All Things Product with Teresa and Petra

Deep Work


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Key Takeaways:

  • Deep work is essential but often deprioritized. Many product leaders know they should spend time on strategic thinking but struggle to justify it.
  • Guilt is a major barrier. Many leaders feel bad about blocking off time for reflection, fearing it takes away from “real work.”
  • Deep thinking improves team alignment. Setting aside time for structured thought helps leaders assess their team’s needs, challenges, and motivations.
  • Strategy requires dedicated focus time. Updating or refining product strategy isn’t something you can do in 15-minute increments—it requires intentional, uninterrupted work.
  • Protecting your calendar is a leadership skill. Building deep work habits means creating systems that make space for what matters most.
  • Resources & Links:

    • Follow Teresa Torres: https://ProductTalk.org
    • Follow Petra Wille: https://Petra-Wille.com
    • Mentioned in the episode:

      • Maker’s Schedule, Manager’s Schedule by Paul Graham
      • Petra's Illustration of Maker's vs. Manager's Schedule
      • Deep Work by Cal Newport
      • Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
      • Beating the drum of your product strategy tune- Megan Murphy’s talk at Mind The Product
      • I’m Glad We All Agree by Jeff Patton
      • Reclaim.ai
      • Continuous Discovery Habits
      • ...more
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        All Things Product with Teresa and PetraBy Petra Wille & Teresa Torres