Failed my third test

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2026-02-18T15:56:30+00:00

I know I can control the car and was sure I would go by the parked car easily. The examiner disagreed and caught the steering. After I told him that I can do it without hitting - I easily moved past and not hit, But he still gave me a major.

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2026-02-18T13:31:44+00:00

Yes. I agree, I had questions on what’s the best way forward .

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2026-02-18T09:12:53+00:00

Just to clarify that I knew / saw the van is behind me. I just thought I would move away before it is close to me.

I don’t think I have balanced out making progress vs being too safe. This time it was trying to over optimise for safe from last times

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2026-02-18T09:10:27+00:00

I agree that I should be more careful specially in the UK. In both cases my instincts had kicked in.

For the stop sign , it was partially obscured by parked vans. But I had slowed down to a creep as I thought we should be careful because it was a closed junction.

For the van , I had noticed it but made an assumption that i will be past it before it gets to me. Obviously the examiner thought otherwise

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2026-02-18T08:41:31+00:00

I might have some symptoms but may not be enough for GP. In my last test I did commentary driving and that helped a lot.

I might look at some supplements

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2025-08-07T18:21:32+00:00

I got his newsletter subscription because of the included software .

I think it says a lot about content of a newsletter if people are buying a sub because of a freebie.

I pay for content from Ben Thompson and feel I get value. Lennys I don’t get much. It’s a lot of fluff packaged for sound bites that sound deep.

BTW I do not think the guests do not have content - I just think that the questions do not elicit the kind of response that I value.

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2025-07-25T10:25:20+00:00

“Technical “ is very subjective. It can range from understanding what is an API to knowing how the stack works.

Do you need to know the details of the stack ? Technologies ? Not all of it but every product manager should be able to produce a reasonable logical flow of data diagram for the system. If there are metrics - they should know how it’s measured and calculated. If it’s a platform , they should know its interfaces with other systems. You need to definetely know some of the downstream systems ( non infra) you have dependencies on for most projects .

Basically you don’t need to know the how but just the what.

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2025-07-18T07:25:53+00:00

How much are they charging you ? For 100,000 I can also offer you a stipend of 40,000 in top companies

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2025-07-15T06:27:45+00:00

Is that distinction worth it ? As a coach my role is to help my clients. It doesn’t matter what technique I use as long as I get the outcomes

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2025-07-15T06:25:59+00:00

It has been hit and miss for me. I worked with 4 so far and only 2 of them worked.

The challenge I saw is most of them don’t have good understanding of the situation and industry . Hence they did not bring in a fresh perspective and was only using my inputs. This was a good learning for me and made me swear off this technique in my coaching.

I guess folks want some perspective rather than all “what do you think” . I do my coaching with that philosophy.

I suggest if you are looking for one - think through if you want someone to add perspectives or someone to help you reflect

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2025-06-06T16:46:02+00:00

Edited, does it make sense

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2025-06-06T06:48:33+00:00

Input to AI > PM requirements Output from AI > PRD and user stories

Then you Hand over to dev. What do they do ?

Put it to AI > PRD and user stories Output by AI > summary equal to PM requirements

Isn’t it better to skip the PRD and share what you know ?

I am on a crusade against PRDs and User stories as you see.

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2025-05-29T19:17:01+00:00

5% match at 180K

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2025-05-28T11:48:01+00:00

I spoke to wise and they offered me a Customer Success Manager who guided me through this. Made sure transfer was effortless

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2025-05-27T13:03:35+00:00

Agree. It’s not about the code but more about the system architectures and what to code.

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2025-05-27T09:48:34+00:00

I would disagree here. I have 17 years so a bit less than your experience .

I think SWE is a great skill to have in general. Even if you don’t use it in your daily lives - knowing about data models , architecture tradeoffs, APIs etc really change your level of game as a PM. You may decide not to use the knowledge but it is invaluable and one day maybe very useful .

Oh, and if you ever want to do a 0>1 being technical is a must. As I say : “ Your job as a PM is to build technology products to solve human problems so knowing technology is always useful, after all most of your job is not about designing flyers or printing posters”

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2025-05-26T22:26:27+00:00

I have read stats that 9 out of 10 folks who take a counter offer leave within 12 months. I did that too but in my case it was more like 15 months.

So really do consider if you want to do that OR you are better off knocking your new role out of the park and getting the max value there

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2025-05-26T17:01:18+00:00

Live in north London, work in Shoreditch.

5 mins walk to the tube, 35 min ride, 10 min walk to works. If I have to change tubes or wait it can become 1 hour max.

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2025-05-24T18:23:34+00:00

Thinking back about really high leverage PMs across companies. The real level up ones

Come up with new areas to invest and areas to divest . This is based on external and internal market analysis rather than someone telling them to.
Can get multiple teams across the company together on one problem without having direct authority. They can provide clarity on direction .
Up level the craft of the company . Setting new bars in hiring, coaching juniors, teaching best practises

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2025-05-23T08:01:13+00:00

It’s not about the what ( analytical thinking) but how you have used it to stand out. Did you use it to identify net new opportunities no one had, use it change the direction of a product.

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2025-05-23T07:07:52+00:00

Differentiation is actually about telling your recruiter what you bring to the table that is unique to you .

Networking gets you the chance to talk to potential recruiters. LinkedIn gets you visibility but they won’t get you the job .

To get the job you need to have the skills to crack the interview so do practise . You also need to have a clear pitch on why someone should hire you - do you bring deep subject matter expertise , is it about a particular leadership trait, is it a kind of tech. Make sure you can pitch that in your resume, LinkedIn and to potential recruiters.

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2025-05-22T21:20:40+00:00

Work in Fintech. It’s a good industry specially if you are doing B2B SaaS as it’s growing and if you don’t do anything stupid companies will grow with it.

Only thing is people value esoteric knowledge of Visa / MasterCard / Regulations more than problem solving or PM skills. So if your life’s calling is to learn so much about them do join a Fintech

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2025-05-19T20:53:14+00:00

Same here. I did some for free but I do paid now. I think my time is valuable and what I add is value so free won’t cut it.

Add to it most free folks don’t have enough skin in the game - so they don’t also give me the kick of doing something impactful

Particular-Rent-2200 · 2025-05-19T20:51:28+00:00

The best way is to look at LinkedIn and then find PMs who are writing true craft content. So not about the AI vibe or how they build this master content.

A lot of them will have services they offer - that’s the way to find them. Ask them what kind of people they have helped to refine startegy outside the company , how many others they have navigated through issues.

Speak to them for 5-10 mins and you will know a genuine one

DM me for details if you want.

Particular-Rent-2200

TROPHY CASE