Shit, there goes 9 years…

No, I am not out of work, quite the contrary, I am about as indispensable as I can be. The good news is that means they keep throwing buckets of RSU’s at me.

Over the past 8 years, I have assiduously avoided all the pressure to be elevated to a leadership role[1]. As such, I have been through 5 managers, often people who aren’t well versed in either product management, or the specific challenges our industry presents to product management.

Alas, about a year ago, we got a new “director”, and he began working on me to step up. And as time went on, it became clear that I was going to not only manage the six of the motley crew of product managers, but that I was going to be my Director’s number 2, and involved with … well everything[2]. Alas my efforts over the last 9 years to remain under the radar, coaching and mentoring interim bosses because they often lacked knowledge of product management, or our industry (and in one case both).

Alas, I just turned 60 years old. I have about 5ish years left until I can hang up my spurs and ride on into the sunset, and suddenly, I find myself with buckets more responsibility. But, my team did send me a gift for my birthday:

At least this time, I have enough pull to replace myself. That has been the downside of all my prior elevations into people management.

The money is good though, and the longer I hold on, the better my retirement will be. I guess that is a good thing.

Regardless, I am going to have things to say, so expect me to get chattier.

[1] trust me, the pressure to step up has been continual and aggressive.

[2] this does require a lot of work, and way too many early calls.