Key Takeaways from "Why You Hate Your Product Job (and It's Not What You Think)" by David Pereira :
- Success is about the game you play, not just your skills. Many skilled product professionals struggle because they're playing in environments mismatched to their strengths.
- There are five distinct 'Product Games':
- B2B Corporate: Focuses on stakeholder alignment and politics. Great for relationship builders, tough for those who crave quick impact or decision empowerment.
- B2C Fast-Moving: Driven by instant feedback and rapid iteration. Suited for those who love experimentation, challenging for those who prefer strategy and deep collaboration.
- Early-Stage Startup: Requires survival instincts, comfort with chaos, and wearing multiple hats. Motivating for those who love accountability and unpredictability, but stressful for process-lovers.
- Scale-Up: Balances speed and structure. Perfect for impact-seekers who want some stability, but can frustrate those who prefer either extreme.
- Established Giants: Prioritizes optimization and small improvements at scale, rather than innovation. Fulfilling for system-perfecters, boring for creators or risk-takers.
- B2C vs. B2B is more than the buyer—it’s about organizational dynamics and feedback loops. B2C means direct user feedback and shorter cycles; B2B layers in politics and complex decision-making.
- To find your sweet spot, ask yourself:
- Do you prefer building or optimizing?
- How do you like receiving feedback: from users/data or stakeholders?
- What pace energizes you: fast and risky or slow and certain?
- Where do you want influence: product direction or organization alignment?
- Are you motivated by daily changes or by long-term impact?
- Your satisfaction and success hinge on fit. The same person may thrive or sink depending on their alignment with one of these games, not necessarily their talent or skillset.
- Stop trying to be great at every game—focus on being exceptional in the game that matches your strengths. If you're frustrated, you might simply be applying your skills in the wrong environment.
- Take action: Assess your situation honestly, identify your 'game,' and seek or create the environment where your skills turn into superpowers.