Tell the Cranky Product Manager

The Cranky Product Manager is well aware that she is perhaps the lamest, most irresponsible blogger in any industrialized western nation. A post every six-to-eight weeks is pathetic, she knows.  She wouldn't stand for it and is surprised you do. 

Problem is, every time the Cranky PM is inspired to write about some shockingly numb-skullian situation at DysfunctoSoft she has to stop and think really hard - much harder than her lazy ass brain is accustomed to thinking - about how to best to disguise the story. All so no one would guess The Cranky Product Manager's real identity. 

And nothing kills the creative muse like worrying about being fired or losing all of one's friends. Or worse, having the paparazzi "out" her and pasting an unattractive candid photo on the cover of Product Manager Weekly. Yikes-o-rama.

So...  so, the Cranky Product Manager ask YOU for inspiration.  Have a ridiculous software or PM related story?  Write the CPM.  She'll help you tell the Product Management Universe of your tale of woe -- all with exactly your desired level of anonymity, bitterness and sarcasm.  Because it's easier to disguise someone else's pain than it is to hide your own.  Trust the CPM on this.

Comments

[carolinebender]

You kill me so softly with your song every time you do post, I am convinced we already work together. I would have sent the release dates suggestion, but you beat me to it. Mostly this year I have watched my team "retire" several Very Important Products we released LAST YEAR. Fortunately, we never set a target for their success, so we don't have to answer to that. I would love to hear your experience with retiring today what was so cutting edge yesterday.

[Karen]

Dear Cranky,

I wouldn't worry too much about being discovered. Frankly, when I first came across your blog (the Persona Non Grata episode) I thought to myself, "Who is this person with my attitude, my job, my colleagues, etc.? Now what will *I* blog about?" My former company has many if not all of the same characteristics as Dysfunctosoft. I'm sure if my coworkers read your blog they'd think I was the author. Also, it's my experience with human nature that people (especially dysfunctional coworkers) never recognize themselves in fictional representations.

That being said I'll be happy to send you some fodder for your blog.

Karen

[Saeed Khan]

Cranky...

You're becoming a a ghostwriter for ghostwriters!

Writing anonymously does have it's challenges, but most companies are dysfunctional on some level.

Dilbert certainly resonated widely with a lot of companies. I had the pleasure of attending what turned out to be Scott Adams last public speaking engagement and he told the back story behind a number of popular strips he wrote, and in the end, I could sum up the stories this way....truth is far stranger than fiction.

Saeed