I would like to share an incident or a small story today. If you do not know, I'm a father of two boys: one
is 13, and the other one is 11. You know how difficult it is to manage two boys; they have different
preferences and usually comment and complain about different things when we go out. These include
food preferences, such as one preferring a buffet and the other preferring specific dishes. My younger
one also has a key requirement that wherever we go, he wants to reach back home by 6 pm so that he
doesn't miss playing with his friends in the evening. Since my elder son turned into his teenage, I
decided to delegate small things to him so that he can learn. So, I asked him to plan a day outing for the
family when we went to our hometown.
When I gave this task to him, I highlighted a few things for his consideration, such as it being a family
outing, so the day out plan should suit our family and everyone's schedule. He was very excited and
started his journey as a product owner. He quickly realized that to plan the perfect day, he needed to
understand the needs and preferences of each family member. He sat down with us, my parents, and
brother, listening keenly to their interests, hobbies, and desires for the outing.
After gathering valuable input, he dove into research mode, just like a product owner gathering market
insights. He searched for nearby attractions, outdoor activities, and scenic spots that would cater to
everyone's tastes. He explored various options, reading reviews, checking availability, and considering
factors like distance and affordability.
Once he gathered a wealth of information, he put on his architect's hat and started crafting a roadmap
for the family's day outing. He carefully planned each activity, taking into account the timings, logistics,
and sequence of activities. He visualized the roadmap and, before arranging the logistics, he applied
design thinking and wanted to share the high-level plan with the family for early feedback. After that,
he prepared a roadmap and, as a product owner, he shared the roadmap and explained how it caters
to all family members' interests, ensuring that everyone had a memorable experience.
The day of the outing finally arrived, and he took charge, acting as a channel between the family and
their adventure. He helped preparing things and coordinated the departure time, and kept track of the
roadmap to ensure a smooth progression through the day.
In any journey, there were some unexpected circumstances, such as a rain shower. He was very flexible
in managing those situations by adjusting the roadmap to include indoor activities.
In the end, it was a perfect day out.