What is the work for?

When it comes to the work we do, there is what we explicitly call it (text) and its underlying meaning and implications (subtext).

The implication of marketing might be to help people make a change.

The implication of product management might be to make people’s lives more frictionless and enjoyable.

The implication of strategy might be the creation of positive-sum games where everyone can thrive and have their needs met.

Explicitly defining roles and responsibilities is great when you’re trying to figure out divisions of labor and more efficient work flows but they are not the point.

You are not a marketer, product manager, or strategist for its own sake — but rather you are in the business of helping others, changing lives, and meeting needs.