The longer I’ve been in product, the more I realize that intuition doesn’t just come from data. It comes from living life with your eyes open. We often think of intuition as that voice that tells you to pause: “Something feels off,” “Not yet,” “Let’s wait.” And sometimes, that’s exactly what it is. It’s restraint. … Continue reading What nobody tells you about product intuition
Tag: advice
The weight of negative self talk
Negative self talk is sneaky. It slips in quietly, almost unnoticeable, until suddenly it’s running the show. You’re about to try something new and there it is, whispering: “You’re not good enough,” or “People are going to judge you.” And the thing is, it doesn’t just appear out of thin air. It’s built over years. … Continue reading The weight of negative self talk
The trap of wanting to be liked
There’s this pattern that shows up at work for so many of us: the craving to be liked. Not just respected for the work, but really liked—seen as smart, capable, and worth celebrating. And the moment someone seems curt or doesn’t give that signal, the mind runs wild. “Do they think I’m not good enough? … Continue reading The trap of wanting to be liked
On stress
I hate how the word stress is thrown around so casually these days. It's become a filler word for everything. People use it when they're impatient, angry, restless, or afraid. But stress isn't just a fleeting emotion or a surface-level reaction. It's deeper than that. And honestly, it's hard to put into words. That's the … Continue reading On stress
Why the best feedback doesn’t feel good at first
We all love getting positive feedback. The kind that says our work matters and that we're making a difference. And let's be honest, sometimes, that's all we want. But there's another kind of feedback. The kind that shakes you up and makes you pause and think, "Wait, but I thought I was already good at … Continue reading Why the best feedback doesn’t feel good at first
On complaining
Complaining might feel good in the moment, but it doesn’t solve anything. The more you complain, the more stuck you become. It’s unproductive, toxic, and drains not just your energy, but also the energy of the people who care enough to listen. Especially those who try to help, only to realize their efforts are being … Continue reading On complaining
Going beyond career goals
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
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
The trap of wanting to be right
All of us have had difficult conversations in our life. A conversation turns bitter when we don't allow the other person to express their views because it could hurt our beliefs. When this happens, the other person will simply unhook themselves from the conversation because they feel exhausted that we don't get it. The devil … Continue reading The trap of wanting to be right
The value of “I don’t know”
Every time a senior employee or manager explained an idea with immense passion, I used to play along. My response to them would be, "Sounds great," or "Makes sense!." I'd signal my agreement by instantly jumping to discuss the next steps. Once the discussion gets over, I'd feel weird. I'd ask myself - "Did you … Continue reading The value of “I don’t know”
Akkshaya Varkhedi 