After years in tech—jumping between e-commerce, fintech, e-counseling, ride-hailing, entertainment, and more—I started to notice a pattern: every product, no matter how complex, falls into a basic archetype. Here’s the twist though: these archetypes aren’t about the technology, industries, or even specific user segments. They’re all about the core relationship a product has with its users—whether it’s something people need or want. Even more fascinating, these archetypes quietly shape everything that matters: the metrics you chase, the challenges you face, and the skills you need to thrive. Curious which archetype your product fits into?

Is there a smarter framework to capture the real chaos—and magic—of product management today?