Most PMs Are Doing Bullsh*t Management
Just a few of the hot takes from the latest episode featuring David Pereira — arguably the most controversial PM out there.
Warning: If you’ve ever felt like your PM job is more about performance than actual product, this episode will hit a nerve. But if you’re ready to stop asking for permission and start leading, it might just change the game for you.
My Favorite Takeaways
Most PMs Aren’t Managing Products — They’re Managing Theater
If your day is filled with endless meetings, reporting on outputs no one reads, and taking feature requests straight to engineering, you’re not doing product management.
You’re doing bullsh*t management — where you think you’re making an impact, but you’re really just playing the role.
Product Theory Will Sell You the Promised Land
In theory:
- You own the roadmap
- You prioritize based on outcomes
- You talk to customers weekly
In reality:
- Strategy is missing in action
- Roadmaps are a wishlist to make stakeholders happy
- Customer discovery means asking sales what they heard last week
The 3 Traps Keeping PMs Powerless
- Wants over Needs: Stakeholders tell you what they want. Your job is to dig deep and figure out what users actually need.
- The Calendar Owns You: If you’re in 30+ hours of meetings a week, when are you actually doing product?
- The Fear of Saying No: Saying yes to everything keeps the peace… but at what cost? You end up owning poor decisions you didn’t even make.
Strategy, Discovery, Delivery Aren’t Phases — They’re the Spine
- Strategy = Saying no with clarity
- Discovery = Stop guessing, start learning
- Delivery = Ship value, not features
These are not separate stages. They are the core of real product work.
Want to Be a 10x PM? Learn to Say No with Backbone
If being a “good PM” means saying yes to everything and keeping everyone happy — maybe you shouldn’t be a PM.
You’re not in the role to look good.
You’re here to create value.
And sometimes that means slowing things down, ruffling feathers, or saying no to powerful people.
This episode is your wake-up call. Watch it, reflect on it, and then — start doing the work that actually matters.
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