We’re always thrilled to hear from readers. 😊📚
Shivam and I have poured our hearts into creating a system design book that breaks free from jargon, confusion, and intimidation. Our goal was to make it exceptionally clear and readable, even for non-experts.
I absolutely love marketing, and Mattel is one of the best consumer brands out there.
So naturally I’m thrilled to hear that one of my UCI workshop attendees used my materials to secure a coveted offer from Mattel this summer!
🙌
Always fun to see PM interview candidates do and share practice questions from my book!
In both of these instances, Alex utilized my CIRCLES™ method to navigate through the product design questions.
PS The latest edition of my PM interview questions book has been rebranded as The Product Manager Interview.
I always enjoy hearing from Wharton students. They really shine in the tech world.
It’s an honor that my books have been used to land PMs their first jobs and particularly in this case at a level higher than expected!
Of course, I'm thrilled to discover that they've made my books their go-to resource for interview preparation throughout the entire year.
It’s a delight working with UCLA Anderson MBA students. Their social finesse is impressive, and they carry themselves with grace and charm.
So, it was no shock to receive feedback from one of these students who appreciated the interactive atmosphere of my workshop. He resonated with my unfiltered, authentic approach.
And what really hit home for him? The fundamental lesson of practice, practice, practice! 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
I am delighted by the positive feedback I received from the recent Kellogg workshop I conducted. It brings me great satisfaction to learn that the explanations I offered resonated deeply with the participants and that the stories I shared effectively illuminated the principles we discussed. Discovering that the workshop not only assisted with interview preparation but also offered valuable guidance for real-life career endeavors fills me with immense gratification.
And then, to top it off, hearing that Decode and Conquer got hailed as a game-changer for those interview preps? Man, that's the kind of feedback that makes you do a little happy dance.
I just love teaming up with those MIT students. Their excitement for all things tech is downright contagious, and they've got this endless hunger for learning that's just inspiring.
And it's no shocker when I hear back from one of them after a workshop, buzzing with joy about the chance to soak up knowledge and maybe stumble a bit along the way.
I mean, who wouldn't prefer to trip up and learn in the safe zone of a workshop rather than flounder in the heat of an important interview?
Oh, let me tell you, getting a message from the bright minds at the University of Washington is always a joy for me. You know, our partnership goes way back, and it's such a sweet connection.
He just soaked in the frameworks, you know, like CIRCLES, and gobbled up those corresponding examples. And oh, my heart just lights up knowing he caught onto my knack for untangling those head-spinning complex ideas.
Frameworks are like trusty companions, guiding us through the labyrinth of challenges, offering order and reducing missteps. In the realm of ChatGPT conversations, having a sturdy framework is like having a secret map, preventing haphazard or confusing inputs that might lead to less-than-ideal outcomes.
Embarking on the Journey of Two LLM Frameworks: Let me share the enchanting world of two remarkable Language Model frameworks that have recently sprinkled their fairy dust on my creative endeavors:
Picture this – a framework designed specifically to summon images from the mystical realm of DallE. It's like having a wizard's wand for image creation, weaving a structured spell that turns creative visions into tangible wonders. Time-saving and enhancing the overall enchantment of the output, this framework is truly a magical ally.
Now, imagine a framework crafted with the finesse of a master weaver, tailored for conjuring ChatGPT prompts. This magical tool makes the process smoother than a river's flow, ensuring prompts are finely crafted and comprehensive. The result? Interactions that are not just efficient but downright spellbinding.
Excited to hear another win for the Lewis Lin Slack community. This time for an associate product manager candidate for one of the most respected names in eCommerce 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦.
I'm absolutely thrilled to hear about these undergrads acing it with CIRCLES and Decode and Conquer!
The PM club at UT totally rocked them – one member nailed a whopping 47 practice job interviews 💪. Now, that's seriously impressive. 🚀🎉
You know, back in my university days, I didn't bother with any of that practice interview stuff. I didn’t even know it was a thing! And in grad school, I barely managed to pull off 10. I look back now and think, "What was I even doing?" " 🤷♂️
It's like these practice interviews are your pre-show rehearsals. Sure, it might feel like you're doing a lot, but trust me, it's gold when you're aiming for those top-notch job opportunities. Think of it like gearing up for a major game – the more you practice, the sharper you'll be when the real deal hits.
It's all about putting in the work to shine when it truly matters.
🤘🤘🤘🤘
Stepping into the world of landing a job at Google is like embarking on an epic quest, and Decode and Conquer and CIRCLES is your trusty sword on this journey. Authored by yours truly, this book is your key to unlocking the mysteries of Google's challenging interview process. It's not just a book; it's your personalized roadmap to conquering the Everest of job hunts.
What makes this journey even more thrilling is the fact that Google's hiring managers, the gatekeepers of your Google destiny, are not just recommending my book casually. They're emphatically endorsing it as the go-to resource. It's like having the insiders' seal of approval, a golden ticket to navigate the intricacies of Google's interview terrain.
So, as the author of Decode and Conquer, I'm not just handing you a book; I'm handing you the key to the gates of Google, and the hiring managers are nodding in agreement. It's not just a journey; it's your personalized quest to conquer Google's hiring process and emerge victorious in your dream job pursuit. Let's decode, conquer, and own this adventure together.
Here are 26 guiding principles to query and prompt large language models. This is one of the best tip sheets I’ve seen for prompt-writing.
I’m always happy to hear from my readers. This time, it’s from a software engineer who read my book, The System Design Interview.
In that book, I introduce a popular framework to answer system design questions called PEDALS™ Method.
The reader absolutely loved it. He called it the STAR framework for system design questions.
Jeremy Schifeling shared a really good prompt to generate a networking message. There are three parts to it:
Requested text
Context 1: The recipient’s LinkedIn profile
Context 2: Your LinkedIn profile
Here’s the example he shared:
Generate a message to an alum in the PM space. Make it focused on what we have in common and have a clear CTA to ask for a 10-minute virtual meeting.
Here is the alum’s LinkedIn profile:
<Insert the alum’s profile>
And here is my profile:
<Insert your profile>
Here’s the output I got using a fictious example:
Subject: Exploring Shared Interests and Opportunities in AI Strategy - Request for Virtual Meeting
Dear [Alum's Name],
I hope this message finds you in good spirits. My name is [Your Name], and I recently came across your impressive profile on LinkedIn. It's motivating to connect with professionals who have made significant contributions to the field of AI strategy.
I was particularly intrigued by your current role as President and CEO at SynthAI Innovations, where you lead an AI strategy consulting firm focused on building competitive advantages through webinars, workshops, and proprietary GPT instances. Your diverse experience, including your current role as a Visiting Professor for AI at Quantum University and your tenure at Nexus Dynamics, Cybershift, and other reputable organizations, speaks volumes about your expertise in the AI space.
Given our shared interest in AI strategy and consulting, I believe there could be valuable synergies between our experiences. I am currently the CEO of OptiMind Solutions, a company specializing in performance feedback generation, and the CEO of Insight Catalyst, an executive coaching practice. My background includes leadership roles at TechSphere, NexusTech, and OmniCorp, where I've been deeply involved in product management, marketing, and strategic partnerships.
I am reaching out to explore the possibility of a brief 10-minute virtual meeting at your convenience. During this meeting, I would love to discuss our shared interests, potential collaboration opportunities, and exchange insights into the evolving landscape of AI strategy.
Please let me know a time that suits you for a quick virtual meeting, and I will ensure to accommodate your schedule. I appreciate your time and consideration and look forward to the opportunity to connect.
Thank you, and I eagerly await your response.
Best regards,
[Your Full Name] [Your Position] [Your Company] [Your LinkedIn Profile/Contact Information]
And then I asked ChatGPT to “Rewrite it so that it's 50% shorter and more casual”:
Subject: Quick Virtual Chat?Hey [Alum's Name],
Hope this message finds you well. I'm [Your Name], and your AI journey caught my eye on LinkedIn.
Your gig as CEO at SynthAI Innovations sounds awesome! I'm rocking the CEO hat at OptiMind Solutions and Insight Catalyst. I've had my hands dirty in product, marketing, and partnerships at places like TechSphere and OmniCorp.
Thinking our AI vibes might align, how about a quick 10-minute virtual coffee? Would love to swap insights and explore what could brew between us.
Let me know when's good for you. Cool?
Cheers, [Your Full Name] [Your LinkedIn Profile/Contact Information]
Now it's your turn to give it a try! Whether reaching out to an alum or a connection in your industry, use the three-part prompt to tailor your message. Highlight the requested text, delve into the recipient's LinkedIn profile, and present your own profile confidently.
I've been reading Robert Bly's book, "The Copywriter's Handbook," where he effectively emphasizes the significance of documenting a product's features and benefits.
The exemplary breakdown of the features and benefits of a standard yellow pencil within the book stands out as one of the most impressive, clear, concise, and jargon-free explanations I've ever come across.
This pencil example is something I’ll refer to again and again, so I’ve included the plain text below.
Pencil is a wooden cylinder surrounding a graphite core - Can be sharpened as often as you like to ensure clean, crisp writing.
Cylinder is hexagonal - Won't roll off your desk.
One end is capped by a rubber eraser - Convenient eraser lets you correct writing errors cleanly and quickly.
Eraser is attached with a tight-fitting metal band - Holds eraser snugly in place; no pencils ruined by eraser coming loose.
Pencil is 7.5 inches long - 7.5-inch graphite core ensures a long writing life.
Pencil is 0.25 inches in diameter - Slender shape makes it easy to hold and comfortable to write with.
Pencil is No. 2 - Graphite core is blended for just the right hardness--writes smoothly yet crisply.
Yellow exterior - Bright, attractive exterior--standouts in a pencil holder or desk drawer.
Sold by the dozen - One-stop to the store gives you enough pencils to last for months.
Also available in a box containing a gross - Easier purchasing and a lower price per unit for large-volume users such as business offices and schools.
Made in the USA - A quality product. (Also, buying American-made strengthens the US economy.)
Can be sharpened as often as you like to ensure clean, crisp writing.
Won't roll off your desk.
Convenient eraser lets you correct writing errors cleanly and quickly.
Holds eraser snugly in place; no pencils ruined by eraser coming loose.
7.5-inch graphite core ensures a long writing life.
Slender shape makes it easy to hold and comfortable to write with.
Graphite core is blended for just the right hardness--writes smoothly yet crisply.
Bright, attractive exterior--standouts in a pencil holder or desk drawer.
One-stop to the store gives you enough pencils to last for months.
Easier purchasing and a lower price per unit for large-volume users such as business offices and schools.
A quality product. (Also, buying American-made strengthens the US economy.)
Woo hoo! Another win for the Lewis Lin Slack interview community. This time an APM internship job offer with LinkedIn!
Launching into a new project is like strapping into a rollercoaster, a mix of thrill, hurdles, and the allure of triumph. But hey, before you get too swept up in the excitement, let's hit pause and chat about the unsung hero of project planning: base rates. Trust me, understanding these little nuggets of wisdom isn't just a good idea – it's like having a treasure map that could be your ticket to a project without all the bumps and bruises.
Base rates are the unsung heroes that give us a reality check. They're like the project whisperers, sharing tales of triumphs, fiascos, and the crazy stuff in between. Knowing the backstory of projects in the same league helps project big shots and stakeholders set expectations that aren't floating in la-la land.
Here's a classic pitfall: being too darn optimistic. Project teams, fueled by passion, might start believing they're the Avengers of project management. But wait, without considering base rates, these hero fantasies might crash and burn. Knowing the lowdown on how similar projects fared helps teams keep their feet on the ground, steering clear of the overconfident hype.
Projects are like jungle expeditions – unpredictable and loaded with surprises. Base rates are like the compass that helps project managers hack through the dense foliage of potential problems. If history screams, "Watch out for that quicksand," teams can gear up with plans to tackle issues, avoiding ambushes that could throw them off balance.
Smooth-talking with stakeholders is the secret sauce to project success. Blend in a dash of base rates, and voila! Managers can lay it all out, painting a vivid picture of what to expect. It's like a trust-building potion, creating an atmosphere where everyone's in sync, armed with the facts to steer the ship.
Projects aren't just one-night stands; they're learning opportunities. Comparing base rates with actual project sagas sets off this cool feedback loop. Organizations can flip through the lessons learned, tweak their crystal ball skills, and level up their game for the next big adventure.
Before you dive headlong into project chaos, cozy up with base rates. They aren't just boring stats; they're the secret handshake to a project journey that's real, savvy, and high-fiving success. By giving base rates a warm hug, project teams can sail through the unknowns, make savvy calls, and prep the stage for a project that doesn't just make it through the day – it rocks the entire theme park. Because, in the wild ride of project management, a rock-solid foundation is like rocket fuel for touching the stars.
I thoroughly enjoyed Liz Wiseman's descriptions of impact players and how they approach challenging work situations in her book, Impact Players.
I’ve also included at the end the following references I thought was helpful:
15 Ways to Alienate Your Boss
15 Ways to Earn Trust w/ Your Boss
He saw people spending too much time on presentation slides, developed a tool to fix that, rolled it out globally. He saved us hundreds of hours of work.
It wasn’t her job. She just did it.
Repeatedly pivots to become the expert in what is needed.
Looked at the whole picture, then fixed the problem for everyone.
You don’t need to ask him to do something, he just starts it.
She gives credit to others and doesn’t need to claim [all] the success.
She makes everything better.
It is more often that he’ll remind me of a deadline than I have to remind him.
She recognizes problems and issues before they become big problems and solves them. She doesn’t rely on anyone else to solve her problems.
He can hit a roadblock, figure out a way around it, and keep on moving rather than getting disheartened and slowing down.
She sees things to the end even if she gets no credit.
He seeks out new information without being prompted.
She takes feedback as a positive.
She learns quickly from errors.
When I have feedback, she takes it and does something with it. She doesn’t get down, she sees it as a chance to improve.
He frequently comes to me and says, “What can I take off your plate? How can I make your job easier?”
She avoids drama. Things don’t get to her. She is compassionate but refuses to be an actor in any soap opera.
She exudes positive energy. It’s just big fun working with her.
Language Models (LLMs) have emerged as powerful tools in natural language processing, capable of understanding and generating human-like text across various domains. In this post, we will explore seven key uses of LLMs including:
Writing
Summarizing or classifying
Reformatting
Identifying
Selecting
Evaluating
Critiquing
Note: Thank you to Adam Loving for coming up with this 7-step list.
LLMs have revolutionized the way we generate content. From chatbots that engage users in natural conversations to code generation for software development, LLMs exhibit an unparalleled ability to produce contextually relevant and coherent text. The benefits include increased efficiency in content creation, but challenges such as biased output and ethical concerns need careful consideration.
The summarization and classification capabilities of LLMs shine when dealing with vast amounts of text or data. Whether condensing news articles, reviews, or emails, LLMs can distill information into concise and relevant summaries. However, challenges like maintaining accuracy and handling diverse content pose ongoing obstacles.
LLMs excel at reformatting or transposing text from one style or format to another. Paraphrasing, translation, and transcription are just a few examples where LLMs demonstrate their versatility. While they enhance productivity, challenges such as preserving context and maintaining accuracy require careful consideration.
LLMs play a crucial role in information retrieval, question answering, and fact-checking. Their ability to identify relevant information from vast datasets is invaluable. Challenges in handling ambiguous queries and ensuring accuracy necessitate ongoing refinement of LLMs for identification tasks.
In recommendation systems, ranking, and decision-making processes, LLMs shine in selecting the most suitable option from a list of alternatives. Despite their efficiency, challenges include addressing biases in recommendations and understanding user preferences accurately.
LLMs are adept at evaluating sentiment, providing feedback, and even grading content. Their use in sentiment analysis and quality assessment streamlines processes but requires ongoing efforts to enhance accuracy and address contextual nuances.
For tasks like editing, rewriting, and optimization, LLMs can critique and suggest improvements to text or data. While this can enhance the quality of content, challenges include understanding the nuances of context and ensuring constructive suggestions.
In the pursuit of leveraging Language Models, a critical mindset is paramount. While these models have undeniably enhanced efficiency and automation, the importance of thinking critically cannot be overstated. Continuous scrutiny of biases, meticulous checks for accuracy, and an unwavering commitment to refining these models are imperative. As we navigate the evolving landscape of language models, embracing a critical approach is not just a suggestion but a necessity. Only through diligent attention to detail can we ensure the responsible and impactful deployment of these powerful tools in various domains, fostering innovation while maintaining a vigilant eye on potential pitfalls.