Succeeding as an introvert, building zero-to-one, and PM’ing your career like a product | Deb Liu

Introduction to Deb Liu 0s

• Deb Liu has held executive positions at Facebook, eBay, and PayPal. 2s
• She has also served on the board of Intuit. 4s
• For the past three and a half years, she has been the CEO of Ancestry. 6s

Deb’s career journey and key advice 2m18s

• The speaker's interest in product management began after a conversation with a recruiter and a product manager led to a job offer. 7m40s
• The speaker believes that continuous learning is crucial for career success, emphasizing that expertise in a particular area is not the ultimate goal. 3m1s
• The speaker believes that career paths are not linear and encourages individuals to embrace new challenges and be willing to learn from others. 3m19s

Navigating new roles and challenges 9m45s

• Passion for the product, company, business model, or use case is crucial, even more so than technical skills like writing specifications or conducting data analysis. 10m12s
• Aspiring product managers should focus on demonstrating their enthusiasm for the problem the company is trying to solve and the target customer. 10m36s
• Being genuinely excited about the work and the company is a prerequisite for success as a product manager. 11m2s

Overcoming adversity and failure 11m27s

• The most successful people are those who have experienced adversity, learned from their failures, and used feedback to improve. 11m41s
• Overcoming challenges and setbacks builds resilience and strength, much like a tree bending in the wind. 12m21s
• It's important to embrace adversity and view it as an opportunity for growth rather than striving for a life without challenges. 12m39s

Building billion-dollar businesses at Facebook 15m7s

• The speaker built the first direct response ad product at Facebook, which became a significant source of ad revenue for the company. 15m57s
• The speaker found success by pursuing opportunities that others overlooked and by iterating rapidly on product ideas, even when faced with limited resources and the possibility of failure. 16m11s
• Large companies often struggle to innovate because they tend to over-manage new projects and are too quick to abandon initiatives that don't show immediate results. 18m54s

Strategies for zero-to-one innovation 19m33s

• The most important element for fostering innovation is patience, recognizing that innovation is a portfolio strategy with inherent risks and a significant failure rate. 19m59s
• Individuals early in their careers should prioritize learning core product development skills in stable environments where they can contribute to established products and gain valuable experience. 22m34s
• At some point in one's career, it's beneficial to take risks and pursue "big swing" innovation projects, understanding that these endeavors carry a higher chance of failure but also offer the potential for significant impact and career-defining experiences. 23m5s

PM your career like a product 23m40s

• Many people drift from job to job without a plan for their career. 24m20s
• It is important to have a plan for your career and to think about what you want to achieve in the future. 28m28s
• When considering job opportunities, it can be helpful to have a measuring stick to determine if a particular opportunity will help you get closer to your long-term goals. 30m49s

Challenges and strategies for introverts in business 33m53s

• Introverts are often overlooked in the workplace, despite their skills and contributions. 34m22s
• Introverted professionals need to become their own best marketers and share their accomplishments to gain recognition. 36m22s
• Workplaces should be designed to accommodate different communication styles, allowing introverts to contribute effectively. 36m38s

Reframing self-promotion 39m19s

• Reframing self-promotion as educating others about a team's accomplishments can make it feel less self-serving. 40m6s
• Individuals may avoid self-promotion because they associate it with those who lack substance, but reframing it as sharing valuable knowledge can change their perspective. 41m21s
• Sharing knowledge and experiences publicly can be beneficial, and individuals should focus on providing valuable content rather than seeking attention. 42m22s

The power of accountability 42m25s

• A manager requested a monthly written and published work as part of a work agreement. 43m16s
• The manager's request resulted in consistently writing and publishing content for years, including a book. 44m21s
• Accountability, whether from a manager or a friend, can help individuals overcome the initial hurdle of sharing their work publicly. 45m43s

Growth: a game of inches 46m15s

• Growth is about making small, incremental improvements over time, such as increasing efficiency by 1% each week. 46m41s
• Many small improvements can lead to significant growth, and it's important to experiment with different ideas, even if some fail. 46m58s
• Growth teams should focus on optimizing existing products and features to enhance user experience and accessibility, rather than solely focusing on developing new products. 50m15s

The 30-60-90-day plan 50m52s

• A 30-60-90-day plan, focused on listening and learning before doing, can be beneficial for anyone joining a company. 51m14s
• The plan encourages new hires to spend the first 30 days listening to colleagues, summarizing their feedback, and identifying challenges and wish lists. 52m24s
• It's crucial to align with the manager on the plan, dedicating time for listening and understanding the team's dynamics before attempting to make an impact. 53m57s

Contrarian corner: career and marriage 56m52s

• The most crucial career decision an individual makes is who they choose to marry. 57m20s
• Having a supportive home life is essential for a successful career, especially for individuals in demanding careers and those with children. 57m44s
• When choosing a life partner, individuals should consider the long-term impact of the relationship on their career and overall well-being. 58m11s

Final nuggets of wisdom 58m57s

• Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. People who are resilient and view failures as opportunities for growth tend to have more successful and fulfilling careers. 00:59:22
• Leadership coaching can be transformative in helping individuals reframe their perspective on failure and feedback. It provides a safe space to process negative emotions and develop strategies for growth. 1h1m32s
• Perfectionism can be detrimental, especially for product leaders. Embracing adaptability and acknowledging that mistakes are inevitable is crucial for growth and success. 1h2m57s

How to find a coach 1h3m9s

• Finding a coach can be expensive, but there are alternative ways to receive coaching. 1h3m19s
• Joining coaching circles or groups, such as Lean In groups or YPO, provides an opportunity to learn from peers and receive coaching. 01:03:29
• As individuals progress in their careers and encounter more unique situations, having an individual coach becomes increasingly beneficial. 1h3m54s

Lightning round 1h4m47s

• Three recommended books are Power: Why Some People Have It and Others Don't and The 7 Rules of Power by Jeffrey Pfeffer, The Conversation by Robert Livingston, and Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. 1h4m54s
• A recent enjoyable TV show is the Fallout TV series. 1h6m40s
• A recently discovered product is Threads. 01:07:26
• A life motto is to treat life like a game. 1h8m43s
• The most interesting items sold on Facebook Marketplace were a minivan and a used desk. 1h9m7s