Easier Said Than Done (And How to Do it)

Zubin Pratap
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Set against the backdrop of my transition from 37 year old corporate lawyer to Big Tech software engineer, I cover meta-skills and habits that are necessary for all personal development. I show you how to do the things that are "easier said than done".

  1. The Inner Game of Coding : Why You're Struggling to Learn | Ep#51

    3D AGO

    The Inner Game of Coding : Why You're Struggling to Learn | Ep#51

    The #1 reason mid-career professionals fail at coding has nothing to do with IQ, bootcamps, or degrees—it’s all in your inner game. They don’t want you to know this. Show Summary and FREE Resources are further below 👇   Ever feel like tech is a locked door and everyone else has the key? You’ve bought courses, maybe even tried a bootcamp, but the overwhelm, frustration, and self-doubt creep back in. Here’s the truth: generic training fails 80% of career changers because it ignores the silent killer—your psychology. In this episode, you’ll discover the mindset shift that separates those who land tech jobs from those who quietly quit. (Hint: It’s not another “grind harder” hack.) ⏱ Key Points 🚨 The Lie Big Tech Tells You • Why bootcamps oversell shortcuts—and set you up to fail. 💡 The Silent Killer of Career Change • The inner barrier no course will fix for you. 🎯 The Four Traps That Derail Coders • Frustration, overwhelm, comparison, and loneliness—and how to flip them. 🚀 The Mindset Reset • The counterintuitive psychology trick that keeps you moving when others quit. ☎️ Contact Zubin & Brian: 👉🏼  Connect with Zubin:  https://meetzubin.carrd.co/ 👉🏼 Parsity Inner Circle Program (https://parsity.io/inner-circle?utm_source=estd) 👉🏼  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjenney   👋👋👋 FREE LEARNING RESOURCES 👋👋👋 💥 Career Change to Code - FREE Webinar at https://matchfitmastery.com?utm_source=estd 💥 YouTube Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPuklwJx5V3fpXiSD9CMh3RhPQTCSemj 💥 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1WMi6AmVFjpmCpF95XjaBJ 💥 Before You Learn To Code -- Where to start? What to do?  https://matchfitmastery.com/lifesaver?utm_source=estd 💥 Podcasts:, Blogs and Resources https://linktr.ee/zubinpratap 💥  Twitter: http://twitter.com/zubinpratap 💥 Free Career Change to Tech Newsletter:  https://www.matchfitmastery.com/newsletters/career-change-to-tech

    17 min
  2. A Code Review at Google Almost Broke me | Ep#50

    AUG 22

    A Code Review at Google Almost Broke me | Ep#50

    Coding is a hard skill. We know that. but What happens when your very first code review brings out the worst impostor syndrom? In this episode, host Zubin Pratap takes you inside his journey from being a 39-year-old ex-lawyer turned self-taught developer to landing a role at Google—only to be hit with a really difficult code review.   Show Summary and FREE Resources Is Further Below👇 ☎️ Contact Zubin & Brian: 👉🏼  Connect with Zubin:   https://meetzubin.carrd.co/ 👉🏼 Parsity Inner Circle Program (https://parsity.io/inner-circle?utm_source=estd) 👉🏼  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjenney 👉🏼  https://www.instagram.com/brianjenneycode From imposter syndrome to the myth of the “genius coder,” Zubin opens up about the psychological toll of feedback and the lessons he learned to not just survive, but thrive, in high-pressure engineering environments. You’ll discover: 💡 Why your code is not you—and how to separate feedback from self-worth. 🔑 The power of assuming good intent (even when comments feel harsh). 🛠️ How to view every code review as unstructured mentorship. 🙏 Why “thank you” is the most powerful response you can give. 🧠 How to control the inner narrative that fuels (or sabotages) your growth. Along the way, Zubin shares behind-the-scenes insights about working inside Google’s massive monorepo, the shock of transitioning from a tiny startup to big tech, and how criticism can become a catalyst for mastery if approached with the right mindset. Whether you’re just starting your dev career, breaking into big tech, or still navigating the sting of tough feedback, this episode will help you turn code reviews into your greatest growth engine. 👋👋👋 FREE LEARNING RESOURCES 👋👋👋 💥 Career Change to Code - FREE Webinar at https://matchfitmastery.com?utm_source=estd 💥 YouTube Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPuklwJx5V3fpXiSD9CMh3RhPQTCSemj 💥 Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/1WMi6AmVFjpmCpF95XjaBJ 💥 Before You Learn To Code -- Where to start? What to do?  https://matchfitmastery.com/lifesaver?utm_source=estd 💥 Podcasts:, Blogs and Resources https://linktr.ee/zubinpratap 💥  Twitter: http://twitter.com/zubinpratap 💥 Free Career Change to Tech Newsletter:  https://www.matchfitmastery.com/newsletters/career-change-to-tech

    25 min
  3. Become a Technical Startup Founder | Ep#49

    AUG 14

    Become a Technical Startup Founder | Ep#49

    Are you an aspiring founder without a technical co-founder? You're not alone. Many entrepreneurs waste years looking for a CTO, pitching developers, and watching their ideas stall. In this episode, I share my proven method for how to build a startup without a co-founder. Show Summary and FREE Resources Is Further Below👇 ☎️  Connect With Zubin & Brian: 👉🏼 Parsity Inner Circle Program (https://parsity.io/inner-circle?utm_source=estd) 👉🏼  https://www.linkedin.com/in/zubinpratap/ 👉🏼  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjenney 👉🏼  https://www.instagram.com/brianjenneycode 👉🏼  https://www.instagram.com/zubinpratap  As a 37-year-old lawyer who became a software engineer at Google, I'll reveal my journey and the lean, efficient way I learned to code. You'll discover why you don't need a degree or a traditional bootcamp to get your ideas off the ground. Key Topics: The "Co-Founder Mirage": Why the endless search for a technical partner is a losing game. The Minimum Effective Dose: How to learn just enough coding to build and ship your product. How to build credibility so top engineers will want to work with you. A practical, small-project strategy to de-risk your startup and accelerate your skills.    👋👋👋 FREE LEARNING RESOURCES 👋👋👋 💥 Career Change to Code - FREE Webinar at https://matchfitmastery.com?utm_source=estd 💥 YouTube Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPuklwJx5V3fpXiSD9CMh3RhPQTCSemj 💥 Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/1WMi6AmVFjpmCpF95XjaBJ 💥 Before You Learn To Code -- Where to start? What to do?  https://matchfitmastery.com/lifesaver?utm_source=estd 💥 Podcasts:, Blogs and Resources https://linktr.ee/zubinpratap 💥  Twitter: http://twitter.com/zubinpratap 💥 Free Career Change to Tech Newsletter:  https://www.matchfitmastery.com/newsletters/career-change-to-tech

    30 min
  4. The Brutal Truth About Landing a Tech Job - [2025 Update] | Ep#48

    JUL 16

    The Brutal Truth About Landing a Tech Job - [2025 Update] | Ep#48

    Landing a Tech Job in 2025 Is Totally Different from Pre Pandemic. And Pre AI. They don’t want you to know this: learning to code is just step two of seven… and bootcamps never told you that. Ever feel like tech is a locked door and everyone else has the key? You’ve sacrificed time, skipped family dinners, and built yet another portfolio app—but still no interviews. That’s because generic training is designed to teach you code… not how to get hired. The real job hunt starts after the tutorials—and most career changers never make it past that point. This episode breaks the illusion and shows you what actually works. Show Summary and FREE Resources Is Further Below👇 ☎️ Contact Zubin & Brian: 👉🏼 Parsity Inner Circle Program (https://parsity.io/inner-circle?utm_source=estd) 👉🏼  https://www.linkedin.com/in/zubinpratap/ 👉🏼  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjenney 👉🏼  https://www.instagram.com/brianjenneycode 👉🏼  https://www.instagram.com/zubinpratap  There’s a three-word mindset shift that flips the script—Zubin reveals it inside. 💥 Truth Bombs 🚨 Learning to Code ≠ Getting the Job • Why tutorials trap you in “learning loops” • The harsh truth about bootcamps and dead-end roles 💼 The Resume Lie No One Talks About • How recruiters filter 1,000+ applicants in seconds • Why “I know how to code” is not a hiring strategy 🔍 The Hidden Job Market Exists—Are You In It? • 30–60% of jobs are never posted online • How career changers build visibility before applying 🧠 From Coder to Candidate • Why interviews are 80% strategy, 20% skill • How to stop being seen as a risk and start being seen as the asset 📥 Want my proven roadmap that helped me go from 37-year-old lawyer to Google engineer? Grab the free 3-step guide at parsity.io/inner-circle and skip the years of trial and error. This works—before the market catches on.  👋👋👋 FREE LEARNING RESOURCES 👋👋👋 💥 Career Change to Code - FREE Webinar at https://matchfitmastery.com?utm_source=estd 💥 YouTube Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPuklwJx5V3fpXiSD9CMh3RhPQTCSemj 💥 Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/1WMi6AmVFjpmCpF95XjaBJ 💥 Before You Learn To Code -- Where to start? What to do?  https://matchfitmastery.com/lifesaver?utm_source=estd 💥 Podcasts:, Blogs and Resources https://linktr.ee/zubinpratap 💥  Twitter: http://twitter.com/zubinpratap 💥 Free Career Change to Tech Newsletter:  https://www.matchfitmastery.com/newsletters/career-change-to-tech

    34 min
  5. Learning to Code - For Self Doubters | Ep#47

    JUL 9

    Learning to Code - For Self Doubters | Ep#47

    Learning to Code as a Self-Doubter is almost impossible. So Here’s How The Select Few Have Done it. “Learning to code after 30” feels like climbing Everest in flip-flops—confusing errors, AI spaghetti, and soul-crushing self-doubt. But what if the struggle isn’t failure… but proof you’re on the right path? This episode breaks down why your messy, imperfect code is secretly building your future—and why tutorials and bootcamps keep most career changers stuck in a loop of shame.  Show Summary and FREE Resources Is Further Below👇☎️ Contact Zubin & Brian: 👉🏼 Parsity Inner Circle Program (https://parsity.io/inner-circle?utm_source=estd) 👉🏼  https://www.linkedin.com/in/zubinpratap/ 👉🏼  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjenney 👉🏼  https://www.instagram.com/brianjenneycode 👉🏼  https://www.instagram.com/zubinpratap  *** SHOW SUMMARY***Ever feel like coding isn’t made for “people like you”? Like you’re too late, too old, or just not smart enough? I was a 37-year-old lawyer crying at 1:40 AM over an error message—until I decoded the lies. Today, I’m giving you the mindset rewrites and practical survival kit I wish someone gave me before I landed my job at Google. 💥 Why coding bootcamps fail 80% of career changers? They skip this critical mindset shift… 💡 Want to know the 3 silent killers of self-taught devs—and how to outsmart them? It’s not what you think. ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 🚨 The Lie Big Tech Tells You • Struggling isn’t failure—it’s how senior devs level up. • Your breakdowns are building blocks. Use them. 💣 Why Tutorials Keep You Stuck • “Learning” ≠ doing. Most tutorials are just busywork. • Build one ugly, meaningful project instead. 🧠 Debug Like a Google Engineer • Senior devs aren’t smarter—they’re just calmer. • Error messages aren’t walls—they’re treasure maps. 🤫 The 3 Silent Killers of Aspiring Coders • Ambiguity. Imposter Syndrome. Silent suffering. • Kill these, or they’ll kill your dreams. 🛠️ Turn Imposter Syndrome Into Your Superpower • Use “I don’t know… yet” to win interviews and crush fear. • It’s not about confidence—it’s about proof you can learn. 🔥 Ready for your unfair advantage? Want the exact no-fluff plan that took me from lawyer to Google engineer? Book a free Inner Circle call here → parsity.io/inner-circle. Spots are limited. This works before the market catches on. 👋👋👋 FREE LEARNING RESOURCES 👋👋👋 💥 Career Change to Code - FREE Webinar at https://matchfitmastery.com?utm_source=estd 💥 YouTube Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPuklwJx5V3fpXiSD9CMh3RhPQTCSemj 💥 Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/1WMi6AmVFjpmCpF95XjaBJ 💥 Before You Learn To Code -- Where to start? What to do?  https://matchfitmastery.com/lifesaver 💥 Podcasts:, Blogs and Resources https://linktr.ee/zubinpratap 💥  Twitter: http://twitter.com/zubinpratap 💥 Free Career Change to Tech Newsletter:  https://www.matchfitmastery.com/newsletters/career-change-to-tech/

    24 min
  6. The EXACT Moment People Quit Learning To Code | Ep#46

    JUN 29

    The EXACT Moment People Quit Learning To Code | Ep#46

    🚨 The Hidden Trap That's causing Coding Newbies to QUIT *** Show Summary and FREE resources Are Further Below *** ☎️ Contact Zubin & Brian: 👉🏼 Parsity Inner Circle Program (https://parsity.io/inner-circle) 👉🏼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/zubinpratap/ 👉🏼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjenney 👉🏼 https://www.instagram.com/brianjenneycode 👉🏼 https://www.instagram.com/zubinpratap 🔥 The Pain: Stuck in tutorial hell? Endless doubt? "Maybe I'm not cut out for this..." Truth: It’s not you—it’s a predictable psychological cycle no one warns you about. 💡 The Secret: The 5-Stage Emotional Cycle (why most quit right before their breakthrough): Uninformed Optimism ("I’ll learn this in a month!") Informed Pessimism ("This is way harder than I thought...") Valley of Despair (Where 80% quit—but it means you’re close.) Informed Optimism (The "lightbulb" moment) Success (You’re now unstoppable) 🚀 Your Move: Want the exact roadmap I used to go from 37yo lawyer to Google Engineer? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPkM7kzJIJc&t=208s 💬 "Your frustration isn’t failure—it’s fuel." (Tweet this!) PS: Bootcamps won’t teach this. But your breakthrough starts now. 👋👋👋 FREE LEARNING RESOURES 👋👋👋 💥 Career Change to Code - FREE Webinar at https://matchfitmastery.com 💥 YouTube Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPuklwJx5V3fpXiSD9CMh3RhPQTCSemj 💥 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1WMi6AmVFjpmCpF95XjaBJ 💥 Before You Learn To Code -- Where to start? What to do? https://matchfitmastery.com/lifesaver 💥 Podcasts:, Blogs and Resources https://linktr.ee/zubinpratap 💥 Twitter: http://twitter.com/zubinpratap 💥 Free Career Change to Tech Newsletter: https://www.matchfitmastery.com/newsletters/career-change-to-tech/subscribe

    29 min
  7. "Not Smart Enough" to Apple Engineer: Jeremy's RAW Career Change Journey | Ep #45

    JUN 17

    "Not Smart Enough" to Apple Engineer: Jeremy's RAW Career Change Journey | Ep #45

    💡 The Secret Nobody Talks About: "Breaking into tech isn’t about talent—it’s about refusing to quit. Jeremy Parker spent 5 years failing alone before landing at Apple. Here’s what he wishes he knew sooner." Show Summary / notes Is Further Below ☎️ Contact Zubin & Brian: - Parsity Inner Circle Program (https://parsity.io/inner-circle) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zubinpratap/ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjenney - https://www.instagram.com/brianjenneycode - https://www.instagram.com/zubinpratap 👋👋👋 FREE LEARNING RESOURES 👋👋👋 💥 Career Change to Code - FREE Webinar at https://matchfitmastery.com 💥 YouTube Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPuklwJx5V3fpXiSD9CMh3RhPQTCSemj 💥 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1WMi6AmVFjpmCpF95XjaBJ 💥 Before You Learn To Code -- Where to start? What to do? https://matchfitmastery.com/lifesaver 💥 Podcasts:, Blogs and Resources https://linktr.ee/zubinpratap 💥 Twitter: http://twitter.com/zubinpratap 🔥 The Pain: Stuck in "tutorial hell" but can’t build anything real? Hearing "You’re not smart enough" from teachers (or yourself)? Bootcamps too expensive, self-learning too lonely? 🎯 The Agitation: "Most career changers waste years guessing what to learn next." AI tools like Copilot make you feel competent—until you face a real code review. ✨ The Solution Tease: The "Emotional Hook" Method: Why projects you care about are the only ones that stick (31:00). Mentorship not leetcoding: How one coffee chat changed Jeremy’s trajectory (27:00). AI’s Dirty Little Secret: Why "vibe coding" will backfire in interviews (36:00). ⏳ Timestamped Takeaways 🚨 [00:10:00] The Turning Point Jeremy’s wake-up call: A negative work review + newborn daughter = "I need to change NOW." Key Insight: "Your ‘why’ must be bigger than money—or you’ll quit." 🤝 [00:22:00] Mentorship vs. Networking LinkedIn cold messages won’t cut it. Real relationships = trust + credibility. Hiring Hack: "People hire you when they believe in you—not just your skills." 💻 [00:31:00] Projects That Actually Work Stop cloning Todo apps. Instead: Pick a problem you’re obsessed with (e.g., Jeremy built a martial arts school tool). Steal patterns from tutorials—but make it your own. 🤖 [00:36:00] AI’s Career Change Trap "AI writes code faster, but you debug slower." Jeremy’s rule: "Only paste code you understand. Otherwise, you’re just a glorified prompt engineer." 🧠 [00:40:00] The Pilot Paradox "Autopilot exists—but planes still need pilots." Golden Quote: "The person you become is the real prize, not the salary." 🔑 Final Tip "Never. Give. Up. Grit beats talent when talent quits." 👉 Next Step: Stuck in tutorial hell? Come joint the ANTI BOOTCAMP movement → parsity.io/inner-circle

    43 min
  8. Why is tech hiring so hard? Hiring Manager Perspectives with Brian Jenney Ep #44

    JUN 10

    Why is tech hiring so hard? Hiring Manager Perspectives with Brian Jenney Ep #44

    🚀 Why Tech Hiring is Broken (And How to Hack the System) 💡 The Secret They Don’t Want You to Know: "Tech interviews aren’t about proving you can code—they’re about answering one hidden question: ‘Can we trust you?’" Show Summary & Notes Is Further Below ☎️ Contact Zubin & Brian: - Parsity Inner Circle Program (https://parsity.io/inner-circle) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zubinpratap/ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjenney - https://www.instagram.com/brianjenneycode - https://www.instagram.com/zubinpratap 👋👋👋 FREE LEARNING RESOURES 👋👋👋 💥 Career Change to Code - FREE Webinar at https://matchfitmastery.com 💥 YouTube Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPuklwJx5V3fpXiSD9CMh3RhPQTCSemj 💥 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1WMi6AmVFjpmCpF95XjaBJ 💥 Before You Learn To Code -- Where to start? What to do? https://matchfitmastery.com/lifesaver 💥 Podcasts:, Blogs and Resources https://linktr.ee/zubinpratap 💥 Twitter: http://twitter.com/zubinpratap 🔥 The Pain: Ever bombed a technical interview despite "knowing your stuff"? Feel like AI tools (ChatGPT, Copilot) make it impossible to stand out? Junior devs: Are you silently judged for how you solve problems—not just if you solve them? 🎯 The Agitation: Bootcamps and LeetCode grind won’t teach you the real hiring criteria (trust > trivia). AI is making hiring harder: "80% of candidates look identical on paper—until they open their mouths." ✨ The Solution Tease: The 3-word mindset shift that makes interviewers want to hire you (timestamp 12:00). Why "vibe coding" beats perfect code (and how to do it). Big Tech’s dirty secret: Their rubrics reward this over raw skill (17:30). ⏳ Timestamped Takeaways 🚨 [00:03:00] The AI Trap AI tools make you feel competent—until you hit a legacy codebase. Hiring hack: Use AI strategically (show you’re in control, not dependent). 🤝 [00:09:00] The Trust Equation Interviewers care about 3 things: Can you ask for help before wasting 3 days? Can you explain your reasoning out loud? Will you admit "I don’t know" (and how you’d find out)? 💥 [00:22:00] Likability > LeetCode "Your technical skills get you the interview—your personality gets you the job." Silent dealbreakers: Avoiding eye contact, robotic answers, or worse—silence. 📉 [00:28:00] The "Over-Indexing" Mistake Failed an interview because of one obscure question? Stop. "Most interviewers don’t even know what they’re testing for." 🎤 [00:33:00] The Camera Fix Do this today: Record yourself explaining code. "If you can’t teach it, you don’t know it." 🔑 Final Tip "Ask this question before every interview: ‘What type of interview is this?’ (Spoiler: 90% of candidates don’t.)"

    38 min
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About

Set against the backdrop of my transition from 37 year old corporate lawyer to Big Tech software engineer, I cover meta-skills and habits that are necessary for all personal development. I show you how to do the things that are "easier said than done".

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