All Things Product with Teresa and Petra

Go to the Source

Jul 15, 2025

Discover why going straight to the source is essential for a true understanding of product concepts. The discussion highlights the pitfalls of relying on secondhand information. Learn how to spot reputable sources and avoid red flags in your research. Real-world examples of frameworks like OKRs and the Jobs to Be Done theory illustrate the importance of original thought. Additionally, tips for curating your own learning journey emphasize the value of diverse perspectives and practitioners' insights in an age muddled by social media.

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ADVICE

Always Go To Original Source

Always seek the original thinkers or practitioners rather than relying on second- or third-hand content.
Reading primary sources ensures you learn frameworks or ideas as they were intended.

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ANECDOTE

Learning OKRs from the Source

Petra struggled to understand OKRs until hearing Christina Wodtke, author of Radical Focus, which clarified the framework simply.
She recommends reading at least three foundational books on a topic from diverse perspectives before forming conclusions.

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ANECDOTE

Jobs To Be Done Personal Journey

Teresa initially misunderstood Jobs to Be Done from superficial posts but grasped it after reading Clayton Christensen and Bob Moesta.
She values pragmatic adaptations by practitioners over heavy consultancy frameworks for practical learning.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Understanding OKRs: A Personal Journey

02:24 • 4min

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Deep Exploration of Ideas

06:26 • 5min

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Navigating LinkedIn for Thought Leadership in OKRs

11:22 • 2min

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Navigating Credible Sources in Product Management

13:12 • 8min

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The Jobs-to-be-Done Handbook

Practical techniques for improving your application of Jobs-to-be-Done

Chris Spiek

Bob Moesta

Bob Moesta and Chris Spiek's 'The Jobs-to-be-Done Handbook' offers a practical guide for applying the Jobs-to-be-Done framework to product development and innovation. The book provides actionable techniques for understanding customer needs and creating products that truly resonate. It emphasizes the importance of identifying the 'job' a customer is trying to accomplish and designing solutions that directly address those needs. The handbook is designed to help product teams, marketers, and innovators improve their understanding of customer behavior. By following the methods outlined in this book, companies can increase their chances of developing successful products that meet customer needs.

STRONG product people: A Complete Guide to Developing Great Product Managers

None

Petra Wille

Petra Wille's 'STRONG product people' is a comprehensive guide designed to help product managers develop essential skills and advance their careers. The book covers a wide range of topics, including product strategy, execution, and leadership. It provides actionable advice and practical frameworks for product managers at all levels. Wille emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and personal growth in the fast-paced world of product management. By following the principles outlined in this book, product managers can enhance their ability to create successful products and lead high-performing teams.

Measure What Matters

Laura Patterson

John Doerr's "Measure What Matters" explores the power of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) as a goal-setting system. The book showcases how OKRs have been used by companies like Google and Intel to achieve ambitious goals. Doerr emphasizes the importance of setting clear, measurable objectives and tracking progress regularly. The book also highlights the importance of aligning goals across teams and organizations. It provides a practical framework for setting and achieving ambitious goals in various contexts, including business and personal life.

Jobs to Be Done, Theory to Practice

Tony Ulwick

Radical Focus

Achieving Your Most Important Goals with Objectives and Key Results

Christina Wodtke

Radical Focus tackles the OKR movement and better goal setting through the story of Hanna and Jack's struggling tea startup. When they receive an ultimatum from their only investor, they must learn to employ OKRs with radical focus to achieve their goals. The book, written in the form of a fable, pulls from Wodtke's experience with Silicon Valley companies to teach how to inspire a diverse team, stay motivated despite setbacks, and create a framework for regular check-ins and key results. The second edition includes new material to help OKR users in larger companies create, grade, and manage OKRs effectively.

This book provides a practical methodology for companies to innovate by focusing on the jobs customers want to accomplish. It outlines a roadmap that includes establishing objectives, building a Jobs Atlas, generating ideas, and experimenting with solutions. The authors emphasize understanding customer needs beyond product features to drive successful innovation.

Topics Covered:

Why “go find the source” is a crucial product mindset
The danger of relying on second- or third-hand takes
Real examples: OKRs, Jobs to Be Done, North Star Metric, Opportunity Solution Trees
How to identify reputable sources—and red flags to watch for
Tips for curating your own learning journey (books, blogs, podcasts)
How social media can distort ideas (even when people have good intentions)

Key Takeaways:

Primary > Secondary: Always seek out original thinkers or practitioners, not just content repackagers.
Go deeper than LinkedIn tiles: Good frameworks get diluted when simplified for social media. Go back to the original articles, books, or talks.
Read with range: Challenge yourself to find three different sources—especially with diverse backgrounds or perspectives.
Don’t trust content without citations: Like in academia, a lack of references is a red flag.
Practitioner voices matter: Look for people sharing what they’re actually doing, not just what “should” be done.

Resources & Links:

Follow Teresa Torres: https://ProductTalk.org
Follow Petra Wille: https://Petra-Wille.com

Mentioned in the episode:

Radical Focus by Christina Wodtke
Jobs to Be Done Theory by Clayton Christensen
Jobs to be Done: Theory to Practice by Anthony W. Ulwick
The Jobs-to-be-Done Handbook: Practical techniques for improving your application of Jobs-to-be-Done by Bob Moesta and Chris Spiek
STRONG product people: A Complete Guide to Developing Great Product Managers by Petra Wille
Objectives and key results (OKR, alternatively OKRs) by Andrew Grove who introduced the approach to Intel. It was then popularized by Google and John Doerr’s book, Measure What Matters
Amplitude’s North Star Playbook
Opportunity Solution Trees: Visualize Your Discovery to Stay Aligned and Drive Outcomes by Teresa Torres
A Crucial Turning Point: OKRs in Conversation with Rick Klau
How Google sets goals: OKRs / Startup Lab Workshop by GV (Google Ventures)

Some of Teresa and Petra’s favorite original sources:

John Cutler’s The Beautiful Mess
Christina Wodtke
Scandinavian Product Podcast by Afonso Franco
From Endless Growth to Equitable Prosperity by Ronnie Varghese
Shane Parrish’s Farnam Street
Francesca Cortesi (formerly at Hemnet
Product at Heart Video Archive
Mind the Product Blog
The Intercom Blog
Figma Blog
Amplitude Blog
Beauty Shot Newsletter by Tim Leberecht & House of Beautiful

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