The Cranky Product Manager

Shameless Self-Promotion

The Cranky Product Manager is now on Facebook. Check it here.  Become her "Fan" or something.  You know you want to.

And don't ye be a dumb-dumb.  "Anna (Nicole) Smith" -- the so-called "name" of the creator of the Cranky Product Manager Facebook page -- is a complete fabrication. Duh. Apparently Facebook won't let the CPM register by her "actual" name of "Cranky Product Manager."  *sniff*

Oh yeah, remember to vote for the CPM for that blog-awards-sham-thing. Early and often. Polls close on July 31.

Oh yeah, almost forgot: "Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc.”

Administrivia

The Cranky PM believes she has finished fixing this here blog.  Please inform her of any broken links or missing images.  Muchas gracias.

Oh yeah. Two caveats:

1) Some comments and TrackBacks got lost.  Where they went is anyone's guess.  Seems they didn't export correctly.  Sorry 'bout that.

2) Any link that YOU made to a specific Cranky Product Manager post is probably busted.  The CPM would much appreciate it if you could relink. Her apologies for the inconvenience.

(If only SixApart would let Typepad users manually specify the base filename of each post. Alas, they do not.... Guess they didn't account for a use case where the actor tries to recreate the blog she deliberately nuked weeks earlier.)

Steve Johnson for President

If you've never seen Steve Johnson of Pragmatic Marketing speak, then you are truly missing out. Seriously, the Cranky Product Manager kids you not. He is one freakin' hilarious dude. Very, very funny while oh-so-in-touch with the inane nature of real-world product management. The Cranky Product Manager once saw him speak, and afterward - no lie - she had to switch out her jeans for a less damp pair.

So, the call to arms. Go vote for Steve. Make him one of the speakers for the awesomely magnificent Business of Software conference.

After Steve wins this select-a-speaker contest, which he undoubtedly will thanks to all of you, beg the powers-that-be for some budget, and go hear his talk.

You will not be disappointed, the Cranky PM assures you.

Just remember to bring an extra change of clothes.

The Cranky Backside

Since starting this blog a few short weeks ago, the Cranky Product Manager has become an Internet celebrity of sorts, her email inbox overflowing with two, maybe even three, emails.

The Cranky Product Manager knows full well that her massive fanbase has an unquenchable thirst for information about her crankiness and crankitude. She will indulge you by answering a few "commonly" asked questions.

1) Why doesn't the Cranky Product Manager post more often?

Because she is working 70 hours a week as an actual product manager, simultaneously pushing one major release of her product line out the door while researching and planning for the next one. Rest assured, it is not because the Cranky Product Manager actually has "a life." 

2) Why is the Cranky Product Manager so cranky?

Despite popular legend, the Cranky PM is not naturally cranky. She was made that way by all the over-confident developers, incompetent marketers, unrealistic customers, indecisive prospects, hysterical sales people, unknowedgeable support engineers, annoying competitors, whorish industry analysts, idiotic magazine reporters, effed-up airlines, unfathomably bad drivers, and her egotistical fellow product managers.

3) Is the blog photo a genuine depiction of the Cranky backside?

Alas, no. The Cranky Product Manager has never had jeans that fit so well. And frankly, fit aside, it is debatable whether her posterior is as slim as that depicted in the photo. (Although the Cranky Product Manager's better half, aka Delightful Husband, assures her that it is. Smart man.)