Introduction

Product managers don’t write code, but they shape everything with the choices they make. The best PMs make smart decisions fast and often.

What's the Problem It Solves?

Many PMs waste time trying to be right about every decision. This article shows how to make quicker, smarter calls by knowing which decisions really matter and which don’t.

Quick Summary

Product managers help teams move forward by making decisions, big and small. But not every choice needs deep research or long debates. The key is knowing when to spend time thinking things through and when to move fast. Some decisions have big consequences, others don’t. Treating all of them the same slows teams down and adds little value.

Brandon introduces a simple way to sort decisions by how important they are. Big, risky choices need more thought and confidence. But most daily decisions aren’t that serious and can be made with limited info. He explains that getting 80% of the needed facts is often enough. Trying to get to 100% takes too much time and often doesn’t change the outcome. So instead of aiming to be perfect, PMs should aim to be efficient-making many good-enough decisions quickly and saving deep dives for the ones that truly matter.

At the heart of it all: good PMs are fast decision-makers. They don't fear being wrong in low-stakes situations. Instead, they focus their time and brainpower on the few choices that really move the needle. And the faster they decide, the more they help their teams build, test, and learn.

Key Takeaways from the Article

• Product managers create value by unblocking teams through smart, timely decisions
• Not all decisions are equal-know which ones are high-stakes and which are not
• Use a simple rule: big-impact decisions need more info; small ones don’t
• Getting 80% of the needed information is often enough to make a solid call
• Trying to be perfect with every choice wastes time and slows teams down
• Most decisions at work are low-impact and can be made quickly
• Time spent on a decision should match how important it is
• Making more decisions (with a few small errors) beats making a few perfect ones
• Leaders should value speed and output over perfection
• Being wrong on small stuff is okay-just don’t mess up when it really counts

‍