Management is getting people to do the right thing when we’re not in the room…
“We start our careers very close to the metal, meaning individual contributors getting the primary data, and building the actual product—we're in the trenches.
The people in the trenches are usually closest to the data, and the right answer, but also usually furthest from making the decision.
That's what I call the expert witness syndrome. You're called to the stand by the adults, and plead for what you passionately believe is the right answer; and then you're excused, they make a decision, and you deal with the consequences.
That's why many of us become founders, because we're sick of being in that position. You're also closer to the metal.
I believe the best product CEOs are in the minutia of the details—the really small pixel level details that matter. I had a great conversation with the founders of @discord. They came to this conclusion too, that they need to actually be an inverted pyramid.
We as founders need to be the first and last mile for the product. The best use of our time is making these minute decision that change the product user experience. To me, that's being close to the metal.
If you're the best product maker in the company, we want you on the field. We don't want you to spend your time talking to investors and managing and scaling.” @markpinc @lennysan
