thanks for reading! Prior posts:
#3 💭 🎉 🔮 2020
#2 💫🌎🕵🏻♂️
#1 👋🏻
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