Navigating the Matrix of Product Management

A Red Pill Journey

Christian Kemsies

4 min in read - 2. Apr. 2024

Being in Product Management nowadays feels like being part of the Matrix. (I'm talking about the 1999 Movie with Keanu Reeves.)

We are all molded by the world we live in and our experiences. We create our own unique version of reality. For the most part, we live happily in this state. Some rare individuals know that there is 'more' out there and chase the white rabbit of product management. But in the end, we all have one thing in common: we don't know what we don't know.

From time to time, something happens that disrupts our reality—a glitch, if you will—giving us a glimpse of another reality.

And a glitch it was...

One of these recent 'glitches' was Marty Cagan's interview on Lenny's podcast about the Product Operating Model. It was a glitch so big that the majority of the product community noticed it. When you're suddenly confronted with a different reality, it triggers all sorts of uncomfortable emotions:

“I'm not empowered to do my work; I have no say.”
”I'm stuck in my job and don't learn anything anymore.”
“I'm busy all the time, but it feels like I'm getting nowhere.”
“I'm invisible; nobody values my contribution to the company.”
”I'm scared I will become redundant and lose my job.”

Feels like a year worth spending, don't you think?

It is absolutely natural to feel this way, especially when the version of reality presented seems so far away from what you are doing; it is basically utopian.

A decision to be made

For those chasing the white rabbit, this was the moment they were waiting for the proof they needed. For everyone else, getting challenged this way forces you to question the status quo. Your fight-or-flight instinct has just been activated. As Neo in The Matrix, you are now presented with a choice: fight, aka the red pill, or flight, aka the blue pill.

Regardless of what happens next, your awareness level has increased, and it is now up to you to make a conscious decision.

Take the blue pill and return to your reality with a great sense of acceptance. Ignore the buzz and label it as it is; just a glitch. You may think that:

“No companies work as described in the books.“
“These are all business fairytales to make a quick buck.”
“This does not work in reality.”

And that is OK; you have made your choice, and nothing else matters. I genuinely hope you are at peace with your decision and wish you the best of luck.

Follow the white rabbit

Take the red pill and raise your level of consciousness. You are open to accepting that there are different ways of doing Product Management, ways that may be better than what you are doing now and that you have the power to change.

First of all, don't panic. You are embarking on a journey, and the answer will reveal itself over time - trust the process. Those who have been there before will tell you this is a cycle. With each level of awareness you gain, the cycle repeats, and you will emerge stronger and wiser.

I can say this with the utmost conviction because I have lived it.

For six years, I worked in various product roles at Almosafer (part of Seera Group), the same company featured in TRANSFORMED and Continous Discovery Habits. So, I not only had a front-row seat but was also part of the Product Leadership team, driving the company's transformation to the Product Operating Model.

However, I also want you to have the right expectations. As you already know, Product Management is a team effort, and moving to the Product Operating Model is no different. There are too many moving pieces in play to predict if you will be able to transform your organisation, your department or only your team.

But I can tell you with certainty that you will be able to transform yourself.

At the very least, if you keep learning and growing, you will become a Product Manager with the skillset to work at any company that embraces the product culture you're seeking.

And one more thing. You are not alone.

In the same way that Neo had Morpheus and Trinity at his side, others are already sharing what they have learned on their journeys so far. You just need to reach out.

This is going to be a long journey, and every journey starts with your first step. Lucky for you, you did that by taking the red pill.

See you out there.