The Product Lunch Club

I am writing this post so that the future me can reference what the past me thought. As of August 16th, I am all in with a Roth 401(k). Here's why: I like the idea that I own my retirement accounts. By paying the tax today, I am not beholden to future taxes. I am fortunate enough where I can max out my 401(k) contributions each year, so I feel like I am able to squish more funds in by paying the taxes now. Less paperwork. I do have some retirement funds that are "traditional." I know I will have to pay taxes at some point in the future, which probably means more paperwork. Reducing the level of paperwork does sound attractive. Feels like I can't lose either way. I am not saying it's a wash, but I have read lots of literature on this topic: from Reddit posts, financial blogs, to even YouTube videos. The answer isn't definitive. What's important is that I am saving for retirement and maxing out my 401k.  I find this choice to be a lifestyle decision, rather ...

Used bookstores are my happy place, especially when I'm on the hunt for vintage comics. Forget online shopping; the real fun is the adventure of discovering hidden gems in person. Here's what I appreciate about used bookstores: clear organization, reading nooks, and a good mix of used and new books. My perfect weekend? Browsing a used bookstore, grabbing al pastor tacos at a low-key taqueria, and then relaxing with a cold brew and my new finds at a cafe. With summer just around the corner, I'm looking forward to many more adventures! Thanks for reading. See you next time.

I need to finish the books I borrow from the library. I get greedy and borrow 2~3.  I really should stick to just one. After multiple renews, I end up having to return them. There is this book about strategy that I will need to start and finish.  The worst part is that despite this, I still put in a hold on two books I am interested. One is about Section 230 and the other is a collection of short stories by Ted Chiang.  If there is any excuse to buy books, this is it.  All this to say, public libraries are wonderful. They are gems. I don't deserve them sometimes!

Tacos are wonderful. I enjoy going to different taquerias in the city. You sit down at the counter. The kind staff serve you fresh tortilla chips with 3 sauces (hot, mild, green).  I order 3 tacos (al pastor, steak, and a wild card). I am trying to avoid carbs as much as possible. Eat plenty for breakfast and then light for dinner. I found out that 1~3 tacos served on corn tortillas are the best. Onion and cilantro are all you need as toppings.  Al Pastor tacos are delicious. I really need the spice, heat, and the slight sweetness. I look forward to trying birria tacos in the near future. I had the best tacos ever in San Diego.  Thank you, tacos!

3 Habits I am Incorporating in 2025 Daily Journaling in My Notes App Last December, I bought an iPad and received an Apple Pencil from a friend. Having recently switched from a bulky Windows laptop to an iMac, I realized I needed a portable device. The iPad turned out to be perfect. Business trips were a hassle when I had to carry both my work and personal laptops, and the iPad made travel much easier. To get the most out of it, I started journaling. Writing every day feels both therapeutic and meditative. Will I ever go back and read my entries? Probably not. But there’s something valuable about putting thoughts on paper. I highly recommend it. You don’t need to write much—just a few paragraphs to clear the noise in your head. Professional Development Continuing education is always on my mind. Graduate school is an expensive investment I can’t afford right now, so I’m finding other ways to grow in my field. Product management has its specializations, and while I stand by that, I often...

I watched a Korean sketch comedy video about the small splurges of three characters who recently started full-time jobs. Their splurges were buying all the sweets, ice cream, and meals they wanted. In a way, they were celebrating their entrance into the post-grad life by doing things they would not have done as students. Disposable income is a wonderful thing. The video inspired me to think about my small splurges. Here are 3 I would like to share with you. Unlimited mobile data A couple days ago, I finally upgraded to an unlimited plan for an extra $10 per month. Prior to the upgrade, I always found myself running out of the 10 GB of data allocated each month with many days left to go in the billing cycle. With my desire to listen to Spotify on my phone while walking or watching YouTube on the train, my reliance on data was growing. I decided to upgrade. College me would have never opted-in for an upgrade. Instead, I would be searching for unsecured, public Wi-Fi networks to siphon o...

AI Video Curator The Sales Pitch : Turn your hefty repository of long and unedited meeting recordings into useful L&D artifacts curated to serve different business users. Basic Features Video Clipping - turns a recording into short reels Annotations - places helpful notes at different time stamps for easy navigation and enhanced learning Learning Paths -  Recommends a catalog of videos to users looking to obtain certain skills or play certain roles Use Cases Client Offboarding Employee Offboarding  Long Technical Working Sessions Risks Data Storage Costs Quality Control Checks User Adoption  AI Documentation Organizer The Sales Pitch : Feeling overwhelmed by the clutter of documentation that is outdated, duplicative, and unorganized? Ask an organizer to clean up behind the scenes. Basic Features Compiles a list of pages suggested for archival or deletion due to outdated content Compiles a list of pages suggested for mergers due to duplicative content Identifies "orph...