How to Accelerate Your Product Management Career by Vito Salvaggio at SVPMA Monthly Event August 2005

1. How To Elevate Your Product
Management Career
Vito Salvaggio
Vice President of Product Marketing
Roxio, a Division of Sonic Solutions
vito@roxio.com

2. Be very good at something
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3. Be very honest about what you’re good at
and what you’re not good at
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4. Information is power… if shared
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5. Run to your boss with bad news
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6. Use “I” only when admitting mistakes
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7. Give people credit every chance you get
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8. Measure your success by tangible
accomplishments
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9. Work very hard, be rigorous, and strive
for excellence (but not perfection)
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10. Be organized
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11. Be loyal to a cause, a mission, or a vision
(Companies are not always loyal to people)
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12. Don’t try to “rise” too quickly –
experience matters
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13. Stay informed on general business, on your
domain, and seek professional training
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14. Don’t go to your boss with questions.
Propose recommendations.
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15. Don’t be your boss’s problem child
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16. Balance self assurance with self awareness
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17. Plan your career in 4 year chunks
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18. Your reputation travels – everyone you
work with is a reference – whether you
know it or not
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19. Don’t run away from difficult business
conditions – they can be great learning
experiences
(All companies are kinda screwed up in some way)
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20. Choose who you work for very carefully –
check references, analyze the business
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21. Don’t chase money or title – chase good
opportunities for success
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22. Don’t whine too much – leave if you can’t
change things and if you’re not happy
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23. But be careful not to take a “bad” job just
cuz you hate your current job
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24. Never personalize conflicts
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25. If you want to succeed at managing people,
make sure you’ve done the job of people
you manage
(There’s only one generalist – the CEO)
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26. When managing people, be selfless
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27. Management is not a popularity contest –
be firm but fair
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28. Never hire sub-par people to fill a position
– have the courage to hire smarter people
than you
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29. Run your teams lean – don’t become an
empire builder
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30. Clear and concise communication is
critical to career advancement
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31. Thank You
Q&A
vito@roxio.com
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