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Productivity News
The FishmanAF Newsletter
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How To Do Things That Don’t Scale
- It is important to do things that don’t scale, as these efforts can effectively solve some of the hardest problems for companies and people.
- In customer acquisition, “unscalable” tactics like guerilla marketing, non-traditional marketing channels, and in-person activations can be very effective.
- Human-powered tactics like calling potential drivers, in-person training before launching, and a manual referral program can also be effective.
- In addition to customer acquisition, unscalable operations like building creator pages, culture building with internal newsletters, charging patrons subversively, and forecasting with daily manual updates can be effective.
- These unscalable tactics require hard work, but they can help bring companies closer to customers and build better products.
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Minis
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Women earn 22-30% less than their male colleagues in popular tech jobs: TeamLease report
- A recent TeamLease Digital report reveals a significant gender pay gap in India's tech sector, with women earning 22-30% less than men in popular roles like product manager, data scientist, and DevOps.
- Even at entry-level positions, women make about 15.38% less than their male counterparts. The disparity is attributed to structural inequalities, unequal role distribution, barriers to career advancement, and negotiation gaps.
- The pay gap widens with higher positions due to limited mentorship and promotion opportunities. The average overall pay gap in general tech roles is approximately 10-17%.
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The Beautiful Mess
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The "X" Files (65.57% of 2024 Edition)
- In 2024, short dialogues on LinkedIn have become popular, with many using the format Simon Wardley uses on Twitter, where he converses with “X”.
- X refers to different people in different conversations but has usually been described as someone who is not evil, completely incompetent or an asshole, but rather someone with whom people have different views about how things should be.
- Different conversations between X and other people on various topics are presented in the article, such as consistent sprint lengths, open-ended priorities, when projects will be done, productivity and performance, accountability, and many others.
- One conversation talks about a manager who believes that good managers should be able to have 8-12 reports, but it is pointed out that the workload is too much for most managers, and it is unlikely to be improved unless something changes.
- Another conversation highlights how companies often identify too many priorities, causing teams to be spread too thin, resulting in a lack of focus on projects that are most important, and causing inefficiencies.
- In a separate conversation, designers were asked to become more business-savvy, leading a designer to become a product manager, although they find themselves unhappy and unfulfilled.
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Minis
9M
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3 things you should never tell your manager, from an HR professional
- Your Weekend Plans: Avoid sharing details about weekend activities, especially if they involve partying or excessive drinking. Managers might associate these with your work habits, leading to negative assumptions about your reliability.
- Personal Problems at Home: Refrain from discussing personal issues with your manager, as it can make them question your focus and ability to handle your role. It’s better to be vague about personal emergencies if needed.
- Disliking Your Coworker for Their Personality: Don’t complain about a coworker’s personality traits to your manager. This could make you seem unprofessional and focused on irrelevant issues. If a coworker’s performance is problematic, address it constructively.
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Minis
9M
422
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Lenovo employee fired for peeing in hotel lobby seeks $1.5 million from company
- Richard Becker, a 66-year-old former Lenovo salesman, is suing the company for $1.5 million after his dismissal for urinating in a Times Square hotel lobby.
- Becker, who has a chronic bladder condition and has been under urological care since 2016, claims he was forced to relieve himself due to an urgent need. According to the lawsuit filed in New York State Supreme Court, Lenovo terminated Becker without proper investigation or consideration of his disability.
- The lawsuit accuses Lenovo of discrimination under New York State and City human rights laws. Becker, who was reportedly unaware that a coworker reported him, has been unemployed since his firing. Lenovo has not yet responded to requests for comment.
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Minis
9M
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Flipkart gifted this to Bengaluru man after his post on getting a new laptop in 13 minutes went viral
- Sunny R Gupta, a software developer, recently went viral after ordering an Acer Predator laptop on Flipkart Minutes, a quick commerce service, and receiving it within 13 minutes.
- The unexpected speed led to widespread attention, and Flipkart rewarded him with a laptop bag. Gupta emphasized that the post was not a marketing stunt but a genuine expression of surprise.
- "I had no incentive to create a viral moment or engage in any marketing ploy," Gupta said. Despite this, he admitted enjoying the attention, noting, "I'm not complaining." Flipkart Minutes was recently launched in select areas of Bengaluru.
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Minis
9M
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Amazon Employee Says He Earns Rs 3 Crore For Doing "Nothing", Sparks Discussion
- A Senior Technical Program Manager at Amazon confessed on Blind, an anonymous forum, that he has been earning over ₹3 crore annually for doing minimal work.
- The employee, who joined Amazon after being laid off by Google, revealed that in 1.5 years, he has only resolved seven support tickets and built one automated dashboard, taking three days but claiming it took months.
- He spends most of his day attending meetings and avoiding extra work. This revelation sparked debate online, with users expressing mixed reactions about the situation and its implications on corporate culture.
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The Beautiful Mess
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TBM 308: No Unforced Errors
- When you are passionate about helping others, improving ways of working, challenging the status quo on behalf of those hurt by the status quo, etc., you will invariably have an off day.
- Research has shown that negative events are more salient and that we process them more thoroughly (negativity bias).
- Unforced errors in work come at the expense of achieving desired outcomes.
- Sometimes, the best strategy is to let things implode and burn to the ground. Do nothing. Save your energy.
- You only have a narrow window to influence change at a global level in any organization.
- The best strategy is to be there with the best relationships, trust, and confidence after the crash.
- Given that it is impossible always to have a good day—especially when navigating the thorny mess of change, how can I make the smartest decisions regarding how I apply my energy?
- Show grace to ourselves, and seek long-term positive things without burning out.
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These 2 simple tips will make you sound smarter, says communication expert
- Matt Abrahams, author of Think Faster, Talk Smarter, offers two key tips for sounding smarter and more confident in professional settings.
- First, avoid using complex words; simplicity is clearer and more effective. Abrahams highlights that communication aims to make information accessible, not to impress with jargon.
- Second, slow down your speech. Speaking too quickly can make you seem nervous, while a measured pace conveys thoughtfulness and focus. Abrahams advises breathing slower, syncing gestures with speech, and imagining you’re speaking to non-native listeners to naturally regulate your speaking speed.
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Minis
9M
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10 Impressive Questions to Ask in a Job Interview
- Success Metrics: "How will you measure success in this position?"
- Challenges: "What challenges might the role involve?"
- Daily Routine: "What does a typical day look like?"
- Turnover: "How long did the previous person stay in this role?"
- Initial Goals: "What should be accomplished in the first six months?"
- Top Performers: "What makes someone great in this role?"
- Culture: "How would you describe the company culture?"
- Personal Experience: "What do you like about working here?"
- Important Questions: "What’s crucial for me to know about this role?"
- Next Steps: "What’s the timeline for the next steps?"
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Leah’s ProducTea
9M
422
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Should you Product-led Growth?
- Product-led Growth (PLG) can be a survival strategy, but it's a nuanced one and requires consideration of where you are now and where you're headed. You don’t simply decide 'Yes, we’ll do PLG' or 'No, we won’t do PLG'.
- Understand where your Ideal customer profiles stand with your product. Consider the lifetime value (LTV) of your users and the human activation energy needed to onboard them.
- Five activation levers are at your disposal for engagement models, which include: Gary the Sales Guy (High-Touch Sales), Interactive Demos, Trials, Freemiums, and Ungated Freemiums. The ideal customer prefers an activation journey for different ICPs.
- In order to get ahead of the competition, you need to recognize the 'Dangerous Gap' and take action before it's too late as it leaves customers room to go to more frictionless competitors.
- The key difference in outcomes between HubSpot and Salesforce lies in their ability to adapt their product and organizational structure to the demands of PLG.
- When should you NOT do too much self-serve? If your product's interface is only slightly optimal for the use case it covers or differentiation factors are outside of self-serve value. Freemiums may undersell your product's true strengths in those cases.
- Your distribution model is not a tactic, it's a strategy. The decision to use PLG must be carefully considered, especially when certain conditions suggest that other models, such as trials or high-touch sales, may be more effective.
- Deciding when to adopt a PLG strategy is not just a tactical decision; it's a strategic one that requires careful consideration of your product's position, your customers' needs, and the overall market dynamics.
- By shifting to a PLG model, you can enhance customer experiences and drive growth. By continuously reassessing and adjusting as needed, you can confidently answer the question, 'When do I do PLG?'
- Freemium models can be powerful tools in a PLG strategy, but they are not always the right choice. Trial periods with some level of guided support should be considered when excellent customer support or a high level of service is a key differentiator for your ICP.
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Minis
9M
1.6k
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This popular interview question ‘trips a lot of people up,’ says hiring expert—the best way to answer it
- The interview question "Tell me about yourself" can be tricky despite its common use as an icebreaker.
- Hiring experts advise keeping your response concise, ideally 1-2 minutes, focusing on strengths, relevant experience, and excitement for the role. Avoid long-winded biographies; instead, offer a brief elevator pitch that highlights a recent challenge or a leadership experience to demonstrate self-awareness and maturity.
- Tailor your answer to the job you're applying for, emphasizing the skills and qualities that align with the position. This approach sets a positive tone for the rest of the interview.
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Lenny's Newsletter
9M
443
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Succeeding as an introvert, building zero-to-one, and why you should PM your career like you PM your product | Deb Liu (CEO of Ancestry, ex-Facebook, PayPal, eBay)
- Deb Liu, CEO of Ancestry and former VP of Product at Facebook, shares her experiences with building businesses and thriving as an introvert in the workplace.
- She discusses strategies for treating your career like a product, incubating new products within large companies, and creating a successful 30-60-90-day plan when starting a new job.
- Liu also touches on the challenges of perfectionism and how to overcome the limitations of introversion in the business world.
- She advocates for a focus on personal growth and alternate roles to balance learning and impact in your career.
- In her experience, introverts need to learn to speak up and market their wins to progress in their career. Leaders can also create an inclusive environment where everyone has an opportunity to share their opinions and successes.
- Liu suggests breaking long-term career goals into actionable milestones with metrics for success to continually review and adjust the plan based on progress and changes in the industry.
- She recommends creating a structured 30-60-90-day plan when starting a new role, focusing on listening and learning for the first 30 days, aligning and planning for the next 60 days, and executing the plan and focusing on impact in the last 90 days.
- Liu also shares her experiences with resilience and turning failure into stepping stones for personal growth.
- Finally, she recommends leveraging coaching and accountability to continue developing in your career, and shares some additional resources for personal and professional development.
- This podcast episode is brought to you by Pendo, WorkOS, and Webflow.
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Minis
9M
1.5k
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Indian engineer gets 1:30 am call from senior colleague for 6 am shift. Reddit says ‘resign’
- An Indian support engineer, Vinit Patil, shared on Reddit that he missed a 1:30 am call from a senior colleague informing him to report to work at 6 am, despite his shift starting at 7:30 am.
- The unexpected schedule change came after Patil had finished work at 9 pm the previous night. Reddit users criticized the unprofessional behavior, with some advising him to apologize for missing the call, while others warned against setting a precedent of always being available.
- This incident highlights the increasing pressure on employees to be constantly accessible, blurring the lines between work and personal life.
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Minis
9M
4.8k
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HDFC Says Wealth Manager Pay Hikes of 50% May ‘Haunt’ Industry
- HDFC Bank's wealth management arm is facing a talent shortage, leading to a surge in pay hikes of 40% to 50% to attract skilled professionals.
- With assets under management totaling 6.47 trillion rupees ($77.2 billion), the bank is hiring retail bankers internally and externally to serve its wealthy clients. Rakesh K. Singh, group head for investment, private wealth, and international banking, noted that these aggressive pay increases may have long-term repercussions for the industry.
- The shortage of wealth management talent is pushing firms to offer substantial incentives, potentially causing challenges in the future.
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