I’m writing this to hold myself accountable as much as anything. To stop me taking the path of least resistance and to be more intentional about what I do next. I have a little breathing space so I don’t need to jump into something to keep the lights on or the Ocado deliveries delivering.

Plus as much as I want to pretend it isn’t the case I am still more than a little physically, mentally and emotionally fragile. It has been 20 weeks since I was first hospitalised, which seems like yesterday and forever ago.

My sweet spot seems to be between 20 and 25 hours work a week – but not on a particularly consistent schedule so I need to be able to flex my days and weeks accordingly.

The Plan

So the goal is to build a small (micro) ‘product’ coaching practice. Just two or three clients at the most. Working in places where a more purist product approach is an uncomfortable fit. Where people woke up one day and were informed they were ‘Product Managers’ regardless of their background. Helping them navigate the expectations, opportunities and relationships that come with the role. Help them make sense of ‘Big Product’ in the context of their organisations/bureaucracies. 

Providing grounding in the foundations – visions, missions, outcomes, roadmaps, prioritisation, measurement, influencing and communicating.

…and how it all fits into the wider ecosystem of other professions, governance, funding etc. 

Doing all this via a mix of one-to-ones, group chats and workshops.

With the very big caveat that there is no cookie cutter approach. Product people and product teams and product organisations (or the organisations product people operate in) are all different and deserve a tailored approach.

Now given my background obviously I’m probably a best fit for Central Government clients (but I know that would need to be via bigger suppliers) but I am very interested in expanding my exposure to other corners of the ‘internet of public service’ – and I’ve already had some great chats with folk in Higher Education.

I’m in the process of spinning up a new Limited Company (because – d’oh – I closed my old one in April!) and will be ‘open for business’ from late September – though happy to chat prior to that.