Product Party - Year Two in Review
2024 was an amazing year. I share the how we did this year and the goals for 2025.
I can’t believe I am hitting year two of writing Product Party on Substack.
What started as a little glimmer in Dad’s scaled agile eyes has evolved a lot over the past year.
I’ve tried new platforms, experimented with new content formats, and learned so much about what I enjoy and what you all seem to find valuable.
Reflecting on 2024
My biggest following is still on Substack, with consistent growth over the last 2 years as per this fancy graph:
My follows from each platform include:
Substack: 686
This is minus around 100+ accounts that I removed from the list due to zero engagement
X: 620
I auto-posted here most of the year and just found out recently they may deprioritize links outside of the platform.
LinkedIn: 351
Bluesky: 178
This one is fresh so we will see how things are but signs are promising.
What did I love about 2024?
1. Tinkering with and learning new (and old) technology can be fun.
Perhaps the most exciting part of my year was diving deeper into my love of tinkering.
Whether I was testing a new product, firing up my favorite AI tools, or coding side projects, I relished that creative spark—the feeling of bringing ideas to life.
Writing about those experiments here felt like documenting my learning journey, and it was especially meaningful when readers chimed in with their own takes or asked questions that pushed my thinking further.
Here was one of my posts where I created my first end-to-end full stack project -
2. There are benefits to spending more time thinking about what to write.
A big change for me this year was moving from a “seat-of-my-pants” approach to a more structured content workflow. Where I once tried to remember every idea off the top of my head, I began using tools like Airtable to map out a schedule, track topics, and plan posts in advance.
Having that roadmap meant less guesswork and more consistency. Did it solve every challenge?
Of course not, but it relieved some pressure so I could focus on writing rather than constantly wondering what to write.
Here’s a link to the Airtable.
3. I was able to connect to product people across more platforms.
On top of planning more, I broadened my horizons by engaging on multiple platforms.
Beyond the familiar territory of Substack, I hopped into the LinkedIn newsletter space, Bluesky, and X. Each community had its unique vibe, and I have enjoyed finding new people to follow and learn from.
It’s a great reminder that there’s a big world of people who share interests, have compelling questions, and can spark new ideas in ways I never expected.
What are the lessons learned in 2024?
1. I will have deeper community engagement.
I’ve been more of an observer than an active participant. I admire many creators - people whose work I enjoy and learn from - but I often stopped short of making myself known.
From now on, I plan to be more active in communities, respond to comments thoughtfully, and maybe even host a Q&A. The goal is to foster a more open dialogue, not just push content into a void.
2. I will focus on content strategy.
While I planned more than I used to, there’s still a gap between what I create and what resonates most deeply with readers.
I want to bridge that gap by focusing more on utility, inspiration, and empathy—three pillars that I believe can turn a “nice read” into something truly valuable.
I’m going to lean into my passion for product exploration and analysis. You’ll likely see more posts where I dissect a new app or service from a product manager’s perspective, breaking down what works, what doesn’t, and what could be learned.
3. I will find my writing “voice.”
Sometimes, my writing felt informative but maybe a bit too polished or distant. I want to let more of my personality show. I love to keep life/work light and fun - I believe there’s an opportunity to reflect this in my writing.
The goal in 2025 is to write as if we’re sitting down for coffee, sharing stories rather than just bullet points.
My 2025 goals at a glance (the measurable ones, of course)
1 Post/Week: Stay consistent all year long.
Double Engagement: I want engagement to grow by at least 100% across Substack, LinkedIn, X, and Bluesky. It sounds crazy, but I think we can achieve it.
Product Deep Dives: At least two posts that closely examine a startup’s offering, providing a product manager’s perspective on what makes it tick.
Aiming for a Viral Moment: Just once, I’d love to see an idea catch fire and spark a conversation beyond this immediate audience.
Wrapping Up & Looking Forward
I just want to say how genuinely grateful I am that you’re here. Your time, attention, and feedback matter to me.
Whether you’ve been following along for a while or this is your very first read, thank you for making this space more than just my personal sounding board. You’ve been part of what pushes me to improve and try new things.
Cheers to stepping into 2025 with a clearer vision, a more personal voice, and a stronger sense of purpose. And a Lions Super Bowl win in February, of course.
Until next year,
Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe if you haven’t. You can show your support by leaving a tip on my Buy Me a Coffee page.
Mike, I love the growth! and this likes for real, lol!