From Self-Doubt to Software Engineer : Rose's coding journey | Ep # 60

AI Code, Chaos & Calm: Finding Human Value in a Machine World - With Faris Aziz | Ep64

Is Artificial Intelligence making us faster, or is it emptying out our critical thinking? In this deep dive, I speak with Faris, who navigates the intersection of high-performance software engineering and human psychology. We explore what truly matters in a world where code generation can be effortless, focusing on skills that AI cannot touch: resilience, empathy, curiosity, and the art of the uncomfortable conversation. ✨ What You Will Learn: * How to pivot your career when technology makes old roles obsolete. * The "T-Shaped Engineer" mindset for lasting success. * Why mastering failure is more valuable than achieving early success. * How to find psychological safety in a high-ambition environment. 🚩 Watch for: Our discussion on why AI threatens to remove the process of learning itself. 🔍 DEEP DIVE TOPICS COVERED: 🚀 The Impact of AI on Engineering Work We begin by confronting the core challenge of modern development: are we optimizing for speed and quantity, or for quality and deep thinking? Faris discusses how new tools create an "AI psychosis"—a dopamine feedback loop where we prioritize endless prompting over sleep, sanity, and real-world balance. * Key Concept: The danger of relying on efficiency (doing 60 tickets/week) at the expense of process (documentation, testing, refactoring). * 🚩 Watch for: Our discussion on why AI threatens to remove the process of learning itself. 🌱 The Art of Professional Resilience & Failure Success in tech is often presented as linear and perfect. But Faris argues that professional growth hinges entirely on how we handle mistakes, setbacks, and conflict. We discuss how vulnerability builds true credibility and trust within a team or organization. * The Gift of Failure: The importance of understanding your "safe space" for mistakes—knowing how much you are allowed to mess up before it becomes a crisis. * Trust Building: Why having difficult, honest conversations (even about layoffs) builds lasting human capital and trust that code never can. 🧩 Professional Identity in the Modern Economy When your profession is defined by what you did (e.g., "I was a lawyer," or "I wrote this code"), how do you redefine yourself? We talk about shedding old labels and choosing a new professional identity. Faris highlights that true mastery isn't just technical; it's the ability to navigate multiple roles—from product manager to engineer to stakeholder diplomat. * Core Skill: The inability of AI (yet) to replace strategic communication and emotional intelligence. 🧭 Growth Mindset & Embracing Discomfort The most actionable takeaway from this episode: success is not about finding comfort; it's about seeking out the discomfort that signals growth. We explore how changing your mindset from "I want comfort" to "Where can I face discomfort?" fundamentally changes your life trajectory. ⏰ TIMESTAMPS  * 01:00: Faris’s role at Smallpdf & what he handles (payments, architecture, monetization). * 05:00: What worries us most about careers in the post-AI world. * 06:30: The cycle of fast development vs. necessary deep thinking. * 12:00: How technical discussions often miss the human element and emotional context. * 24:00: The Shift: Moving from being a 'coder' to an 'engineer' (focus on system design, not just syntax). * 37:00: The ultimate lesson: When trust is built through honesty, especially after making or receiving mistakes. 🙏 CREDITS & RESOURCES ⭐ Guest: Faris Aziz 🌐 https://ch.linkedin.com/in/farisaziz12  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/farisaziz12/] Explore his work: Check out the ZurichJS conference (https://conf.zurichjs.com/ [https://conf.zurichjs.com/]) and learn more about DevRel. 🎧 Did you enjoy this conversation? Share with Friends, and subscribe to Easier Said Than Done for weekly deep dives into high-impact skills and career philosophy.   📧 CONNECT WITH ME 1. LinkedIn:   / zubinpratap   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazh5c1lZNlIxRkctYUJOREhoOXZ5Um01U3J0Z3xBQ3Jtc0tuRWc1enBCMDBIYWVUNnZFYXJuX1owZmxvNmJ0Q0VvbHNDV1FmNFN5WW9lc1RreFBsWkJDLTNZVGc1SE90Tk40T0dwRlVZWF8zVW5TTTh5ckx6TFBnRnh3SFZDUnlwYlphUlRFbnJRY1ZBNkc2ZlVxOA&q=http%3A%2F%2Flinkedin.com%2Fin%2Fzubinpratap&v=MI2u2PsSSLM]  2. X: https://x.com/zubinpratap [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHBlV29INTRoRnNxdnJtWDNIX05jVFo0S3E4UXxBQ3Jtc0tuYUpoT3VIMzk4ekN0QXVBVWRTT3lXeU8xMkExcTliVWlFLUZkeXZqdWlWenB3cXBFX0xUM2NoWTZFdENQOGFONHZ1VHB0RGZIRXAtcmFJNUd5bWZWTk8yS3Fuei05ZTd1RHcwbUk5ekRKcV80REZGcw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fzubinpratap&v=MI2u2PsSSLM]

Starting a New Role - From Anxiety to Action: Ep#63

After moving from Chainlink Labs to Cartesia as Head of Dev Rel, I share the raw, honest experiences of starting in a new role, new team, new company, new industry. But it's not my first rodeo, so I also share the insecurities, the learning curve, and the mindset shifts that make the difference. Chapters 0:00 — Introduction: why this episode is different, and what prompted these reflections 1:12 — When you switch roles, you leave behind years of built-up credibility, relationships, and social capital — and that's a bigger deal than most people admit 2:48 — The learning curve isn't just one thing. It's the domain, the tools, the terminology, the team culture — all at once 4:18 — Being the new person means earning authority all over again, even when you know what you're doing 6:30 — "Action anxiety" — why acting without the fear of being judged is a muscle, not a personality type 9:57 — You can't demand trust. Setting realistic expectations for yourself on how long this uncomfortable period will last 12:10 — Bias to action is overrated without direction. Thoughtful action beats busy action every time 16:12 — It all comes back to self-awareness and communication — knowing your internal state so you can manage your external behaviour 17:35 — A simple framework: what should you Start, Stop, and Continue doing in your new role? Catch up with me on 1. LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/zubinpratap 2. X: https://x.com/zubinpratap

Here's Why Career Change is DEAD in 2026 (AI Changes Everything) -Ep62

Why Career Change is a Bad Idea Right Now (Harsh Truth About AI & Jobs) For the first time in my career, I've stopped taking students into my coaching program. Here's why: we're experiencing a structural shift in the labor market that's fundamentally different from anything we've seen before. In this episode, I break down the data showing why NOW is the worst time to make a career change: • Entry-level positions down 45% below the 5-year average • 862,000 jobs revised downward by the Bureau of Labor Statistics • AI closing the "entry level gate" across all industries • The bottom rungs of the career ladder no longer exist • Why your data is 12 months old but AI improved 500% in that time This isn't cyclical. It's structural. And it changes everything. But I also share 6 practical solutions for navigating this new reality—including why integrating AI into your CURRENT expertise is the smartest move you can make right now. Key Takeaway: Direction is more important than speed. But when you can't see where the puck is going, observation beats action. 📊 Data-driven insights for career changers, software engineers, and anyone wondering how to future-proof their career in the age of AI. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Introduction: Massive structural shift in labor markets 0:18 - Why I stopped taking students into my coaching program 1:11 - This is the worst time to make a career change 2:09 - Nobody has a crystal ball 2:33 - Meta principle: Direction is more important than speed 4:00 - Data point #1: Entry level job postings down 45% 4:23 - The entry level gate is closing 5:06 - The bottom rungs are no longer there 6:03 - Data point #2: The slow leak problem - 92,000 jobs lost 6:23 - Structural contraction, not cyclical 7:40 - Data point #3: 184 applications per job ad 8:40 - Why you're more likely to be ignored in a new industry 10:27 - Data point #4: BLS revised employment down by 862,000 jobs 11:52 - You cannot skate to where the puck is 12:54 - Direction is more important than speed 13:58 - Solution #1: Integrate AI into your current expertise 16:39 - Don't just go into high productivity sectors 18:12 - Solution #4: Stop mass applying to jobs 20:54 - You're running a race against an exponentially accelerating vehicle 21:18 - Stay in observation mode and observe what AI can't do 22:18 - Do not despair - keep looking for opportunities 24:16 - Final thoughts: Not a great time for career change

Designing Your Customized Coding Curriculum: The Inner Circle MED Framework Explained

They don't want you to know this: The biggest failure point for mid-career professionals trying to pivot into coding isn't a lack of smarts or effort—it's a lack of direction, which costs you years of wasted time. If you've spent months jumping between free tutorials, chasing shiny new frameworks, and still can't build anything useful, you're not alone; you're just driving without a map. Most advice focuses on making you a better candidate, ignoring the critical question: What do hiring managers need to see?  This episode reveals the crucial difference between learning and actually getting hired. Show Timestamps and FREE Resources are further below 👇 ☎️☎️☎️ Contact Zubin☎️☎️☎️: 👉🏼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/zubinpratap/ 👉🏼  Connect with Zubin:   https://meetzubin.carrd.co/ [https://meetzubin.carrd.co/]  👉🏼 Future Coders Inner Circle Program (https://www.matchfitmastery.com/inner-circle?utm_source=yt [https://www.matchfitmastery.com/inner-circle?utm_source=yt])    Why Direction Trumps Speed (and How to Stop Wasting Time)   *  The Pinata Career Trap: Stop letting algorithms decide what you learn; blindly following what's convenient is a recipe for failure                .  *  The Google Maps Approach: Like navigation, designing a curriculum is impossible without knowing two things: your crystal-clear destination (the job) and your accurate starting point.  The Minimum Effective Dose (MED) Framework   *  You're Learning Too Much: Your goal is optimal results with minimal time investment, especially as a time-poor career changer—not acquiring the maximum number of frameworks.  *  Necessary vs. Useful: Learn the difference between necessary steps (you must do) and merely useful steps (nice to have) to ruthlessly filter out the noise and focus only on what's sufficient to get the job done.  Sequence Matters: The Recipe for Sufficiency   * The Beginner/Intermediate Blunder: Beginners jump to advanced topics (like Android development) while intermediates focus on learning new things instead of acquiring professional-grade skills in the few areas that truly matter. *  The Only Metric That Counts : Stop measuring progress in days or frameworks; the only thing that matters is how many job interviews you are generating         .  * Your Next 5 Hours: The Non-Negotiable First Step   Stop coding this week. Seriously. Instead, spend five dedicated hours figuring out your target market, your MED, and your starting point. This single act of clarity will transform your entire experience.  Want the exact goal-setting process that cuts years off your career change? Check out Zubin's Before You Learn to Code course—it's super cheap and the blueprint for the Inner Circle Program. Get the Lifesaver Course and a free preview of the 12-Month Inner Circle Program now!   Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction & My Career Change Story 00:57 - Show Intro: Easier Said Than Done 01:42 - The Real Problem for Career Changers 03:10 - Why Direction Matters More Than Speed 05:10 - Your Competition Isn’t Who You Think 05:57 - Call to Action: Subscribe & Newsletter 06:39 - The Google Maps Approach to Curriculum Design 08:04 - Why Generic Advice Fails: Know Your Starting Point 09:27 - The Minimum Effective Dose (MED) Framework 10:56 - The Necessary, Sufficient, and Useful (NSU) Framework 17:24 - Why Sequence Matters: Avoiding Common Mistakes 20:32 - Designing Your Life for Commitment & Focus 23:15 - How to Build Discipline & Avoid Shiny Object Syndrome 24:14 - The One Rule: Finish What You Start 26:15 - Putting It All Together: Designing Your Curriculum 28:15 - How to Research & Identify the MED for Your Target Job 31:55 - Stop Following Random Learning Paths 33:36 - The Only Metric That Matters: Generating Interviews 36:39 - Final Thoughts & Recap: Why Curriculum Design is Non-Negotiable 36:20 - Outro & Next Steps

From Self-Doubt to Software Engineer : Rose's coding journey | Ep # 60

Unlocking the Hidden Path to Software Engineering Success They don’t want you to know this: mid-career professionals can break into tech without the typical barriers. 04:24 – Why “feeling like a real software engineer” is harder than you think 08:51 – The mindset shift that changed everything for Rose 13:46 – How to turn rejection and failure into your secret weapon 21:25 – The surprising trait that separates career changers who actually succeed 31:48 – The mentorship advantage: what most self-taught coders miss SHOW NOTES FURTHER BELOW! ☎️☎️☎️ Contact Zubin☎️☎️☎️: 👉🏼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/zubinpratap/ 👉🏼  Connect with Zubin:   https://meetzubin.carrd.co/ [https://meetzubin.carrd.co/]  👉🏼 Future Coders Inner Circle Program (https://www.matchfitmastery.com/inner-circle?utm_source=yt [https://www.matchfitmastery.com/inner-circle?utm_source=yt])   Ever feel like tech is a locked door and everyone else has the key? You’re not alone. Many professionals hit a wall of self-doubt, feeling overwhelmed by the rapid pace of change and the competition. You might have a degree or completed a bootcamp, yet still feel stagnant, like you’re running in place. Why do generic training programs fail 80% of career changers? Because they offer cookie-cutter solutions that don’t address your unique challenges. But what if I told you there’s a mindset shift that can accelerate your journey into tech? 🚀 The Lie Big Tech Tells You * Discover why coding isn’t the only skill that matters in software engineering. * Learn how to position yourself as more than just a coder. 💡 From Stagnation to Transformation * Hear how Rose transformed her career by shifting her mindset. * Find out how to identify and leverage your unique strengths. 🎯 The Game-Changing Mindset Shift * Uncover the three words that can change your career trajectory. * Learn why mental resilience is your secret weapon. 📈 Overcoming Rejection Like a Pro * Gain insights on viewing rejection as a stepping stone. * Understand the hiring process from the employer's perspective. 👉 Ready to Break Into Tech? Want the exact script I used to land 6-figure offers? Grab it here [link]. This works now—before the market catches on! Your age is your edge—here’s why. 👋👋👋 FREE LEARNING RESOURCES 👋👋👋 💥 Career Change to Code - FREE Webinar at https://matchfitmastery.com?utm_source=estd [https://matchfitmastery.com?utm_source=estd] 💥 Free Career Change to Tech Newsletter:  https://www.matchfitmastery.com/newsletters/career-change-to-tech [https://www.matchfitmastery.com/newsletters/career-change-to-tech]  💥 YouTube Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPuklwJx5V3fpXiSD9CMh3RhPQTCSemj [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPuklwJx5V3fpXiSD9CMh3RhPQTCSemj]  💥 Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/1WMi6AmVFjpmCpF95XjaBJ [https://open.spotify.com/show/1WMi6AmVFjpmCpF95XjaBJ]  💥 Before You Learn To Code -- Where to start? What to do?  https://matchfitmastery.com/lifesaver?utm_source=estd [https://matchfitmastery.com/lifesaver?utm_source=estd]  💥 Podcasts:, Blogs and Resources : https://meetzubin.carrd.co/ [https://meetzubin.carrd.co/]  💥  Twitter: http://twitter.com/zubinpratap [http://twitter.com/zubinpratap]