This document contrasts expectations versus reality for a product manager. It discusses common expectations around idea generation, definition, and refining, as well as market research. Reality often involves ideas being rejected and requiring grit to succeed. Lessons learned include that ideas are cheap, thinking big picture is important, perseverance is key to success, making decisions sooner is better, and keeping things simple is good. The document is presented as an ongoing learning experience for a product manager.

1. Product
Management
Expectations versus reality
when you start discovering
what Product Management is.

2. IdeaGeneration
Expectation Reality

3. Expectation
whatpeoplethinkaboutyourideas
Reality

4. Expectation
Ideadefinition
Reality

5. Expectation
Idearefining
Reality

6. Expectation
Marketresearch
Reality

7. Expectation
whenyourideagetsthesack
Reality

8. Expectation
whenyoustartworkingonanewidea
Reality

9. 1.Ideas are cheap.
2.Think 10x.
3.Grit is key to success.
4.It’s usually better to choose now than later.
5.Simple is good.
lessonslearned(sofar)

10. tobecontinued.