The way I describe Andrew Dowd to my friends is that he is “Alexander the great reborn”.
In 2019, I took a day job as a product manager to pay for the salaries of my engineers.
It was there I met a motley crew of misfits & expats trying to improve themselves everyday.
I remember watching Andrew at work and it excited me to work harder.
As someone, who always had a problem with authority, I was happy to follow him.
I wanted to follow him. I wanted to follow Alexander reborn.
I was happy to learn from his example and his actions.
I wanted to be on the same projects as he was so I could see what greatness looked like.
I’d go to the gym and he’d already be there. He’d be wrapping up. He woke up earlier. I could barely lift.
I’d get into the office and he’s already done with his IC work. He’s ready to lead. He led with kindness.
I’d ask him if he’s listened to this podcast or read this book.
He’s already read the book. He already listened to that podcast. I was just about to.
or if I had, I realized I didn’t learn as well from the same piece of content.
I realized I was way behind because of Andrew
I had locked myself in a 25 sqm apartment without any wifi and I was still behind.
I was trying my best and my best still paled in comparison to Dowd.
He led better. facilitated better. was more prepared. thought more critically. wrote better. talked better. lifted heavier. was kinder.
It was from Dowd I learned what radical kindness as a product manager & product leader looked like.
He taught me to read nonfiction in the morning and fiction at night.
He rolled up his sleeves and did any work required to win.
He played any role asked of him. He played any role he thought was needed.
He didn’t care about titles. He just did the fucking work.
He went out to get amongst it. He won the fucking day.
We were the same age and doing the same thing.
I was inspired. I admired him.
I summon my inner dowd & the boys at FC 2019 era (Franner, JZ, and AG) when doing self-development, training, and learning.
Note: I love & admire Franner, JZ, and AG just as much but Dowd is just on another level from all of us. We’ll keep chasing after him!