PM Talks S2E2: Alignment

A Productive Conversation

The latest episode of PM Talks is here, and this month, Patrick Rhone and I dive into alignment—a concept that is critical for making meaningful progress in both work and life. As we move beyond the fresh-start energy of January, February is often when things begin to fray. That’s why now is the perfect time to step back and examine whether our actions are truly aligned with our intentions.

Alignment isn’t just about getting things done—it’s about ensuring that what we do actually moves us in the right direction. In this conversation, Patrick and I explore how alignment impacts productivity, why asking "why" is just as important as asking "what’s next?", and how attunement plays a role in adapting to life’s ever-changing landscape.

Key Discussion Points

• Why alignment is more than just checking things off a to-do list—it’s about meaningful action.
• The missing piece in traditional productivity systems: aligning actions with deeper intentions.
• The difference between alignment (structured precision) and attunement (adaptive responsiveness).
• Why Making It All Work by David Allen is an underrated book on the "why" of productivity.
• How regularly questioning “why” can dramatically reduce overwhelm and improve decision-making.
• The tension between who we are, who we want to be, and what we actually do each day.
• The role of curiosity in navigating misalignment and adjusting course when needed.

As we wrap up, we lay the groundwork for next month’s PM Talks on curiosity—a natural follow-up to this discussion. If you’ve ever felt out of sync with your goals or struggled to balance structure with flexibility, this episode will help you find clarity.

Links Worth Exploring

• Patrick's book, "For You"
• Patrick’s Website
• An underrated David Allen book: Making It All Work
• Fish: A Tap Essay
• We didn't talk about this, but it does have to do with "why"
• Check out ALL of the PM Talks episodes

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Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

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