Hack Your Side Project, PM Style
Let’s be honest: Product managers are the unsung heroes of the tech world. You’re the glue between devs, designers, and business folks. You juggle Jira tickets, roadmap slides, and user interviews like a boss. But here’s a question: What if you took all that PM magic and used it to build something of your own? Not another deck, not another meeting - an actual side project.
If you’re a PM who’s ever thought, “I wish I could build that,” this is your playbook. Whether you can code or not, your PM toolkit is stacked with everything you need to launch, grow, and scale a side hustle. Let’s break down how you can leverage your product chops to ship something awesome - and maybe even make a little noise in the developer world.
Why PMs Are Secretly Built for Side Projects
First, let’s bust a myth: Side projects aren’t just for devs who live and breathe code. In fact, PMs are uniquely positioned to crush side projects, and here’s why:
1. You’re a Natural Problem Hunter
PMs are trained to sniff out pain points like bloodhounds. You see inefficiencies, gaps, and user frustrations everywhere. That’s the seed of every great side project.
2. You’re Cross-Functional by Default
You already speak Dev, Design, and Biz. You know how to translate “we need a button here” into “let’s A/B test two CTAs and ship the winner.” That’s startup gold.
3. You Prioritize Like a Pro
You live and die by the MVP. You know how to cut scope, focus on what matters, and get something shippable out the door. Most side projects die because people try to build too much - PMs know better.
4. You’re a Feedback Magnet
User interviews, surveys, analytics - you’re already wired to collect and act on feedback. That’s the difference between a project that fizzles and one that flies.
5. You Know How to Rally a Team
Even if you’re solo, you know how to find collaborators, motivate them, and keep momentum high. That’s a superpower in the lonely world of side hustles.
Side Projects That Play to PM Superpowers
Not sure where to start? Here are some side project ideas that fit perfectly with your PM DNA (and will impress your coder friends, too):
1. Build an App or Tool
Spot a workflow that sucks? Build a Chrome extension, a Slack bot, or a simple web app that fixes it. Use no-code tools like Bubble, Glide, or Webflow if you can’t code (yet).
2. Launch a Blog or Newsletter
Share your product wisdom, your war stories, or your favorite frameworks. Build an audience, then monetize with courses, templates, or consulting.
3. Create Templates and Toolkits
Notion PRD templates, Airtable roadmaps, Figma wireframes - if you’ve made something that saves you time, chances are it’ll help others, too.
4. Teach What You Know
Turn your expertise into an online course, a YouTube channel, or a podcast. PMs are hungry for practical advice from people who’ve been in the trenches.
5. Volunteer for Nonprofits or Open Source
Lend your PM skills to a cause or an open-source project. You’ll learn new domains, meet new people, and make a real impact.
How to Turn PM Skills Into Side Project Wins
Alright, let’s get tactical. Here’s how to take your day job skills and use them to launch a side project that actually ships (and maybe even gets some traction):
1. Hunt for Real Problems
Don’t build for the sake of building. Use your PM radar to spot pain points in your workflow, your industry, or your community.
Pro tip: The best ideas often come from scratching your own itch.
Example: Noticed your team’s retros are always chaotic? Build a simple tool to streamline them.
2. Validate Before You Build
You wouldn’t greenlight a feature without user research, right? Treat your side project the same way.
Run a quick survey.
Post a poll on LinkedIn or Twitter.
Talk to a handful of potential users.
The goal: Prove there’s real demand before you sink hours into building.
3. Scope Ruthlessly-MVP or Bust
Remember: Your first version should be embarrassingly simple.
What’s the one thing your project must do to deliver value?
Everything else is a “nice to have” for later.
Example: If you’re building a job board for PMs, start with a basic list and email notifications. Fancy filters and AI matching can wait.
4. Use No-Code and Low-Code Tools
Don’t let a lack of coding skills slow you down.
Bubble, Webflow, Glide, Notion, Airtable: Build apps and tools without touching a line of code.
Zapier, Make (Integromat): Automate workflows and connect your tools.
Bonus: If you can code, use frameworks like Next.js or SvelteKit to go from idea to MVP in days, not weeks.
5. Build in Public
Share your journey on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Indie Hackers.
Post updates, wins, fails, and lessons learned.
Ask for feedback early and often.
Why? You’ll attract collaborators, users, and maybe even your first customers.
6. Leverage Your Network
You already know designers, devs, marketers, and other PMs.
Ask for feedback.
Find a co-founder or accountability buddy.
Tap into communities like Product School, Mind the Product, or local meetups.
7. Iterate Fast-Feedback Is Your Fuel
Don’t wait for perfection. Ship, collect feedback, and improve.
Use analytics (Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Heap) to see what’s working.
Run user interviews or quick surveys to find pain points.
Common Pitfalls (And How to Dodge Them)
Even with all your PM superpowers, side projects come with traps. Here’s how to avoid the most common ones:
1. Analysis Paralysis
You’re great at planning, but don’t let it stop you from executing.
Fix: Set a deadline for your MVP launch. Done is better than perfect.
2. Time Management Fail
You’re busy. Side projects can easily get pushed aside.
Fix: Block out “maker time” each week - treat it like a meeting you can’t skip.
3. Trying to Do It All Yourself
You know how to delegate at work - do it here, too.
Fix: Partner up, outsource, or use automation tools to handle the grunt work.
4. Burnout
Juggling a day job and a side project is tough.
Fix: Set boundaries, celebrate small wins, and take breaks when you need them. Or collaborate with the right partners.
Why Side Projects Make You a Better PM (and Human)
Side projects aren’t just resume candy. They’re a playground for leveling up:
You learn new skills: Coding, design, marketing, sales - you’ll get your hands dirty in all of it.
You build real stuff: No more “what ifs”-you’ll have a portfolio of shipped products.
You grow your network: Collaborators, mentors, and even future employers will notice your hustle.
You get to experiment: Try new frameworks, tools, or ideas without corporate red tape.
You might even make money: Some side projects turn into profitable businesses or open doors to new gigs.
Product Manager’s Side Project Toolbox
Here’s a quick stack to get you started (with a dev-friendly twist):
No-Code: Bubble, Webflow, Glide, Notion, Airtable
Automation: Zapier, Make (Integromat), n8n
Analytics: Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Heap
Design: Figma, Canva
Dev Frameworks: Next.js, SvelteKit, Supabase, Firebase
Community: Indie Hackers, Product Hunt, Twitter, LinkedIn
Docs & Collaboration: Notion, Google Docs, Loom
Real-World PM Side Project Wins
1. The PM Who Built a Chrome Extension
Saw a pain point in daily standups, built a Chrome extension to automate updates, launched on Product Hunt, and landed freelance gigs as a result.
2. The PM Who Launched a Newsletter
Started writing weekly product tips, grew a list, and turned it into a paid community and job board for PMs.
3. The PM Who Built a No-Code App
Used Bubble to create a lightweight CRM for freelancers, got early users via LinkedIn, and eventually hired a dev to scale it up.
Your 7-Step Side Project Launch Plan
Spot a Problem: Use your PM radar to find a pain point worth solving.
Validate Fast: Talk to real users, run a poll, or share a landing page.
Scope Ruthlessly: Define your MVP, cut everything else.
Build (No-Code, Low-Code, or Code): Use the right tools for your skills.
Launch in Public: Share your journey, ask for feedback, and build buzz.
Iterate and Improve: Use feedback and analytics to make it better.
Celebrate and Reflect: Ship, learn, and plan your next move.
Final Thoughts: PMs, It’s Time to Build
You already have the skills to manage chaos, align teams, and ship value.
Why not use those powers for yourself?
Side projects aren’t just for devs-they’re for anyone who wants to build, learn, and grow.
So, pick a problem, rally your network, and start building.
Your next big thing could be just a side project away.
Now go ship something awesome. The world (and your fellow PMs) are waiting.