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- The Punk PM #17
Hey there, punk!
I’ve been thinking this week about how easy it is to fall in love with our own ideas.
We talk to a couple of users, get a few nods in a meeting, and suddenly we’re validating instead of learning.
But real product discovery isn’t about being right—it’s about finding out where you’re wrong, fast.
Let’s dig into that.
Quote of the Week 🙊
A good way to focus on solving the right problems is by asking two really simple questions: What problem are we solving, and why might this be important to the customer?
— Andrea Saez
Insight 🦉
Validation is a dangerous word in product.
It sounds scientific. Methodical. Reassuring. But too often, it’s just a dressed-up excuse for confirmation bias.
We set out to “validate” our ideas, when what we’re really doing is looking for permission to keep believing in them.
That’s not discovery. That’s delusion.
The job isn’t to prove your hunch was right. It’s to try as hard as you can to prove it wrong. Ask better questions. Run sharper tests. Seek disconfirming evidence like your product depends on it—because it does.
If you can’t find a reason to kill the idea? Only then should you consider keeping it alive.
The best PMs aren’t idea defenders. They’re idea assassins. Ruthless about chasing truth, not comfort.
Kill your darlings early. That’s how great products get built.
Action 🚀
Pick one idea you think you’re confident in and try to prove yourself wrong. Ask the tough questions that might kill it. If it holds up, great. If not, even better.
Inspiration 💡
What AI Can’t—and Shouldn’t—Do for Product Managers – Jenny Wanger makes a sharp case for keeping the human heart in product. AI can take the grunt work, but it can’t build trust or empathy. If you’re not staying close to your users, you’re not really doing the job. Read more
I Rebuilt Sparkle in 14 Days With AI – Yash Poojary shares how leaning into speed, feedback, and intuition helped him ship a smarter version of Sparkle—fast. It’s a reminder that momentum matters more than perfection. Read more
11 Agile Anti-Patterns Product Managers Need to Watch Out For – Domenic Edwards lays out the hidden traps that make Agile anything but. From pointless rituals to backlog bloat, this is a must-read for anyone stuck in a cargo cult version of agility. Read more
Signing Off ✍️
If this resonates with you, hit reply and let me know what idea you’re going to try and prove wrong 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