From Complaining to Creating

Product management is often seen as a very cool job—the place where ideas come to life, where innovation combines with execution, and where the thrill of building something meaningful keeps us up at night. But for many of us, the reality doesn’t always align with the dream. We step into roles full of excitement and ambition, only to find ourselves bogged down by the dreaded "product culture." I’ve been there, and I’ve felt the frustration firsthand.

Some product managers spend their time fixating on the limitations of the culture they work in, while others find ways to drive success in spite of it. I know this because I've been on both sides.

When I first started out as a PM, I was full of big ideas and high expectations. I imagined a world where product decisions were driven purely by customer needs, where stakeholders always aligned perfectly, and where the path to success was clear and unhindered. But soon enough, I ran into the realities that every PM faces at some point—politics, resource constraints, conflicting priorities, and the ever-present challenge of getting everyone on the same page.

At first, I found myself stuck in what I now call the "complaining zone." I would vent about how things should be different, how the culture was holding us back, and how much better things would be if only we could change this or that. I believed that the culture was the problem, and until it changed, there wasn’t much I could do. But this mindset led to frustration and stagnation, both for myself and for the teams I was working with. It was as if I was waiting for someone else to fix the environment so that I could finally do my job.

But then something shifted. I realized that if I kept waiting for the perfect product culture to magically appear, I would be waiting forever. And in the meantime, I wasn’t making the impact I wanted to make. So I made a decision—I could either continue complaining, or I could start creating. I chose the latter.

This shift wasn’t easy, and it didn’t happen overnight. But once I embraced the challenges as part of the job, rather than obstacles to it, everything started to change. I began to see constraints not as barriers, but as opportunities to get creative. I learned to navigate the politics, to work within the limitations, and to find solutions even when the odds were stacked against me.

One of the biggest changes was in how I approached problems. Instead of focusing on what was wrong with the culture or the situation, I started focusing on what I could do to make progress, even in small ways. I became more proactive in finding allies across teams, more strategic in prioritizing efforts, and more determined to keep the momentum going no matter what.

This mindset shift didn’t just help me deliver better results—it also accelerated my career in ways I hadn’t expected. I found that people started looking to me not just as a PM who could get things done, but as a leader who could inspire others to push through challenges. The more I leaned into the mindset of creating impact despite the culture, the more opportunities came my way. I was invited to lead bigger projects, to mentor other PMs, and to take on roles with more responsibility. And through it all, I became more confident in my ability to navigate whatever came my way.

The truth is, product culture will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, misalignments, and things that feel out of your control. But the mark of a strong product manager isn’t in their ability to change the culture—it’s in their ability to thrive within it. When you stop waiting for the ideal environment and start creating impact in the one you’re in, you not only make things happen, but you also set yourself apart as someone who can lead through adversity.

So if you find yourself stuck in the complaining zone, ask yourself this: What can you do today to create impact, despite the culture? How can you navigate the challenges in a way that keeps the team moving forward? What small wins can you achieve that build momentum?

The answers to these questions are what will define your success as a product manager. Don’t wait for things to be perfect. Be the PM who makes things happen. Your career—and your impact—will grow faster than you ever thought possible.

Thanks and see you soon!

The Product Land ⛰️

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