Need someone to lead product management at your software company? I build high-craft software and the teams that build it. I'm looking for my next opportunity. Check out my resume and get in touch.

This is the blog of Adam Kalsey. Unusual depth and complexity. Rich, full body with a hint of nutty earthiness.

Blogging

Spider-Man marketing by Blog

Sony Pictures has created a set of Spider-Man 2 blog templates for LiveJournal and Blogger. They’ve also put together background images that can be used on any other Web page or blog.

Some companies are notorious for squashing fans that use copyrighted characters or images on their own sites. But Sony, realizing that fans create buzz, is not only allowing this practice, but embracing it. By some accounts, the Spider-Man fan base online is the reason that the first Spider-Man movie was made in the first place, so Sony obviously realizes what an important role their fans play. By creating these easy-to-install templates, Sony is essentially getting free sponsorship placement on any blog that chooses to use them.

Two gripes, through. One. it’s not spelled “Web Logs,” it’s one word “weblogs.” And where are the Movable Type and TypePad templates? If Sony wants to commission me to create MT templates, I’m available.

Recently Written

Should individual people have OKRs?
May 14: A good OKR describes and measures an outcome, but it can be challenging to create an outcome-focused OKR for an individual.
10 OKR traps and how to avoid them
May 8: I’ve helped lots of teams implement OKRs or fix a broken OKR process. Here are the 10 most common problems I see, and what to do instead.
AI is Smart, But Wisdom Requires Judgement
May 3: AI can process data at lightning speed, but wisdom comes from human judgment—picking the best imperfect option when facts alone don’t point the way.
Decoding Product Leadership Titles
Mar 18: Not all product leadership titles mean what they sound like. ‘Head of Product’ can mean anything from a senior PM to a true VP. Here’s how to tell the difference.
What branding can teach about culture
Jan 8: Culture is your company’s point of view in action—a framework guiding behavior, even in the unknown. You can’t copy it; it must reflect your unique perspective.
Think Systems, not Symptoms
Dec 15: Piecemeal process creation frustrates teams and slows work. Stop patching problems and start solving systems. Adopting a systems thinking approach helps you design processes that are efficient, aligned with goals, and truly add value.
Your Policies Aren’t Your Culture
Dec 13: Policies guide behavior, but culture is the lived norms and values of your team. Policies reflect culture -- they don’t define it. Netflix’s parental leave shift didn’t change its culture of freedom and responsibility. It clarified how to live it.
Lighten Your Process Burden
Dec 7: Everyone hates oppressive processes, but somehow we keep managing to create them.

Older...

What I'm Reading