Be a 10x Learner

Zevi Arnovitz believes that AI tools transform non-technical people into builders by removing barriers to creation, making this the best time to be a junior professional despite challenging job markets.

As a non-technical PM who builds significant products using AI, Zevi approaches technology with childlike curiosity rather than fear. When Sonnet 3.5 was released, he describes the revelation as someone telling him "you have superpowers now." This perspective frames AI not as a replacement for skills but as an extension of human capability that democratizes building.

Zevi's workflow demonstrates how he systematically overcomes technical limitations through a structured approach: creating issues in Linear, exploring ideas with AI, developing plans, executing code, conducting multi-model reviews, and documenting learnings. Rather than seeing code as intimidating, he treats it as "exposure therapy," gradually increasing complexity from ChatGPT projects to Cursor with Claude Code.

His philosophy rejects the notion that using AI diminishes professional skills. When colleagues suggested he was "outsourcing thinking," Zevi countered that product management isn't about "always having the right answers and being the smartest person in the room" but rather "harnessing anything that can get us as quick as possible to delivering the right solution to users." This pragmatic approach prioritizes outcomes over ego.

For product professionals, this means reconsidering what skills truly matter. Zevi believes "titles are gonna collapse and responsibilities are gonna collapse and everyone's just gonna be building." Teams that invest time becoming "AI native" will gain significant advantages, though this requires overcoming skepticism through demonstrated results.

A critical insight from Zevi's experience is that AI tools should be used for learning, not just output. His slash command "learning opportunity" exemplifies this approach - when encountering something difficult to understand, he asks AI to explain it using the 80/20 rule. This transforms AI from merely a production tool into a personal mentor that accelerates skill development.

The most valuable practice Zevi recommends is continuous improvement through reflection. After encountering bugs or failures, he asks Claude "what in your system prompt or tooling made you make this mistake?" and updates documentation accordingly. This creates a virtuous cycle where both the tools and the user grow more capable together.

For individual contributors, this suggests that the most valuable skill isn't technical expertise but rather the ability to learn rapidly and leverage AI effectively. As Zevi puts it: "It's the best time to be a junior... when else in history could you get out of school and just build a startup on your own?"