What's your career goal? This is most managers' favorite question. They ask to ensure that our responsibilities in the organization align with our career goals. They want to be helpful in our journey. All good, but I've always found it awkward to answer that. It’s not that I have an absurd goal that people would … Continue reading Going beyond career goals
Author: Akkshaya Varkhedi
On counting our blessings
We all have things to be grateful for, yet we often fail to remember them. That's because we don't value those things the way we value something we don't have yet. Some of us think whatever we've achieved, acquired, or been blessed with all along the way was meant to happen, so it doesn't make … Continue reading On counting our blessings
Want something? Ask.
As kids, whenever we showcase our talents, such as reciting a rhyme, drawing, or dancing, to our family, we'd get appreciated for it. Similarly, if we did well in school or were adept at answering questions in class, our teachers would acknowledge and hold us in high regard. Childhood seemed effortless. However, things change when … Continue reading Want something? Ask.
Search experience on YouTube
YouTube's primary Search experience is pretty good. They allow the ability to filter on top of the search results based on the video length, quality, duration, upload date, etc. However, they need to handle Search better in other areas within the app. YouTube Channels YouTube offers the ability to search within channels. However, there's a … Continue reading Search experience on YouTube
Product management wisdom and why context matters
If you're a PM, you're more likely to follow Silicon Valley PM thought leaders to learn about the latest trends in product management. You may even have taken up a few PM courses to learn a thing or two about best product management practices. I can relate. What I've observed being a part of the … Continue reading Product management wisdom and why context matters
My thoughts on job compatibility
So many of us are conditioned to evaluate if we're good enough to be hired for a specific role in a company and try hard to crack the interview. But we hardly think about what we look for in a company and assess if the company is a good fit for us. We're wired to … Continue reading My thoughts on job compatibility
Figma – Hiding side panels and toolbar
If users want a distraction-free view that helps them focus on the designs alone, Figma allows hiding the side panels and toolbar. It can be achieved using a keyboard shortcut (Command + \ in Mac and Windows + \ in Windows). The same shortcut can be used to bring back the panels and toolbar. Many users, including PMs, … Continue reading Figma – Hiding side panels and toolbar
My two cents on decision-making
When at a crossroads, we experience anxiety and feel overwhelmed about making a decision. Whether it be a small decision or a life-altering one, the way we perceive this scenario could be the same. Sometimes we fight the thought of what's morally acceptable and not. We invite many factors to determine if our decision is … Continue reading My two cents on decision-making
Work on things you want to get better at
One standard piece of advice I've heard from many is to work on things that we are good at and would excite us. The rationale behind this advice is to double down on things we have expertise in and experience a sense of satisfaction while working on familiar tasks. This is good advice, but I could … Continue reading Work on things you want to get better at
Going beyond our work identity
Anytime I meet a stranger or an acquaintance, I introduce myself using my professional identity. "Hello, I work as a PM at a startup."And that's it. It's as if there's nothing more to me than being a product manager at an early-stage startup. Hence, my conversations revolve only around tech, SaaS, etc. Though this is a … Continue reading Going beyond our work identity