I’m Max, a father of two, Product Director & Product Coach from Sydney. I write about leadership, product management, business and life.
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  1. Jan 4, 2025

    New Year, Who Dis?

    Everyone talks about ‘hitting the ground running’ after the Christmas break.

    Let’s be honest, no one feels like sprinting straight away at this time of the year.

    Some are still catching up on sleep, recovering from all the desserts they've eaten, wrapping their heads around what day it is and trying not to fail one of their New Year's resolutions in the first week of the year.

    Forcing yourself into work mode overnight is hard.

    I’d rather ease into it. Spend the first day reconnecting with your team, archiving all the emails from last year and marking all Slack messages as read. Oh, that feels great.

    By the second day, you’re already feeling more in control.

    A comprehensive guide to kick off your 2025

  2. Dec 30, 2024

    Uncertainty defines startup life.

    Prioritising the right problems keeps you grounded. Communicating your vision aligns your team. Flexibility lets you navigate the unexpected. These habits aren’t luxuries - they’re survival skills.

    Adaptability and focus turn uncertainty into opportunity.

  3. Dec 15, 2024

    Weird Works Wonders

    Hesitating to share a weird idea kills creativity. Fear of judgement silences potential brilliance.

    Most unconventional ideas won’t work. But the rare one that does can change everything. What seems absurd in one moment might solve a problem in another. Creativity thrives on the unexpected and bold ideas are the spark for breakthroughs.

    By embracing the bizarre, teams unlock new possibilities. Instead of dismissing “stupid” ideas, explore them. Confidence to share fuels progress and every idea becomes a seed for innovation.

  4. Nov 28, 2024

    Culture is shaped by the people within it. Sometimes, one person is all it takes to spark positive change.

    An employee who offers genuine encouragement, lends a hand to solve a problem or suggests small but meaningful improvements can transform a team’s energy — one action at a time.

    This is the quiet yet powerful force of influence.

    Amplify their voices.
    Support them.
    Elevate them.

    Let their impact ripple further.

    Culture starts with one person. Support those who inspire, uplift, and improve—they spark the ripple of change.

  5. Nov 17, 2024

    Silos.

    Break them whenever you see them.

    Silos keep teams from seeing the whole market picture.

    Silos risk losing sight of the customer, prioritising internal goals and creating a fragmented experience.

    Silos slow everything down - teams hold onto information, delaying solutions.

    Silos leave teams blind to risks outside their scope.

  6. Nov 13, 2024

    Expertise vs open-mindedness.

    Sometimes it’s hard to tell if someone’s perspective is genuinely the best approach or if they’re just anchored in familiar thinking. What if they don’t even know what “awesome” could look like?

    On the other hand, knowing when to hold your ground versus when to let things go can be even trickier. What if I don’t know what “awesome” feels like and am just comfortable with my usual approach?

  7. Nov 12, 2024

    Define who’s making the call before a debate starts.

    That person takes in everyone’s input but in the end they own the final decision.

    It cuts down on endless debates and helps the team align around a single direction—even if not everyone agrees at first.

    Clarity comes when you define the decision-maker upfront. hear all voices, but let one guide the team forward.

  8. Sep 17, 2024

    A short post about unstoppable teams.

  9. Sep 6, 2024

    Weathering the Torpedoes

    All teams will face this moment sooner or later.

    Torpedoes hit and chaos erupts. This feels like the end.

    You see those who freeze and are lost in analysis or despair. Others grab buckets, extinguish fires and patch the holes. Those who can’t handle the shitstorm often leave or, worse, switch off — but the team that stays learns.

    Each crisis builds resilience and over time, the screams fade, the paralysis lessens and the team grows steady.

    One day, the torpedo hits again but nobody panics. Everyone acts, shoulders the load and trusts each other to hold the line.

    That’s the moment you know your team is unstoppable.

    The moment you know your team is unstoppable

  10. Jun 23, 2024

    Scaling Skills in Small Teams

    Working at a small tech business shapes your career differently.

    You’ll juggle strategy, customer service, product development and beyond. The small team demands versatility, immersing you in every aspect of the business. This hands-on experience accelerates learning and builds skills quicker than larger organisations ever could.

    For ambitious minds craving growth and variety, nothing compares.

    In a small tech business, every hat you wear accelerates your growth

Feel free to reach out: [email protected].