The Developer as the Product: Cory House on Building a Personal Brand in Tech 🚀

In this engaging episode of Product Driven, host Matt Watson reconnects with long-time colleague Cory House, a renowned React consultant, Pluralsight author, and software development thought leader. They explore the fascinating journey of building a personal brand in technology. Cory shares his evolution from full-time developer to independent consultant and how he leveraged content creation, conference speaking, and specialized expertise to create a sustainable business.

Cory reveals how narrowing his focus to become a React specialist dramatically increased client inquiries, and shares practical advice on risk management for those considering the independent path. He emphasizes the importance of building your reputation and client base before making the leap to independence, noting that true independence requires intentional preparation rather than impulsive decisions.

🔗 Essential Links (Start Here!):

Full Episodes: https://product-driven.captivate.fm/episodes

Connect with Matt Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwatsonkc/

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Connect with Cory House:

Twitter/X: @housecor

Website: https://reactjsconsulting.com

Courses: https://pluralsight.com/authors/cory-house

Key Discussion Points:

The incremental path to independence: building a side business while maintaining full-time employment

Specialized marketing strategies that generated client opportunities without traditional advertising

Balancing work, personal time, and productivity as an independent consultant

The power of consistent content creation and reputation-building in technical fields

Strategic specialization and how to navigate technology trends without getting trapped

Episode Chapters:

00:01 - Introduction and Background

01:16 - The Beginning of Cory's Consulting Journey

03:12 - Balancing Personal Time and Productivity

04:51 - Building a Reputation Through Speaking and Content

07:23 - The Path from Social Anxiety to Public Speaking

09:33 - The Long Game of Building a Personal Brand

11:27 - From Side Business to Full Independence

14:22 - The Transition to Full-Time Independence

16:45 - Finding Clients and Managing Risk

18:47 - Content Marketing as a Business Strategy

21:00 - Finding Focus and Audience on Social Media

23:41 - Technology Specialization and Future Trends

27:54 - The Flexibility of Software Development Skills

29:17 - Single Page Applications and Technology Trends

31:42 - Where to Find Cory Online

Discover the strategies that transformed Cory from a developer with anxiety about public speaking to a globally recognized technology consultant who's worked with 75 companies over the past decade. A must-listen for...

The Silent Crisis of Engineering Success: When Output Overshadows Outcomes

In this intellectually provocative monologue, Matt Watson challenges the conventional metrics of engineering success, exposing the fundamental disconnect between shipping code and creating genuine customer value. Through compelling narrative and pointed questions, Matt illuminates how the traditional focus on velocity and output has created teams that celebrate deployment rather than impact—leading to the hollow silence of features that fail to resonate with users.

As AI accelerates development capabilities, this philosophical misalignment becomes increasingly problematic, demanding a fundamental shift toward product-driven leadership that prioritizes customer outcomes over engineering throughput.

🔗 Essential Links (Start Here!):

Full Episodes: https://product-driven.captivate.fm/episodes

Connect with Matt Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwatsonkc/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://fullscaleteam.com/newsletter

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Powered by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/

GET THE PRODUCT DRIVEN BOOK: https://productdriven.com/book

Key Discussion Points:

🧠 The existential disconnect between engineering metrics and customer impact

💡 How AI amplifies the consequences of poor product decision-making

🔄 The psychological toll of shipping features that receive no celebration or feedback

⚡ Three transformative strategies for shifting from output-focused to outcome-driven leadership

📊 Redefining "done" as customer impact rather than deployment completion

🌱 Celebrate building rituals around customer value rather than engineering milestones

Three actionable approaches to transition toward product-driven leadership:

Ask Better Questions - Shift from "what are we building?" to "what problem are we solving?"

Redefine Done - Move beyond code deployment to measuring customer impact

Celebrate Differently - Create rituals around customer success stories rather than release dates

Chapters:

0:00 - The silence that follows deployment

0:38 - The motivational crisis of engineering teams

1:17 - How AI is changing engineering fundamentals

2:38 - The philosophical shift from output to outcomes

3:20 - Three strategies for product-driven leadership

5:02 - The challenge: measuring what truly matters

This profound exploration of engineering leadership philosophy serves as both a warning and a roadmap for technical leaders navigating the AI revolution. By questioning the fundamental metrics that drive engineering culture, Matt provides a compelling vision for engineering teams that celebrate impact rather than merely shipping code.

Product Strategies for Lasting Success: Stephen Pollack on Building Big Picture Plans 🚀

In this enlightening episode of Product Driven, host Matt Watson welcomes veteran tech leader Stephen Pollack of InsightSpin to explore why software developers and organizations struggle with understanding the big picture. Drawing from decades of industry experience, Stephen shares invaluable insights on creating sustainable product strategies, balancing customer-driven development with innovation, and leveraging AI as a strategic team member.

Stephen Pollack shares how successful companies avoid the trap of short-term thinking and maintain focus on their North Star vision. He emphasizes that AI represents a transformational technology that can serve as a valuable team member when properly leveraged, particularly for documentation and knowledge synthesis.

🔗 Essential Links (Start Here!):

Full Episodes: https://product-driven.captivate.fm/episodes

Connect with Matt Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwatsonkc/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://fullscaleteam.com/newsletter

Get our FREE Ebook: https://fullscaleteam.com/productfirstteams

Powered by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/

Connect with Stephen Pollack:

Website: https://insightspin.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenpollack/

Key Discussion Points:

Why businesses often fail to create and maintain big-picture product plans

How to balance stakeholder input without falling into consensus paralysis

The critical importance of focus in product development

Strategies for preserving innovation while serving existing customers

Practical applications of AI in product management and documentation

Episode Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction and Welcome

00:34 - Why Developers Struggle with the Big Picture

02:22 - Stakeholder Alignment Challenges

04:05 - Leadership Decision-Making Dynamics

07:21 - Focus as a Critical Success Factor

09:44 - AI's Impact on Product Development

14:40 - Balancing Customer-Driven vs. Innovation-Driven Approaches

21:15 - The "Shitification" Challenge of Established Products

24:43 - Risk Aversion and Market Disruption

28:37 - Stephen's Background and Services

Don't miss this insightful conversation that will challenge you to think beyond tactical implementation and embrace strategic product planning for lasting success.

Beyond Tech Companies: Product Management in Traditional Industries with Raechel Boston 🛒

In this illuminating episode of Product Driven, host Matt Watson engages with Raechel Boston, a product manager at Kroger, to explore the nuanced landscape of product management and software development within traditional enterprises. Their conversation unveils the stark contrasts between technology practices in established corporations versus startups, examining how bureaucracy, innovation, and customer feedback loops operate in different organizational contexts.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn when exploring how AI might transform the landscape, potentially disadvantaging those who function merely as "order takers" while empowering professionals who understand product vision and can leverage these new tools to move exponentially faster.

🔗 Essential Links (Start Here!):

Full Episodes: https://product-driven.captivate.fm/episodes

Connect with Matt Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwatsonkc/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://fullscaleteam.com/newsletter

Get our FREE Ebook: https://fullscaleteam.com/productfirstteams

Powered by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/

Connect with Raechel Boston:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raechelboston/

Key Discussion Points:

The unique challenges of product management in non-SaaS, traditional industries

How bureaucratic processes impact development velocity and innovation

The disconnection between technical work and tangible customer value in large organizations

Strategies for motivating engineering teams by connecting their work to business outcomes

The evolving role of AI in reshaping software development and product management

The delicate balance between innovation and stability in established enterprises

Episode Chapters:

00:01 - Introduction and Raechel's Background

00:53 - Diversity of Technology Across Industries

02:30 - Startup vs. Enterprise Development Approaches

03:53 - Breaking Free from Corporate Bureaucracy

05:10 - Product Management at a Major Retailer

06:32 - Celebrating Wins and Addressing Negativity Bias

08:47 - Assembly Line Nature of Modern Software Development

11:21 - AI's Impact on Development Roles and Processes

14:05 - Bridging the Gap Between Product and Engineering Teams

16:13 - Internal vs. External Product Development Challenges

18:10 - Fighting Organizational Resistance to Change

19:36 - Innovation vs. Value Delivery in Corporate Settings

21:52 - When Stability Trumps New Features

24:24 - Raechel's TikTok Content on Scrum and Product Management

Whether you're navigating corporate technology environments or building products in startups, this episode offers a valuable perspective on how organizational context shapes product development approaches, team dynamics, and ultimately, customer value delivery.

🔍 Decoding Product-Market Fit: The Critical Journey from Concept to Market Success

Journey into the nuanced relationship between product development and market validation with Matt Watson and Pablo Srugo, Partner at Mistral VC and host of the Product Market Fit podcast. This intellectually stimulating conversation explores the elusive phenomenon that transforms promising ideas into market-dominating solutions.

This compelling discussion unpacks the critical markers of product-market fit, from quantifiable metrics like 40%+ demo-to-close ratios to qualitative signals such as the Sean Ellis test. Through candid exploration of both success stories and failures, including Pablo's personal journey with GymTrack, discover why timing, market understanding, and the willingness to pivot are fundamental to entrepreneurial success in the complex journey from product conception to market validation.

🔗 Essential Links (Start Here!):

Full Episodes: https://product-driven.captivate.fm/episodes

Connect with Matt Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwatsonkc/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://fullscaleteam.com/newsletter

Get our FREE Ebook: https://fullscaleteam.com/productfirstteams

Powered by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/

Find Pablo Srugo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pablosrugo/

Podcast The Product Market Fit Show: http://pmf.show

Venture Fund: http://mistralvp.com

Key Discussion Points:

🧠 Definitive metrics that signal genuine product-market fit

💡 The critical difference between message-market fit and true product-market fit

🔄 How to navigate the challenging "gray area" of partial traction

⚡ Why solving a genuine "top-of-mind" problem is non-negotiable

📊 The counterintuitive relationship between NPS scores and product necessity

🌱 The "opportunity cost" dilemma in knowing when to pivot or persist

🚀 How market timing can transform modest products into exponential successes

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction and guest background

0:51 - Defining product-market fit

2:49 - Scale considerations in market validation

4:56 - Early indicators and metrics analysis

6:43 - Sustainable business without true PMF

9:07 - Managing explosive growth challenges

11:43 - Measuring customer relationship strength

13:43 - Getting to product-market fit methodologies

16:20 - The importance of solving top-of-mind problems

17:31 - Market timing and opportunity convergence

21:41 - Knowing when to pivot or persist

24:43 - The opportunity cost of persistence

Transform your understanding of product-market fit beyond theoretical concepts into practical recognition and achievement strategies. Through illuminating case studies and expert analysis, discover how successful entrepreneurs navigate the complex terrain between product creation and market validation to build truly transformative businesses.

🔄 Engineering Leadership in Daily Standups: The Critical Role of Technical Management

In this thought-provoking exploration, Matt Watson challenges conventional wisdom about daily standup meetings, revealing why technical leadership transforms these gatherings from mundane status updates into powerful catalysts for team collaboration, problem identification, and rapid decision-making.

🔗 Essential Links (Start Here!):

Full Episodes: https://product-driven.captivate.fm/episodes

Connect with Matt Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwatsonkc/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://fullscaleteam.com/newsletter

Get our FREE Ebook: https://fullscaleteam.com/productfirstteams

Powered by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/

Key Discussion Points:

🧠 Why engineering managers create superior standup dynamics compared to project managers

🔍 Reading team sentiment through body language and conversation flow

⚡ Identifying technical blockers that non-technical managers might miss

🌱 Creating psychological safety for junior developers to seek help

🔄 The startup founder's "superpower" of combining technical and product knowledge

📊 Cultural Considerations Affecting Team Communication Styles

💡 Alternative leadership models for teams with strong senior developers

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction to standups controversy

0:32 - Why status reports miss the point

1:12 - Engineering managers' unique perspective

2:18 - Identifying coachable moments

2:49 - Project managers vs. engineering managers

4:22 - Senior developers' self-managed approach

6:44 - The startup founder's advantage

9:03 - Balancing leadership styles

This critical analysis transforms our understanding of daily standups from perfunctory rituals into strategic opportunities for team alignment, technical problem-solving, and leadership development. Through Matt's experienced perspective, discover how technical leaders create environments where information flows naturally, blockers become visible, and teams accelerate through challenges rather than merely reporting on them.

Transform your team's daily cadence by reimagining standups as collaborative problem-solving sessions rather than administrative checkpoints. Join our community of engineering leaders dedicated to building more effective, communicative technical teams.

🚀 From Idea to Impact: The Entrepreneur's Journey with James Green

In this illuminating conversation, Matt Watson and James Green, Co-founder and General Partner at DQ Ventures, delve into the transformative journey from concept to viable business. Discover why technical brilliance alone isn't enough and how aspiring founders can navigate the challenging path to entrepreneurial success without sacrificing financial stability.

🔗 Essential Links (Start Here!):

Full Episodes: https://product-driven.captivate.fm/episodes

Connect with Matt Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwatsonkc/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://fullscaleteam.com/newsletter

Get our FREE Ebook: https://fullscaleteam.com/productfirstteams

Powered by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/

Connect with James Green: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greenjim/

Website: http://www.dqventures.com

Key Discussion Points:

🔍 The fundamental misconception of entrepreneurship as primarily product creation

💡 Why 90% of entrepreneurial success revolves around effective selling

🧠 The critical importance of customer validation before significant product investment

⚡ How technical and non-technical founders approach market opportunities differently

🔄 The challenge of context-switching for technically-minded entrepreneurs

📊 Reframing sales as a problem-solving conversation rather than persuasion

🌱 The innovative "Don't Quit" approach to entrepreneurship while maintaining stability

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction and entrepreneurial landscape

1:41 - The reality of entrepreneurship as primarily sales

3:16 - The myth of overnight startup success

4:31 - Customer validation and market feedback importance

6:31 - Technical vs. non-technical founder success patterns

9:19 - Engineering mindset challenges in sales contexts

12:16 - Context-switching difficulties for technical founders

14:20 - Reframing sales as listening and problem-solving

18:04 - The "Don't Quit" approach to entrepreneurship

20:55 - Risk management in mid-career entrepreneurship

22:09 - Real-world consequences of the all-in approach

24:39 - Resources and support for aspiring entrepreneurs

This conversation illuminates the critical bridge between technical expertise and commercial viability, offering profound insights for technically-minded professionals contemplating the entrepreneurial leap. Through James's "Don't Quit" methodology, discover a more sustainable approach to building your business without sacrificing financial security or career stability.

🧠 The Craftsmanship of Code: Reframing Software Development Beyond Art and Science

In this intellectually stimulating exploration, Matt Watson challenges the traditional dichotomy of software development as either art or science, proposing instead a more nuanced understanding of the discipline as a craft built on practical problem-solving and purposeful creation. Through historical context and thoughtful analysis, discover why the evolution from "software development" to "software engineering" reflects our discipline's growing maturity.

🔗 Essential Links (Start Here!):

Full Episodes: https://product-driven.captivate.fm/episodes

Connect with Matt Watson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwatsonkc/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://fullscaleteam.com/newsletter

Get our FREE Ebook: https://fullscaleteam.com/productfirstteams

Powered by Full Scale: https://fullscale.io/

Key Discussion Points:

🔍 The historical evolution from computer science to software engineering

🧩 Why traditional scientific methodology poorly describes modern development

🎨 The limitations of viewing code as pure artistic expression

⚙️ The parallels between software creation and skilled craftsmanship

🌉 The distinction between software engineering and traditional engineering disciplines

🛠️ The balance between rigorous methodology and creative problem-solving

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction and historical context

0:45 - The scientific perspective examination

2:29 - Artistic elements in software creation

4:54 - The craftsman analogy introduction

7:19 - Traditional engineering comparisons

9:39 - Evolution of terminology and education

This perspective-shifting analysis invites developers to reconsider their professional identity beyond conventional categorizations. By understanding software development as a craft—blending technical expertise with creative problem-solving in service to human needs—we gain a richer appreciation of our discipline's unique position in the professional landscape.

Transform your understanding of software development's true nature and embrace the craftsmanship mindset that balances methodical approaches with creative solutions. Join our exploration of this nuanced perspective that honors both the technical precision and human-centered purpose of our work.