The First 90 Days as a Product or UX Designer

"In his book The First 90 Days, Michael Watkins defines the break-even point as the moment when you've contributed as much value to your new organization as you've consumed from it. https://righthandtalent.substack.com/p/the-first-30-days-and-breakeven-point To put it plainly, when we first join a company, we're not immediately able to make an impact. We lack context, certain skills, and an understanding of how things work. The goal is to shorten that gap and reach a point where you can contribute meaningfully."

"From my experience, the first few months can be tricky. Common challenges include: Information overload that leads to paralysis. Overpromising - trying to prove yourself by taking on too much too soon, which results in stress, poor decisions, and underdelivering. As a result, falling into a vicious loop: slow learning → bad decisions → low trust from managers and peers. This loop is painful, but preventable, and that's where a 90-day plan comes in."

Set a clear goal to reach the break-even point and pass probation within the first 90 days. The break-even point occurs when contributions equal consumed value. New hires initially lack context, skills, and understanding, making immediate impact unlikely. Common early challenges include information overload, overpromising, and a vicious loop of slow learning leading to bad decisions and low trust. A 90-day plan provides structure to prioritize focus, clarity to identify low-effort, high-impact quick wins, and alignment to set shared goals and expectations with managers and peers.

Read at Medium