Comments on: Balancing Work, Life and Everything Else: Part 1 http://www.theproductologist.com/index.php/2007/08/04/balancing-work-life-and-everything-else-part-1/ Exploring the Depths of Product Management Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:33:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Book Review: The Art of Innovation » The Productologist http://www.theproductologist.com/index.php/2007/08/04/balancing-work-life-and-everything-else-part-1/#comment-219 Book Review: The Art of Innovation » The Productologist Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:14:54 +0000 http://www.theproductologist.com/index.php/2007/08/04/balancing-work-life-and-everything-else-part-1/#comment-219 [...] to solve problems, but as a tool for just getting the creative juices flowing. I frequently use my lunchtime run to do some solo brainstorming if I am feeling stuck or my mental energy feels [...] […] to solve problems, but as a tool for just getting the creative juices flowing. I frequently use my lunchtime run to do some solo brainstorming if I am feeling stuck or my mental energy feels […]

]]> By: Ivan Chalif http://www.theproductologist.com/index.php/2007/08/04/balancing-work-life-and-everything-else-part-1/#comment-34 Ivan Chalif Thu, 16 Aug 2007 03:21:41 +0000 http://www.theproductologist.com/index.php/2007/08/04/balancing-work-life-and-everything-else-part-1/#comment-34 @Brian: For most PM's, there definitely are not the peaks and valleys associated with large-scale waterfall development projects, but I still think that PM work is cyclical, albeit perhaps in small waves rather than large ones. Yes, there will always be something going on product-wise (I'm currently writing/updating three MRDs), but the scale and timing of the products varies (major relases vs. maintenance or patch releases; enterprise applications vs widgets or features) and so does the workload. Whatever the amplitude and frequency of the waves, successful PM's have to find a way to take advantage of the valleys so that the peaks don't send them (and their products) over the edge. @Brian:

For most PM’s, there definitely are not the peaks and valleys associated with large-scale waterfall development projects, but I still think that PM work is cyclical, albeit perhaps in small waves rather than large ones. Yes, there will always be something going on product-wise (I’m currently writing/updating three MRDs), but the scale and timing of the products varies (major relases vs. maintenance or patch releases; enterprise applications vs widgets or features) and so does the workload. Whatever the amplitude and frequency of the waves, successful PM’s have to find a way to take advantage of the valleys so that the peaks don’t send them (and their products) over the edge.

]]> By: Brian Lawley http://www.theproductologist.com/index.php/2007/08/04/balancing-work-life-and-everything-else-part-1/#comment-31 Brian Lawley Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:21:18 +0000 http://www.theproductologist.com/index.php/2007/08/04/balancing-work-life-and-everything-else-part-1/#comment-31 I agree that a Product Manager's workload is cyclical, though I think this was more the case in years past. Now that PM's tend to manage more products at once and with Agile becoming more popular the workload is more consistent (and there are fewer, if any, chances to take needed breaks). I think Product Management has to be one of the most stressful jobs there is and one of the most difficult in terms of achieving life balance. This is particularly true if you really care about your products - you will feel like there will always be something that needs to be done that has to be put off. I'm writing a series on PM productivity in the Product Management 2.0 Blog. I'd love to get input and ideas from others about what works best for them. Brian Lawley Product Management 2.0 http://www.280group.com/blog.html I agree that a Product Manager’s workload is cyclical, though I think this was more the case in years past. Now that PM’s tend to manage more products at once and with Agile becoming more popular the workload is more consistent (and there are fewer, if any, chances to take needed breaks).

I think Product Management has to be one of the most stressful jobs there is and one of the most difficult in terms of achieving life balance. This is particularly true if you really care about your products - you will feel like there will always be something that needs to be done that has to be put off.

I’m writing a series on PM productivity in the Product Management 2.0 Blog. I’d love to get input and ideas from others about what works best for them.

Brian Lawley
Product Management 2.0
http://www.280group.com/blog.html

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