How to Get Things Done When Work Gets Fast and Furious.

Lessons from a growing Product Marketer.

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During my early days in product marketing, life was simpler. My role was straightforward: lead a single project and ensure its successful delivery.

But as I stepped into more senior roles, and eventually into leadership as a VP of Product and Marketing, things got more complex.

Suddenly, I was juggling multiple high-priority initiatives, with numerous teams looking for guidance, feedback, and direction. It felt chaotic for months before I found my rhythm.

Sound familiar? If you’re a senior product marketer, product team lead, or team manager, you’ve likely felt the weight of this same craziness.

The truth is, we can’t shake away the endless to-do lists or the urgent, unexpected tasks that pop up daily. But we can adopt strategies that help us cut through the noise and stay focused on what matters.

Here are 3 tips that helped me stay productive and maintain clarity through the storm.

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1. Prioritize ruthlessly

As a VP of Product Marketing, the work never stops. The key isn’t about doing more — it’s about prioritizing ruthlessly.

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is to identify which tasks are "glass" (high-impact and must be handled carefully) and which are "rubber" (can bounce back if delayed).

I got the inspiration from Coca-Cola’s former CEO Brian Dyson’s 5 balls of life commencement speech at the Georgia Tech Institute, back in 1991.

This clarity allows me to focus on what truly moves the needle. To make this work, I create a weekly summary of all my priorities and share it with my manager when it starts to get out of hand.

Together, we narrow down the list to the two or three initiatives that must be done—and which ones can be deprioritized or delegated.

A crucial part of my role is also to teach my team, especially junior members, how to triage reactive work without letting it derail the proactive, strategic efforts we’ve aligned to in our OKRs. Junior team members often feel intimidated about pushing back on direct requests from leadership, but I emphasize that there’s no need for pushback if we have a strong triage system in place.

A team that can clearly articulate why something will be done later, or even not at all, becomes far more efficient and resilient. By fostering this approach, we ensure that urgent tasks are assessed correctly without derailing the broader strategy. It creates a culture where we can manage up and down effectively, ensuring all stakeholders are aligned while keeping our focus on what matters most.

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2. Master the art of delegation

In my early days, I used to think that if I could do something, I should do it. That mindset is unsustainable in a leadership role. A key turning point for me was learning to ask: Where can I uniquely make the biggest impact?

I quickly realized that focusing on tasks that require a combination of strategic insight, decision-making authority, and relationship-building cannot be easily replicated by others on the team.

Delegating operational tasks is important, but holding onto these high-level responsibilities ensures you have a direct impact on the business's success.

For example, there may be a routine task—like setting up a performance dashboard—that I could do, but someone else on the team could handle it just as well.

By delegating, I free up my time for more strategic work.

This includes defining key objectives, identifying new market opportunities, and shaping the roadmap for how marketing aligns with product and company goals. Strategic direction is something only you, with a holistic view of the business, should handle.

Not only does delegation allow me to focus, but it also empowers my team by giving them growth opportunities.

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3. Block time for deep focus

Our days are often filled with distractions: meetings, Slack messages, last-minute requests. It’s easy to go through an entire day without making progress on your most important work. I’ve found that the only way to avoid this is to intentionally block out regular chunks of time for deep work.

Here’s how I set up my calendar to ensure I control my time, not the other way around.

My calendar stays relatively open until Thursday. By then, I take stock of the projects that need my attention for the following week and estimate the time I’ll need to work on key projects that require deep focus. I split my tasks into two categories: those that need uninterrupted time and those that can be tackled in smaller blocks.

Once I’ve mapped it out, I go ahead and block off the time I’ll need for the week ahead.

This time is sacred — no meetings, no interruptions. It’s dedicated to working on the most critical tasks, whether it's writing messaging for a product campaign or working through a key piece of strategy.

By Friday, my calendar for the following week has only a couple of slots left open for emergencies. This system allows me to dominate my schedule, protecting my focus from the chaos that distractions can cause.

It’s a simple practice, but it’s been one of the most impactful changes I’ve made to my routine. Consistency is key. Those focus blocks add up, and over time, you’ll find yourself making significant progress on your most important projects.

As you grow into more senior roles, things will inevitably get more complex. But by prioritizing ruthlessly, delegating effectively, and protecting your time for deep work, you can navigate the chaos with clarity and focus.

It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing what matters most.

Until next time, stay focused and keep making an impact!