From the pen of Spencer

Is your team obsessed with building MVPs? It's time to rethink.

The term "Minimum Viable Product" has lost its way. Over the years, the focus on MVPs has pushed many teams toward an output-over-outcome mindset. But here's the thing: The term MVP obscures what really matters Instead, I break an MVP down into two crucial components: 👉 MER: Are you proving value and viability? What is […]

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What is Product Design (PD) or Product Experience (PX)?

In product development, the terms "Product Design" (PD) and "Product Experience" (PX) often get tossed around, sometimes interchangeably. However, there's a nuanced distinction that can catch even seasoned professionals off guard.

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Beyond Buzzwords: KYC and KYB

Have you ever sat in a meeting and felt lost when industry jargon started flying around? You're not alone. Terms like KYC and KYB often leave even seasoned professionals scratching their heads. Coaching, mentoring, networking, and when interviewing, you get to hear a lot of interesting lingo. Two terms that keep popping up in my […]

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Outcomes vs outputs

One of the most common topics I coach junior product design, product management, and general business folks about is the difference between outcomes and outputs. One of my employees recently told me it was one of the most valuable things he'd finally learned all year. There's a constant pressure to deliver at work. We all […]

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From competition to contribution: finding the balance to transform your business

The problem with competition Competition is often heralded as the engine of innovation and progress. Companies and individuals alike are driven to excel, vying for market share, top positions, and accolades. However, in my experience, relentlessly pursuing a competitive edge can foster a toxic work environment, heighten stress, and narrow the focus on individual success […]

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Coaching others is a path to mutual growth

One of the most rewarding aspects of my professional journey has been the opportunity to coach others, which I have tried to make time for every week for the past several years. While my primary aim is to give back and support the growth of my colleagues, I've found that the process significantly contributes to […]

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Differences in design

UI, UX, PD, what gives? Two of the most frequent points of confusion I face in Product are folks not understanding Product Design and how it differs from other types of design and folks not understanding Product Management and how it differs from Product Owner (in the Agile sense) and Project Management. Today, I'll chat a […]

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Building agency and resilience

Living with autism, anxiety, OCD, and chronic pain As someone diagnosed with autism, an anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and chronic pain, here's the deal: Being diagnosed as autistic years ago is hardly one of the interesting things about me. These days, I embrace my awkwardness, confront my challenges head-on, and remember to be patient […]

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Communication, collaboration, and coordination at scale

What was easy when we were small is now hard If you've seen me talk or read many of my various musings online, you know that I champion what I consider three of the most important things in business operations and effectiveness, the 3Cs: I've spoken at length about how if we keep a pulse […]

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How we work together

Lived experience and opinions for product teams All teams have different needs that cause them to organize, communicate, collaborate, coordinate, and recruit differently. There is no one-size-fits-all all. Entire books have been written on just this subject! I’m going to share some of my experience and opinions on how best product teams can work together. For some […]

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