Eric Carroll learned valuable lessons from his father’s career as an entrepreneur, and he’s applied them to his own work in non-traditional ways. Eric is a product leader with experience in education, consumer goods, and healthcare. He is also a husband and parent with a strong vision for how a career fits around a wonderful life for his family. Eric is the Senior Director of Product for Nursegrid and Keener at HealthStream. Tom and Eric discuss deciding what kind of leader you want to be, Step 4 of the 12 Steps of Product Management. And Eric talks about managing your family as a product, complete with off-site meetings and goal-setting with your partner.
Eric Caroll grew up in an entrepreneurial household. His father did the “grind” of running his own business but always made time for his family, even if it meant burning the midnight oil once the kids were asleep. Eric appreciated his dad’s clear-eyed focus on what mattered most. In his career as a product leader, Eric has strived to be equally clear in his vision - for his products, for his personal ambitions, and for his family’s goals.
Eric discusses his daily work rituals, how he reviews goals with cross-discipline teams, and the joy of creating a product that solves users’ problems. Tom asks Eric whether he would prefer to have a good boss or be a good boss. Eric explains that constantly asking “why” is the key to building up your curiosity muscle. Tom wonders if you can apply product management principles to family life and Eric gives living proof by sharing his family roadmap for 2021. Eric talks about scoping your goals to fit your means. And Tom casually mentions reading some Seneca.