From being raised on the east coast in a blue-collar home, to living my dream on the west coast in Tech, I’ve adopted and tried to embody some key values. These values are my foundation for overcoming professional and life challenges.

Discipline

My discipline in rooted in my athletic background. There I first learned the importance of showing up no matter what. Not feeling well? Oh well, show up. Have something else going on? Too bad, show up. Team members who show up and bring their best selves routinely elevate the team.

This early experience with discipline in athletics became the foundation for application in all areas. As a product manager in the tech, that discipline has been instrumental.

As a PM it pays be consistent. Teams experience energy cycles, especially when things are challenging. I’ve found my consistent calming nature permeates through my teams.

It also pays to be disciplined in product best practices. Companies are slime molds and if you’re not careful you can easily end up off track chasing shiny objects. My discipline supports focused commitment to our vision and strategy. While exploring new insights and opportunities, I routinely root my team’s work in on our objectives.

Ownership

Ownership, to me, is about embracing responsibility and being accountable for outcomes. This principle of always taking responsibility is an essential leadership skill and powerful mindset. It is best documented in one of my favorite books, “Extreme Ownership” by Jocko Willink. Willink’s philosophy resonates with me. It’s about taking ownership regardless of the situation.

Adopting a mindset of extreme ownership as a PM means the buck stops with you. It’s easy to point the finger or make excuses: the design wasn’t great, the engineers went rogue, sales didn’t fulfill their part etc. That type of thinking has no place in a team atmosphere. Leaders don’t place blame, they accept responsibility and move the team forward.

Passion

Everything is harder if you’re not passionate about what you’re doing. Conversely passion can make doing hard things more manageable.

For a long time I was impatient. I couldn’t stand doing something I deemed inefficient. Early on I would seek solutions to this inefficiency: either building or buying them. In trying to solve these problems I feel in love with products. This built deep empathy for others who are trying to solve problems.

This passion and empathy guided me towards product management. Now I use this passion and empathy to solve problems for customers with software products.

Transparency

Transparency is a commitment to honesty and openness. The culture I grew up in was a straightforward tell-you-what-I’m-thinking one. This instilled in me the value of being clear and direct in all interactions.

In tech, where complexity clouds everything, I strive for transparency. To me this means: working in public, sharing early and often. It manifests as trusting coworkers to control their level of involvement. 

Integrity

Integrity is non-negotiable. It’s a moral compass that guides my actions. It means doing the right thing, especially when it’s challenging. 

Teamwork

A huge part of why I love product management is the team aspect. As a lifelong team athlete, I’ve learned that a team always goes further faster than an individual. To me great leadership is: leading by example, fostering a positive attitude, and valuing teamwork. My experiences on the field have translated into leading teams professional. For product teams collaboration and collective effort are essential to innovation and success.

Humility

Influenced by Stoicism & rooted in mindfulness practice, I value humility and the continuous quest for escaping ego. I am very aware of my ego and this helps me leave it at the door.

• I don’t take anything personally, I no longer get defensive
• My belief that we’re all the same and connected requires I never put myself above anyone else

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These values keep me grounded and on the right path. Whether I’m in a in a meeting, heads down in deep work, or walking down the street. These values guide me towards a future that honors both my past and my aspirations.

What principles have shaped your path? How do they manifest in your daily life and work? Feel free to share your thoughts and stories in the comments below.