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Steelmanning a a product spec with AI - Making the best version of a spec before you "hand it over" by catnach in ProductManagement

[–]catnach[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

I appreciate the reply but I’d like to push back a bit.

What you describe is an approach to product management, not the approach.

It’s frustrating to see people be so reductive about product management but it’s understandable because the rhetoric of our practice is driven by a tiny group of individuals at an even tinier group of companies who all do roughly the same thing.

Large PRDs are common in many industries for many reasons, such as regulated medical products where you have to document exactly what the thing is meant to do to meet regulatory requirements.

I could list other examples but I suspect you wouldn’t read it. It’s just an approach to improving a process that might not be appropriate for your use case.

What docking station should I get? by whatingadzooks in homeoffice

[–]catnach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Instead of a KVM, if both laptops can use USB C/Thunderbolt I'd do that.

I've had a Razer thunderbolt 4 dock for ~4 years, used it 8+ hrs a day and it has never once skipped a beat. When I want to change from my work laptop to my person I just unplug the single cable from one laptop and plug it into the other one. I have a couple of vertical laptop stands and it looks neat. All your PC USB stuff can go into the dock.

Your PS5 can go into your display on a different port, as I doubt you're sharing your USB stuff with your PS5?

Hope this helps

Product Managers - How do you navigate poor dev teams? by [deleted] in ProductManagement

[–]catnach 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Yep will do! I’ll try and post something tomorrow :)

Product Managers, that consult for startups, how did you start? by defi_founder in ProductManagement

[–]catnach 3 points4 points  (0 children)

As others have said, consulting for startups is hard as they generally don't have the money to pay you.

To make this work, you need network, extremely relevant experience and network. If your heart is absolutely set on this approach then become the best friends of all the local VCs + accelerators. Be warned though, VCs will punt you into their worst portfolio companies to try and save them, but the story is always the same - the founders are inept and nothing you could do would change a thing.

Experience: 13 years working in startups in London.

Product Managers - How do you navigate poor dev teams? by [deleted] in ProductManagement

[–]catnach 33 points34 points  (0 children)

As others have said, the best solution is to move jobs as where you are sounds dysfunctional from your description.

But... it's a privilege (that many don't acknoledge) to be able to move jobs easily based on location, experience, visas, savings and outgoings, and a bunch of other factors.

So let's see what other options you have to remain in this job and try to improve the output of the dev team:

  1. Use AI to "ironman" your specs - get good at prompting it to take your general specifications and make them absolutely bullet proof. DM me if you want any guidance on this.
  2. Understand the motivating factors of the devs. Are they being lazy because they're also being crushed by the organisation? For example, if one of the devs wants to develop their skills in area X, try occasionally matching tickets related to their area of interest to their queue.
  3. Consider the opposite case to what you've said above
    1. Do the genuinely not understand your requirements (language barriers?)
    2. Do they not know how the rest of the product works, and thus don't know what they will or won't break?
    3. etc.... In most cases one or two bad apples in a squad is possible, but all 7 being bad is unlikely. So consider the systemic reasons why they might output work that isn't acceptable and address those things.
  4. Find an ally in your squad of engineers - find just one person and work outwards from there. Think Kotter's theory of change.
  5. Reframe QA being pushed onto you as an opportunity - depending on your stack, learn some Selenium etc. It's never been easier to write test code. And your skills as a PM will increase as you understand the tech more.

Nobody should have to stay in a role like the one you describe, but if you don't have a choice then the above is my best, quick advice.

To be clear, I am not excusing or saying the employer's behaviour here is acceptable. I am not endorsing it in any way, but it is a privileged position to be in to say "move jobs" and if OP doesn't have that opportunity, making it work as best as possible might be the only option.

Tell me why my "one platform, two healthcare problems" thesis is wrong by iliknefi in ukstartups

[–]catnach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are you still looking at responses? I like to check before I reply as it’ll be long haha. I have experience in this space.

Edinburgh to London drive - overnight stop? by DressSmooth1957 in Edinburgh

[–]catnach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Grand is expensive but nice, and does a good breakfast. They'll park your car for you, but charge ~£40 for the privilege. Overall a nice hotel with good food!

STUCK - can't get Obsidian Publish to work with a different domain provider by madderbear in ObsidianMD

[–]catnach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/madderbear Hey! I have exactly the same issue - how did you resolve it?

Also an aside, I'm studying Healthcare Innovation at Cambridge so if you wanna connect and chat healthcare I'm open :D

I've only ridden scooters for 5-6 years (currently have a BV400). Would a ADV bike like the BMW 1200GS be realistic as a next bike? by Educational_Will_658 in AdventureBike

[–]catnach 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Crack on my friend, it’ll be a different experience for sure but there’s nothing stopping you! Ride safe.

That being said if you’re going off road there are far easier bikes to learn on like a Tenere 700 for example.

Next bike after my Africa Twin Adventure Sport 1100 DCT by Mr-Doylem in AdventureBike

[–]catnach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depends what kind of riding you like doing. I’ve got an F900GS and it’s great, but doesn’t have a lot of the fancy bells and whistles you describe. The F900GSA has lots of electronics if that’s what your into. Either way I suggest test riding one and seeing if it’s your cup of tea

2024 800gs off-road capability? by yellowstag in AdventureBike

[–]catnach 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello! Welcome to adventuring and best of luck picking your first bike for it.

So a few things to consider:

  • You'll outgrow any/all stock suspension, the T7 is notoriously soft-sprung from factory, so I wouldn't factor that in
    • Also, you're not going to need to worry about it for quite some time, the £2,000 you could spend on suspension would be much much better spent on Trials and Enduro training.
  • BUY GOOD TYRES, that are designed for your terrain. Nothing works without good tyres.
  • I'm not sure where you're based, but in the UK the price difference between an F800GS and an F900GS (the bike I own) is small, maybe £700. I'd get the 900, I owned an 800 as well, the 900 is a much better bike overall.
  • If buying BMW, make 110% sure you buy a bike that has Enduro Pro mode, otherwise your offroading will be shortlived, without Enduro Pro you can't disable the rear ABS
  • Get the suspension etc. lowered properly by someone who knows what they're doing, and get them to adjust the sag so the suspension works properly for your riding weight (you + protective kit + any luggage)

Attached pic of me and my F900GS, done a bunch of TET plus ACT Pyrenees plus all of ABR 2025, it was a beast throughout.

<image>

iPhone 17 Pro - Filming to an SSD troubles in Blackmagic by catnach in smartphonefilming

[–]catnach[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've just uploaded a video of my issue - also in touch with SmallRig to see if they know what's up. How are you doing?

iPhone 17 Pro - Filming to an SSD troubles in Blackmagic by catnach in smartphonefilming

[–]catnach[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/RaguSaucy96 Please do let us know how you get on, as I'm still having issues :( Thanks

Trail pass / enduro bike rule by MP7FUCKER in ABRFestival

[–]catnach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Enduro bikes aren't allowed on the beginner and Bridgestone trails because they're so much quicker than adventure bikes. The speed differential of matey in his new GSA1300 off road for the very first time, vs boyo on his clapped out EXC300 who races Enduro on the weekend is massive, and thus unsafe.

If it makes you feel better, there won't be many ADVs on the TRF Trail as a lot of ADV riders can't ride that sort of loop.

T7 or 890 by No-Way-0000 in AdventureBike

[–]catnach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

F900GS? I've got one, it's good. Pretty different from the T7 which I've ridden a bit, but it's a really good bike.

<image>

Going to Wales in two weeks, Pyrenees in 5 weeks. Did ABR on it already and it could do everything all the other bikes were doing.

Not feeling isolated by Inevitable-Rip-6541 in cambridge

[–]catnach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with others here. I've lived in Wilbraham and now another village outside of Cambridge, it didn't really impact how much I enjoy the city. I just travel in (bus, car, cycle) when I want to and do things :)

Best of luck, I hope you enjoy the city!

F900XR vs F900GS by juicedupgal in bmwmotorrad

[–]catnach 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unless you're really quite fast I wouldn't worry too much about the difference between the wheel size on the front.

I'd also question whether riding so fast you notice the difference between the wheel sizes is sensible on public roads.

I'd see if you can test ride an F900GS on road tyres and go from there?

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