The Bad News: End of Days
OK, first the bad news. By year end, the Cranky Product Manager is planning to shut down this entire show: blog, twitter, facebook, pinterest everything. *poof* gone, deleted. Even if the Mayans were wrong about that end of world thing.
Why? No time. The author of this blog has a real-life business to grow and a flesh-and-bones family to raise. Plus, since the author of this blog is not ACTUALLY very cranky anymore (though she was when she started this blog), it is pretty draining to get the “crank on” to write posts/tweets or whatever.
Likely, everything will deleted, not just left up in perpetuity without new activity. Why? Because the author has TOO often gotten her “real life” identity confused with the crankypm one and tweeted/posted/updated/pinned from the wrong account. Which causes panic and stress. Plus she feels CATHOLIC GUILT at having defunct identities all over the place. Plus the blog costs actual money to run, and defunct blogs don’t attract advertising.
(CAVEAT: Maybe she’ll keep the pinterest board, since that is so easy to maintain, and the author is not yet using it in real life).
The Possibly(?) Good News: A Book
The author of this blog is CONSIDERING writing a “Cranky Product Manager’s Practical Guide for the Product Manager” book. (that’s a “working title”).
If at least 50 people comment on this post (or email), saying that they’d do a kickstarter pledge for $20+, then I’ll proceed to the Kickstarter App (that thing is a lot of work!).
(The Cranky PM is not trying to get rich here or anything. It’s just that writing a book is a lot of work and she’d have to hire a babysitter (or pay Bumble Cafe a boatload of money) to free up some more time for writing. Plus, since the Cranky PM is anonymous, this book won’t be launching a lucrative speaking or consulting career.)
If not, well, at least I’ll know that this proposed MVP is a loser and I will try to pivot out of here some other way. (Maybe some nice company wants to buy this blog?)
Here’s the thinking about the book:
- About 150-200 pages.
- Snarky with plenty of attempts at humor
- Full of REAL, PRACTICAL advice, tips/tricks, do this, don’t do that, …
- 15ish illustrations/comics
- Available as Ebook and a self-published REAL BOOK.
- MAYBE: stories of how real PMs (anoymized) dealt with real-world sticky situations
- MAYBE: interviews with 2 or 3 luminaries, if I can line them up (Geoffrey Moore? Steven Blank? Eric Ries? Guy Kawasaki?)
- About 75-80% of the blog would be recycled content from this blog – restructured and updated to fit within the structure of a book.
- At LEAST 20% new content: 4+ new articles, 4+ new illustrations/comics, plus new introductory text and transition text to existing content.
- It would NOT just be republishing all the posts. It would be structured to actually give you ADVICE.
==> 1. SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK? Is this at all worthwhile? Would you pay at LEAST $10 for this? How about $20?
==> 2. Should I do a Kickstarter, considering that the Kickstarter application is a lot of work (pain in the a$$)?
For Kickstarter, you can create high-value rewards for people who make big pledges.
==> 3. What type of Kickstarter reward would appeal to YOU?
==> 4. What Kickstarter rewards would appeal to your company’s Head of Products, so he/she would be inspired to buy a copy for everyone in Products?
What about “rewards” like learning my real identity, meeting me in person, having me speak to your group, etc.? Worth anything?
{ 86 comments… read them below or add one }
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@theschnack @shy_i_am @p45c41 BTW, Cranky Product Manager Blog is shutting down..instead wants to sum up with a book…http://goo.gl/PtEPi
RT @sjohnson717: #prodmgmt – A Cranky Book? – Would you want @crankypm to write a book? So I would. http://t.co/D8qTxwUf
I would absolutely support this, your blog is awesome & I know put all together it would make a far better (certainly more realistic) product management guide than a huge proportion of the stuff currently out there.
Not sure about rewards but would certainly put $20 into kick-starter & know a bunch of people I would point at this, so perhaps an affiliate link for people who support on kick-starter which could also drive sales
Product Manager Dave
I’m in for $20. Your blog is great and a book written from this perspective would be a nice change of pace.
I would pay $20 for your book.
I would kickstart you for $20 for a copy of the book.
Learning your real identity and meeting you in person for more would be a nice kickstarter reward for people who would like to donate more.
I will miss your snarky crankyPM posts!
OK, great! Looks like there is enough interest in the book. I will proceed to the Kickstarter application. First, though, I need to do a little bit of budgeting to figure out a fundraising goal.
I need to do a bit of research on how much it costs to self-publish hard-copy books, what kind of a cut Amazon takes for Kindle e-books, and how much it costs to print T-shirts and other things I might offer as rewards, etc.
Hopefully I’ll post the kickstarter app by Sunday or Monday.
Thank you everyone, for your support. I’m kind of amazed that this many people would actually care to save my words for posterity.
Would be awesome if you share the results of the research. I’m sure there are other who have a manuscript in their drawer that would run to publish it if they knew how to.
Cheers
N
okay, but watch out for creature feep. i’ll buy a tshirt. i’m curious what you think of the kickstarter setup – please post.
Dang, I just found your blog. I know what you mean, I have a blog I just started and am too damn busy. I am thinking of writing a book but it would be 100% new content since I just started AND if sales cover hosting fees and my kids private education then I’m golden.
1) I would pay for your book..about $15
2) Sure, use Kickstarter, although I have a hard time navigating that site..I make efforts to find you. I would probably donate $10 seed money
3) Keep this site up for awhile because I just found you like 3 weeks ago and I need to review some of you old post..but if it’s going to be in the book..well that’s moot ain’t it.
I’m a little, ahem, late to the party here. $20+ to kickstarter, definitely. Without thinking about it.
Reward ideas:
o. $20 -> Get your choice of electronic (epub, mobi, etc) or physical copy of the book when it comes out.
o. Double the (intended) book price -> Get both kindle and physical copies (print on demand) of the book. Also get a thank-you in the book
o. Triple the price -> Same as lower levels plus get a shout-out for your blog/site/URL by your name.
o. Ten times the price -> Get yourself mentioned / drawn in one of the illustrations. Get a signed copy (with actual identity?).
I would absolutely pay $20-25 for a book — no question.
Hey, maybe you could also find a crankier PM to take over your blog? Or several cranky PMs….
RT @crankypm: A Cranky Book? (and sunset time) ##prodmgmt http://t.co/zmLyk1sE
:( RT @crankypm: A Cranky Book? (and sunset time) ##prodmgmt http://t.co/kkAtvQzo
You are a gifted writer and innovator. We have no-one else out there today that shares your perspectives so well as you do on Product Management. You are a voice of a generation of PMs. So, yes I would pay a $20 KickStarter fee for you words of wisdom. Also, it’s time for you to “Come Out”. You could really make a name for yourself, or piss a lot of people off. Either way it’s worth it. So please, be brave and do it.
Sniff, sniff. #prodmgmt RT @crankypm A Cranky Book? (and sunset time) — The Cranky Product Manager – http://t.co/GngVMBM0
I would absolutely support this!!
OH NO!!! RT @crankypm: A Cranky Book? (and sunset time) ##prodmgmt http://t.co/h6uTJXFN
Yes! please.
I’d pay $20, and in Kickstarter – how about sharing the ebook version?
I will pay $20 for a book.
I would support this.
Where’s the kickstarter link?!
Update: I have filled out the Kickstarter app, but am now in the process of getting “verified” by Amazon’s payment system. This might take up to 7 days.
I can’t post the Kickstarter link until I get all verified by Amazon Payments. blech. why can’t they just allow paypal too.
Crankybook update: http://t.co/MwXxUtux having TONS trouble setting up @kickstarter & Amazon Payments. Maybe their #prodmgmt can help me?
Wah, wah, whine, whine. I WOULD pay for a book but I’m cranky that you’re trying to have a life rather than entertaining us with your laser wit, laugh-out-loud comments, and biting but true insights about software, product management, and corporate life. Reading your blogs is like someone had a microphone into our meetings and conversations. You’re the Scott Adams of product management.
OK, go have a life…
Oh Cranky Gods of the Cranky Skies, plus Kickstarter, plus Amazon too.
Why do you encumber the Cranky Product Manager so?
Why do you make it so painful and tortuous to create a Kickstarter project, by requiring she go through the preposterously complicated, non-intuitive, and frustrating as all hell process of setting up an Amazon Payments account.
WHY OH WHY DO YOU NOT ACCEPT PAYPAL, KICKSTARTER?! ARGH
Day 10 of waiting for them to verify my account…..
I’m in for the book, definitely. no rewards necessary. Been a fan for a long time.
I’d like to see the blog continue, maybe more guest posts by other crankpots (volunteering myself if you like) would be a solution?
I think guest posts are a great idea! You can keep scraping the pennies in!
Kick Starter! Kick Starter!
RT @crankypm: A Cranky Book? (and sunset time) ##prodmgmt http://t.co/ehdlGp6W Hope I am not too late.
Geesh, I just posted to an older post of yours to say I was adding your feed to my list! So yes, if the only way I can “gleen” from your experience as an older, very-new-to-product management, mom of two youngun’s at home (two out the door, but not far from my thoughts) product manager is to pay for a book, yes I definitely would and will support the “Kickstarter” effort! (And yes, please keep the it realistic, funny and simple to understand and apply!) I recommend ENTHUSIASTICALLY that you check out the Business Model Generation’s Book on the BMC for clue on how to acheive a beautiful yet functional book!
Read Barbara’s comments and I almost want to cry! Look at what I’ll miss! Write the book and could you also find a young or old cranky PM to replace you on the site (the book will need a place to live afterwards……….think about it!) ;)
I’m in for at least $20. I’ve loved your blog. Many postings have made me go “Hmmm”, and whether I agreed with your alternate persona’s perspective or not, I would often be made to rethink my position on an issue. There have been many interesting comment threads triggered by your postings. I’d like to see you incorporate some of the best comments and debates in your book.
All the best in your real life. CPM will be missed.
Hooray. Kickstarter project. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/crankypm/book-product-management-the-cranky-way
ebook, dead-tree-book, t-shirt enroute.
Help support her Crankiness – I want that t-shirt!
RT @crankypm: A Cranky Book? (and sunset time) ##prodmgmt http://t.co/tL69gARo
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