Read Time: 4 minutes.

In this newsletter, you will have

• The launch of my Youtube Channel.
• A new Extract of my book.
• A recall of the Reverse Podcast

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A new way to consume content and another perspective on my journey as a digital creator.

Unveiling My New YouTube Channel

Hello there,

I have some exciting news to share with you!

I am delighted to announce the launch of my brand-new YouTube channel. It represents a milestone in my mission to share my journey, insights, and experiences with you in an engaging and dynamic format.

This channel promises a unique blend of content to inspire, inform, and engage:

1. Behind the Scenes: An unfiltered look into my journey of building personal brands and Products. Experience the raw reality of entrepreneurship. The video will be rougher, with no editing and will be taken in one shot.
2. Reverse Podcast: Get ready to flip the script! The 'Reverse Podcast' offers an intriguing twist on the conventional format. Here, instead of me being the interviewer, I become the interviewee. Take it as free coaching that is recorded. Come and ask me anything about digital experiences creation, leadership and product. I want to be in!​
3. Product Leadership and Digital Creation Knowledge: Rounding off our content is a wealth of knowledge on product leadership and digital creation. From my experiences, I'll give you insights and best practices I gathered in the last 15 years of working as a Product Manager and Digital Creator at Fujitsu, Michelin, Engage, startups and international companies.

This channel aims to build a community of learners and doers.

I want to share knowledge, exchange idea, and grow together.

Join me on this exciting journey!

Your support and participation would be greatly appreciated.

I look forward to your thoughts.

Visit the channel

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Mastering First Impressions: Essential Tips for Product Managers in the First 7 Seconds

Extract of the Product Leadership - Heroes Book

I've been working on my book this week and thinking about the first steps in a new job.

We come to the site with a new team. We might be the first PM or one of many PMs on the product team.

No matter the situation, we first meet our manager. Then we meet the others and the scrum team we'll work with.

Is there a difference between these meetings?

No, every start is the same.

I want to focus on one big thing I've been thinking about for a long time.

We have just 7 seconds to make a good impression.

It's even worse if we're in sales - just 4 seconds on a phone call.

In the next few minutes, I'll answer three questions:

• What happens in the first 7 seconds?
• Why is this important to me as a digital creator and product leader?
• How can we make the most out of the first 7 seconds?

What happens in the 7 seconds?

Our brain is keeping us safe. It has changed over time to spot dangers. Trust is an important part.

In the first 7 seconds of the meeting, people like investors, clients, coworkers, or podcast listeners start to form a good or bad impression of us.

A study by Princeton psychologists Janine Willis and Alexander Todorov says it only takes a tenth of a second to figure out some traits.

In these first moments, people start to judge based on facial appearance. The rest of the time doesn't change much except to make the first tenth of a second stronger.

Why is this important to me as a digital creator and product leader?

As digital creators and product leaders, we're always talking to people.

We meet with potential coworkers, partners, investors, clients, and stakeholders.

These meetings are crucial for our success. Making the most of the first meetings can significantly impact what happens next.

From my experience, it can cost us a lot if we don't pay attention to these meetings.

We spend the rest of the time trying to regain people's trust or convince them we can be worth their investments.

There are better places to be.

As I said before, each relationship we make is an investment. We can use this investment in the future to help achieve a goal.

For example, these can be leveraged:

• Winning a client's trust can help us define future solutions.
• Winning a coworker's trust can help us find help in tough times.
• Winning another product's or digital creator's trust can help us find support for our next launch.

How can we make the most out of the first 7 seconds?

The first 7 seconds matter, but we must think beyond that to succeed.

It all starts before the meeting.

I won't talk here about how looks matter. Everyone knows it. Depending on the job or the situation, it's important to dress right and care for ourselves.

People judge looks before words.

Here's where I went wrong at the start of my career. I thought what mattered was the first 7 seconds.

A meeting can be stressful. It's awkward. We don't know the person or coworker. We start a new job. We jump on a call with someone we barely know.

The mindset we have at the start of the meeting matters.

Advice number 1 - Do something that makes you feel confident, relaxed, and ready to handle anything.

I like to go for a walk, listen to music (Artic Monkeys, Suits OST, DragonForce), or listen to motivational parts from TV shows and anime. That's how my brain works.

You need to find what works for you.

When we get to the meeting and just before it starts, it's another time to make a good impression.

People worry too much about what they'll say. They forget that we're humans and need to be in the moment. Whatever the outcome we want, it doesn't matter then.

Advice number 2 - Start with a smile and make a real connection with the person

Smiling makes people seem more trustworthy and friendly. That's why it's important to smile in any situation.

But be authentic in the way you do it. Then you can shake hands firmly or not. It's up to you.

Smiling is the most common piece of advice given by my colleagues on Twitter: @PatThePM, @flyvenkat, @obllorrac.

I like to start my meetings with small talk. Weather, holidays, vacations. It doesn't require much thought, and it relaxes everyone.

Then the meeting starts.

And this will be for another email because there are strategies we can use based on the situation and type of meeting.

But here's some advice: everything from you tells the other person who you are.

Our subconscious picks up 97% of the information and gives it to our conscious to make the right choice.

Just think about it; we never decide we dislike someone. It just comes to us naturally.

My last piece of advice.

Advice number 3 - Speak clearly and slowly and watch your posture.

For a while, I practised in front of mirrors at the start of my career before interviews or workshops.

I needed to know everything I would say and how to lead the meeting.

I couldn't know how people would react.

So, I decided to come prepared.

Let me know if you have any questions on this topic.
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The Reverse Podcast is up and running!

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Be a guest on my new podcast

The concept is different from the usual. It is a REVERSE PODCAST!

I have been answering questions for a while in my training. People have recurrent problems, and I enjoy the part where I can show there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

The podcast is you being the hero of the podcast.

I will share the secrets that helped me along the way and be transparent about what I know and don't.

During the podcast, you can ask me any questions about product management and the challenges that they are currently facing. I will answer the question live and give as much help as possible.

Everyone is welcome, from young aspiring managers to more senior.

Would you like to join in?

Count me in!

PS: If you are unwilling to come on camera, email me all your questions, and I will answer them in a video.

Last Thoughts

Thank you for being part of this writing adventure.

This week's format was a bit different; I was giving a behind-the-scenes of the why and how.

Let me know if you prefer that format or want more of the long form. Follow this link for feedback.

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