The Punk PM #12

Hey there, punk!

This week, I stirred up LinkedIn by suggesting that Agile is a framework, not a way of life. That take got a decent number of likes (for me, anyway) and summoned a bunch of reply guys.

But here’s the thing: product management isn’t about tools and rituals—it’s about building things that matter. If your process is slowing you down instead of helping you deliver value, maybe it’s time to rethink what’s actually important when it comes to product development.

Let’s dig into that.

Quote of the Week 🙊

Insight 🦉

You don’t need Jira tickets and story points to build a successful product. You need focus.

A lot of what we think of as “work” in product management isn’t actually work—it’s noise. Meetings, frameworks, and rituals that feel productive but don’t move the needle. At best, they help keep things organised. At worst, they’re distractions that stop us from doing what really matters.

We talk a lot about outcomes over outputs, but that mindset shouldn’t stop at the end product. It’s not just about what we build—it’s about how we build it. If your process is slowing you down instead of driving real value, it’s not helping you—it’s holding you back.

Great products don’t come from process. They come from clarity, execution, and a relentless focus on solving real problems. You can build incredible things with nothing more than an ideas backlog in a spreadsheet if you’ve got:

• A problem worth solving—a real, validated customer pain point that’s meaningful enough to justify your time and effort.

• A clear product strategy—a guiding north star that ensures your team isn’t just shipping features but delivering genuine value for your users and organisation.

• A strong discovery and ideation habit—continuous learning through real customer conversations, not just assumptions.

• Engineers who care about impact—developers who understand the problems they’re solving, not just the tickets they’re closing.

• A culture of experimentation—where testing, learning, and iterating is second nature, and failing fast is just part of the process.

The AI revolution is stripping away a lot of the busywork around product management. Tools, frameworks, and ceremonies should serve your outcomes, not the other way around. If they’re not helping, they’re baggage. Drop them.

Product management has never been about how many tickets you move through a board. It’s about solving meaningful problems in the simplest, fastest, and most effective way possible. So ask yourself: is your process enabling that, or getting in the way?

Action 🚀

This week, take a hard look at your process. What’s genuinely helping you deliver value, and what’s just noise? Strip away one unnecessary tool, meeting, or ritual—and see if anything actually breaks. (Spoiler: it probably won’t.)

Inspiration 💡

What we learned at #mtpcon London 2025 – Louron Pratt breaks down key takeaways from this year’s event, from crafting effective product visions to the role of AI in growth. The big theme? Emotional connection and impact matter more than ever. Read more

These “Best Practices” Are Slowly Killing Your Product – Jeremy Horn calls out how rigid roadmaps, consensus-seeking, and strict OKRs can stifle innovation. The best teams know when to break the rules. Read more

The Looking Glass: Our Souls Need Proof of Work – Julie Zhuo reflects on why real fulfilment comes from effort, not shortcuts. If you’ve ever wondered why easy wins feel hollow, this one’s for you. Read more

Signing Off ✍️

If this resonates with you, hit reply and let me know what you’re stripping away this week. And if you think a friend or colleague would enjoy The Punk PM, feel free to share it with them!

Play it your way,

Toby