A Little Better Every Day
Inspired by on Lenny's Podcast
The best parenting advice comes from a CPO returning from paternity leave - and it's absurdly simple.
Noah Weiss just returned from paternity leave when Lenny asked him for parenting advice. His answer was so good that Lenny wrote it on a post-it for the nursery.
Three maxims:
First: A little bit better every day. No matter how many books you read, there's nothing like doing it. Give yourself permission to say 'that didn't go great' - and that's okay. You're learning.
Second: Don't over-extrapolate from the early days. The fourth trimester is real. Babies come out not fully baked - they can't even hold up their heads. If you try to extrapolate the next 18 years from the first 18 days, it'll be terrifying. They develop so much every week.
Third: Fully get into it. You have to change the diapers, do the feeds. Even when they can't talk, talk to them. Be fully present. Noah went on complete digital detox - devices away, fully with his daughter. He said it was so much more rewarding.
This is product mindset applied to parenting: iterate, don't project too far ahead, and be fully present for what you're building.
PM Theme: Iterative development / shipping small
Parenting Theme: Growing as a parent
“First one, a little bit better every day. No matter how many books you read... there's nothing like actually doing it. It's a physical thing being a new parent. Getting a little bit better every day, giving yourself permission to be like that didn't go great and that's okay.”Noah Weiss · 00:05:19
“Don't over extrapolate from the early days. The fourth trimester is a real thing. These babies come out. They're not fully baked. They can't even support their own heads.”Noah Weiss · 00:05:39
