Tears on Aisle 7...
January 19, 2024
What I'm Listening To
'Tell me that we’re dreaming…'
Story From The Week
Who else is drowning in the sea of all the New Year's resolutions articles posted this month? Now, don't get me wrong—I'm the queen of goal-setting, self-discipline, and all that jazz. But at the end of 2023, I hit a wall.
Picture this: Me, in the middle of Whole Foods, mascara smudging, pouring my heart out to my best friend about my grand plan to move to the Mediterranean and become an ice cream vendor to escape the rat race.
The turning point came when I realized I needed a real change. So, I decided to ghost my phone for a bit and embrace solitude. During those days of deep introspection, I focused on who I am apart from working, investing, saving, earning, doing, achieving, proving, etc…
Typically, I'd spend the end of the year jotting down a laundry list of goals. But not this time. Instead of creating another set of tasks to conquer, I took a breath, embraced the sweet escape from the world of "shoulds," and found myself in the blissful realm of just being.
So, my current "goals" are simple: relish the moment, read more fiction, and refuse to measure my worth through the lens of work and productivity. It's time to navigate this crazy life and figure out who I am beyond the hustle.
What Did I Learn?
Yesterday, while working on an existing design in our web app, I wrestled with the difference in usage between toggle inputs and checkboxes. Within the design that featured both, user interaction was a prerequisite before a "submit" button click. The puzzling question dawned on me: Why opt for two different inputs in this scenario?
After some online research, I came across several resources discussing the appropriate use of toggle inputs and checkboxes. The prevailing opinion was that toggles shine when an immediate change is needed – like the flip of a light switch. On the flip side, checkboxes often require an additional action, like a click or button press.
With this newfound wisdom in hand, I proposed we turn both of our inputs into checkboxes. A subtle shift for a streamlined experience, but I think it's the right call for this situation!
What Made Me Confused...
In a recent product design meeting, my boss tasked me with leading a kickoff call for an upcoming project centered around web sockets. While I've heard the term "web sockets" tossed around for years, I couldn’t tell you the ins and outs of how it works.
So first, I embarked on a quest to understand the technological nuances behind web sockets, and I now have a general grasp of how they differ from simple HTTP. My next challenge is crafting a meeting agenda.
Given that this is uncharted territory for me, the details of how I will lead this meeting are still a bit hazy. My plan is to create a Miro board, featuring a structured agenda, a section for jotting down pain points and problems, a spot for inspiration and examples, and, finally, a next steps section where we can outline tasks and define the desired outcome for our users.
Stepping into the realm of product management feels a tad nerve-wracking, yet there's an undeniable sense of excitement. Plus I know stepping into the unknown is the only way I'll grow — wish me luck!