Lessons from my Dad, Love Pal

Episode notes

This week’s episode of Beyond Product Management is a little different—more personal, and one of the hardest I’ve recorded. On what would have been my dad’s 76th birthday, I’m sharing the unexpected lessons he passed down to me through camping trips, late-night basketball games, and even map folding. At the time, they felt like small moments. But looking back, I see they were actually foundations—preparation, knowledge, flexibility—that shaped the way I lead, parent, and navigate both business and life. You’ll hear stories about: Why a soggy camping trip taught me more than any amusement park ever could How basketball strategy became an unlikely career advantage The surprisingly powerful lesson hidden in folding a paper map the “right” way The magic that happens when preparation meets flexibility This isn’t a product strategy breakdown—it’s about the kind of human foundations that help us pivot when plans change, lead with curiosity, and carry forward kindness in our work and our lives. In honor of my dad, I’d love for you to do one small thing today: share a smile with a stranger, hold the door, or spread a little kindness. That’s what he would’ve done—every day.