Ever feel like you're following frameworks, but still not sure if you're actually doing product management?

In this episode, Todd Blaquiere, Joe Ghali, and Ryan Cantwell lay out their personal tier lists to define what makes product management real. They debate which principles are fundamental laws - those you can’t break without breaking product - and which are just flexible preferences shaped by context.

From "outcomes over outputs" to stakeholder management, the conversation challenges conventional wisdom and surfaces surprising disagreements. It’s a candid look at what separates core product truths from passing trends.

If you’ve ever struggled to know which product advice is worth following and which ones you can safely ignore, pull up a chair for this episode of the Product Porch.

Introduction and Podcast Overview
[00:00] Internal products – Is product market fit always required?

The Product Management Tier List
[00:35] Tier list concept – Sorting laws, principles, and practices

Ryan's Tier List
[02:25] The cone tip – Defining non-negotiables
[04:00] Best practices – Flexible tools and methods
[05:30] Trends – Temporary tactics and ceremonies

Joe’s Tier List
[06:03] Product concert – Priorities in customer value and impact
[07:00] JTBD – Why it’s core for Joe
[08:00] Measuring success – Linking problems to business results

Todd’s Tier List
[08:22] Spinning top – Laws, principles, practices, style
[09:30] Product law – Break these, break the product
[10:28] Practices vs. principles – What’s flexible vs. fixed

Debating Product Laws
[11:00] “You are not the user” – Universal agreement
[12:00] Outcomes over outputs – A debated essential
[15:04] Team sport – When product requires collaboration

Product Principles
[17:56] Saying no – Strategy and focus
[20:00] Agile mindset – Beyond the process
[22:30] Working with vendors – Can you still do product?

Product Practices & Styles
[24:38] Roadmaps, personas, roles – What shifts by org
[26:00] Stakeholder management – Style or standard?
[28:00] JTBD – Tool or foundational belief?

Trends & Tools
[34:36] Tools & templates – What doesn’t define product
[36:00] Product market fit – Still relevant for internal teams?
[38:00] Positioning – Practice, not principle
[39:09] Product-led growth – Trend or truth?

Takeaways & Close
[39:28] Define your own tiers – What matters to you?
[41:00] Training ≠ truth – Not all practices are essential
[42:00] Share your tier list – Hosts want to hear from you

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Why does imposter syndrome hit product managers so hard, and what can we do about it?

In this episode, Todd Blaquiere and Ryan Cantwell dig into why imposter syndrome shows up so often in product management. From vague job descriptions to being accountable without real authority, they unpack what makes this role especially prone to self-doubt.

We share personal stories, talk through common patterns like the imposter cycle, and ask the bigger question: is this about us, or the environments we’re working in?

We also cover what managers can do to support their teams and why that nagging feeling might not mean you're broken. It might just mean you're growing.

Before you second-guess your seat at the table, pull up a chair on the porch. This conversation might remind you why you’re exactly where you need to be.

• ProductPlan article — 92% of product managers report experiencing imposter syndrome
  https://blog.academyofpm.com/p/imposter-syndrome
• PubMed study — Research showing 70% of people experience imposter syndrome at some point in their careers
  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10060463
• The Imposter Cycle (Pauline Clance) — The foundational model describing how imposter syndrome repeats itself
  PDF download

Introduction to Imposter Syndrome
[00:00] Kicking off - Why PM is a breeding ground for imposter syndrome
[00:28] Setting the vibe - Honest, practical, personal
[01:03] Todd’s first PM gig - A story from the LA Times
[03:00] 92% stat - Most PMs feel this way

Personal Experiences and Imposter Syndrome
[03:26] Humidity metaphor - PM creates the perfect climate
[04:11] Type A vibes - Ryan on perfectionism
[05:48] No map - Entering PM without a guide
[07:00] Credentials gap - Everyone else seems legit
[08:30] No control - But still on the hook
[11:00] Feedback flood - Too much input, all the time

The Imposter Cycle and Its Effects
[12:18] The cycle - Overwork, success, repeat
[14:00] Todd’s report - Proof through spreadsheets
[16:00] Failure bias - We remember the bad stuff
[17:30] What helps - Use feedback, play to your strengths

Risks and Implications of Imposter Syndrome
[22:03] Vision blocks - Doubt clouds strategy
[23:30] Trust erosion - Over-talking or going silent
[24:30] Innovation drag - Self-doubt stifles creativity

Individual vs. Environment
[28:39] Big Q - Is it you or the system?
[29:30] Context matters - Good environments help
[30:00] Growth signal - Maybe it’s not a flaw

Hot Takes and Final Thoughts
[31:21] Startup vs enterprise - Which fuels the doubt?
[33:00] Metrics? - Not the magic fix
[34:00] Good imposter syndrome? - Maybe a little humility helps
[36:05] Final note - You’re not broken

Help keep the Product Porch lights on by giving at Patreon.com/TheProductPorch.

Join our email list and never miss an episode at theproductporch.com

Ever feel like you’re doing everything “right” in product management—and still not seeing results?

From Agile to OKRs to product-led growth, there’s no shortage of shiny techniques promising success. But what happens when these so-called solutions fall flat?

In this episode, we dive into the myth of silver bullet solutions—those magic product techniques that are supposed to fix everything overnight. We break down which tactics get overhyped, why they often fail, and how you can avoid the common mistakes that come with chasing the latest framework.

If you’ve ever suffered through a standup that went nowhere or watched a new tool get hailed as the answer to all your problems, pull up a chair—we’re unpacking it all on the porch.

Introduction and Podcast Overview
[00:09] What is a silver bullet? – Defining the allure of quick fixes in product management
[01:49] Examples in the wild – Roadmaps, new tools, and false hope

The Temptation of Quick Fixes
[03:09] Magic bullet mindset – Todd's workout analogy and business pressures
[04:29] Quarterly pressure – Why QBRs drive poor decision-making

Common Silver Bullet Techniques
[05:35] The Agile trap – When scrum ceremonies go wrong
[06:44] Misusing agile – The cost of skipping foundational work
[07:41] Voice of the customer – When "talk to 10 customers" becomes a checkbox
[09:27] Discovery dysfunction – Joe and Ryan debate real vs. fake discovery
[11:00] Better metrics – Roadmap cadence and persona updates

Silver Bullet or Shot in the Foot Game
[17:00] Round 1: Tools – Why software alone isn’t the fix
[20:00] Round 2: Product demos – Celebrated or sabotaged?
[22:30] Round 3: OKRs – Only as strong as your strategy
[25:25] Round 4: Product-led growth – Misunderstood and misapplied
[26:58] Round 5: Standups – Weaponized check-ins or true team huddles?

Tier List of Techniques
[29:16] Ranking the myths – F to A tier, no technique is sacred
[31:33] Jobs to Be Done – Why even JTBD can fall flat

Advice for Product Managers
[36:57] What to do when leadership drops a “fix” on you
[38:00] Read the book – Why understanding the full context matters
[39:28] Don’t protest, pilot – How to earn influence and adapt in real-time

Takeaways and Conclusion
[42:05] Quick wins > magic bullets – Joe’s final advice
[43:01] Learn to learn – Todd’s call for intentional practice
[43:44] Porch games and product laughs – Wrapping it up with fun

Help keep the Product Porch lights on by giving at Patreon.com/TheProductPorch.

Join our email list and never miss an episode at theproductporch.com