The gameplan to start something new
Ready, set, go: The gameplan to write consistently
Gordon here. I’m a Taiwanese Canadian who has worked in the States for over 10 years. I’m ex-Meta, ex-Microsoft, and have been Head of Product at 2 startups.
Have you ever tried starting something new and stopped before you even started? I have.
Last week I shared how I overcame writing anxiety, with guiding principles to help remove my mental block on writing content online. In this post, I want to apply my product skills to develop a game plan as I start something new: writing consistently.
Bootstrapping a sustainable loop
To tackle this like a product manager, I need a concrete plan that solves the initial hurdle (cold start problem), and keeps momentum going (growth loop).
Break through the static friction
Build a “Circle of editors”
Execute on “Next week, next day, next hour”
Be 2 steps ahead
Follow through the success criteria
Remind myself why I’m doing this
Let’s dive in.
#1 The “static friction”
Starting something new can feel like trying to move a stationary heavy object; you’re faced with a strong resistance called static friction. 🪨
To combat this, finding levers that work for ‘me’ is key.
I've started sharing my writing goals with friends and family. This not only holds me accountable, making it harder for me to back out, but it also provides positive reinforcement through their encouragement. 💞
Additionally, instead of writing about something else while trying to overcome my writing anxiety, why not just simplify matters and make writing anxiety my first topic. Smart, eh? 😆
#2 Circle of editors
Product managers are not the best at design and selling, and they probably cannot code. Yet, they are surrounded with like-minded people with different expertise to build a product together.
This is how I apply product skills to writing.
I built my support network by setting up a "circle1 of editors" – friends who give feedback on my drafts. Their insights help me refine my content and catch any blind spots.
I appreciate their help so much and am amazed by their unique insight. 🙏
#3 Next week, next day, next hour
Gradual deadlines simplify focus.
I’ve worked with many product designers and product managers on my team on high-profile projects. To move things quickly, I have a 3-level deadline framework: next week, next day, next hour.
What task can you complete in the next hour to guarantees satisfaction?
What output should you reach by the next day to advance progress?
What outcome do you aim to achieve by next week?
This framework describes clear milestones and simplifies focus on what to tackle next. I set them with the team first, then we go execute.
In the case of writing, I:
Told my friends I was aiming to publish the 1st post on Monday next week
Notified some of my circle of editors that I’ll have draft ready by the next day
Drafted the article with the goal to have section-level titles ready in the next hour
#4 Two steps ahead
PMs need to always think ahead. Or, in my words, be 2 steps ahead:
Current step: deliver the feature (or firefight released features)
1 step ahead: fine-tune the spec for upcoming backlog or roadmap
2 steps ahead: go deep on defining overall roadmap or product strategy
How I designed my writing game plan accordingly:
Current step:
Execute hard under the “Next week, next day, next hour” framework, and work with circle of editors
1 step ahead:
Mention the topic of the next post in the current one. It keeps readers engaged and it creates a growth loop to publish content. Artificial, yet effective.
2 steps ahead:
Keep a list of potential topics ready to groom. I use a simple Notion setup:
#5 Success criteria
One of my circle of editors said, “In product, an important thing to consider is how we measure success. I’m curious, what does success look like to you?”
Here’s my set of success criteria [a topic for another time] for writing:
Output — Publish at least 1 post a week, for the next 12 weeks
Outcome — Receive compliments that the content resonates with subscribers, proxied by offline comments, shares and likes 💜
Leading indicators — Engage every other day with my circle of editors
#6 Self-reminder on the ‘why’
As a product manager, it's crucial to remember why we're doing what we're doing. Otherwise, excitement wears off over time.
For me, I want to share my professional knowledge and my point of view with the world. I possess unique experience from both highly established companies and startups.
In my next post, I'll delve into the deepest drive for writing content online — my career mission statements.
A note to you — What is something new you thought of starting → want to start?
I hope you can find one or two things in this article that resonate with you, whether it helps with your writing, product management, or starting something else you love.
If you enjoyed this, feel free to subscribe and share it with someone you think would find it helpful. 💎
Circle: It is a term that we used when I was working at Meta. They are small group gatherings to develop your strengths, build community, and explore current workplace opportunities and challenges [a topic for another time]