7 Habits of a Fractional PMM

Megan was on the fast track to VP of PMM. But then she took an exit and became a fractional PMM instead.

Why?

Fractional PMM might not be for everyone. Megan highlighted the tradeoffs, balancing flexibility with the challenges of managing a freelance business.

Curious if this path might be for you?

Scroll down to discover the seven qualities of a fractional PMM, and see if this career leap might be right for you.

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7️⃣ Habits of a Fractional PMM

1. Ownership Over Projects

Megan thrived as a fractional PMM because she could decide which projects aligned with her passions. When she noticed a mismatch between her skills and a potential client’s needs, she referred them to others, strengthening relationships without overextending herself.

A win-win-win for all three:

• Client got referred to an expert better suited for their needs.

• Referred business got a potential client, increasing chance to close that deal.

• Megan freed up her time, and by rules of reciprocity, created a new referral channel.

Tip: Start identifying projects at your current role where you can take full ownership and lead from beginning to end. Document every step of that process, that you can later sell, for your own fractional business. Oh yeah! Make a copy of your work and save them as templates (Make sure not to steal any trade secrets.)

2. Boundary Setting

One of Megan’s key lessons was learning to say “no.” Early in her fractional career, she took on too many responsibilities, but soon realized the power of turning down work that didn’t fit her goals.

Tip: In your current role, practice setting clearer boundaries. Ask for the why behind the request. Figure out how it aligns a broader, shared goal. Can you swap it out with another initiative, or not? Next, figure out timeline: when do they want it by?

(Assuming that it aligns to your broader goals)

3. Flexibility in Workload

As Megan shared, fractional work allows for flexible scheduling. She mentioned enjoying the ability to turn down heavy projects when her kids were out of school, shifting to a lighter workload when needed.

Tip: Are you a morning person or a night owl? Look at how you structure your workday today. How would you plan accordingly, knowing you’re managing both client work and your growing business too.

4. Strong Self-Pitching Skills

Megan emphasized the importance of selling your own value, especially when pitching to clients who may not fully understand product marketing. She would often clarify expectations upfront to ensure mutual alignment. One more surprising thing we learned in our conversation with her?

She doesn’t mention product marketing, if the potential client doesn’t bring it up. Reason being to focus more on problem discovery, giving her a better shot to position her expertise for the job.

Makes sense: how many of our colleagues today really know what a product marketer does? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

5. Emotional Resilience

Megan discussed the emotional highs and lows of fractional work, from dealing with quiet months to juggling multiple clients. She built resilience through trial and error, and learned to manage the uncertainty of client pipelines.

Tip: Journal daily, find a good therapist, lift heavy weights at the gym, and crochet blankets (this is what I do, it might work for you too).

6. Diversified Skillset

In Megan’s episode, she described her range of skills—from writing product messaging to coordinating cross-functional teams for go-to-market strategies. This versatility allowed her to work with different clients.

Tip: Identify areas where you can expand your skillset. Do you like building product launches? How can you drill down in that focus area and expand your skills from there?

Hint: Ready for Launch

7. Freelancer’s Mindset

Megan highlighted that thinking like a freelancer, even while in-house, is crucial. She managed her full-time role as if she were a freelancer, setting clear deliverables and outcomes for each project, which helped her transition.

Tip: Begin acting like a freelancer in your current job. Take more control over your career by tracking your wins and demonstrating your impact in measurable terms.

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