Dec 15, 2024
The Windmill Problem: Fighting Battles That Don't Matter
Don Quixote attacked windmills. Many PMs attack imaginary competitors and edge cases. Here's how Sancho would focus on what actually matters.
Where Theory Meets
Monday Morning
Pragmatic tools for Product Managers who ship.
Not another framework. Not another course. Just what works.
The Philosophy
Every PM needs a
Sancho
In Don Quixote, while the knight chased windmills and dreamed of impossible quests, Sancho Panza kept them fed, found shelter, and actually got things done.
Don Quixote is the PM world today.
Obsessed with perfect frameworks, endless planning, and theoretical ideals.
Sancho PM is the antidote.
Pragmatic. Grounded. Focused on shipping, not documenting.
🏰
Don Quixote PM
- x 20-page PRDs nobody reads
- x Perfect roadmaps that never survive contact
- x Frameworks for every situation
- x Documentation over delivery
Sancho PM
- + 1-page PRDs that align in minutes
- + Now/Next/Later that actually updates
- + Context-first decision making
- + Ship first, document later
Free Templates
Battle-Tested. All Free.
11 templates we actually use. No filler, no 50-page guides. Each one forces clarity in one page.
FREEOKR + Vision Brief
Define direction before discovery. Align team on where you are going.
FREEOpportunity Assessment
Evaluate if a problem is worth solving before jumping to solutions.
FREE1-Page PRD
One page forces clarity. No more 20-page docs that nobody reads.
FREEUser Stories
Stories that developers actually understand and can implement.
FREEPriority Scorecard
Say no with data. Better than RICE for real-world decisions.
FREEDecision Log
End "I thought we decided..." Track every decision and why.
Philosophy
The Sancho PM Philosophy
15 principles guide everything here. Here are the essentials.
Reality over Narrative
See windmills, not giants. Face what is, not what you wish.
Done over Perfect
Ship it, then fix it. Progress beats perfection every time.
Context over Framework
RICE won't save you. Understand your situation first.
Decide over Dashboard
Data is for decisions, not decoration.
Talk over Document
10 minutes of conversation beats 10 pages of docs.
Impact over Activity
Busy doesn't mean productive. Focus on outcomes.
From the Blog
Read all posts »Practical insights for Product Managers who ship.
Dec 10, 2024
The Enchanted Helmet: When Data Blinds Instead of Guides
Don Quixote saw a magical helmet. It was a barber's basin. PMs see insights in dashboards that aren't there. Sancho knew the difference.
Dec 5, 2024
The Perfect Quest: When Planning Becomes Procrastination
Don Quixote spent chapters preparing for quests that never quite started. Sound familiar? Here's how Sancho would just... start.
Nov 28, 2024
The Knight's Armor: When Process Becomes Protection
Don Quixote's rusty armor didn't protect him — it slowed him down. Your processes might be doing the same. Here's Sancho's take.
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