A gift list for product managers is fast becoming an annual tradition of ours. With the holiday season fast creeping up, the MTP team put our heads together to come up with the ultimate list of goodies that are making our eyes twinkle this festive season. If you have a special product person in your life, or are looking for things to add to your own wish list, we’ve got you covered.
1. Adobe Ink and Slide
As a product manager, I’ve gotten naturally good at simple drawings: mostly boxes within boxes, and lots of arrows. But classic freehand drawing has never come easily to me, so a gorgeous gadget such as this one that promises to help me with my lines, circles and french curves (whatever they are!), and more, would do wonders for my wireframes.
2. Livescribe
I take tons of notes. From feedback from customers to new ideas to improve my products, from wireframes, to flows to other random jottings. This notebook is on our Christmas list because it claims to save the hassle of transcribing all those notes to my iPad. Plus it has nifty on-page commands and voice recognition! This is the perfect combo of the beloved Moleskine notebook and the joyous tech of Livescribe.
3. Post-its
Post-its! The ultimate stocking-stuffer for your favourite product manager. And if their daily usefulness wasn’t reason enough, find the ones with the green Evernote stripe which come with a month of free Evernote Premium.
4. Stainless Steel Sharpie
One sharpie to rule them all. Have a sharpie worth coveting with this stainless steel version. Plus it’s refillable, so you can keep using it for years… if you can hold on to it!
5. Parrot Bebop Drone
Want to splurge on your product manager? At $499, the Parrot Bebop Drone is a pretty exciting option. Check up on the team across the room, or have a little fun in your downtime. Perhaps rig it to bring you coffee. This drone seems like the perfect balance of accessibility and functionality to have some fun and explore the world from above.
6. Mophie Power Reserve
Got out of the building (as Steve Blank says we should) and realise you’ve run out of battery? Keep powered up with the Mophie Power Reserve. It fits neatly on your key ring, and at 1350mAh, gives plenty of juice to keep you topped up and talking to all those extra customers.
7. Shure SE425 Sound Insulating Earphones
Time to get your head down and work? After standup is done, a product manager needs to focus and get on with things. These Shure sound isolating headphones will be sure to help shut out distractions and get into the zone.
8. Keepcup Brew
This limited edition Keepcup brew, made from glass and cork, is a truly handsome cup for your daily brew, plus environmentally friendly to boot!
9. Falmouth Backpack
This is the perfect commuting companion for a product manager. It looks simple and elegant and holds a 15″ laptop, plus a separate compartment for your tablet.
10. Knowledge is Beautiful
Comprising 196 beautiful infographics and the product of 15,832 person hours of effort (yes, he counted them) this book from David McCandless is the perfect present for the data-loving product manager.
Bonus Gift: #mtpcon 2015
For a real box-ticking gift, we think an #mtpcon ticket is a wonderful way to honour a product manager. As well as an inspirational day of learning, you get a ticket to the party of the year and community connections that last a career. They go on sale in the new year, but a simple IOU will surely bring a huge smile to their face.
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