Dented Reality

Your Career Is Just One-Eighth of Your Life – The Atlantic

MCO:DEN

28.4308832-81.3075614

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 13:03:12 -0600

Checked in at Tin & Taco.

Hot damn that was tasty.

28.593305-81.352492

Flew DEN:MCO

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 08:00:00 -0600

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 07:46:57 -0600

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

DEN:MCO

39.8497327-104.6739819

The Builder’s Trap

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 22:44:03 -0600

The Builder’s Trap

Every developer knows the satisfaction that comes from building a software system. Type in a stream of characters and somehow you’ve built something that appears magical to others. This is the Builder’s dream. The thrill about learning something new. The satisfaction of solving unknown problems through building code. But, the Builder’s dream can quickly become the Builder’s Trap if you’re conscious of the context. In this article, we will explain the Builder’s Trap, where it comes from and three steps to avoid it.

Your Career Is Just One-Eighth of Your Life – The Atlantic

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 22:33:21 -0600

Career advice as a genre is almost fatally flawed. With 160 million American workers across thousands of occupations in hundreds of industries, saying anything that is of use to all of them is practically impossible. The most common counsel is almost always too personal to be broadly applicable. My toes curl with embarrassment when successful people say anything along the lines of “Just do these three things I did.” Autobiography is not advice. Given how poorly most people understand themselves, it’s barely even autobiography.

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 14:48:07 -0600

Checked in at Catamount Overlook.

39.51335-105.37812

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 14:01:19 -0600

Checked in at Staunton State Park.

39.4971328-105.3808501

Matter is now official! – Stacey on IoT | Internet of Things news and analysis

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 09:21:24 -0600

Matter is now official! – Stacey on IoT | Internet of Things news and analysis

The Connectivity Standards Alliance has certified and released the first version of the Matter smart home interoperability protocol Tuesday and I couldn’t be happier. This means that member companies can now put their devices through the certification protocol and get a badge showing that their products are Matter compliant.

The Matter logo on a smart bulb. Image courtesy of the Connectivity Standards Association.

Sat, 15 Oct 2022 11:53:17 -0600

Checked in at T-Mobile.

39.7334213-105.1631512

How to Plan?

Sat, 15 Oct 2022 09:40:22 -0600

How to Plan?

How to plan? How hard could it be? 4k words on sunny October afternoon for people in tech observing the Season’s Traditional Annual Planning Process, inspired by a recent interview question (and 25 years of variously painful planning processes).

I was in a job interview the other day when I got asked about planning, and so I decided I’d turn the question into another “plucked from the interviews” blog post. (see also Interview Question: Why do leaders keep disempowering their teams?) To be clear this is a significantly expanded answer than the one I rattled off from the top of my head on Zoom, but I think the themes are roughly the same.

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 20:12:24 -0600

Checked in at Lady Jane.

39.762196-105.011633

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 18:42:27 -0600

Checked in at Cantina Loca.

39.758244-105.01552

On the team as a system | ★❤✰ Vicki Boykis ★❤✰

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 13:13:39 -0600

On the team as a system | ★❤✰ Vicki Boykis ★❤✰

Crowded Boat II, Robert Goodnough

I read this great post over the weekend and this sentence is the heart of understanding how to operate a great software team:

Software quality is more the result of a system designed to produce quality, and not so much the result of individual performance.

The whole post is good and you should read it, but for me it immediately brought to mind a podcast from 2019 called “The Dysfunction of Organizations” on the same topic. The content of that podcast has become an important part of my development philosophy. Unfortunately, it is only in Russian (unless someone wants to entirely transcribe it, which they should, because the content is really good), so I re-listened to it and took key notes.

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 12:54:59 -0600

Checked in at Video Game Room @ The Curtis.

39.745755-104.997559

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 13:58:01 -0600

Checked in at West Mag Trailhead.

39.9473132-105.5169941

Build Your Career on Dirty Work

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 10:55:26 -0600

Build Your Career on Dirty Work

The Dirty Work Theory: The lamentable work that many people avoid are great places to look for high impact, low hanging fruit.

Whenever people ask me for advice on career growth, I share what has worked reasonably well for me: find a growth company, one that really needs you to get work done, and then tackle the unpleasant work that everyone avoids. I think this is a broadly applicable path:

Sat, 08 Oct 2022 22:43:05 -0600

Checked in at In-N-Out Burger.

39.7130444-105.0808975

Sat, 08 Oct 2022 15:55:03 -0600

Checked in at Coda Brewing Co.

39.734615-105.178506

How to Outperform a 10x Developer

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 15:12:20 -0600

How to Outperform a 10x Developer

First awareness. Then productivity.

From a software developer’s perspective, the complexity of a production system makes it abstract and distant, so we tend to shut it out and focus on the immediate work of writing code.

Jeff Foster wrote a great story on the origins of the expression “10x developer,” contrasting the value of outsized code-writing skills against the ability to focus on the product.

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 08:29:07 -0600

The Leader’s Journal: Become an Inspiring Leader in Ten Minutes a Day

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 21:41:59 -0600

The Leader’s Journal: Become an Inspiring Leader in Ten Minutes a Day

If you’ve ever finished a busy week of work wondering what you’ve accomplished, you’re not alone.

As software engineering leaders, we spend every day racing between numerous tasks on our to-do lists and rushing from one meeting to the next. But do we ever stop before picking up the next task to reflect on what we just did, or simply process what was said at the last meeting? Do we ever give extra thought to the insights raised, or contemplate the actions taken?

Little’s law – Wikipedia

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 21:44:08 -0600

Little’s law – Wikipedia

In mathematical queueing theory, Little’s result, theorem, lemma, law, or formula is a theorem by John Little which states that the long-term average number L of customers in a stationary system is equal to the long-term average effective arrival rate λ multiplied by the average time W that a customer spends in the system. Expressed algebraically the law is

{\displaystyle L=\lambda W.}

Although it looks intuitively easy, it is quite a remarkable result, as the relationship is “not influenced by the arrival process distribution, the service distribution, the service order, or practically anything else.”

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 16:47:39 -0600

Checked in at Sushi Uokura.

39.7295621-105.1781247

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 12:09:16 -0600

Checked in at Costco Gasoline.

38.9058184-104.8207712

Useful engineering metrics and why velocity is not one of them

Sat, 01 Oct 2022 12:21:44 -0600

Useful engineering metrics and why velocity is not one of them

Here’s my horoscope for today:

Things should improve for you as the day progresses, Taurus. You shouldn’t depend on something that may not pan out the way you want.

As you can see, it’s useless, just like your team’s velocity metrics and burndown charts.

Velocity metrics are as loathsome as the horoscope because neither provides any insight on why something went wrong or how to fix it. Moreover, if only you squint your eyes hard enough, both burndown charts and the horoscope will show you whatever you want to see.

Block-Based Template Parts: A Happy Medium Between Classic and Block Themes – Gutenberg Times

Sat, 01 Oct 2022 10:54:48 -0600

Block-Based Template Parts: A Happy Medium Between Classic and Block Themes – Gutenberg Times

I was one of the early adopters of the block editor as a developer. Despite the flak that the Gutenberg plugin was catching before it was merged into core WordPress, I could see the potential. Yes, I could see the bugs, the inconsistent UI, and every other thing that was “wrong” about it around four or five years ago.

The Platform and Program Split at Uber: A Milestone Special

Sat, 01 Oct 2022 10:01:15 -0600

The Platform and Program Split at Uber: A Milestone Special

👋 Hi, this is Gergely with a bonus issue of the Pragmatic Engineer Newsletter. The publication just crossed 100,000 newsletter subscribers, only ten months after it was started. Thank you for being a newsletter subscriber! 🙌

[Gergely Orosz @GergelyOrosz

Wow, what a milestone for The Pragmatic Engineer Newsletter: crossed 100,000 subscribers to the email list almost exactly 10 months after starting it. Never thought it could get here this fast.

An End to Doomerism: Or Why I’m Coming Out as an Impatient Optimist

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 18:01:05 -0600

An End to Doomerism: Or Why I’m Coming Out as an Impatient Optimist

Personal Growth

5 Reasons for Technological Optimism

Neil DeGrasse Tyson, who ought to know, says that the future won’t be anything like The Terminator. “I live in the real world, and in the real world that’s simply […]

Being Optimistic Is Good. Knowing about Optimism Bias Is Better.

The belief that things will be better in the future is called optimism bias. Being overly optimistic can lead you to miss an important health check up or make bad financial decisions.

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 14:52:47 -0600

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

39.8497327-104.6739819

Excuse Me but Why Are You Eating So Many Frogs

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 14:18:48 -0600

Excuse Me but Why Are You Eating So Many Frogs

Photo cred: my dad

I think the devil is real and he wants you to be more productive. He’s everywhere, spreading wickedness disguised as wisdom. Here he is in

Stop confusing productivity with laziness. While no one likes admitting it, sheer laziness is the No. 1 contributor to lost productivity.

And in Harvard Business Review:

Every evening, [Marshall Goldsmith, the “well-known CEO coach”] reviews a 40-item spreadsheet consisting of every important behavior he hopes to achieve. Among the items: the number of words he wrote, the distance he walked, and the number of nice things he said to his wife, daughter, and grandchildren.

How to Run Strategic Planning in an Outcome-Focused Product Organization

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 13:53:15 -0600

How to Run Strategic Planning in an Outcome-Focused Product Organization

You heard it right – effective strategic planning is essential to outcome-focused product teams. But how do you conduct annual strategic planning and integrate it with agile product management? In this post, we’ll walk through how to run strategic planning in 4 steps. We’ll also cover how to connect strategic planning with responsive re/alignment and re/allocation to achieve portfolio outcomes.

Your 101 Guide to Dispersed Camping

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 13:46:56 -0600

Your 101 Guide to Dispersed Camping

Last summer, camper vans and RVs arrived en masse in the town of Mammoth Lakes, California, on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were looking to get outdoors. But with campgrounds either closed or fully booked, many of those aspiring campers chose to pitch their tents or park their rigs outside of designated campgrounds, a growing trend known as dispersed camping. The problem was, they didn’t always know where they could legally camp.

What I’ve Learned from Users

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 13:40:53 -0600

What I’ve Learned from Users

September 2022

I recently told applicants to Y Combinator that the best advice I

could give for getting in, per word, was

Explain what you’ve learned from users.

That tests a lot of things: whether you’re paying attention to

users, how well you understand them, and even how much they need

what you’re making.

Afterward I asked myself the same question. What have I learned

from YC’s users, the startups we’ve funded?

How to Build Products Quickly – Department of Product

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 13:26:35 -0600

How to Build Products Quickly – Department of Product

Stripe’s self described operating cadence is ‘run’.

The CEO of Stripe even has a collection of short stories about projects that were built ahead of time, despite naysayers saying it wasn’t possible.

These wonderful little anecdotes include:

The construction of the Eiffel Tower which took two years and two months
The first iteration of Disneyland which was built in just 366 days
The Empire State building which was started and finished within 410 days

Former White House data scientist DJ Patil’s principles of execution include the question “What’s required to cut the timeline in ½?”.

Techniques for Managing Your Time and Cognitive Load as a Senior Leader | by Mite Mitreski | Sep, 2022 | Better Programming | Better Programming

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 13:13:50 -0600

Techniques for Managing Your Time and Cognitive Load as a Senior Leader | by Mite Mitreski | Sep, 2022 | Better Programming | Better Programming

Techniques for Managing Your Time and Cognitive Load as a Senior Leader

Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

Most of the senior leaders in any sizable company jump around slots of 30 min to few-hour meetings on a good day. That can range from meeting with customers, team reviews, re-occurring tactical meetings, 1:1s, or tech architecture. In my experience, this gets increased and more split-focused the bigger the organization you manage or you are navigating in.

Flew LGA:DEN

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 10:22:00 -0600

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 09:48:26 -0600

Checked in at LaGuardia Airport (LGA).

40.7728881-73.8688087

Tom Lingham (Toml)

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 09:27:49 -0600

Tom Lingham (Toml)

**Disclaimer: Details of this story have been altered slightly to protect the

identities of individuals.**

“I’m just too busy. I barely have time to breathe, let alone lead the threat

modelling exercise with my team”. This was something that one of my peers said

to me at the end of a long day after I asked him how he was doing. I believed

him—he was much too busy. He would send slack messages and emails at ungodly

How I Interview Engineers to Assess Ability to Deliver Impact

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 09:07:06 -0600

How I Interview Engineers to Assess Ability to Deliver Impact

Up until recently, I have personally been responsible for running all of our Deep-dive Interviews in our Product Engineer interview loop at Metaview. Our deep-dive focuses on the candidate’s ability to deliver impact. So we let the candidate choose the topic. All we care about in this interview is how they think about impact, and how capable they are at achieving it (relative to tenure). The objective of the interview is to find out as much as we can about the impact they are most proud of in their professional life, and what role they played in making that impact occur.

Be Critical or Be Corrupted

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 11:24:11 -0600

Be Critical or Be Corrupted

What does a 2002 HBO crime drama have to do with software engineering?

On the surface, “The Wire” is about homicide detectives and the Baltimore drug trade. But on a deeper level, these motifs are just stage dressing for the show’s exploration of the city’s institutions and how corruption inevitably sprouts like weeds within them. I recently rewatched this series and, aside from hours of entertainment and a deeper butt-impression on my couch, I also had an epiphany about how I’ve observed this theme first-hand.

Flew DEN:LGA

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 07:45:00 -0600

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 06:48:12 -0600

Checked in at North Security Checkpoint.

DEN:NYC

39.8502751-104.6738107

Reduce Friction – Ceejbot’s notes

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 17:38:50 -0600

Reduce Friction – Ceejbot’s notes

The topic of reducing friction exhausts me: Do people still need to be persuaded to help their developers go faster? Really? In this, the year 2022? But yes, in this, the year 2022, many teams require persuasion on this topic. Or rather, their leaders require persuasion that they have to do more than give lip service to this principle, and that they must invest resources in making it so, and that those resources will not be “wasted” resources, not even for that person, you know the one, the official VP of Feature Factory.

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 17:36:46 -0600

How Management by Metrics Leads Us Astray

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 16:28:44 -0600

How Management by Metrics Leads Us Astray

Let’s say my goal this year is to get to 10k monthly recurring revenue (MRR).

MRR first, everything else second. I would ruthlessly cut out all activities that don’t lead to a measurable MRR increase. For example, I would stop writing blog posts like the one you’re currently reading. I certainly wouldn’t create fun projects like What to Tweet or take the time for non-transactional Zoom calls.

Flew SAN:DEN

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 12:29:00 -0600

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 11:59:26 -0600

Checked in at San Diego International Airport (SAN).

Outta here.

32.7319699-117.1986034

KPIs, Velocity, and Other Destructive Metrics

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 14:31:46 -0600

KPIs, Velocity, and Other Destructive Metrics

Share Share Email

“It is wrong to suppose that if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it—a costly myth.”

The Deming quote at the top of this post is often twisted into something worthy of Frederick Taylor: “if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” Deming would disagree. You can—in fact, must—manage things you can’t measure, because in software, there are virtually no measurements that have any value. Wasting time collecting measurements that don’t lead to improvement is not only costly, it’s actively destructive.

Flew DEN:SAN

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 13:37:00 -0600

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 12:44:32 -0600

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

DEN:SAN for #WCUS. Here we go!

39.8497327-104.6739819

Use One Big Server

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 22:22:27 -0600

Use One Big Server

A lot of ink is spent on the “monoliths vs. microservices” debate, but the real issue behind

this debate is about whether distributed system architecture is worth the developer time and

cost overheads. By thinking about the real operational considerations of our systems, we can

get some insight into whether we actually need distributed systems for most things.

We have all gotten so familiar with virtualization and abstractions between our software

Rituals for Engineering Teams

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 22:28:23 -0600

Rituals for Engineering Teams

Last weekend I happened to pick up a book called “Rituals For Work: 50 Ways To Create Engagement, Shared Purpose, And A Culture That Can Adapt To Change.” It’s a super quick read, more comic book than textbook, but I liked it.

It got me thinking about the many rituals I have initiated and/or participated in over the course of my career. Of course, I never thought of them as such — I thought of them as “having fun at work” 🙃 — but now I realize these rituals disproportionately contribute to my favorite moments and the most precious memories of my career.

Tidying Versus Sooner – by Kent Beck

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 22:21:17 -0600

Tidying Versus Sooner – by Kent Beck

I promised I would put together the posts on Better/Sooner/Cheaper/More with the actual topic of this mailing list, Tidy First? And here I am delivering.

To reiterate, software product development should mostly be managed through scope, not deadlines or budget. That doesn’t mean time & budget don’t matter, just that you aren’t generally going to get more of what you want by tightening the screws on time or money.

The Metaverse Is Not a Place – O’Reilly

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 11:51:31 -0600

The Metaverse Is Not a Place – O’Reilly

The metaphors we use to describe new technology constrain how we think about it, and, like an out-of-date map, often lead us astray. So it is with the metaverse. Some people seem to think of it as a kind of real estate, complete with land grabs and the attempt to bring traffic to whatever bit of virtual property they’ve created.

Seen through the lens of the real estate metaphor, the metaverse becomes a natural successor not just to Second Life but to the World Wide Web and to social media feeds, which can be thought of as a set of places (sites) to visit. Virtual Reality headsets will make these places more immersive, we imagine.

Getting Big Things Done

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 07:54:41 -0600

Getting Big Things Done

In one particular context.

A while back, a colleague wanted to make a major change in the design of a system, the sort of change that was going to take a year or more, and many tens of person-years of effort. They asked me how to justify the project. This post is part of the email reply I sent. The advice is in context of technical leadership work at a big company, but perhaps it may apply elsewhere.

Better/Sooner/Cheaper/More

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 23:09:52 -0600

Better/Sooner/Cheaper/More

Better/Sooner/Cheaper/More—I began talking this week about a fundamental Extreme Programming technique for managing resources & immediately remembered why I stopped talking about it. Here are the basics.

Back in the day folks would say, “Sooner, cheaper, better—your choice of any two.” That made good sense in that you as a customer can’t dictate all three. At some point something is going to give. You keep demanding sooner, sooner, sooner, cheaper, cheaper, cheaper & what you get is going to get worse. Complaining about this makes no sense—the degradation was the result of your decisions.

The Best Wilderness Survival Strategies, Based on 103 Successful Rescue Stories

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 22:04:19 -0600

The Best Wilderness Survival Strategies, Based on 103 Successful Rescue Stories

Harrowing survival stories can feel like the lifeblood of outdoor culture, with the image of the gnarled outdoors person spinning tales over a campfire about “that time I almost died” serving as a kind of social currency in the backcountry. It’s a tricky line to tow, as we intermittently validate and admonish adventurers who get lost, and hopefully learn from the past mistakes of others and how to avoid them.

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 14:56:32 -0600

Checked in at Ozo Coffee.

40.019092-105.275498

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 13:32:44 -0600

Checked in at Illegal Pete’s.

40.018767-105.276301

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 10:22:08 -0600

Checked in at Boulder [A]dventure Lodge.

40.017613-105.326003

Back to the trend line? — Benedict Evans

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 07:23:49 -0600

Back to the trend line? — Benedict Evans

Back in 2020, as we were all locked down and forced to do everything online, we got very excited about ecommerce penetration. All sorts of charts went viral showing that we’d jumped forward anything from three to five years in a couple of months. This was a big part of the ‘Covid Rotation’, and now we’re on the other side of that rotation – people went back to the office, and back to stores, and back on planes. And for retail and ecommerce, it looks like a lot of that growth was temporary, and we’re reverting to the trend line.

Write Better Docs With a Product Thinking Mindset

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 22:35:47 -0600

Write Better Docs With a Product Thinking Mindset

I’ve frequently seen product thinking discussed in product management and user experience design contexts, but haven’t seen it applied to technical writing and documentation. And yet, by applying product thinking to documentation, we can write more useful, relevant, high quality documentation.

What is product thinking?

Product management thought leader Shreyas Doshi defines product thinking as follows in a Twitter thread:

“Product Thinking is about understanding motivations, conceiving solutions, simulating their effects, and picking a path based on the effects you want to create.”

How to connect strategy with OKRs – Mind the Product

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 22:57:29 -0600

How to connect strategy with OKRs – Mind the Product

Every three months the dreaded OKR setting process begins. People at different levels in the organization (especially large ones) start working around the clock to find the best opportunities for the next quarter, find the right ambition levels, deal with dependencies, balance top-down vs bottom-up requests, and a myriad of activities that turns this goal-setting period in a stressful moment for everyone.

Announcing DORA 2021 Accelerate State of DevOps report | Google Cloud Blog

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 22:45:06 -0600

Announcing DORA 2021 Accelerate State of DevOps report | Google Cloud Blog

Over the past seven years, more than 32,000 professionals worldwide have taken part in the Accelerate State of DevOps reports, making it the largest and longest-running research of its kind. Year over year, the Accelerate State of DevOps reports provide data-driven industry insights that examine the capabilities and practices that drive software delivery as well as operational and organizational performance. That is why Google Cloud’s DevOps Research and Assessment (DORA) team is very excited to announce our 2021 Accelerate State of DevOps Report.

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 15:39:47 -0600

Checked in at Golden Gate Canyon State Park.

39.8414952-105.4198265

How to Present to Executives

Sat, 30 Jul 2022 14:52:47 -0600

How to Present to Executives

Have you presented to company executives about a key engineering initiative, walking into the room excited and leaving defeated? Maybe you only made it to your second slide before unrelated questions derailed the discussion. Maybe you worked through your entire presentation only to have folks say, “Great job,” and leave without any useful debate. Afterward, you’re not quite sure what happened, but you know it didn’t go well.

Binaries Over Priorities

Sat, 30 Jul 2022 14:40:25 -0600

Binaries Over Priorities

Low, medium, high.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Must have, should have, could have, don’t need.

These are various forms of priorities. People seem to love them.

I’ve always hated them. Especially when it comes to product development.

When it comes to choosing what to do, it’s always binary for me.

Yes or no.

Now or not now.

Do or don’t.

What about maybe? Maybe is no (for now).

The Practical Application of “Rocks, Pebbles, Sand”

Sat, 30 Jul 2022 11:12:12 -0600

The Practical Application of “Rocks, Pebbles, Sand”

You know the geology-in-a-jar lesson from Stephen Covey: Schedule big things first, otherwise you run out of time:

(source)

If you schedule little things first, you run out of time for the big things.

(source)

If you schedule the big things first, then you can fill in with smaller things.

A common mistake is to think this applies only to the size of the work. That is, “Rocks” means “stuff that takes a few quarters,” “Pebbles” means “a few sprints,” and “Sand” means “less than a sprint.”

A Readme for Staff Engineers

Sat, 30 Jul 2022 10:51:25 -0600

A Readme for Staff Engineers

Photo by Pablo García Saldaña on Unsplash

During my career, I’ve switched several times between individual contributor (IC) and management roles. I enjoy both. With years passing by, I realize that even though roles are different, past the “staff” level there is a common ground of mindset and soft skills that enables you to make progress on both tracks : communication, positivity, teamplay, openness, influence and impact. To develop these skills, you need to take a step back and question yourself. This. Is. Hard. Having examples, resources and even mentors is a huge help to guide you in this journey.

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 20:18:13 -0600

Checked in at Spillway Campground.

38.906922-105.469207

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 17:28:55 -0600

Checked in at Chipotle Mexican Grill.

39.7341005-105.1599753

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 19:06:36 -0600

Checked in at Somebody People.

New place! — with erika

39.69531-104.98767

Investing in the future of agriculture | Investing ideas | Fidelity

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 11:40:40 -0600

Investing in the future of agriculture | Investing ideas | Fidelity

Key takeaways

War-related disruptions have led to elevated grain prices. While that’s been bad for some food producers it’s generally been good for grain farmers.
With more cash on hand, many farmers may be looking to upgrade equipment, which could benefit agricultural machinery producers.
Companies making “precision agriculture” equipment could see short- and long-term benefits as farmers look to plant and maintain their crops with more efficiency.
Seed producers could also see a potential benefit over both the near and longer term, as food producers increasingly seek to plant higher-yielding crops.

Chances are that, as little as a few years ago, most of us didn’t give much thought to where our food staples came from. Grocery store shelves were reliably stocked with an abundance of choice and supply, with basic items selling for reasonable prices.

Hiring a VP of Engineering? Use This Framework from Shopify’s VPE to Get it Right | First Round Review

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 11:34:04 -0600

Hiring a VP of Engineering? Use This Framework from Shopify’s VPE to Get it Right | First Round Review

Introduction

Farhan Thawar is VP of Engineering at Shopify**. He joined the company after the acquisition of Helpful.com, where he was co-founder and CTO. Previously, he was the VP of Engineering at Pivotal and Xtreme Labs.

When advising fast-growing startups, one of the most frequent questions I get asked is “How do I hire a VP of Engineering?” After more than 20 years, eight companies, and thousands of hires, I’m starting to suspect this may be the wrong question. A better one is, “What is a VP of Engineering?”

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 12:46:52 -0600

Checked in at Bros Bike Shop.

Stopping in for a check up

39.73936-105.139184

Reduce Friction

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 11:48:59 -0600

Reduce Friction

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 18:07:21 -0600

Checked in at Five Guys.

Just give me all the calories.

39.7320939-105.1638079

The World Economy Is Imperiled by a Force Hiding in Plain Sight

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 12:14:00 -0600

The World Economy Is Imperiled by a Force Hiding in Plain Sight

Well more than two years into the worst pandemic in a century, the accompanying economic shock continues to assault global fortunes.

Send any friend a story

As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share.

This article is part of our Coronavirus Updates

Credit…Dmitry Kostyukov for The New York Times

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 07:31:07 -0600

Checked in at New Belgium Brewing.

FoCo Fondo!

40.5929883-105.0693076

The Structure and Process Fallacy

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 23:46:22 -0600

The Structure and Process Fallacy

“If our teams were just organized in the right way, and we adopted the agile process, we’d be so much more efficient.”

What’s your feeling when reading that quote? Are you strongly in agreement, generally in agreement, or perhaps you’re shaking your head in disagreement?

The quote reflects a sentiment I notice from leaders in top-down, hierarchical organizations. A belief that if teams are organized in the optimal way and the right process is followed, the company will be high-performing, regardless of other factors. This is the structure and process fallacy.

“Be calm. But be urgent.” Eight takeaways from AMA sessions with Brad Feld.

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 08:22:39 -0600

“Be calm. But be urgent.” Eight takeaways from AMA sessions with Brad Feld.

Written by Techstars CEO Maëlle Gavet.

I recently had the pleasure of hosting Techstars’ co-founder, VC, entrepreneur, author and blogger Brad Feld in two Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions on how to respond to the financial crisis from both a founder and investor perspective. Drawing on his decades-long experience in tech (he’s been an entrepreneur and early stage investor since 1987), Brad addressed topics ranging from fundraising in a downturn to why chasing valuations is wrong, and why founders shouldn’t fixate on when the crisis will be over. Here are a few of the highlights.

Three Part Solution to Leaders Burnout: Fundamental Principles Don’t Change

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 09:42:18 -0600

Three Part Solution to Leaders Burnout: Fundamental Principles Don’t Change

Burnout is a term introduced to the common language in 1974. With everyone working from home after COVID, there is more discussion around occupational burnout, now than ever before.

Did you know that burnout as well as its potential solutions for leaders were discussed many millennia ago?

As I was meditating, I found a reference to burnout in the second book of the Bible – Exodus.

Low Context – Software’s Silent Killer | Stay SaaSy

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 09:36:40 -0600

Low Context – Software’s Silent Killer | Stay SaaSy

As companies grow, context can become a scarce resource. As more variables, people, teams, products, customers, and coworkers create an increasingly infinite combination of possible ways to move forward, deep context on what to do and how to do it should be thought of explicitly, because its thoughtful allocation can make, or, notably, break, a company’s productivity.

What Is Context?

For the purposes of this post, let’s scope context to the following: the unique information inside a software company that is necessary to make good decisions while delivering a product.

Equity in your tech job offer: everything you need to know

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 09:31:17 -0600

Equity in your tech job offer: everything you need to know

“Your employment will be on an at-will basis. Either you and the company may terminate your employment at any time, with or without cause or prior notice. My employment-at-will status cannot be changed except in writing signed by the president of the company…”

“Yada, yada, yada…”

Reading offer letter legalese can feel like someone explaining the rules of a board game before you start playing. When it’s Saturday night and you’re sitting around the table with a group of friends, typically someone will say:

The Time Value of Shipping. Unpacking “Shipping as a Feature” | by Brandon Chu | The Black Box of Product Management

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 15:12:23 -0600

The Time Value of Shipping. Unpacking “Shipping as a Feature” | by Brandon Chu | The Black Box of Product Management

Shipping is a Featureis a core principle for product managers. It proposes that you’ll never be able to build a perfect product, so you need to learn how and when to ship your imperfect one, because customer use of the product is what really matters.

I’ve used this principle as a guide in my own endeavours as a PM, but I’ve always felt it lacked a tangible framework, both for managing and rationalizing the minimum viable product (MVP) to stakeholders.

How I share information with my team

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 16:50:40 -0600

How I share information with my team

As an engineering manager at Netflix, I spend most of my time in meetings and one-on-ones. During these meetings, I collect a lot of information that’s valuable to the members of my engineering team. When my team was only four people, disseminating information was easy. It usually involved a quick hallway chat or was covered during a regular one-on-one. But late last year my team doubled in size. With the larger team, I struggled to keep everybody informed in a timely way. It became obvious that I wasn’t effectively scaling team communication and I needed to make a change.

A domain-based structure for software engineering teams | by Ryan Fox | Snapcommerce | May, 2022 | Medium

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 09:22:10 -0600

A domain-based structure for software engineering teams | by Ryan Fox | Snapcommerce | May, 2022 | Medium

How we’re structuring squads to grow individual contributors into tech leads

In early 2021 at Snapcommerce, we had 25 engineers working in squads. Each squad had an engineering manager (EM) acting as the people and tech lead (TL) for all projects, a product manager (PM), a designer, a QA team member, and up to 7 individual contributor (IC) engineers. For engineers, growing as an IC into a TL could be a challenging or unclear path. Having one TL per squad wasn’t creating a natural growth opportunity for ICs to develop their technical leadership and ownership skills.

‘It’s really a mess’: The growing split between workers and bosses on returning to the office – The Boston Globe

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 00:05:16 -0600

‘It’s really a mess’: The growing split between workers and bosses on returning to the office – The Boston Globe

There’s a new turf war shaping up at work: managers who want everyone back in the “real” office vs. employees who prefer the one at home. And that standoff is leading to some irreconcilable conflicts.

Naomi Baruch and her coworkers were required to return to their downtown Boston office two days a week starting Jan. 1, despite the crippling Omicron surgeat the time. There was no explanation given, she said, no attempt to make their presence more purposeful.

Stop Overcomplicating It: The Simple Guidebook to Upping Your Management Game | First Round Review

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 16:51:59 -0600

Stop Overcomplicating It: The Simple Guidebook to Upping Your Management Game | First Round Review

Introduction

Pick up Russ Laraway’s new book, titled “When They Win, You Win” and the first sentence is sure to grab your attention: “Managers are failing everywhere, and no one is helping.”

With that framing in mind, when we sat down with Laraway to find out more about the lessons inside his book, his next sentence was just as unexpected: “I think the world has conspired to confuse the average manager and I believe that we don’t need another person’s opinion about what it takes to be a great manager,” he says.

Operating Well: What I Learned at Stripe – Every

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 15:46:57 -0600

Operating Well: What I Learned at Stripe – Every

Hello, Every readers! We’re excited to share this post from Sam Gerstenzang. Most recently, he worked in Product at Stripe, where he led the 75-person payment UI group. Sam’s experience runs the gamut from investing to working in startups to building and selling a company of his own. In this essay, he unpacks what his time at Stripe taught him about being a good operator. There’s a ton of actionable insight from the ground packed into this piece—we hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Limiting Work In Progress as a Manager

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 15:36:32 -0600

Limiting Work In Progress as a Manager

The demands on a manager’s time are endless and sometimes it feels like you’re being pulled in every direction at once. These demands can make it hard to focus, they make it hard to move from reacting to problems to anticipating them. In this article, I’d like to talk about how I’ve limited demands on my time, counterintuitively doing more with less.

The story

The very first thing I learned as a new manager was that if I didn’t put a block on my calendar at lunchtime, there was no guarantee that I would eat lunch that day. As an engineer, I thought I knew what it meant to take a lot of meetings, but my promotion brought with it a torrent of people who wanted to talk to me and had no consideration for how hungry I was getting.

A Neuroscience-Backed Approach to Team Building – The Async Review

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 14:50:19 -0600

A Neuroscience-Backed Approach to Team Building – The Async Review

A Neuroscience-Backed Approach to Team Building

For remote teams, there are more and more effective alternatives to Zoom happy hour than ever.

By Darryn King

Dec 14, 2021

Your Zoom happy hour is making everyone miserable…

When it comes to lazily replicating pre-pandemic work traditions, the Zoom happy hour might be the laziest.

10 Principles to Improve Decision-Making – The Async Review

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 22:58:47 -0600

10 Principles to Improve Decision-Making – The Async Review

10 Principles to Improve Decision-Making

An Insider’s View of how Netflix Makes Hard Decisions

By Gibson Biddle

Jun 23, 2022

An Insider’s View of how Netflix Makes Hard Decisions

In recent years, I’ve given a talk called “Wicked Hard Decisions” which has five “What would you do?” cases that provide an insider’s view of how Netflix made tough product and business decisions. I learned a lot while at Netflix and even more teaching these cases.

The 7 Roles of a CTO

Sat, 25 Jun 2022 10:05:23 -0600

The 7 Roles of a CTO

This post is about me figuring out what a CTO does. I tried to be methodical and deep about it, and broke it down to a few different aspects.

It gave me some structure and helped talking about my responsibility, I hope it will be useful for more people

Why I started thinking about it?

On July 1st 2021, I started to work on building a startup with my partner Noam Bernstein. We both were 100% committed and made the expectation settings ahead of time, but didn’t decide what we will build.

“Sharing Interesting Stuff”: A simple yet powerful management tool

Sat, 25 Jun 2022 09:49:28 -0600

“Sharing Interesting Stuff”: A simple yet powerful management tool

Today, I’d like to talk about a practice I introduced to the people I managed just a few weeks after joining Shipup. I didn’t know it would turn out to be something so useful.

The idea is pretty simple actually: Your direct report sends you something they consider worth sharing with you (can be a blog post, book chapter, video, podcast, …) and a few related questions they have in mind a few days before you meet together. On the D day, you share your opinion about it and try to answer the questions that go with it.

Stop Telling Employees to Be Resilient

Sat, 25 Jun 2022 09:42:40 -0600

Stop Telling Employees to Be Resilient

Lately, it feels like “resilience” has popped up as the answer to just about everything. Having a hard time because of a toxic environment? Just be resilient. Struggling to home-school your kids while working 50-hour weeks during a global pandemic? Try some resilience.

Resilience, or the ability to withstand hardship and bounce back from difficult events, is useful when it comes to work. But, too often, it’s presented in a way that overlooks structural issues and instead encourages employees to grin and bear whatever tough stuff comes their way — and to do so on their own, without disturbing their colleagues.

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 14:37:40 -0600

Checked in at T2 Domestic Terminal.

with erika

-33.934176151.1796057

Flew PER:SYD:SFO:DEN

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 09:50:00 -0600

Prioritization Is a Political Problem as Much as an Analytical Problem

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 09:13:34 -0600

Prioritization Is a Political Problem as Much as an Analytical Problem

Product and engineering leaders tend to be analytical, and we think of prioritization as an algorithmic problem. Unfortunately, other execs see a different kind of problem…

Most of our tools and processes around product/feature prioritization are heads-down analytical: RICE, opportunity trees, Kano, count-the-digits, weighted 16-column spreadsheets, WSJF, Eisenhower, whatever. Our (hidden) assumption is that choosing the objectively best work is hard, but getting organizational buy-in is not so hard. That .

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 22:43:05 -0600

Checked in at Williams Wool Shed.

with erika

-33.024982116.8787576

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 20:42:35 -0600

Checked in at Chicken Treat.

-33.6915472117.5548328

The Weekly CEO E-Mail

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 17:48:41 -0600

The Weekly CEO E-Mail

I got this email recently from a CEO:

“Hey Gokul, I want to start a biweekly newsletter to the entire co. I read your blog post on all hands. Was super helpful. Do you have any guidance or examples on how to best structure a regular written update?”

In a previous post, I talked about a company’s communication architecture being the CEO’s most important operational responsibility.

Spurred by the CEO’s request and following up on the earlier post, I’d like to deep dive into a specific element of a company’s communication architecture: a weekly or fortnightly email from the CEO to the entire organization. Most CEOs send emails to their organization on a one-off basis — for instance, to announce an acquisition. However, relatively few CEOs use emails to communicate many-to-one on a regular cadence.

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 00:37:26 -0600

Checked in at Bremer Bay Boat Harbour.

-34.426257119.399653

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 19:53:25 -0600

Checked in at Blossom Beach.

-34.4593704119.3645883

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 02:22:02 -0600

Checked in at Bremer Bay Brewing Company.

-34.3976413119.3758696

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 22:53:50 -0600

Checked in at Premier Mill Hotel.

-33.6914284117.5550923

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 20:59:06 -0600

Checked in at Giant Ram.

-33.3105169117.3384268

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 03:01:05 -0600

Checked in at The Royal on The Waterfront.

with erika

-31.9524719115.878279

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 03:00:51 -0600

Checked in at Bright Tank Brewing Co..

-31.950666115.875135

Sat, 18 Jun 2022 22:48:46 -0600

Checked in at Whipper Snapper Distillery.

-31.95031115.87466

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 23:39:31 -0600

Checked in at Dan Murphy’s.

-32.0647673115.8582828

The Product Manifesto | Silicon Valley Product Group

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 19:32:38 -0600

The Product Manifesto | Silicon Valley Product Group

The Product Manifesto

The New Year always gets me thinking bigger picture. For some that means reviewing the company mission statement. For others, it means coming up with your annual or quarterly objectives. For me, I’m partial to the Manifesto.

A Manifesto is a public declaration of principles, beliefs and intentions. I like them because if they’re done well, they can serve as a concise complement to the product vision and strategy.

Ensuring Excellence – Silicon Valley Product Group : Silicon Valley Product Group

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 19:30:29 -0600

Ensuring Excellence – Silicon Valley Product Group : Silicon Valley Product Group

Ensuring Excellence

This has been a difficult article to write. That’s because there’s a very real risk of undermining what I would consider the most important message I try to advocate, which is the power and potential of empowered product teams.

But nevertheless, I think this topic has largely been missing from my writing, and it’s too important not to address.

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 00:10:25 -0600

Checked in at Cicerello’s.

-32.0586797115.7431677

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 22:09:23 -0600

Checked in at Roe Gardens.

-31.9661927115.8373276

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 22:02:00 -0600

Checked in at T4 Qantas Domestic & Jetstar.

Made it! — with erika

-31.9333065115.9604932

How to Disagree

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 21:43:49 -0600

How to Disagree

March 2008

The web is turning writing into a conversation. Twenty years ago,

writers wrote and readers read. The web lets readers respond, and

increasingly they do—in comment threads, on forums, and in their

own blog posts.

Many who respond to something disagree with it. That’s to be

expected. Agreeing tends to motivate people less than disagreeing.

And when you agree there’s less to say. You could expand on something

User Stories | Examples and Template | Atlassian

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 21:35:23 -0600

User Stories | Examples and Template | Atlassian

Summary: A user story is an informal, general explanation of a software feature written from the perspective of the end user. Its purpose is to articulate how a software feature will provide value to the customer.

It’s tempting to think that user stories are, simply put, software system requirements. But they’re not.

A key component of agile software development is putting people first, and a user story puts end users at the center of the conversation. These stories use non-technical language to provide context for the development team and their efforts. After reading a user story, the team knows why they are building, what they’re building, and what value it creates.

How to manage up in your team: Six steps for success

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 21:28:10 -0600

How to manage up in your team: Six steps for success

Maybe you felt awkward if you’re in a team with a hierarchical structure. Maybe you didn’t want to get ‘out of your lane’.

But what if you started thinking of managing up as support rather than control?

The team can be a great source of support and knowledge for leadership. They can provide the all-important context and direction that the manager can then bring to the rest of the team and project. We call this managing up, and it’s an effective way to boost your team, as long as you’re acting with transparency, empathy, and respect.

Anger and heartbreak on Bus No. 15

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 21:20:49 -0600

Anger and heartbreak on Bus No. 15

As American cities struggle to recover from the pandemic, Denver’s problems spill over onto its buses

June 6, 2022 at 7:59 a.m. EDT

DENVER — Suna Karabay touched up her eye makeup in the rearview mirror and leaned against the steering wheel of the bus to say her morning prayers. “Please, let me be patient,” she said. “Let me be generous and kind.” She walked through the bus to make her final inspection: floor swept, seats cleaned, handrails disinfected, gas tank full for another 10-hour shift on the city’s busiest commercial road. She drove to her first stop, waited until exactly 5:32 a.m., and opened the doors.

Cargo Culting Software Engineering Practices

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 21:20:36 -0600

Cargo Culting Software Engineering Practices

Three months into my first Big Tech gig I was talking to a mentor about the overhead involved with the way the organisation worked. Meetings for standups, tech huddles, refinements, retros and product reviews; Processes such as limiting work in progress, desk checks, spikes, stories, and tasks. Coming from a startup we delivered high quality software without all of that labelled process. The mentor lent me his copy of Extreme Programming by Kent Beck, and that book gave me a framework to develop my own philosophy on software delivery and engineering practices. Since then I’ve followed Beck’s writings and talks.

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 14:54:42 -0600

Checked in at Sydney Airport (SYD).

with erika

-33.9357229151.1724973

Flew DEN:LAX:SYD:PER

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 18:50:00 -0600

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 17:14:26 -0600

Checked in at Gate B44.

DEN:LAX:SYD:PER — with erika

39.8586284-104.6722923

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 10:34:08 -0600

Checked in at South Table Mtn.

39.7508778-105.1632085

Guiding Principle: Consent Over Consensus

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 23:34:18 -0600

Guiding Principle: Consent Over Consensus

Guiding principle in effective product development culture.

Unilateral decisions lead to false progress.

When decisions are made unilaterally, it tends to lead to false progress. You’re unlikely to have buy-in and you miss out on any perspective that the broader group might have had.

Unilateral decisions tend to lead to false progress

Consensus leads to slow decision-making.

When decisions are made by consensus, decisions can take a long time, and may never resolve. The more people that are involved in a consensus decision, the worse this will get.

Introducing PinFlex: Pinterest’s Model for the Future of Work

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 09:14:10 -0600

Introducing PinFlex: Pinterest’s Model for the Future of Work

Jeremy King | Senior Vice President, Engineering

Two years ago, as I was closing in on my first annual “Pinniversary” as the Chief of Engineering at Pinterest, our offices closed, and work (read: life) as we knew it changed abruptly. As we all adapted to the drastic changes around us, we learned a lot about what was working and what wasn’t in the workplace. The benefits of working flexibly and our ability to be productive from anywhere empowered us to do our jobs well while eliminating long commutes and allowing us to be more present than ever before for important moments with family. We also realized the value of intentional in-person touchpoints with colleagues to build culture and drive collaboration. Two years later, and three years since I joined Pinterest, I’m excited to share that we’ve announced PinFlex, a uniquely Pinterest work model that provides employees the autonomy to live and work with flexibility, while prioritizing in-person collaboration to work together as one team.

Thin Platforms – Stratechery by Ben Thompson

Sun, 05 Jun 2022 09:20:43 -0600

Thin Platforms – Stratechery by Ben Thompson

The Department of Justice’s 1998 complaint against Microsoft accused the company of, amongst other things, tying the Internet Explorer browser to the Windows operating system:

Internet browsers are separate products competing in a separate product market from PC operating systems, and it is efficient to supply the two products separately. Indeed, Microsoft itself has consistently offered, promoted, and distributed its Internet browser as a stand-alone product separate from, and not as a component of, Windows, and intends to continue to do so after the release of Windows 98…

Sat, 04 Jun 2022 20:09:20 -0600

Checked in at Barrels & Bottles Camp George West.

Searching for food. Drinking beers along the way.

39.73465-105.17993

I Make a Living Solving Problems. I Realize There’s Roughly 5 Levels of Difficulty. I Use That as a Way to Allocate My Energy Accordingly.

Sat, 04 Jun 2022 19:57:38 -0600

I Make a Living Solving Problems. I Realize There’s Roughly 5 Levels of Difficulty. I Use That as a Way to Allocate My Energy Accordingly.

I make a living solving problems. I realize there’s roughly 5 levels of difficulty. I use that as a way to allocate my energy accordingly.

Sat, 04 Jun 2022 19:52:27 -0600

Checked in at Coda Brewing Co.

Patio beers by bike!

39.734615-105.178506

Sat, 28 May 2022 10:03:28 -0600

Checked in at The Home Depot.

39.7228376-105.1898082

The Age of Scrum Is Over

Fri, 27 May 2022 13:59:26 -0600

The Age of Scrum Is Over

Scrum has given us a lot, but it’s time for some conscious uncoupling

Gothmog, Lord of the Rings

“The age of men is over.”

confidently (and rather aggressively, as you would expect from one of those nasty orcs) declares the Orc commander Gothmog in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

“The Time of the Orc has come.”

There’s an irony, of course in using this quote for a blog post declaring Scrum’s ultimate decline into irrelevance. In fact the age of men (and woman as the insensitive Orc fails to include) was in fact only just beginning. It was actually the age of the Orc that was over!

Software planning for skeptics

Thu, 26 May 2022 22:08:30 -0600

Software planning for skeptics

Engineers hate estimating things.

One of the most-often quoted lines about estimation is “Hofstadter’s Law”, which goes:

Hofstadter’s Law: It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter’s Law.

If you want to deliver inaccurate information to your team on a regular basis, give them a 3-month-out product development timeline every week. This is a truism at every company at which I have worked over a varied career in software.

(2022) A guide to fostering virtual water cooler moments – NoHQ Remote Work Guides

Thu, 26 May 2022 13:57:03 -0600

(2022) A guide to fostering virtual water cooler moments – NoHQ Remote Work Guides

Want to learn how to foster virtual water cooler moments? Whether your company is new to remote working or has been doing it for some time, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in employees struggling to find a clear boundary for work-life balance.

Having virtual water coolers moments can encourage stress-free interactions between remote workers. In this article, you’ll learn:

How to Speed Up WooCommerce Backend | Convesio

Wed, 25 May 2022 08:00:05 -0600

How to Speed Up WooCommerce Backend | Convesio

A large part of running an online store requires managing the backend operations including product updates, order management, and shipment management. These tasks can easily overwhelm your staff and potentially disrupt business operations if the backend of your store becomes slow. The majority of WooCommerce users focus on speeding up the front-end of their store and do not pay attention to the performance of the backend which is equally important for the success of your online business.

Why We’ve Ditched Scrum Sprints (And You Should Too)

Mon, 23 May 2022 08:21:17 -0600

Why We’ve Ditched Scrum Sprints (And You Should Too)

There’s probably no other framework that impacted modern software development as much as Scrum. For many organizations, it’s the first step towards a mature product development organization and you will find a bazillion articles explaining what Scrum is and how you can implement it in your organization. I dare to say it’s so popular that almost every software organization tried at some point to implement one of its core principles — the two-week sprints.

Sun, 22 May 2022 15:04:52 -0600

Checked in at REI.

39.755622-105.009853

Fri, 20 May 2022 19:43:27 -0600

Checked in at The Fifth String.

39.763511-105.011069

An Introduction to Jobs to be Done (JTBD) – Joe Leech

Fri, 20 May 2022 14:41:25 -0600

An Introduction to Jobs to be Done (JTBD) – Joe Leech

A no-nonsense guide for product teams. Read time is 6m.

Is JTBD for you?

Do you want a user-centred design approach that is c-suite-friendly?
Do you struggle to walk both marketing and product development along the same path?
Do you need a framework to help identify and promote unmet users needs (aka innovative ideas)?
Are you stuck in the build trap ie heads down releasing, releasing, releasing without any vision or goal?

If you answer yes to any of those question JTBD could help you.

How Big Companies Kill Ideas and How to Fight Back

Fri, 20 May 2022 14:41:24 -0600

How Big Companies Kill Ideas and How to Fight Back

Tony Fadell was instrumental in the development of the iPod and iPhone at Apple and then co-founded Nest Labs, which kicked off the consumer smart home market with its smart thermostat in 2011. Tony sold Nest to Google for $3.2 billion in 2014 and eventually left Google. He now runs an investment firm called Future Shape.

Tony’s written a new book called Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making, which, I’ll be honest, is total bait for Decoder. It’s one part memoir, one part tech industry gossip, and one part org charts and decision-making. Seriously, this book has a lengthy section with actual diagrams of org charts to illustrate how company cultures change as things get bigger.

Building a Team’s Culture

Fri, 20 May 2022 14:41:21 -0600

Building a Team’s Culture

Twenty years ago, I was a platoon commander in a classified unit in the army (that is no longer classified). Back then, making decisions and applying authority was straightforward. Officers were to make most decisions, pushing them down the command chain through non-officer commanders all the way to the soldiers. Decision enforcement in that ecosystem was called “a command.”

There was no place for discussion once a decision (command) was made, and the expectation was that it would get fulfilled right away, or else…

The Web3 Movement’s Quest to Build a ‘Can’t Be Evil’ Internet

Wed, 18 May 2022 14:31:24 -0600

The Web3 Movement’s Quest to Build a ‘Can’t Be Evil’ Internet

It’s getting late on a Saturday afternoon in Denver when I lean back and take in the full weirdness of what I’m doing. I’m seated at a long plastic folding table against the wall in a windowless room, a Discord server open on my laptop. Pizza crusts and empty potato chip bags are piled up around me, evidence of the feverish hours I’ve spent hacking together a project with a trio of blockchain developers. I’m not a programmer, just a journalist with a law degree. Yet somehow I’ve gotten swept up in creating my own DAO—a decentralized autonomous organization, a favorite concept among the starry-eyed proponents of Web3—and it’s supposed to launch tomorrow.

Do We Still Need Teams?

Tue, 17 May 2022 23:03:09 -0600

Do We Still Need Teams?

master1305/Getty Images

We love teams. We really do. Between the two of us, we’ve spent more than 40 years studying, teaching about, and coaching teams in organizations — which is why we’re surprised to find ourselves writing an article in which we question whether teams are as practical or as necessary to knowledge work as they once were.

Our thinking is driven by the many conversations we’ve had lately with employees at all levels, from summer interns to CEOs. In every echelon, we hear worries about work-life balance, burnout, employee disconnection, and turnover. For those who work on or lead teams, the strain seems to be even greater — and we think we know why.

On Reviews

Tue, 17 May 2022 14:56:58 -0600

On Reviews

The review is the primary mechanic by which teams create and maintain

alignment at Facebook. Reviews are a tool where you enlist other smart people

to improve your work. You should bring your hardest questions and be honest

about your biggest risks and fears. You will be rewarded with support and

ideas and you will gain trust and credibility. Never pitch or present your

work in an overly positive light, because you will get less useful support and

Mission, Strategy, and Tactics

Tue, 17 May 2022 07:56:21 -0600

Mission, Strategy, and Tactics

Originally posted internally at Facebook on December 27, 2013

As organizations grow they run the risk of becoming hopelessly disjointed.

Teams end up working on projects that overlap or conflict, individuals struggle

to see how their work fits into the bigger picture, people fail to see meaning

in what they do and overall progress grinds to a crawl. Our ability to fight

this entropy determines our ultimate capacity, both in terms of bandwidth

Executive

Tue, 17 May 2022 07:46:54 -0600

Executive

I recently held a question and answer session with a particularly talented

group of my colleagues who are taking on a challenging task. At the end they

thanked me for making the time to speak with them, as is often done. It always

strikes me as bizarre when people thank me for taking an hour of my time when

they are doing the real work.

I have come to realize that very few people have any idea what I do all day,

Anti-Pattern: The Engineering Managers’ Group

Mon, 16 May 2022 23:10:12 -0600

Anti-Pattern: The Engineering Managers’ Group

EM = Engineering manager
EMs = Engineering managers

Whenever they are given the opportunity, engineering managers emphasize the importance of growth and the importance of teamwork. Yet, they often forget about their development and turn their backs on the techniques they use on their teams.

The fact is that when EMs work as a team, they can get the benefits of a team. Sounds simple? Well, it isn’t straightforward.

8 Thoughts on the Future of Remote Work

Fri, 13 May 2022 22:08:17 -0600

8 Thoughts on the Future of Remote Work

8 thoughts on the future of remote work

Fri, 13 May 2022 20:11:47 -0600

Checked in at Ballpark Neighborhood District.

Let’s go Rockies — with erika

39.7554574-104.9924272

How You Spend Your Time Is Who You Become

Thu, 12 May 2022 22:37:31 -0600

How You Spend Your Time Is Who You Become

e are spoiled for choice in today’s world. In every part of life, there are options to choose from. What we eat. What we wear. Who we spend time with. What we care about. What we spend time on. Who we work for. Why we do it.

All of these are open-ended and dependent on our choices. Some may seem trivial, but none of them are for a simple reason.

Why It’s Wise to Hire People Smarter Than You | Inc.com

Thu, 12 May 2022 22:33:17 -0600

Why It’s Wise to Hire People Smarter Than You | Inc.com

I received this note recently from an Evernote user in Japan:

Some of my team members complain that I micromanage. I think they have a valid point, but then I find myself having to tell them how to do even the smallest things. Do you have some general rule in role-sharing?

I do. I’ll tell you how I discovered it.

Thu, 12 May 2022 18:09:06 -0600

Checked in at The Home Depot.

39.7228376-105.1898082

15 rules for communicating at GitHub

Wed, 11 May 2022 15:14:03 -0600

15 rules for communicating at GitHub

At GitHub, we have a very specific way of working. For one, we use GitHub to build GitHub. Not just for code, but to collaborate on things like Legal, Marketing, and internal policies. But it’s not that the medium defines the workflow (although it certainly helps), in fact, it’s the other way around.

GitHub’s communication style can be summed up in one word: asynchronous. Much of this is defined by the workflows of the open source community, where many of us got our start, but part of it, as a distributed company, is out of necessity. Like open source, rarely are two people in the same place at the same time, working on the same thing at the same time. Yet as in the case of Wikipedia versus Encyclopedia Britannica, distributed workflows produce better results than their traditional counterparts, and I’d argue that everyday quality of life is better for those involved, as a result.

Mon, 09 May 2022 18:58:06 -0600

Checked in at Botanic Gardens.

39.7320425-104.9600977

Mon, 09 May 2022 17:58:44 -0600

Checked in at Denver Botanic Gardens.

Spring visit — with erika

39.7317459-104.960289

Why Success Is Often Elusive at the Highest Echelons

Sun, 08 May 2022 23:00:53 -0600

Why Success Is Often Elusive at the Highest Echelons

During recent discussions with friends, one common theme that crops up very frequently is how success has remained rather elusive to recent higher level hires at their companies.

By “higher level hires”, I’m referring to not just senior managers, directors, and VPs, but also very senior engineers (think principal level) who’re tasked with shaping or steering the organization’s engineering innovativeness, productivity, and culture. As often as not, these hires have a solid track record of success over the course of many years at elite tech companies (think a 6–8 year stint in senior engineering or engineering leadership at Netflix or Google), have solid references, some might even have a prominent public profile, and are generally competent and smart people.

The Magic of Setting Expectations | by Shy Alter | Better Programming

Sun, 08 May 2022 22:50:30 -0600

The Magic of Setting Expectations | by Shy Alter | Better Programming

No, it’s not obvious

I mean, it’s obvious, isn’t it?

Something happen in your team, it might be a task that fell between the cracks or a team member who didn’t take ownership. You might find yourself saying “I thought it’s obvious that X will be done”. Many things that seem obvious to you, might not be obvious to your team.

Sat, 07 May 2022 15:36:56 -0600

Checked in at Kettle & Spoke Brewery.

40.026875-105.24302

Sat, 07 May 2022 14:04:34 -0600

Checked in at Boulder Falls Trail.

40.005718-105.406356

Sat, 07 May 2022 08:52:59 -0600

Checked in at Kettle & Spoke Brewery.

40.026875-105.24302

Fri, 06 May 2022 19:35:08 -0600

Checked in at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse.

Gettin’ BJs — with erika

39.7357152-105.1597207

Engineering Levels: A Case Study From Three Perspectives

Fri, 06 May 2022 09:07:20 -0600

Engineering Levels: A Case Study From Three Perspectives

Recently, there has been a lot of debate about engineering levels, whether they are good, bad, or just useless. In this story, I hope to show a positive outcome of a good effort. However, before we get started, let’s take a look at what are the critical elements to make a good framework

You have levels, why?

Although it may seem like an obvious question, the answers can vary a lot. They can range from deciding salary to career growth. Setting your desired outcomes and prioritizing them is essential before designing your framework.

Prioritization as a Superpower – by Nikhil Basu Trivedi

Fri, 06 May 2022 07:45:16 -0600

Prioritization as a Superpower – by Nikhil Basu Trivedi

Welcome to issue #41 of next big thing.

As a venture capitalist, I find myself constantly evaluating founders and CEOs on their superpowers and blind spots. Whether for a new potential investment, or when working with a portfolio company, it’s critical to understand the key reasons a leader may be successful in their role, and also the areas where they may need support.

TWH#38: The Hidden Power of Momentum – by Paulo André

Thu, 05 May 2022 17:14:48 -0600

TWH#38: The Hidden Power of Momentum – by Paulo André

Photo by Valerie Blanchett on Unsplash

Momentum is a measure of the tendency for a moving object to remain in motion. It takes energy to create but once it’s there, it takes energy to slow it down.

It’s this last part that any builder or leader should heed. It’s one of those secrets hiding in plain sight.

Sun Tzu wrote:

“When an army has the force of momentum, even the timid become brave; when it loses the force of momentum, even the brave become timid.”

The Technium: 103 Bits of Advice I Wish I Had Known

Wed, 04 May 2022 22:14:59 -0600

The Technium: 103 Bits of Advice I Wish I Had Known

Today is my birthday. I turn 70. I’ve learned a few things so far that might be helpful to others. For the past few years, I’ve jotted down bits of unsolicited advice each year and much to my surprise I have more to add this year. So here is my birthday gift to you all: 103 bits of wisdom I wish I had known when I was young.

105,495,450 searches for WordPress terms in the last 12 months, up 7.5% year-on-year – Ellipsis Marketing

Wed, 04 May 2022 19:14:16 -0600

105,495,450 searches for WordPress terms in the last 12 months, up 7.5% year-on-year – Ellipsis Marketing

We’ve regularly written about the state of WordPress searches over the years: from the first article analysing a 52% spike in searches in 2020, to an in-depth look at a search lull in the summer of 2021, looking at how search traffic and volumes are faring usually reveals a lot about the status of the whole industry.

How to Deal With Remote Work Burnout and Stress – NoHQ Remote Work Guides

Wed, 04 May 2022 17:01:42 -0600

How to Deal With Remote Work Burnout and Stress – NoHQ Remote Work Guides

No commute. Flexible schedules. Boosted productivity. There’s a lot that remote work gets right.

Yet, employees starting remote work may feel some growing pains. Learning how to manage and maximize the benefits of remote work can take some time. In particular, it’s easy to fall into the trap of overworking and getting remote work burnout when working from home.

Tue, 03 May 2022 17:56:35 -0600

Checked in at South Table Mtn.

39.7508778-105.1632085

Mon, 02 May 2022 12:18:20 -0600

Checked in at Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters.

Cute little spot. Picking up a couple of bags to try them. Love the artwork.

39.7423891-105.0746526

Sat, 30 Apr 2022 11:07:27 -0600

Checked in at The Home Depot.

My weekend residence

39.7228376-105.1898082

Taking Control of Your Professional Growth: A Personal Experience

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 17:03:28 -0600

Taking Control of Your Professional Growth: A Personal Experience

If you are the kind of person that claims taking control of your professional growth, changing careers, and moving up the ladder are easy feats, I would love to draw on your experience.

For me, my growth journey was and still is a hell of a ride. Not so long ago, I promised myself that I’d go above and beyond to take control of my journey, gain focus and combine my passion and skills to see where this path would take me.

11 Principles of Engineering Management

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 09:29:40 -0600

11 Principles of Engineering Management

More than 2 years ago, I decided to try to create a brief, digestible manual on the expectations of management for senior engineers at my company who are considering making the shift. At the time, I had about 3 years of management experience, including two prior companies. Enough to feel like I knew how to do the job, but not enough to feel like I should be some kind of authority on management. After letting this marinate for a couple years, I’m ready to share what I have learned.

Find Your Sweet Spot

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 17:09:17 -0600

Find Your Sweet Spot

Charged with extending their unit’s product lines and boosting top-line growth over the next three years, product managers at one global consumer goods company wanted to identify the most attractive customer segments to target and how best to reach them. So they turned to their market research department for guidance.

And why not? The market researchers at the company–we’ll call it ProdCorp–were world class and skilled at using the latest tools in demographics, psychometrics, and statistical analysis. Every two or three years, they would field an ambitious research project that pinpointed large, attractive customer segments and lots of tantalizing “white space” where the company could expand its offerings.

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 22:02:05 -0600

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

39.8497327-104.6739819

Taking Your 1:1s to the Next Level | by Alison Randel | The Ready | Apr, 2022 | Medium

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 19:56:18 -0600

Taking Your 1:1s to the Next Level | by Alison Randel | The Ready | Apr, 2022 | Medium

Yes, there is a next level. You can reach it with 4 simple steps.

Photo by Anotia Wang @anotia

Most people in manager-like positions spend a lot of time in 1:1s. And most people on a team have regular 1:1s with managers. 1:1s can be a precious space to build relationships and dig into challenging topics. But many of us don’t realize the potential actually lurking inside the 1:1 format. So most of the time that potential is wasted — on small talk (“How was your weekend?”), surface-level updates (“Yeah, the project is going pretty well”), and venting (“Ugh, the marketing team isn’t stepping up the way I want them to”).

The Anatomy of a 1:1

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 19:41:12 -0600

The Anatomy of a 1:1

Broadly speaking, my overarching agenda for any 1:1 is as follows:

It starts with the checkin, “how’s it going?”, an open ended question that some people respond with a status update, and some do not. The important thing is what comes next – finding out how the person feels. Sometimes a status update is useful context for that, sometimes it’s just how we get there. Either is fine.

Flew SFO:DEN

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 19:41:00 -0600

Making Operational Work More Visible

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 19:35:49 -0600

Making Operational Work More Visible

“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” – Sir Isaac Newton

Chasing down a ‘blipperdoodle’

It’s 2019, back when I was on the CORE team at Netflix. I’m watching a teammate, the on-call site reliability engineer (SRE), investigate a spike in video playback errors reported by a number of smart TVs. The temporary spike lasted just a few minutes. But investigating these sorts of transient operational issues—“blipperdoodles” asthe team sometimes calls them—can reveal operational issues. It’s also good practice for the newer team members. The SRE on call happens to be new, so he digs in.

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 09:11:29 -0600

Checked in at El Taco Loco.

Breakfast

37.7523547-122.4180901

Exploring the Gestalt Principles of Design | Toptal

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 08:53:07 -0600

Exploring the Gestalt Principles of Design | Toptal

Listen to the audio version of this article

Negative space has long been a staple of good design. Leaving white space around elements of a design is the first thing that usually comes to mind. But then there are designs that use that white space to infer an element that isn’t actually there (the arrow hidden between the E and X in the FedEx logo immediately comes to mind as an example).

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 08:25:14 -0600

Checked in at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

37.616764-122.3870194

Flew DEN:SFO

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 05:45:00 -0600

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 05:22:05 -0600

Checked in at Gate B35.

39.8587649-104.6749271

How to Find Great Developers by Having Them Read Code

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 08:30:34 -0600

How to Find Great Developers by Having Them Read Code

When hiring developers, there are many things we are looking for, but over the years I have found that raw coding ability is easily the most important quality to look for. I can quickly train a person to have knowledge in some domain, but I’ve never seen raw coding ability come from anything other than personal commitment to extensive and deep practice. Because of this, I have found that some methods work better than others to discover talent.

Motivating Developers to Care About Documentation

Sun, 24 Apr 2022 22:44:28 -0600

Motivating Developers to Care About Documentation

The following is a transcription of our interview with Paulo André. Paulo is a former VP of Engineering who now coaches CTOs, VPs of Engineering, and Engineering Managers. He also writes a weekly newsletter for technical leaders (sign up for it here).

Paulo: Let me set the stage here. Internal documentation is something I’m passionate about because I’ve seen how important it is. But in most of my roles I’ve been fairly reactive, having created documentation after there was an apparent need for it. (Being a coach now, I don’t have the opportunity to be more intentional about documentation but if I do join another company I will be.)

Why you should work asynchronously

Sun, 24 Apr 2022 22:34:30 -0600

Why you should work asynchronously

Most corporations (and their employees) made the shift to remote work during the pandemic. Many of these shifts were to remote-capable workflows (moving offline workflows online), but they never made the maturity leap to fully remote-first, rendering their employees less productive and more likely to burn out. The difference between being able to work remotely and being able to thrive remotely is the ability to work not just digitally, but also to work asynchronously, and it brings with it a number of benefits not possible under legacy workflows.

Sun, 24 Apr 2022 15:11:57 -0600

Checked in at New Terrain Brewing Co.

39.7794665-105.1860322

This Is What Happens When There Are Too Many Meetings

Sat, 23 Apr 2022 23:56:37 -0600

This Is What Happens When There Are Too Many Meetings

After two years of working from home, I don’t have one unified period of getting things done. I have several mini periods. Work isn’t a contiguous landmass of focus; it’s more like an archipelago of productivity amid a sea of chores, meals, mental breaks, and other responsibilities.

In particular, I’ve noticed a new island of work at the end of the day. Sometime around 9 p.m., I’ll open my computer and see that I have about a dozen urgent-ish emails and Slack messages. So, while in front of the television or with a podcast playing in the background, I’ll spend a late-night hour or more replying to these messages, typing the same intro over and over: “Sorry for the delay …” “Oops, I missed this …” “Hey, just seeing that you …”

Sat, 23 Apr 2022 18:59:46 -0600

Checked in at Coda Brewing Co.

with erika

39.734615-105.178506

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 19:30:44 -0600

Checked in at Crate & Barrel.

with erika

39.7185734-104.9561229

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 12:20:07 -0600

Building Infrastructure Platforms

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 22:33:20 -0600

Building Infrastructure Platforms

Software has come a long way over the past 20 years. Not only has the

pace of delivery increased, but the architectural complexity of systems

being developed has also soared to match that pace.

Not that building software was simple in the “good” old days. If you

wanted to stand up a simple web service for your business, you’d probably

have to:

Schedule in some time with an infrastructure team to find a spare

Under stress at work? Just remember: Don’t believe what you think. – ideas.ted.com

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 23:16:47 -0600

Under stress at work? Just remember: Don’t believe what you think. – ideas.ted.com

Eugenia Mello

Here’s how you can take control of your brain’s knee-jerk reactions to distressing situations, says psychology researcher Lisa Penney.

This post is part of TED’s “How to Be a Better Human” series, each of which contains a piece of helpful advice from people in the TED community; browse through all the posts here.

Question: When you’re under stress at work, are you able to do your best thinking?

A new era of WordPress themes is finally here — Rich Tabor

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 23:11:11 -0600

A new era of WordPress themes is finally here — Rich Tabor

We all knew the landscape of WordPress themes was shifting with the introduction of Gutenberg.

What we didn’t know, was by how much.

With the arrival of the anticipated Full Site Editing experience into WordPress 5.9, themes are starting to look very different. This new class of block-based WordPress themes arguably introduces the biggest change to themes, since well… themes existed.

Transcript: Ezra Klein Interviews C. Thi Nguyen

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 23:04:44 -0600

Transcript: Ezra Klein Interviews C. Thi Nguyen

The Ezra Klein Show

Send any friend a story

As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share.

Feb. 25, 2022

Every Tuesday and Friday, Ezra Klein invites you into a conversation about something that matters, like today’s episode with C. Thi Nguyen. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Transcripts of our episodes are made available as soon as possible. They are not fully edited for grammar or spelling.

Be Plainspoken

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 11:59:14 -0600

Be Plainspoken

It takes practice to communicate well. Being a great

writer or

communicator is a kind of

superpower that makes nearly every aspect of your life easier. But with great

power comes great responsibility; the clarifying power of language can also be

used to confound.

I am worried about the escalation of document length I have observed recently.

Simple questions receive lengthy responses.

People blow past guidelines on document lengths. Paragraphs have five

Problem exploration, selection and validation. | Irrational Exuberance

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 11:59:13 -0600

Problem exploration, selection and validation. | Irrational Exuberance

Most engineering organizations separate engineering and product leadership into distinct roles. This is usually ideal, not only because these roles benefit on distinct skills, but also because they thrive from different perspectives and priorities. It’s quite hard to do both well at the same time.

I’ve met many product managers who are excellent operators, but few product managers who can operate at a high degree while also getting deep with their users’ needs. Likewise, I’ve worked with many engineering managers who ground their work in their users needs, but few who can affix their attention on those users when things start getting rocky within their team.

Preserving Optionality: Preparing for the Unknown – Farnam Street

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 11:59:11 -0600

Preserving Optionality: Preparing for the Unknown – Farnam Street

We’re often advised to excel at one thing. But as the future gets harder to predict, preserving optionality allows us to pivot when the road ahead crumbles.

***

How do we prepare for a world that often changes drastically and rapidly? We can preserve our optionality.

We don’t often get the advice to keep our options open. Instead, we’re told to specialize by investing huge hours in our passion so we can be successful in a niche.

Refactor → Organisation

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 18:12:37 -0600

Refactor → Organisation

In this blog post, rather than focus just on the technical challenges, I want to share:

Some of the organisational history that led to WebCore
How we went about re-organising for success
How we viewed the team topologies and interaction modes between teams
How we view the role of the platform (and the Core teams who build it) in enabling many teams to interact with one another

First — some history…

The BBC website is made up of several digital services, including iPlayer, Sounds, News and Sport. Each is a major service in its own right — with millions of visits every week — and they have grown independently of one another over several years. This was reflected in the way the organisation was shaped — with separate departments owning each digital service.

The Principles and Habits of Healthy Software

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 18:12:36 -0600

The Principles and Habits of Healthy Software

I believe both can help us be better people and drive positive change around us – in general, but in software in particular.

Principles help us go in the direction we want, towards an ideal state. Developing software with this in mind is fulfilling. (If you want to feel inspired about principles, read Design Principles Behind Smalltalk by Daniel Ingalls).

Habits are powerful. They help us to get from point A to B at a constant pace, starting small and taking many small steps. They allow us to work towards a higher goal, with purpose. It’s like developing muscles; it’s not possible to get there with a magic meal, you need strict gym activity and a lot of discipline. You also need small increments otherwise you’ll get hurt. So what are the muscles in the software we write, and what habits can we adopt to maintain those muscles and avoid injury?

What You Give Up When Moving Into Engineering Management

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 18:12:33 -0600

What You Give Up When Moving Into Engineering Management

My wife recently took a management position for the first time. While my first management role was much different in many ways (I was with a small startup, and she works for a state healthcare system), her mixed feelings reminded me of the roller-coaster ride I felt when I was first put in charge of a team of engineers.

On the one hand, I was excited. This was an opportunity to make a bigger impact on the organization and my teammates’ careers.

The Data-Informed Product Cycle

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 14:06:03 -0600

The Data-Informed Product Cycle

I recently shared this Tweet:

Most teams jump from high level strategy/goals straight to feature ideas (w/ “success metrics”) The most successful teams 1. Have a strategy 2. Translate that into models 3. Add minimally viable measurement 4. Identify leverage points 5. Explore options 6. Run experiments

Along with this image:

A number of people asked me to write about it. Here goes!

Data-informed product is a loop (or series of loops).

The Latest E-Commerce Trend: What You Need To Know About Social Commerce

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 22:44:25 -0700

The Latest E-Commerce Trend: What You Need To Know About Social Commerce

Jessica is the Founder & CEO of Valux Digital, a nationally recognized full-service marketing and PR firm.

getty

As e-commerce businesses globally are getting ready for the holiday season, one trend is shaking up the online shopping scene. Social commerce looks set to make an impact on e-commerce sales this season.

What Is Social Commerce?

Social commerce is the convergence of e-commerce and social media. Brands engaging in social commerce use social media platforms as vehicles to sell products and services. If your business relies on e-commerce sales, you are likely already involved in social commerce. However, are you maximizing the potential of this trend for your business?

Diffusion of innovations – Wikipedia

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 13:25:31 -0700

Diffusion of innovations – Wikipedia

Theory on how and why new ideas spread The diffusion of innovations according to Rogers. With successive groups of consumers adopting the new technology (shown in blue), its market share (yellow) will eventually reach the saturation level. The blue curve is broken into sections of adopters.

Diffusion of innovations is a theory that seeks to explain how, why, and at what rate new ideas and technology spread. Everett Rogers, a professor of communication studies, popularized the theory in his book Diffusion of Innovations; the book was first published in 1962, and is now in its fifth edition (2003). Rogers argues that diffusion is the process by which an innovation is communicated over time among the participants in a social system. The origins of the diffusion of innovations theory are varied and span multiple disciplines.

Sat, 26 Feb 2022 14:16:28 -0700

Checked in at Bros Bike Shop.

Changing tires turned into changing brake pads.

39.73936-105.139184

5 Questions Every Manager Needs to Ask Their Direct Reports

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 14:07:24 -0700

5 Questions Every Manager Needs to Ask Their Direct Reports

Krittiraj Adchasai/Getty Images

Sara, a departing employee, sat across from her company’s HR leader for an exit interview. As a marketing executive for a financial services company, she was resigning after five years to take a CMO role at a fintech startup.

When the HR director asked Sara, “Is there anything else we could have done to keep you here?” Sara paused. “Yes. I wish there had been conversations about my career goals and opportunities for growth,” she said.

Getting Up and Running Quickly When Joining a Project

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 14:07:24 -0700

Getting Up and Running Quickly When Joining a Project

Getting up to speed when you join a large project is not an easy thing to do.

In addition to astonishing amounts of code and history, joining a new project

usually coincides with getting to know new colleagues and wanting to cause a

great first impression, which raises the stakes and makes things even more

difficult.

Here are a few things that have worked best for me when trying to get up to

How I Learned to Onboard Effectively in an Engineer Manager Role

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 14:07:20 -0700

How I Learned to Onboard Effectively in an Engineer Manager Role

Understanding my behaviors from starting new roles over the years

Doug Arcuri Follow

Nov 8, 2021 · 9 min read

Photo by Zan on Unsplash

Onboarding at a new company is an immensely engaging experience, where the difference between an effective or ineffective onboarding is an action away. As a software engineer manager, I’ve reflected on the unique behaviors I prioritize. This post will cover the gestalt of my successful onboarding experiences within the first 90 days.

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 19:10:31 -0700

Checked in at Sushi Uokura.

Sushi to go 🍣

39.7295621-105.1781247

This scientist busts myths about how humans burn calories—and why | Science | AAAS

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 12:46:44 -0700

This scientist busts myths about how humans burn calories—and why | Science | AAAS

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 15:37:29 -0700

Checked in at Applewood Gas Express.

39.7469052-105.1426874

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 15:26:50 -0700

Checked in at Applejack Wine & Spirits.

Love this place. Stocking up.

39.7634617-105.1407349

Sun, 20 Feb 2022 11:28:03 -0700

Checked in at South Table Mtn.

39.7508778-105.1632085

Sat, 19 Feb 2022 12:52:01 -0700

Checked in at Bivouac Coffee.

Love this place. Picked up they cool new tumbler as well — with erika

39.687253-105.361011

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 21:59:41 -0700

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Home.

39.8497327-104.6739819

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 19:31:43 -0700

Checked in at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

SFO:DEN

37.616764-122.3870194

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 17:44:12 -0700

Checked in at Automattic Mission.

37.7553259-122.4183361

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 12:53:56 -0700

Checked in at Tacolicious.

37.7609404-122.4214507

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 11:15:37 -0700

Checked in at Abanico Coffee Roasters.

37.763123-122.4193

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 10:22:12 -0700

Checked in at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Touchdown. I don’t want to see another airport for like…. 8 hrs.

37.616764-122.3870194

Flew DEN:SFO:DEN

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 07:50:00 -0700

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 07:16:37 -0700

Checked in at Concourse B.

DEN:SFO

39.8587595-104.6737003

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 07:02:42 -0700

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

39.8497327-104.6739819

Being a First Time Exec at an Early Stage Startup

Sun, 13 Feb 2022 22:08:10 -0700

Being a First Time Exec at an Early Stage Startup

This week I talked with Jean Hsu, VP of Engineering at Range, a company that helps make teamwork way less work. We spoke about being a first time exec, how she navigated being a mother and exec during a pandemic and what she enjoys about early stage startups.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

So we met speaking on the same panel.

Yeah. It was about challenging the default performance management systems that companies have, and we got those mugs with our faces on them, which was amazing. My partner loves it. He’s like, “Oh, then I can use it and then you’re just there with me,” which is very sweet. It feels weird to use a mug with your own face on it.

Delicious Brains – 2021 Year in Review: Tripled, Acquired, Reborn, and Humming

Sat, 12 Feb 2022 10:42:15 -0700

Delicious Brains – 2021 Year in Review: Tripled, Acquired, Reborn, and Humming

TL;DR — Despite the pandemic, we had a great year as a team and as a business. We tripled the size of the team, acquired ACF, shipped and published a ton of awesome stuff that we’re proud of, and had a nice bump in revenue.

This is my seventh year in review post since I started writing them:

Flew MIA:DEN

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 13:30:00 -0700

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 11:29:19 -0700

Checked in at Miami International Airport (MIA).

25.7955637-80.2781296

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 08:01:00 -0700

Checked in at Bay Of Pigs Monument.

25.7657009-80.2164436

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 20:40:41 -0700

Checked in at Mini Bar.

25.7740145-80.1363574

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 17:11:02 -0700

Checked in at Santorini by Georgios.

25.7695532-80.1319214

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 15:02:45 -0700

Checked in at The ScapeGoat.

25.7698829-80.134387

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 11:56:26 -0700

Checked in at Kimpton Angler’s Boutique Resort.

25.77651-80.134192

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 15:45:33 -0700

Checked in at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).

Everything is a highway in Texas, even the airports

29.986479-95.3415442

Flew DEN:IAH:MIA

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 13:38:00 -0700

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 12:46:20 -0700

Checked in at Concourse B.

39.8587595-104.6737003

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 12:17:06 -0700

Checked in at Bonfire Burritos.

Meeting up with some #a12s

39.747854-105.210745

Minto Pyramid

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 22:38:33 -0700

Minto Pyramid

In business, communication needs to be clear and efficient. People are busy and don’t have time to read long walls of text or listen to long presentations where the key info is shared at the very end.

Use the Minto Pyramid to give your communication a top-down structure and get your message across quickly and clearly. Lead with the conclusion, then provide key arguments and finally support them with detailed information.

How to Size and Assess Teams From an Eng Lead at Stripe, Uber and Digg | First Round Review

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 17:15:04 -0700

How to Size and Assess Teams From an Eng Lead at Stripe, Uber and Digg | First Round Review

Say your startup has an on-call rotation that follows the sun. Someone’s always on. One day, a member of your team gets an alert that disk space will run out on the primary PostgreSQL server in two hours. An hour later, he gets another page. Then thirty minutes later, disk space runs out and your entire site goes down. For 18 hours. The silver lining is that your two-tier architecture can keep your site and app online, but the backend of your business has come to a halt. Your CTO is furious. He says you must fire the engineer who was on call to make a point.

Sun, 30 Jan 2022 15:57:22 -0700

Checked in at IKEA.

I’m so sick of driving all the way here

39.5716467-104.87437

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 20:29:27 -0700

Checked in at Coda Brewing Co.

This place is good — with erika

39.734615-105.178506

The baseline for web development in 2022 – LINE ENGINEERING

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 19:40:55 -0700

The baseline for web development in 2022 – LINE ENGINEERING

**TL;DR:**The baseline for web development in 2022 is: low-spec Android devices in terms of performance, Safari from two years before in terms of Web Standards, and 4G in terms of networks. The web in general is not answering those needs properly, especially in terms of performance where factors such as an over-dependence on JavaScript are hindering our sites’ performance.

Hello there! I’m Alan Dávalos, a front-end engineer at LINE. You might have thought this article’s title is just clickbait but bear with me for a while, I promise it’s worth it. The main reason for that is that there were some big changes in the web between 2021 and 2022 and those affect the way we should face web development as a whole.

Your guide to self-serve onboarding: How to get your product to sell itself – OpenView

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 12:10:57 -0700

Your guide to self-serve onboarding: How to get your product to sell itself – OpenView

In a self-serve environment, your product has to sell itself.

The first-day experience is the most critical part of the user journey. And it’s where most products fall flat.

It’s on the first day that you have a user’s full attention and you have an extremely narrow window to impress them.

Why should you care?

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 09:41:52 -0700

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 12:03:56 -0700

The Three Altitudes of Leadership | INSEAD Knowledge

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 20:10:34 -0700

The Three Altitudes of Leadership | INSEAD Knowledge

High altitudes hold a special place in the history of human achievement. We remember Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepalese sherpa, Tenzing Norgay as the first climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Other altitude pioneers include Russian cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, the first human to fly in outer space, and Neil Armstrong, the first person on the moon. More recently, in 2012, Austrian Felix Baumgartner skydived from a capsule at 127,000 feet.

Managing Managers: Words of Wisdom From Experienced Engineering Executives

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 19:55:17 -0700

Managing Managers: Words of Wisdom From Experienced Engineering Executives

I recently stepped into the role of Director of Engineering at Lemonade

Though I’ve been leading teams for quite a few years now, managing managers is a new challenge.

Left to right: Eti Noked, Shay Cohen, and Anton Drukh.

I turned to managers of managers, whom I value and don’t work with on a daily basis, to gain a wider perspective on what it takes to succeed in this role:

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 18:00:45 -0700

Checked in at Costco Gasoline.

39.55893-104.87579

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 13:54:36 -0700

Checked in at Highline Canal Trailhead.

39.5643891-104.9972002

Everything Must Be Paid for Twice

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 10:07:43 -0700

Everything Must Be Paid for Twice

One financial lesson they should teach in school is that most of the things we buy have to be paid for twice.

There’s the first price, usually paid in dollars, just to gain possession of the desired thing, whatever it is: a book, a budgeting app, a unicycle, a bundle of kale.

But then, in order to make use of the thing, you must also pay a second price. This is the effort and initiative required to gain its benefits, and it can be much higher than the first price.

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 18:52:38 -0700

Checked in at Coda Brewing Co.

Back again already — with erika

39.734615-105.178506

Memo: China Strategy Revisited

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 13:33:10 -0700

Memo: China Strategy Revisited

This is a continuation of the original essay: The China Strategy (2018)

At 8 am on May 10, 2003, Taobao went online on the fourth day of the SARS quarantine. The homepage read: “Think of those who start a business in trying times.” Nineteen years later, and China’s online retail economy is the envy of the world. Currently with a nearly 37% online penetration and growing, analysts estimate that rate will reach 63.9% by 2023. It’s evident that online retailers like Alibaba, which owns Taobao, used the crisis to move China into eCommerce leadership that then belonged to the United States. China owes its eCommerce dominance to Alibaba, but its future may be with JD.com. This as the U.S. Government is becoming increasingly adversarial with Alibaba.

The Power Of An API

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 11:59:38 -0700

The Power Of An API

Hugging the X-Axis

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 22:37:49 -0700

Hugging the X-Axis

I’ve always struggled with commitment. In a world as grand as ours, shouldn’t we try to experience it all? Change it up. Visit every country. Try a bunch of careers. The menu of life is vast, and it’d be a shame to only order a single entrée.

When I say I was allergic to restraint, I mean it. I was the tantrum-throwing 3rd grader who refused to RSVP to birthday parties because I didn’t want to be tied down on a Saturday afternoon. Early in my career, I was also the guy who kept up with ten different industries so I wouldn’t have to define myself by any single one of them. But recently, my values have started to change. I now want multi-decade friendships and a professional life where I can build things that compound in value at an exponential rate; I want a place I call home and a large family I can share that home with; and I want to become an expert in the ideas that resonate with me most instead of suffering from shiny object syndrome.

Reborn in the cloud | McKinsey

Sun, 16 Jan 2022 22:24:55 -0700

Reborn in the cloud | McKinsey

DOWNLOADS

Open interactive popup

Over the past five years, Adobe Systems has remade itself as a cloud company. It no longer offers its publishing and design tools in the form of physical, shrink-wrapped products to be deployed at customers’ sites under a perpetual

license—where customers pay once and can use the software indefinitely. Rather, customers subscribe to Creative Cloud, the company’s online suite of publishing and design tools, and receive frequent software upgrades as well as a range of new online-only and mobile services.

Sun, 16 Jan 2022 15:59:14 -0700

Checked in at Coda Brewing Co.

Post ride brews with Alex

39.734615-105.178506

(2022) 13 Best Asynchronous Communication Tools for Remote Teams – NoHQ Remote Work Guides

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 23:10:33 -0700

(2022) 13 Best Asynchronous Communication Tools for Remote Teams – NoHQ Remote Work Guides

Day-to-day communication happens asynchronously when working with a remote team. While startups try to conquer the synchronous space, there is far less work happening on the other side. Let’s look at 13 of the best tools for asynchronous work.

The Classic: Slack

With asynchronous communication apps, there’s the well-known combination of Slack + Zoom. The two tools perfectly complement each other and make synchronous and asynchronous communication perfectly.

The Best Leaders are Feedback Magnets — Here’s How to Become One

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 23:03:33 -0700

The Best Leaders are Feedback Magnets — Here’s How to Become One

Introduction

This article is written by Shivani Berry**, founder and CEO of Ascend**, which offers online leadership programs to empower women from top companies with the skills and community to advance into management. Previously, she was at PayPal, Intercom, and GetYourGuide.

After interviewing dozens of top executives in fireside chats — including Kim Scott of Radical Candor fame — I started to notice a pattern. Even though they were all well-practiced with tons of public speaking experience under their belts, every single one of them asked me for feedback after the event. That’s when it hit me: The best leaders are feedback magnets. Getting actionable feedback is a skill, and the top performers have excelled largely because they’ve never stopped honing it.

Managing Managers: Words of Wisdom From Experienced Engineering Executives

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 23:17:45 -0700

Managing Managers: Words of Wisdom From Experienced Engineering Executives

I Asked Managers of Managers I Look Up To for Advice As I Transitioned From Team Lead to Director of Engineering

Daniel Korn

Jan 5·7 min read

I recently stepped into the role of Director of Engineering at Lemonade. Though I’ve been leading teams for quite a few years now, managing managers is a new challenge.

Left to right: Eti Noked, Shay Cohen, and Anton Drukh.

Tweet from Marc Hedlund

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 23:07:54 -0700

Tweet from Marc Hedlund

I’m often asked how best to interview VP Engineering or other engineering leadership candidates. It’s a hard problem. One of my standard answers seems to work for a lot of people, so here it is.

I think it matters a lot to probe for a leadership candidate’s beliefs about their ability to create change. There are plenty of passive managers: hire to budget, run the standup, file the performance report, repeat. A leader should not be passive.

Cost of (Employee) Attrition

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 23:06:28 -0700

Cost of (Employee) Attrition

What if we could visualise the cost of attrition?

Here’s a team. Someone leaves. We hire a replacement.
We get lucky and manage to find someone more skilled. Looks like we’re better off?

Really when someone leaves we lose all the relationships they had with the rest of the team as well. The team is a diminished more like 40% than the apparent 20% by their loss. It takes longer to rebuild the team than is apparent. Relationships take time.

(2022) How to Do Employee Performance Reviews Virtually & Best Practices – NoHQ Remote Work Guides

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 12:08:36 -0700

(2022) How to Do Employee Performance Reviews Virtually & Best Practices – NoHQ Remote Work Guides

Measuring job performance is an essential practice when measuring a business. They provide valuable metrics that provide insight into the employee’s skill and cost value.

Many employees scoff at the idea of performance reviews because they feel they are not appropriately appraised of nonperformance factors.

Therefore, in an employee performance review, it’s important to only review based on performance and nothing that can get the business in trouble with the courts based on protections under the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Changing Lanes – Becoming a Platform Product Manager

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 11:47:06 -0700

Changing Lanes – Becoming a Platform Product Manager

I’m a product manager for a content management system that runs some of the most-visited websites in the world. Our team reports to the CTO, and we sit within the engineering arm of the organization. Prior to this I’d had a year’s product experience at a customer-facing SaaS company and naively I believed I could copy-paste this experience. I was wrong. At its heart a CMS is a platform, not a product. I quickly found that I needed to become a platform product manager.

Measuring KPIs for a Platform vs a Revenue-Generating Product

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 11:39:20 -0700

Measuring KPIs for a Platform vs a Revenue-Generating Product

There are some important differences between managing a solutions vs a platform product, in terms of providing product value. One of the key differences is in how you determine and track valuable key performance indicators (KPIs).

This post focuses on the differences for managing KPIs not just for platforms overall, but for content management systems – products used by web sites to build their content, which include the tools that editors use to publish content to the site.

Measuring output, outcomes and impact in platform teams at Adevinta

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 11:25:47 -0700

Measuring output, outcomes and impact in platform teams at Adevinta

What we learned from implementing a metrics-based approach to measure results in a platform team

Adevinta May 20, 2021 · 8 min read

By Xavier Gumara Rigol (Medium, Twitter, LinkedIn), Senior Engineering Manager for Experimentation and Analytics Solutions at Adevinta

As a manager of an internal platform team at Adevinta (that is, a team whose customers are other employees at the company) it has been hard to deliver results in our team by following a metrics-driven approach. This has been accentuated by the fact that our platforms can be used by employees from our marketplaces around the world.

25 Habits of Highly Effective Managers

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 21:28:55 -0700

25 Habits of Highly Effective Managers

Introduction

Management can at times seem like staring down a large block of marble — an intimidating task that requires the right tools. And in our experience, most management advice tends to focus on tackling the biggest chunks: assembling high-performing teams through hiring, delivering tough feedback and checking in regularly. Of course, holding regular 1:1 meetings and honest performance reviews are critical items on your manager checklist to get right — but sculpting a magnificent piece of art also relies on the finer chiseling work of shaping that rock, bit by bit. After all, it’s the smallest movements and the intricate detail work that makes a statue worthy of display in a museum. However, this tends to be overlooked.

# 6 A Strategy for Each Swimlane

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 16:54:41 -0700

# 6 A Strategy for Each Swimlane

How to define the strategies, proxy metrics, and projects for each pod

Jul 11, 2019·3 min read

The “Ratings Wizard,” part of an explicit taste strategy, collected many ratings in the late 2000s.

So far, I have focused on defining the overall product strategy for a company. It’s essential that each product leader within an organization also articulate their pod’s strategy. I’ll provide an example from the personalization team at Netflix, circa 2006. At the time, Todd Yellin was the product leader of a group of engineers, designers, and data analysts. (Today, Todd is VP of Product Innovation at Netflix.)

#7 The Product Roadmap

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 16:54:19 -0700

#7 The Product Roadmap

A roadmap is an expression of your strategy. It shows how projects fit together, along with a rough time estimate

Jul 11, 2019·3 min read

I’m a lover of Bojack Horseman.

Roadmaps are a richly debated topic. On the one hand, they help teams to see how all the projects fit together. And with technology teams, who have long lead-time projects, it’s good to have advance notice of upcoming projects. On the other hand, a four-quarter roadmap provides false confidence, given uncertainty about what will work or not. It’s especially hard to guess the timing of projects, given this uncertainty.

#4 Proxy Metrics

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 16:53:44 -0700

#4 Proxy Metrics

How to define a metric to prove or disprove your hypotheses and measure progress

#2 From DHM to Product Strategy

Jul 11, 2019·6 min read

At Netflix, the metric we used to evaluate overall product quality was monthly retention. This high-level product engagement metric improved significantly over twenty years. In the early days, about 10% of members canceled each month. In 2005 the monthly cancel rate was around 4.5%. Today, it’s close to 2%.

#2 From DHM to Product Strategy

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 23:02:32 -0700

You have ideas to delight customers, to build hard to copy advantages and experiment with your business model. Now what?

Jul 11, 2019·5 min read

In 2007, Netflix’s exclusive content effort, “Red Envelope Studios,” failed. But by 2012, with its economies of scale, Netflix had a hard to copy advantage through its original content.

The next step is to tease out high-level hypotheses that combine delight, hard to copy advantage, and margin. Achieving two or three of these objectives with a single strategy is at the heart of an effective product strategy.

#1 The DHM Model

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 22:54:14 -0700

#1 The DHM Model

Product strategy answers the question, “How will your product delight customers, in hard to copy, margin-enhancing ways?”

#3 The Strategy/Metric/Tactic Lockup

Jul 11, 2019·6 min read

The audience at my Product Strategy Workshop at TomTom in Amsterdam

When I join a company as a product leader, advisor, or board member, I brainstorm ideas to answer three questions:

How will the product delight customers?
What will make the product hard to copy?

#3 The Strategy/Metric/Tactic Lockup

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 22:44:10 -0700

How to assign metrics and tactics to each product strategy.

Jul 11, 2019·2 min read

Learning comes from equal part success and failure. Above, John Oliver reflects on Netflix’s failed attempt to separate its DVD-by-mail and streaming services, and the failure of “Qwikster.”

In 2005, Netflix explored six key product strategies. For each strategy, we had a team focused on experiments to prove or disprove each theory. Here’s the 2005 high-level product strategy for Netflix, coupled with metrics and tactics/projects:

#5 Working Bottom-up

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 22:44:08 -0700

#5 Working Bottom-up

Scan your project list to identify themes and define your product strategy.

#10 The Quarterly Product Strategy Meeting

Jul 11, 2019·2 min read

Teams at Glassdoor define their product strategy at one of my Product Strategy workshops.

The key to the Strategy/Metric/Tactic lockup is to identify a high-level product strategy, assign a proxy metric to measure the strategy’s effectiveness, then brainstorm a set of projects that will move the metric. If you get “stuck,” however, sometimes it helps to turn this process on its head.

#10 The Quarterly Product Strategy Meeting

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 22:44:02 -0700

#10 How to Run A Quarterly Product Strategy Meeting

How to keep strategy “front and center” and accelerate both results & learning.

#8 The GLEe Model. A long-term, phased approach to create… | by Gibson Biddle | Medium

Jul 11, 2019·6 min read

That’s me, many years ago at the end of a Netflix Quarterly Product Strategy Meeting. (Photo: Michael Rubin.)

As companies grow, one of the critical challenges is to keep everyone aligned. Product strategy helps folks to stay on the same page, but I’ve learned to overcommunicate to ensure the strategy is fully understood and remembered. My peers describe my communication style as “Lather, Rinse, Repeat,” which is a fair assessment.

#8 The GLEe Model. A long-term, phased approach to create… | by Gibson Biddle | Medium

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 22:39:51 -0700

A long-term phased approach to crafting a product vision.

Jul 12, 2019·6 min read

I confess. One of my guilty pleasures on Netflix is “Glee.”

As companies grow, there are a few common criticisms about the product strategy:

Teams see and understand the projects, but not how they fit together.
Investors complain that there’s not a big enough product vision.
The product team feels too focused on the short-term.

The GLEe model helps product leaders to form a product vision to address these criticisms. The model encourages teams to think big, think long-term, and describes a phased, step-by-step approach to build a product that “dents the universe.”

#9 The GEM Model

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 22:39:49 -0700

#9 The GEM Model

Prioritizing growth, engagement, and monetization to keep organizations aligned.

The Mysterious Story of the Man from Taured | by Trevor Mahoney | Predict | Medium

Jul 12, 2019·3 min read

That’s me, explaining the GEM model at our Product Leader Summit in 2018, using Chegg as an example.

As companies grow, product strategy helps teams maintain focus. But misalignment, especially across product, marketing, sales, and finance, happens often. One of the biggest causes is differing opinions on how to prioritize growth, engagement, and monetization. The GEM model forces cross-functional teams to prioritize these factors and helps build a metrics-focused organization.

The Mysterious Story of the Man from Taured | by Trevor Mahoney | Predict | Medium

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 11:29:57 -0700

If you woke up one morning and started to go about your business, only to realize a few small things weren’t quite right, what would you do?

Your warm coffee maker has been replaced with a metallic looking object with a green liquid inside. You could have…

100 ways to slightly improve your life without really trying

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 12:39:33 -0700

100 ways to slightly improve your life without really trying

1 Exercise on a Monday night (nothing fun happens on a Monday night).

2 On the fence about a purchase? Wait 72 hours before you buy it.

3 Tip: the quickest supermarket queue is always behind the fullest trolley (greeting, paying and packing take longer than you think).

PLAY

Great Engineering Teams Focus on Milestones Instead of Projects

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 17:47:07 -0700

Great Engineering Teams Focus on Milestones Instead of Projects

Most engineering organizations focus on delivering projects. They should focus on milestones instead.

Managing projects is hard. Companies contort themselves to do it well. Instead of playing chess, switch to checkers. Milestones are an easier game, and you get better results.

More importantly, milestones unlock powerful behavior. One example is project shaping. Milestones make it easy to play with the contours of a project.

On Schelling Points in Organizations

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 16:40:29 -0700

On Schelling Points in Organizations

Tapping into the emergent undercurrents of coordination

Alex Komoroske

Dec 13, 2021·23 min read

The Coordination Headwind (AKA why organizations are like slime molds, AKA that deck with all of the 🧫🕸🏆) tells the story of how even in the best organizations — with individuals who are good at what they do, hard-working, and collaborative — situations still arise where it’s nearly impossible to get anything done.

Conflict Resolution Diagram | Untools

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 22:56:02 -0700

Conflict Resolution Diagram | Untools

Handling conflicts carefully is important. Conflict Resolution Diagram (also called “Evaporating Cloud”) is a tool that will help you resolve them peacefully while making sure that needs of both sides are met.

It’s one of the thinking tools developed as part of the Theory of Constraints by Eliyahu Goldratt. Let’s see how it works.

How to use it

The best time to use this tool is when you run into a conflict that seems impossible to resolve by accepting the proposal of either side. This can be a conflict with others but also internal. It can be professional or personal. You can draw the diagram on a whiteboard, piece of paper or run through it in your head.

Hard Edges, Soft Middle

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 22:28:21 -0700

Hard Edges, Soft Middle

Have you had that feeling of being several weeks into a project, and you find yourself wandering around, struggling to wrangle the scope back to what you thought it was when you started?

It’s an easy trap to fall into. It’s why I’m always thinking about ways to make targets smaller (or closer, if you’re thinking about real physical targets). The bigger and more ambitious you want to be with an objective, the more confidence you need to have that the objective is the right one. What happens often is we decide a project scope — a feature or product prototype we think has legs — but the scope gets bigger than the confidence that we’re right. A few weeks in and there’s hedging, backtracking, redefining. You realize you went down a blind alley that’s hard to double-back on.

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 18:33:04 -0700

Checked in at Crate & Barrel.

Is it weird to fall in love with a chair? — with erika

39.7185734-104.9561229

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 17:19:36 -0700

Checked in at The Joint Colorado Mills.

39.730896-105.1638184

Sun, 02 Jan 2022 13:57:56 -0700

Checked in at The Home Depot.

Time for another project.

39.7228376-105.1898082

Hunting Tech Debt via Org Charts

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 12:46:52 -0700

Hunting Tech Debt via Org Charts

Marianne Bellotti

Dec 20, 2021·8 min read

Knowing where to look for problems by figuring out who reports up to whom

“Let’s see…. no backups, twenty convoluted stored procedures and old C++ code”

After a couple years in government I used to blow peoples’ minds with a fairly simple party trick. Before going into our first meeting with a new agency stakeholder I would predict several key details of what their problems were going to be. All I needed was the name and title of the person we were meeting.

Lead by Leading

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 12:46:52 -0700

Lead by Leading

Managers have to wait for permission, because management requires authority.

But in every area of our lives, if we choose to lead, we can lead. Simply by beginning.

It might be that few will choose to follow, but then we can learn to get better at leading.

First we begin.

The web3 stack: how web3 will offer superior UX than web2 | by Polynya | Medium

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 23:07:20 -0700

The web3 stack: how web3 will offer superior UX than web2 | by Polynya | Medium

Polynya

Oct 30·5 min read

Please note that this is my semi-informed opinion, and only one possible outcome on how web3 plays out.

A lot of web3 skeptics are quick to criticize the terrible UX. Even web3 advocates have often conceded that UX may not be as good, but we’ll make up for it with the nice properties enabled by decentralization. Turns out, all of the building blocks for better UX than web2 already exists, and in this post, I’ll attempt to put it all together to give a clearer vision of one possible outcome where web3 out-UXs web2.

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 12:07:39 -0700

Checked in at Bonfire Burritos.

39.747854-105.210745

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 09:12:24 -0700

Checked in at Jefferson County Fairgrounds.

39.721745-105.1730204

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 18:39:47 -0700

Checked in at Mythology Distillery.

with erika

39.7672489-105.0109935

The Eight Archetypes of Leadership

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 11:51:36 -0700

The Eight Archetypes of Leadership

Although the ghost of the Great Man still haunts leadership studies, most of us have recognized by now that successful organizations are the product of distributive, collective, and complementary leadership. The first step in putting together such a team is to identify each member of the team’s personality makeup and leadership style, so that strengths and competences can be matched to particular roles and challenges. Getting this match wrong can bring misery to all concerned and cause considerable damage.

Employers Want Workers in the Office for the Company Culture, Not Productivity – Bloomberg

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 19:59:43 -0700

Employers Want Workers in the Office for the Company Culture, Not Productivity – Bloomberg

Ask executives why they’re desperate to get workers back in offices, and productivity—the corporate north star and initial obsession of pandemic anxiety—suddenly has nothing to do with it. Many sound like Judith Carr-Rodriguez, the chief executive officer of FIG, a New York City-based advertising firm. She was shocked at how well things went when her staff of 80 pivoted to remote work; the firm actually grew. Yet, she’s resisting a fully remote future because of the je ne sais quoi of the office. “I know people are being productive,” she says. “But are they learning, growing, being challenged? I worry we’re creating a culture where people are not exposing themselves in ways they would be in the office.”

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 11:08:21 -0700

Checked in at Mountain Side Gear Rental.

39.73439-105.17916

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 10:47:59 -0700

Checked in at The Joint Colorado Mills.

39.730896-105.1638184

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 09:09:26 -0700

Checked in at Jefferson County Fairgrounds.

39.721745-105.1730204

Sun, 26 Dec 2021 14:58:46 -0700

Checked in at Brass Armadillo Antique Mall.

It goes on forever — with erika

39.7847012-105.1242245

Remote Work Should Be (Mostly) Asynchronous

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 16:17:26 -0700

Remote Work Should Be (Mostly) Asynchronous

You Can’t Optimize For Rest

Ler em português

Digital transformation should be a means to an end, but it often gets mistaken for an end in itself. This is partly why 70% of all digital transformation efforts fail — because they’re done purely for the sake of going digital without full consideration of the bigger picture.

The pandemic accelerated many trends, from streaming, e-commerce, and food delivery platforms to the widespread adoption of remote work. But instead of taking advantage of this opportunity to improve how we work, most organizations simply took their offices online, along with the bad habits that permeated them.

You Can’t Optimize For Rest

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 15:56:44 -0700

Welcome to the Convivial Society, a newsletter about technology and culture. In this installment I write a bit about burnout, exhaustion, and rest. It doesn’t end with any neat solutions, but that’s kind of the point. However, I’ll take up the theme again in the next installment, and will hopefully end on a more promising note.

As many of you know, the newsletter operates on a patronage model. The writing is public, there is no paywall, but I welcome the support of readers who value the work. Not to be too sentimental about it, but thanks to those who have become paying subscribers this newsletter has become a critical part of how I make my living. And for that I’m very grateful. Recently, a friend inquired about one-time gifts as the year draws to a close, however this platform doesn’t allow that option. So for those who would like to support the Convivial Society but for whom the usual subscription rates are a bit too steep, here’s a 30% discounted option that works out to about $31 for the year or about $2.50 a month. The option is good through the end of December. Cheers!

My Smart Home 2021

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 15:35:54 -0700

My Smart Home 2021

Hi! It’s me, Joris.

It looks like I’ve linked you here myself. Linking people to a blogpost I wrote is often a bit

akward, especially at work.

I likely shared this blog in an attempt to further a conversation. Usually the post does a better

job at succinctly sharing information

than I could by talking.

In any case, I hope me sharing this post doesn’t come across as

Can Matt Mullenweg save the internet?

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 15:23:03 -0700

Can Matt Mullenweg save the internet?

In the early days of the pandemic, Matt Mullenweg didn’t move to a compound in Hawaii, bug out to a bunker in New Zealand or head to Miami and start shilling for crypto. No, in the early days of the pandemic, Mullenweg bought an RV. He drove it all over the country, bouncing between Houston and San Francisco and Jackson Hole with plenty of stops in national parks. In between, he started doing some tinkering.

Metrics-Driven Product Development Is Hard

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 14:56:17 -0700

Metrics-Driven Product Development Is Hard

The way that the FAANG companies use metrics to build products is vital to their success. They invest an army of people and homegrown tools to pull it off. My last article, Balancing short-term and long-term product bets, describes Google’s process.

While the very top companies are great at using metrics, after talking to the hundreds of PMs who signed up for DoubleLoop, I’ve learned that almost everyone else is struggling.

Flew IAD:DEN

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 14:05:00 -0700

Flew LAX:IAD

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 17:00:00 -0700

Flew DEN:LAX

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 15:40:00 -0700

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 18:05:34 -0700

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

First trip success

39.8497327-104.6739819

Flew SFO:DEN

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 15:30:00 -0700

Flew SFO:DEN

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 15:30:00 -0700

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 14:33:52 -0700

Checked in at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

37.616764-122.3870194

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 16:14:04 -0700

Checked in at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

37.616764-122.3870194

Flew DEN:SFO

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 13:45:00 -0700

Flew DEN:SFO

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 13:45:00 -0700

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 13:13:30 -0700

Checked in at Gate B35.

DEN:SFO

39.8587649-104.6749271

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 12:20:16 -0700

Intent Matters in Product Development – by Alex Johnson

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 08:03:44 -0700

Intent Matters in Product Development – by Alex Johnson

My favorite fintech product of all time was a mobile wallet, launched by Square in 2011. Originally called Card Case (and later Square Wallet), the app created a startlingly seamless and enjoyable mobile payments experience.

Here’s how it worked:

A consumer downloaded the Card Case app to their smartphone and was able to see a map of all the nearby merchants that were using Square’s POS Register.
In the app, the consumer was able to look up information on these merchants (operating hours, menus, special offers, etc.) and choose to ‘open a tab’ at any merchant that they wanted to shop with.
When the consumer visited a merchant that they had an open tab with, the merchant’s Square POS Register would automatically detect their smartphone (using geofencing) and would pop up the consumer’s name and face on the screen.
When the consumer was ready to make a purchase, all they had to do was give the cashier their name to complete the transaction.
In the background, Square would charge the card on file, send the consumer a digital receipt, and give them the option of adding a tip.

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:40:32 -0700

Checked in at The Joint Colorado Mills.

39.730896-105.1638184

OOPS Writeups

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 17:22:57 -0700

OOPS Writeups

A couple of people have asked me to share how I structure my OOPS write-ups. Here’s what they look like when I write them. This structure in this post is based on the OOPS template that has evolved over time inside of Netflix, with contributions from current and former members of the CORE team.

My personal outline looks like this (the bold sections are the ones that I include in every writeup)

Is Crypto Bullshit?

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 10:02:08 -0700

Is Crypto Bullshit?

Planet-wrecking money laundry or the next phase of human evolution? Why not both?

As you may have gathered from my previous post, I’ve become interested in cryptocurrency and blockchain regulation. I’ve honestly been a little hesitant to write about this stuff because opinions on the subject are oddly polarized. I know I’ve got crypto-skeptical readers, followers and friends who would be exasperated if I suddenly started spouting off about it all the time. Last week, Venkatesh Rao noted the hostile reaction after tweeting about minting his first NFT (non-fungible token):

Agility ≠ Speed

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 15:52:21 -0700

Agility ≠ Speed

Software development benefits from a sense of direction

Kevlin Henney

10 hours ago·9 min read

This article first appeared in Tips From The agile Trenches

I was changing a lightbulb this morning and was struck by a shift that has occurred in recent years. Lightbulbs used to be sold according to their power consumption. People were entrained to buy bulbs according to power rating — what the bulb consumed from the electrical grid — rather than brightness — what they, as consumers, actually benefited from.

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 15:33:31 -0700

Why Trying to Clean Up All the Ocean Plastic Is Pointless

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 12:49:03 -0700

Why Trying to Clean Up All the Ocean Plastic Is Pointless

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 12:37:48 -0700

Time Management – Paolo Belcastro

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 12:31:29 -0700

Time Management – Paolo Belcastro

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 19:52:39 -0700

Checked in at Coda Brewing Co.

Finally trying out this local spot! — with erika

39.734615-105.178506

Becoming a CTO – Puppies, Flowers, Rainbows and Kittens

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 19:56:06 -0700

Becoming a CTO – Puppies, Flowers, Rainbows and Kittens

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 15:54:59 -0700

Checked in at The Joint Colorado Mills.

Crunch

39.730896-105.1638184

Sun, 21 Nov 2021 16:20:16 -0700

Checked in at North Table Mountain Park.

39.7815012-105.2245574

Sat, 20 Nov 2021 12:24:21 -0700

Checked in at Costco.

39.7085943-105.01428

Sat, 20 Nov 2021 10:51:28 -0700

Checked in at Star Kitchen.

Dang it’s been too long! — with erika

39.6973116-105.0242791

A New Way to Think About Product-Market Fit

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 23:22:24 -0700

A New Way to Think About Product-Market Fit

I made my team waste two years of their lives building and refining the wrong product. Yes, we had a good time and we learned a few things, but nobody wishes to spend two grueling years on something that doesn’t matter.

What went wrong? I had an oversimplified understanding of product-market fit. And there’s a chance that you do too.

If you’re looking for product-market fit, by the end of this article you’ll have a better chance of finding it.

My Software Estimation Technique – Jacob Kaplan-Moss

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 22:26:54 -0700

My Software Estimation Technique – Jacob Kaplan-Moss

My Software Estimation Technique

Last time, I explained that, although estimating software project timelines is hard, you should do it anyway. With that background, I want to go into some detail and share the technique I use when I need to develop a project timeline.

The critical characteristic: capture time and uncertainty

This isn’t an area where I think there’s a “correct” technique; this is one system that works well for me, and I’ve been able to teach others to use it successfully. There are any number of other systems that might work as well; .

How 3D Printing Could Change the Future of Gear

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 21:55:42 -0700

How 3D Printing Could Change the Future of Gear

You don’t have to be able to follow the intricately complex plot threads of HBO’s hit sci-fi series Westworld — who can? — to see the hypothetical picture in its fabric: by the early 2050s, theme park robots will be so lifelike that it’ll be impossible to tell the difference between them and us. Though not inherently a problem, their verisimilitude will complicate matters when a few become sentient and decide to take over.

What Would It Look Like If We Treated Climate Change as an Actual Emergency? ❧ Current Affairs

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 23:12:40 -0700

What Would It Look Like If We Treated Climate Change as an Actual Emergency? ❧ Current Affairs

As the dust settles on COP26, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, the results do not look good. Despite a flurry of headline-grabbing pledges, national commitments bring us nowhere near to meeting the Paris Agreement target of 1.5 degrees. According to Climate Action Tracker, 73% of existing “net-zero” pledges are weak and inadequate—“lip service to climate action.” What is more, a yawning gap remains between pledges, which are easy enough to make, and actual policies, which are all that really count. You can pledge all you like, but what we need is action. Right now existing government policies have us hurtling toward 2.7 degrees of heating in the coming decades.

The Worst of Both Worlds: Zooming From the Office – The New York Times

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 22:13:44 -0700

The Worst of Both Worlds: Zooming From the Office – The New York Times

Work life for many is in a mushy middle ground, and what’s at stake isn’t just who is getting talked over in meetings. It’s whether flexibility is sustainable, even with all the benefits it confers.

Send any friend a story

As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share.

Don’t Let Architecture Astronauts Scare You

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 22:04:30 -0700

Don’t Let Architecture Astronauts Scare You

When great thinkers think about problems, they start to see patterns. They look at the problem of people sending each other word-processor files, and then they look at the problem of people sending each other spreadsheets, and they realize that there’s a general pattern: sending files. That’s one level of abstraction already. Then they go up one more level: people send files, but web browsers also “send” requests for web pages. And when you think about it, calling a method on an object is like sending a message to an object! It’s the same thing again! Those are all sending operations, so our clever thinker invents a new, higher, broader abstraction called messaging, but now it’s getting really vague and nobody really knows what they’re talking about any more. Blah.

Free software maintenance – Adding Features

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 20:34:36 -0700

Free software maintenance – Adding Features

This was written sometime in 2004, I think

How does the maintainer of a free software project decide which features to

add? The guiding principle is simple: ask “why,” rather than “why not.”

Let’s start with some mails from Linus Torvalds on the subject,

since people are more likely to listen to him than me:

here

and here

(local mirror if the links died).

All code is presumed harmful, because it will have bugs and

How Product Engineering Teams Avoid Dependencies — The Independent Executor Model

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 21:36:02 -0700

How Product Engineering Teams Avoid Dependencies — The Independent Executor Model

What is the Independent Executor model?

It is natural to need things from other teams. It can be tempting to wait for them or depend on them to provide something for you. This happens because they own the area you need to do work in.

For example, you might need a team to add a field into their API. Or you might need them to build a new API for you. Sometimes without these changes, you can’t deliver what you need to.

MTTR Is a Misleading Metric—Now What?

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 21:26:43 -0700

MTTR Is a Misleading Metric—Now What?

By Courtney Nash | November 4, 2021

12 minute read

Editor’s note: This is the second part of a series that will focus on each one of The VOID Report 2021 key findings. If you haven’t had a chance to download the report, it’s not too late. You can download the report at thevoid.community/report.

Software organizations tend to value measurement, iteration, and improvement based on data. These are great things for an organization to focus on; however, this has led to an industry practice of calculating and tracking Mean Time to Resolve, or MTTR. While it’s understandable to want to have a clear metric for tracking incident resolution, MTTR is problematic for a couple of reasons.

Calendar Link

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 17:50:31 -0700

https://calndr.link/

Really cool little utility for creating “add to calendar” links, that allow people to add rich events to their calendar.

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 16:17:52 -0700

Checked in at The Joint Colorado Mills.

Crunch

39.730896-105.1638184

Sun, 14 Nov 2021 16:29:44 -0700

Checked in at Walgreens.

🍄⭐️ Booster time

39.7384115-105.1958533

Sun, 14 Nov 2021 13:54:37 -0700

Checked in at Zoka’s.

39.4075594-105.3158132

Sat, 13 Nov 2021 15:52:27 -0700

Checked in at REI.

with erika

39.755622-105.009853

Software Estimation Is Hard. Do It Anyway.

Sat, 13 Nov 2021 13:04:04 -0700

Software Estimation Is Hard. Do It Anyway.

Sat, 13 Nov 2021 00:19:32 -0700

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 18:50:23 -0700

Checked in at The Fort Restaurant.

with erika

39.6288709-105.1923664

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 15:37:26 -0700

Checked in at The Joint Colorado Mills.

39.730896-105.1638184

How to Foster Healthy Disagreement in Your Meetings

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 22:51:09 -0700

How to Foster Healthy Disagreement in Your Meetings

B2B Payments: Unlocking a Multi-Trillion-Dollar Opportunity – by Michael Spiro – The Takeoff

Ler em português

We often consider ourselves lucky if we’re on a team with little conflict and minimal office politics. When a team works together for a long time, they find a rhythm of collaborating and fall into regular patterns of behavior, minimizing disagreements. But over time, this habitual way of working can limit the team’s performance. We don’t often step back to assess if the team dynamics that we consider “good” are getting in the way of generating breakthrough ideas and results.

B2B Payments: Unlocking a Multi-Trillion-Dollar Opportunity – by Michael Spiro – The Takeoff

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 11:47:38 -0700

Hiring: Assessing Communication – Essays and stories

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 11:38:26 -0700

Hiring: Assessing Communication – Essays and stories

We’re hiring for the Data team at Bevy. One of our core values is “communicate like a legend,” and it’s about communicating with respect, candor, clarity, courage, and empathy. We are building for the long term at Bevy, so it’s also about communicating to our future selves and future colleagues.

Of all the attributes we are looking for in Bevy data team members, I’ve been thinking a lot about communication lately. I’m trying to learn a lot about a candidate during relatively few interactions, and the nature of our communication during the hiring process is different from how we’d communicate if the person is hired to the team. An interview is different from a team meeting because the objective is different and there is more at stake. A take-home challenge is different from a team project because there is less discussion and there is more at stake. And there is a lot more talking than writing during the hiring process, with about 6 hours of live interviews. So how do you “get signal” on communication?

9 Ways to “Rewild Your Attention”

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 22:41:02 -0700

9 Ways to “Rewild Your Attention”

How to inject more weirdness and randomness into the stuff you read and see

Clive Thompson

Oct 29·9 min read

“Forest,” by Jennifer C.

Back in August, I wrote about the concept of “rewilding your attention” — why it’s good to step away from the algorithmic feeds of big social media.

I’d originally encountered the idea via a tweet by Tom Critchlow, referencing a post by CJ Eller, riffing off an essay by Ali Montag. You can go read my original essay, but basically the concept was that the algorithms in big-tech feeds have two problems…

Stand-up Meetings Are Dead (and What To Do Instead) – Honeycomb

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 22:28:00 -0700

Stand-up Meetings Are Dead (and What To Do Instead) – Honeycomb

Stand-up meetings. Is anyone happy with them at this point? They were supposed to help teams work in a more agile manner but they were already controversial in the before times and moving to fully distributed teams hasn’t made things any better. The same old habits, the same tired questions. There must be something better, right?

We began meandering syncs to replace stand-ups as an experiment at Honeycomb, but loved the results so much that we have adopted it across the engineering org. We think you might love it, too! But before I share how that works, let’s first take a look at how we got here.

Why the Status Quo Is So Hard to Change in Engineering Teams

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 22:17:20 -0700

Why the Status Quo Is So Hard to Change in Engineering Teams

A BigCo Story

Welcome to BigCo Inc!

It’s your first day as a software engineer and you’re excited to start your first commit. As your new co-worker Bill shows you around the codebase, you can’t help but notice how often Bill answers notifications on his phone. “Do you want to continue later?”, you ask. “Nah it’s just that I’m on-call this week. Don’t worry I’m used to it – those are not that important”. You’re a little perplexed but, as the phone vibrations keep rattling your desk, you let Bill show you the innerworkings of BigCo’s codebase.

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 14:03:11 -0700

Checked in at Deer Creek Canyon Park.

39.5433493-105.1519512

Cut Out Time Estimates on Roadmaps: Get Into a Product Delivery Rhythm

Sat, 06 Nov 2021 23:07:24 -0600

Cut Out Time Estimates on Roadmaps: Get Into a Product Delivery Rhythm

All of the business of software, but especially the delivery of product capabilities, is inextricably bound up in questions about time. What’s the estimate? If we have N people working on it, how long will it take? When will we ship?

Putting a finer point on it, if you’re building products iteratively, incorporating customer feedback from early prototypes, tacking and jibing your way toward the right solution, there’s no way you’ll be able to accurately estimate the work it will take to get there. Trying to do so is performative and it sets teams up for disappointment or even conflict when the date “slips.”

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 16:58:29 -0600

Checked in at IKEA.

39.5716467-104.87437

What is a decentralized autonomous organization, and how does a DAO work?

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 15:40:14 -0600

What is a decentralized autonomous organization, and how does a DAO work?

A decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) is an entity with no central leadership. Decisions get made from the bottom-up, governed by a community organized around a specific set of rules enforced on a blockchain.

DAOs are internet-native organizations collectively owned and managed by their members. They have built-in treasuries that are only accessible with the approval of their members. Decisions are made via proposals the group votes on during a specified period.

Why Do Companies Have So Many Managers? – The Atlantic

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 11:53:54 -0600

Why Do Companies Have So Many Managers? – The Atlantic

Lars Tunbjörk / Agence VU / Redux

America has too many managers.

In a 2016 Harvard Business Review analysis, two writers calculated the annual cost of excess corporate bureaucracy as about $3 trillion, with an average of one manager per every 4.7 workers. Their story mentioned several case studies—a successful GE plant with 300 technicians and a single supervisor, a Swedish bank with 12,000 workers and three levels of hierarchy—that showed that reducing the number of managers usually led to more productivity and profit. And yet, at the time of the story, 17.6 percent of the U.S. workforce (and 30 percent of the workforce’s compensation) was made up of managers and administrators—an alarming statistic that shows how bloated America’s management ranks had become.

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 20:05:49 -0600

Spotify for readers: How tech is inventing better ways to read the internet

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 16:29:06 -0600

Spotify for readers: How tech is inventing better ways to read the internet

Protocol | Fintech

Profiting from a missed fintech opportunity: Renters

Esusu’s co-founders say renters deserve credit.

Esusu, co-founded by Samir Goel and Abbey Wemimo, makes it possible for landlords to report rental payments to credit bureaus, helping tenants boost their credit scores.

Photo: Esusu

November 1, 2021

Benjamin Pimentel

Benjamin Pimentel (

@benpimentel) covers fintech from San Francisco. He has reported on many of the biggest tech stories over the past 20 years for the San Francisco Chronicle, Dow Jones MarketWatch and Business Insider, from the dot-com crash, the rise of cloud computing, social networking and AI to the impact of the Great Recession and the COVID crisis on Silicon Valley and beyond. He can be reached at bpimentel@protocol.com or via Signal at (510)731-8429.

Process People

Sat, 30 Oct 2021 17:39:04 -0600

Process People

For many years I’ve subscribed to the idea that in a product organization, there are essentially two types of contributors: makers and managers.

Makers definitely include your designers and your engineers, and supporting roles like user research and data analysts. Makers design and build the products we love, so most people understand the critical contribution of makers.

Managers definitely include the managers of designers, engineers, and product managers. Managers are primarily responsible for the staffing and coaching of the makers, so most people understand their importance, especially if you’re a maker fortunate enough to work for a manager committed to helping you progress in your career.

Agents of Doom: Who is creating the apocalypse and why

Sat, 30 Oct 2021 09:19:23 -0600

Agents of Doom: Who is creating the apocalypse and why

There are a handful of actors who are the most likely to cause a global catastrophe, but their power goes unchecked, says Luke Kemp. I

In 1995, a doomsday cult in Japan killed 13 people and injured more than 6,000 others. They were the victims of a Sarin gas attack in the Tokyo subway committed during rush hour by the apocalyptic terrorist group known as Aleph (at the time called Aum Shinrikyo). Afterwards, 13 of the perpetrators were tried and executed.

The Next Big Challenge for Data Is Organizational

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 20:11:39 -0600

The Next Big Challenge for Data Is Organizational

In the past few years, much has been written about problems like discoverability, observability, data quality, and the need for data teams to become more “engineering oriented” in their mindset. Movements like analytics engineering and open source tooling like dbt, Dagster, and Great Expectations have done an amazing job arming data practitioners with the tools that they need to start adopting the best practices of software engineering like modularity, testing, and release management. This shift in mindset has resulted in very real and very exciting progress in data as a discipline over the past 3-5 years, and will likely be looked back upon similarly to how React changed the frontend (Laurie Voss does a good job articulating this). It is clear that much has improved in data land, yet many of the core problems outlined at the start of this post remain quite painful. Why is this?

What Is Underneath Productivity?

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 20:11:38 -0600

What Is Underneath Productivity?

[

Superorganizers](https://every.to/superorganizers)

🔒 October 22, 2021

♥ 55

I’ve been obsessing about productivity for a long time. I used to spend a lot of time thinking about tools for thought and second brains. But these days, I spend most of my time thinking about metacognitions, the stress response, and interpersonal relationships.

In other words, it looks like I’m going soft. Or, at the very least, my interests are changing. But I’d actually argue that my interests are the same—I’m just approaching the same problems from a new angle. And it’s leading me to be a lot more productive than I have been in the past.

Are Pull Requests Holding Back Your Team?

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 11:00:54 -0600

Are Pull Requests Holding Back Your Team?

Pull requests are great for open source. But they can hinder the team performance

David Masters Follow

Apr 1 · 14 min read

Photo by David Ballew on Unsplash

Intro

The rise of Git, GitHub, and Pull Requests (PR) has resulted in some big changes to the practices and workflows within the software industry. In particular, they’ve revolutionised the world of open source, providing a robust…

Working Backwards

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 10:44:07 -0600

Working Backwards

This is a summary of a great 🌳 tree book. Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon is the first book that explains how Amazon really works, written by two insiders who were there when the techniques were invented. This is not a comprehensive summary; tree books don’t lend themselves to easy summarisation. You should buy the book and read it — the stories that the authors tell about the origins of each technique are absolutely critical if you want to apply them; do not rely on this summary alone. Read more about book classifications here.

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 21:09:51 -0600

Checked in at IKEA.

Maxed out the elevator — with erika

39.5716467-104.87437

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 17:09:59 -0600

Checked in at REI.

39.6204787-105.0922376

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 12:01:13 -0600

Checked in at Seasoned Swine.

Lunch on the run, and checking out this place that I keep driving past.

39.728793-105.176895

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 11:39:44 -0600

Checked in at The Home Depot.

Time for another project.

39.7228376-105.1898082

The Most Heated Tech Job Market in History: Advice for Software Engineers

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 15:09:04 -0600

The Most Heated Tech Job Market in History: Advice for Software Engineers

The tech job market is on fire, across the globe, for people with a few years of industry experience under their belt. This is especially true for software engineers, but other tech functions are also following.

I talked with dozens of hiring managers – from engineering managers to CTOs and CEOs – and they all shared the same perspective. Here is a typical quote from an executive at a global tech company:

Being the DRI of Your Career

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 14:48:16 -0600

Being the DRI of Your Career

Credit: Pexels

At DuckDuckGo, there’s an expression: “You are the DRI of your career” (DRI: Directly Responsible Individual). I like this, both as an individual who has always felt like the DRI of my own career, and I like it as a manager because I think it makes the boundaries of what you can and can’t do for people clear.

What does it mean to be the DRI of your career? To me, 5 things:

To Tame Burnout, Microdose Nature

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 14:39:55 -0600

To Tame Burnout, Microdose Nature

A neuroscientist is discovering that time in nature is one of the best ways to reduce stress and increase happiness and productivity. Here are the specific doses that work the magic.

Michael Easter

Jul 23·3 min read

Photo by Silvestri Matteo on Unsplash

In my new book The Comfort Crisis, which looks at the benefits of engaging with forms of mind-and-body-enhancing discomfort our ancestors faced every day, I spend a section unpacking all the benefits of the outdoors … of which, I found, there are a metric shit-ton.

What We Talk About When We Talk About the Metaverse

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 00:11:11 -0600

What We Talk About When We Talk About the Metaverse

In science fiction, the end of the world is a tidy affair. Climate collapse or an alien invasion drives humanity to flee on cosmic arks, or live inside a simulation. Real-life apocalypse is more ambiguous. It happens slowly, and there’s no way of knowing when the Earth is really doomed. To depart our world, under these conditions, is the same as giving up on it.

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 19:00:20 -0600

Checked in at Applewood Vietnamese Pho ☆Grill.

Trying another local place — with erika

39.7458212-105.1433731

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 17:01:56 -0600

Checked in at Joyride Brewing Company.

39.753086-105.0535794

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 13:49:16 -0600

Checked in at Eagle Diner.

Lunch break.

39.6582775-106.8265726

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 16:42:41 -0600

Checked in at Switzerland Of America.

… which is heavily under construction so there a no hot springs available. Uuuggghhhh

38.0219567-107.6720001

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 13:11:31 -0600

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 12:28:55 -0600

Checked in at Himalayan Pun Hill Kitchen.

Lunch, on the way to Ouray (will stop and ride near Ridgway).

38.4843962-107.8838274

Who Is the Bad Art Friend?

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 11:24:19 -0600

Who Is the Bad Art Friend?

Credit…Photo illustration by Pablo Delcan

The Great Read

Art often draws inspiration from life — but what happens when it’s your life? Inside the curious case of Dawn Dorland v. Sonya Larson.

Credit…Photo illustration by Pablo Delcan

Published Oct. 5, 2021Updated Oct. 11, 2021

Listen to This Article

Audio Recording by Audm

To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.

The case for slacking off at work

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 10:25:52 -0600

The case for slacking off at work

The word agile is pretty frustrating. Not because it’s the wrong word, but because it’s been so badly coopted it longer means anything.

At the heart of it, Agile software development is simply the practice of executing work in small batches, measuring the impact quickly, and then starting a new batch with that new information. It is quite simply optimizing for learning.

The Great Resignation Is Accelerating

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 10:22:39 -0600

The Great Resignation Is Accelerating

I first noticed that something weird was happening this past spring.

In April, the number of workers who quit their job in a single month broke an all-time U.S. record. Economists called it the “Great Resignation.” But America’s quittin’ spirit was just getting started. In July, even more people left their job. In August, quitters set yet another record. That Great Resignation? It just keeps getting greater.

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 20:34:15 -0600

Checked in at Nordic Inn.

38.9029752-106.9678293

Composability Is the Only Game in Town – Roam, Shipping Containers, Lego and Twitter.

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 19:33:07 -0600

Composability Is the Only Game in Town – Roam, Shipping Containers, Lego and Twitter.

Lego Blocks, Shipping Containers, Roam Research, Open Source, and any other unreasonably successful endeavor follows the fractal design of composability.

Epistemic confidence: 3/5. I intend to return to this post in the future.

Shipping containers

The current iteration of global capitalism is built on the backbone of a shipping container. Not the car nor the plane. As much as I do think the washing machine is transformative (and do check out this TED talk by Hans Rosling), it didn’t have an impact as huge as the shipping container.

How to Safely Think in Systems

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 19:33:07 -0600

How to Safely Think in Systems

The second most impactful book I’ve read is George Lakoff’s Don’t Think of an Elephant which lays out his theory of communication. Lakoff explores a fundamental organizational challenge: as you grow, it becomes increasingly difficult to communicate when you’re not in the room where a discussion happens. I once worked with a staff engineer who described their most significant contribution as giving initiatives catchy names and slogans to propel ideas further than any supporting data might.

What Makes a Great Leader?

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 19:33:07 -0600

What Makes a Great Leader?

It’s very difficult question to answer. How do you judge a leader? Is it financial success? The loyalty they engender? Their ability to inspire? There are war-time leaders and peace-time leaders. Leaders may be understated or zealous. I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to say definitively what constitutes a great leader. Regardless, we all want to improve our ability to lead, whether it’s a small team or a Fortune 500. But how?

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 18:33:40 -0600

Checked in at Breadery CB.

Super cool space and apparently the best food in town.

38.869877-106.98699

Why Limiting WIP, Starting Together, Being Less Busy, and Working Together Is SO HARD

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 16:48:11 -0600

Why Limiting WIP, Starting Together, Being Less Busy, and Working Together Is SO HARD

(Twitter is great. This week I had some great back and forths with Jacob Singh about normalizing being idle. He cranked out a wonderful post that you should check out called The Case for Slacking Off at Work. I took a different approach.)

Ask an executive “do you think we should optimize for keeping people busy?”

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 12:15:16 -0600

Checked in at Hartman Rocks Recreation Area.

38.5056052-106.9428844

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 11:42:51 -0600

Checked in at Double Shot Cyclery.

It’s snowing, so I’m sitting in a bike shop instead of actually riding 😭

38.5456729-106.9274649

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 09:47:35 -0600

Checked in at Tributary Roasters.

I really like this little place.

38.54479-106.92657

Against Platform Determinism

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 22:11:51 -0600

Against Platform Determinism

There is no doubt that platform corporations are among the most significant economic, political, and cultural actors in contemporary life. Platforms are powerful because they position themselves both beneath and in-between users — that is, they are both the place in which and the means by which users interact online. This not only gives platform owners privileged access to data about users, but it also enables them to dictate the rules about how the many people who depend on platforms interact with one another. As a result, current discussions on platforms—both in popular media and in academia — tend to focus on how central platforms are to the textures of daily life, taking on an “infrastructural” quality as they synchronize and standardize actors across industries in ways that often pit collective values — such as democracy — against private gain. In our upcoming workshop Against Platform Determinism, we are inviting scholars, technologists, and activists to flip the script on platformization to ask how institutions, individuals, and infrastructures mediate and shape platform power.

Learn To Hire Well And You’ll Never Lose

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 22:03:46 -0600

Learn To Hire Well And You’ll Never Lose

Three Tips For Leaders Who Want To Up Their Recruiting Game

Hunter Walk

Just now·4 min read

Show me the first 20 employees of a startup and I’ll tell you whether it’s going to be successful or not. In my mind there’s no greater indicator of success than the quality and characteristics of the individuals you’re able to bring on board. Success is a signal of two meaningful truths: you have the talent you need to execute your roadmap and A+ people have decided that you are worth working for. When I encounter founders who know how to hire, or founders who are self-aware enough to know it’s an area they want to get better at, it’s a huge plus in our investment decision.

Tweet from Corey Quinn

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 21:46:30 -0600

Tweet from Corey Quinn

And now, a thread of Ancient Sysadmin Wisdom: an incomplete list of things we have learned from decades of outages.

“It’s always DNS.” Yup. Everything relies upon DNS, those relationships are non-obvious, and some things like to cache well beyond your TTL.

“If an outage lasts more than ten minutes, it’s likely to last for hours.” Yup. Usually related to electric power, but this is a good rule of thumb for “do we activate our DR plan” decisions.

Metaverse! Metaverse? Metaverse!! — Benedict Evans

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 21:04:02 -0600

Metaverse! Metaverse? Metaverse!! — Benedict Evans

Over and over again, the tech industry asks ‘what’s the next cycle?’ Smartphones were the locomotive that drove the industry and all the innovation for 15 years, but now 4.5-5bn people have a smartphones and the market is mature, so what’s the next fundamental trend? Crypto people don’t ask – they know it’s crypto – but everyone else in tech thinks that crypto is almost certainly a thing but not necessarily the thing, and wonders what else might come together.

Eating the Cloud from Outside In

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 20:45:39 -0600

Eating the Cloud from Outside In

Cloudflare launched on September 27, 2010, and every year since, it has made it a point to celebrate “Birthday Week” with a raft of launches. By far, the show-stopper this year was the announcement of R2 Storage, an S3-compatible Object Storage service that directly takes aim at AWS’ “Hotel California” business model. This has been extremely well received, going by the response on HN and Twitter. In its past 5 birthdays, Cloudflare has gone from world-class CDN to offering:

Reid Hoffman’s Two Rules for Strategy Decisions

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 20:33:59 -0600

Reid Hoffman’s Two Rules for Strategy Decisions

The Mysterious Case of the COVID-19 Lab-Leak Theory

Ler em português

Reid Hoffman — the co-founder and chairman of LinkedIn and partner at the venture capital firm Greylock — is a preeminent Silicon Valley strategist. I recently ended my tour of duty as Reid’s chief of staff and wrote a long essay about that experience — “10,000 Hours with Reid Hoffman: Lessons Learned on Business and Life.” These are the two major strategic decision-making lessons that I learned from working so closely with him.

The Mysterious Case of the COVID-19 Lab-Leak Theory

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 19:47:24 -0600

Since the coronavirus first appeared, at the end of 2019, four and a half million people have died, countless more have suffered, whole economies have been upended, schools have been shuttered. Why? Did the virus jump from an animal to its first human host, its patient zero? Or, as some suspect, was the catastrophe the result of a laboratory accident in Wuhan, a city of eleven million people in central China?

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 17:10:42 -0600

Checked in at Tomichi Creek Trading Post.

38.4063375-106.416712

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 12:53:14 -0600

Checked in at Gateway Inn & Suites Salida.

38.5246085-105.987262

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 12:40:32 -0600

Checked in at Salida Trails.

38.545433-105.98411

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 10:30:30 -0600

Checked in at Little Red Hen Bakery.

Super cute little bakery with a range of breads, pastries, and a few sandwiches and soups.

38.5355568-105.9956131

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:44:36 -0600

Checked in at Gateway Inn & Suites Salida.

38.5246085-105.987262

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:22:47 -0600

Checked in at Tacos El Tapatio.

And dinner.

38.53507-105.99175

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 18:20:02 -0600

Checked in at Tres Litros Beer Co..

Today is beer day.

38.536062-105.990539

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 17:26:58 -0600

Checked in at Gateway Inn & Suites Salida.

38.5246085-105.987262

Can Nuclear Fusion Put the Brakes on Climate Change?

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 15:00:25 -0600

Can Nuclear Fusion Put the Brakes on Climate Change?

Let’s say that you’ve devoted your entire adult life to developing a carbon-free way to power a household for a year on the fuel of a single glass of water, and that you’ve had moments, even years, when you were pretty sure you would succeed. Let’s say also that you’re not crazy. This is a reasonable description of many of the physicists working in the field of nuclear fusion. In order to reach this goal, they had to find a way to heat matter to temperatures hotter than the center of the sun, so hot that atoms essentially melt into a cloud of charged particles known as plasma; they did that. They had to conceive of and build containers that could hold those plasmas; they did that, too, by making “bottles” out of strong magnetic fields. When those magnetic bottles leaked—because, as one scientist explained, trying to contain plasma in a magnetic bottle is like trying to wrap a jelly in twine—they had to devise further ingenious solutions, and, again and again, they did. Over decades, in the pursuit of nuclear fusion, scientists and engineers built giant metal doughnuts and Gehryesque twisted coils, they “pinched” plasmas with lasers, and they constructed fusion devices in garages. For thirty-six years, they have been planning and building an experimental fusion device in Provence. And yet commercially viable nuclear-fusion energy has always remained just a bit farther on. As the White Queen, in “Through the Looking Glass,” said to Alice, it is never jam today, it is always jam tomorrow.

The Curse of Xanadu

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 14:37:35 -0600

The Curse of Xanadu

It was the most radical computer dream of the hacker era. Ted Nelson’s Xanadu project was supposed to be the universal, democratic hypertext library that would help human life evolve into an entirely new form. Instead, it sucked Nelson and his intrepid band of true believers into what became the longest-running vaporware project in the history of computing – a 30-year saga of rabid prototyping and heart-slashing despair. The amazing epic tragedy.

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 13:59:21 -0600

Checked in at Soulcraft Brewing.

Snow day calls for… just a bunch of eating and drinking.

38.5245293-106.0064178

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 13:25:00 -0600

Checked in at The Crossroads Cafe.

Ribs.

38.524457-106.004917

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 11:50:03 -0600

Checked in at Gateway Inn & Suites Salida.

38.5246085-105.987262

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 11:59:01 -0600

Checked in at Walmart Supercenter.

38.4486727-105.1918411

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 11:04:03 -0600

Checked in at Brews And Bikes.

LOL starting out this road trip with a beer before riding 30+ miles

38.438907-105.2436617

20 Years After the Anthrax Attacks, We’re Still Unprepared

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 10:22:04 -0600

20 Years After the Anthrax Attacks, We’re Still Unprepared

The first fatal bioterror attack in the US killed five people and caused a national panic—and we’re still short of funding and tech to handle health emergencies.

It was still early when Larry Bush reached the gurney in the emergency room of JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, Florida, part of a strip of towns that stretches from Miami to West Palm Beach. Bush was the hospital’s chief of staff and an infectious diseases physician, on his way to a regular morning meeting, but some ER physicians had asked that he drop by. A 63-year-old man named Bob Stevens had been brought in about 2:30 am with a roaring fever. Now he was comatose and plugged into a ventilator, with his frightened wife by his side.

America Is Choking Under an ‘Everything Shortage’

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 10:04:05 -0600

America Is Choking Under an ‘Everything Shortage’

Is it just me, or does it feel like America is running out of everything?

I visited CVS last week to pick up some at-home COVID-19 tests. They’d been sold out for a week, an employee told me. So I asked about paper towels. “We’re out of those too,” he said. “Try Walgreens.” I drove to a Walgreens that had paper towels. But when I asked a pharmacist to fill some very common prescriptions, he told me the store had run out. “Try the Target up the road,” he suggested. Target’s pharmacy had the meds, but its front area was alarmingly barren, like the canned-food section of a grocery store one hour before a hurricane makes landfall.

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 21:18:22 -0600

Checked in at Ogden Theatre, for Japanese Breakfast.

Japanese Breakfast — with erika

39.7401664-104.9753563

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 19:41:14 -0600

Checked in at Hudson Hill.

Finally trying this place out, which opened just after we moved away from the area — with erika

39.7369602-104.9794068

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 16:18:26 -0600

Checked in at The Home Depot.

39.7228376-105.1898082

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 14:05:20 -0600

Checked in at Él Bohio Criollo Cuban Cuisine.

39.748523-105.1422071

Engineering Teams Are Just Networks

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 09:29:54 -0600

Engineering Teams Are Just Networks

Marianne Bellotti

Sep 30·7 min read

To be a great hiring manager don’t be distracted by rockstar engineers, study up on network theory.

As a manager I like to build teams out of spare parts. I hire candidates who are rejected from other pipelines, I pick up people with middling performance in other teams, sometimes I even hire people whose skills are weak or out of date. My proudest accomplishments all involve teams constructed in such a manner completely out performing best-of-the-best rockstar teams assembled elsewhere. I’ve often struggled to explain how I tell the difference between a diamond in the…

A P O P H E N I A

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 13:39:40 -0600

A P O P H E N I A

The easier it becomes to produce information, the harder that information becomes to consume — and the harder we have to work to separate the spurious from the significant.

Humans are meaning-making machines, seeking order in the chaos. Our pattern recognition capabilities are a key determinant in defining intelligence. But we now live in a dystopian digital landscape purpose-built to undermine these capabilities, training us to mistake planned patterns for convenient and even meaningful coincidences.

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 13:24:33 -0600

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 13:03:33 -0600

Checked in at Bivouac Coffee.

Coffe break on a longer ride. Lunch and then back home.

39.687253-105.361011

What I’ve Learned From the 16 Engineers Who Turned Down Job Offers at Our Startup

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 10:10:50 -0600

What I’ve Learned From the 16 Engineers Who Turned Down Job Offers at Our Startup

I’m the cofounder and CEO of Kapwing, a 30-person company based in San Francisco. In our three years of trying to recruit top engineering talent, we’ve made 36 job offers to engineering candidates, and 16 of them turned us down.

Like a sales or fundraising rejection, every startup founder and recruiter knows the disappointment of rejection from an engineer who you’ve pitched and gone through the interview process with. In this article, I’ll share my experience with closing engineering candidates, my own insight into how engineering candidates make decisions on job offers from startups, and advice for other entrepreneurs trying to grow their teams quickly.

Creatures of the dawn: How radioactivity unlocked deep time

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 09:59:59 -0600

Creatures of the dawn: How radioactivity unlocked deep time

When scientists discovered the energy embedded within atoms, it transformed how we think about the long-term future of humanity, writes the historian Thomas Moynihan. J

Just over 100 years ago, an ocean liner – twin to the Titanic – returned to Normandy from the US with a very special item. It was a summer’s day in 1921, and travelling on board was the scientist Marie Sklodowska-Curie, accompanied by her daughters, Irène and Ève. In their possession was a single gram (0.04oz) of radium, locked away in a lead box within the ship’s safe. In today’s money, it would be worth $1,500,000.

Why we need to be repressed

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 09:59:59 -0600

Why we need to be repressed

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 12:28:39 -0600

Checked in at Zoka’s.

Fancy lunch on the way back from camping — with erika

39.4075594-105.3158132

Is Going to the Office a Broken Way of Working?

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 08:36:10 -0600

Is Going to the Office a Broken Way of Working?

Earlier this month, a technology entrepreneur named Chris Herd posted a thread on Twitter. “I spoke to 10 x Billion $ companies who canceled return to the office due to the delta variant,” he began. “A few predictions on what else is going to happen.” His first salvo was titled “Office Death,” and claimed that “by the time people can return to the office a lot of companies will no longer have space to return to.” His next prediction was about “City Flight.” He stated that workers would continue to flee cities and would quit if their employers forced them back into urban offices. The thread continued with sixteen more tweets.

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 13:53:14 -0600

Checked in at Moose Hill Cantina.

Trying out a local. It’s even got a moose.

39.7403456-105.1321094

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 21:26:11 -0600

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 14:03:35 -0600

Checked in at The Ditch.

Quesadilla time

39.9178727-105.7839991

This Is What Impactful Engineering Leadership Looks Like

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 22:21:10 -0600

This Is What Impactful Engineering Leadership Looks Like

Jessica McKellar is now the founder and CTO of Pilot**.

In 2012, Jessica McKellar and a group of friends from MIT started stealthy chat startup Zulip. Less than two years later, it was acquired by Dropbox. And this wasn’t an anomaly. They’d done it once before, selling Ksplice to Oracle just as fast. This wild ride has given McKellar a more diverse set of management opportunities than the average engineer ever sees — she’s been a team lead, a founder, a technical leader at a massive corporation, and today, is the manager of dozens at a rapidly growing global startup. (Oh, and on the side, she’s a major figure in the Python community.)

Speed! Nuance, and Learning.

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 22:21:08 -0600

Speed! Nuance, and Learning.

Speed, Nuance and Learning | Flight Levels Academy

How Big Tech Runs Tech Projects and the Curious Absence of Scrum

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 22:21:05 -0600

How Big Tech Runs Tech Projects and the Curious Absence of Scrum

Project management is a topic most people have strong opinions on, and I’m no exception. To answer the question of how different companies run engineering projects, I pulled in help from across the industry. In this issue we’ll cover:

Project management approaches across the industry. An overview of a survey with over 100 companies represented, plus key takeaways.
Project management at Big Tech. How are these done? How does the organizational setup of Big Tech influence how projects are executed?
The lack of Scrum at Big Tech. Why is the popular framework missing from most of Big Tech, and are there takeaways for companies operating outside this model?
How should you run projects in your team? I’ll share my personal take.

Before we jump in, here’s a personal story about why it’s sometimes hard to put a finger on how important project management approaches are.

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 20:35:07 -0600

Checked in at TAVERNETTA.

39.7530991-105.0017543

Inside the Trillion-Dollar E-Commerce Trend Boston Tech Is Building

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 22:19:46 -0600

Inside the Trillion-Dollar E-Commerce Trend Boston Tech Is Building

Image: Shutterstock

There’s a trillion-dollar, modern-day gold rush taking shape. It’s not happening in the foothills and creeks of the American West, but rather the vast landscape of Amazon.com. And the much sought-after “gold” isn’t gold at all, but it is valuable: a successful Amazon third-party seller.

Acquiring Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) businesses has become an increasingly popular trend, with dozens of “roll-up” companies cropping up throughout the world. In a nutshell, they purchase third-party sellers for thousands and even millions of dollars, and then take over the ins and outs of the business. These private aggregators have scooped up hundreds of third-party sellers and attracted billions of dollars in venture funding over the last few years, and two of the top dogs are located right here in Boston: Perch and Thrasio.

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 11:49:47 -0600

Checked in at Horseshoe Gulch.

39.5301278-105.9982798

Biological Deterrence for the Shadow War – War on the Rocks

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 09:47:13 -0600

Biological Deterrence for the Shadow War – War on the Rocks

The inadequate initial U.S. response to COVID-19, coupled with new advances in biotechnology, could make biological weapons more appealing for U.S. adversaries. The biological weapons capability achieved by the United States in the 1960s and by the Soviet Union in the 1980s suggests that it is very likely that near-peer adversaries have the capabilities to launch a biological attack with the same destructive capacity as a nuclear strike. However, in future decades, less lethal biological attacks may become more appealing. The risk is a new biological component to the low-boil actions by China and Russia that have been dubbed the “Shadow War.”

Students who grew up with search engines might change STEM education forever

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 09:47:11 -0600

Students who grew up with search engines might change STEM education forever

Catherine Garland, an astrophysicist, started seeing the problem in 2017. She was teaching an engineering course, and her students were using simulation software to model turbines for jet engines. She’d laid out the assignment clearly, but student after student was calling her over for help. They were all getting the same error message: The program couldn’t find their files.

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 12:51:36 -0600

Checked in at Taco Bell.

🌮

39.7593112-105.1421274

Jade Rubick – No-bullshit tenets for faster decision-making

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 10:46:38 -0600

Jade Rubick – No-bullshit tenets for faster decision-making

Tenets are mental shortcuts that help an organization make decisions faster. They are a way to bias the decision-making of an organization in a particular direction.

An example tenet might be, “we build our software to scale by ten times our current baseline traffic”. This tenet helps reduce the number of decisions people have to make in the future, and aligns the organization around HOW we do things.

Coordination Models – Tools for Getting Groups to Work Well Together

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 10:41:44 -0600

Coordination Models – Tools for Getting Groups to Work Well Together

As an organizational leader, you’ll be faced with many situations where the solution will be to improve the way people work together.

Today, I’ll list some coordination models you can use to address these situations. These models are very much like tools in a toolbox. You want to have a lot of familiarity with the tools you can use, and which tools make sense in what situation.

Jade Rubick – Implementing Amazon’s single threaded owner model a retrospective

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 10:40:00 -0600

Jade Rubick – Implementing Amazon’s single threaded owner model a retrospective

I’d like to share the results of one of the most interesting management experiments I’ve been a part of. At a company I worked at recently, we implemented the Single Threaded Owner (STO) model from Amazon, where you have everyone on the team report to a single leader, including product, design, and engineering. You can think of the STO model as a more extreme form of cross-functional teams, where the team has everything it needs to deliver on its mission.

The Third Revolution in Warfare

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 23:01:20 -0600

The Third Revolution in Warfare

On the 20th anniversary of 9/11, against the backdrop of the rushed U.S.-allied Afghanistan withdrawal, the grisly reality of armed combat and the challenge posed by asymmetric suicide terror attacks grow harder to ignore.

But weapons technology has changed substantially over the past two decades. And thinking ahead to the not-so-distant future, we must ask: What if these assailants were able to remove human suicide bombers or attackers from the equation altogether? As someone who has studied and worked in artificial intelligence for the better part of four decades, I worry about such a technology threat, born from artificial intelligence and robotics.

The Builder’s High

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 22:53:02 -0600

The Builder’s High

When I am in a foul mood, I have a surefire way to improve my outlook – I build something. A foul mood is a stubborn beast and it does not give ground easily. It is an effort to simply get past the foulness in order to start building, but once the building has begun, the foul beast loses ground.

I don’t know what cascading chemical awesomeness is going down in my brain when it detects and rewards me for the act of building, but I’m certain that the hormonal cocktail is the end result of millions of years of evolution. Part of the reason we’re at the top of the food chain is that we are chemically rewarded when we are industrious – it is evolutionarily advantageous to be productive.

Imaginable Tech vs Unimaginable Tech | by Nick Hilton | Aug, 2021 | OneZero

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 17:54:53 -0600

Imaginable Tech vs Unimaginable Tech | by Nick Hilton | Aug, 2021 | OneZero

Voice commands wouldn’t shock someone from the 1960s — so what technologies are we failing to imagine in 2021?

Nick Hilton

Aug 31·5 min read

Pete Campbell, inventing Alexa

Earlier this week, I asked Alexa — the Amazon-designed voice-activated assistant, which is accessible via a worrying number of Echo devices in my house — to turn the radio on. I do this several times a day, but I’ve…

Revolt of the NYC Delivery Workers – The Verge

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 17:54:46 -0600

Revolt of the NYC Delivery Workers – The Verge

This article is a collaboration between New York Magazine and The Verge.
Lea el reportaje en español aquí.

The Willis Avenue Bridge, a 3,000-foot stretch of asphalt and beige-painted steel connecting Manhattan and the Bronx, is the perfect place for an ambush. The narrow bike path along its west side is poorly lit; darkened trash-strewn alcoves on either end are useful for lying in wait. All summer, food-delivery workers returning home after their shifts have been violently attacked there for their bikes: by gunmen pulling up on motorcycles, by knife-wielding thieves leaping from the recesses, by muggers blocking the path with Citi Bikes and brandishing broken bottles.

The Road to Self-Reproducing Machines

Sun, 19 Sep 2021 13:11:43 -0600

The Road to Self-Reproducing Machines

Illustration:

Tomasz Walenta

Frank Wilczek

Sept. 2, 2021 1:58 pm ET

Nobel Prize-winning physicist Frank Wilczek explores the secrets of the cosmos. Read previous columns here..

Throughout history, creative human engineers have taken inspiration from artifacts of the biological world. Leonardo da Vinci designed flying machines, submarines and tanks with birds, fish and tortoises in mind. Today, artificial neural nets, a computer architecture directly inspired by animal nervous systems, are the cutting edge of machine learning. But none of those applications get to the deep structure of biology—likely a beacon of future creativity.

A Second Major Seasonal Virus Won’t Leave Us Any Choice

Sun, 19 Sep 2021 13:04:57 -0600

A Second Major Seasonal Virus Won’t Leave Us Any Choice

This pandemic will eventually be over, and the Delta surge—in which most of those not yet vaccinated against the coronavirus could become infected—may well be America’s last destructive wave. But just because we’re eager to move past the virus doesn’t mean it’s finished with us.

In our large, open, and globally connected society, getting to zero COVID, the goal that Australia and New Zealand have pursued, is as politically unrealistic as it is biologically implausible. Americans are mostly done with the onerous shutdowns that such a goal would require. The virus has now spread so widely in the world that even tight, long-lasting limits on Americans’ movement—restrictions far beyond what we would tolerate—could not stamp it out entirely. Instead, SARS-CoV-2 will become an endemic virus, settling alongside the other four strains of coronaviruses that circulate widely among us.

TBM 16/52: Goal Clarity (and Embracing Different Perspectives)

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 22:43:11 -0600

TBM 16/52: Goal Clarity (and Embracing Different Perspectives)

Huge favor to ask. Have you learned a new analytics product in the last year or so? If so, and you have 5 minutes to spare, It would be a big help for my team.

Twelve people look at a proposed quarterly goal. They respond. Note the differences (you will inevitably encounter all of these in your career).

Person A looks at the goal and says “looks good to me!”

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 08:47:48 -0600

Checked in at Perkatory Coffee House.

37.168503-104.50546

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:28:27 -0600

Checked in at Days Inn.

Passing out for the night.

37.1625099-104.5124226

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 19:41:06 -0600

Checked in at Mission at the Bell.

The chips and salsa are ON POINT. I have high hopes.

37.1682261-104.5061204

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 18:31:52 -0600

Checked in at Paradox Beer Company, Trinidad Outpost.

There’s always beer.

37.170906-104.506564

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 15:36:57 -0600

Checked in at COLORADO WELCOME CENTER AT TRINIDAD.

Essential reading.

37.1700275-104.5106391

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 14:46:19 -0600

Checked in at Trinidad Smokehouse LLC.

37.1680054-104.5070609

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 13:56:37 -0600

Checked in at Days Inn.

Living the ‘Dad dream

37.1625099-104.5124226

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 16:42:47 -0600

Checked in at The UPS Store.

39.7336667-105.1631658

4 Lessons From the Improbable Rise of QR Codes

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 23:04:41 -0600

4 Lessons From the Improbable Rise of QR Codes

Top highlight

Tech that seems totally useless can suddenly become crucial — like during a pandemic

Clive Thompson

Jul 28·7 min read

The first time I saw a QR code, I scoffed.

It was 2010 and the code was in the bottom corner of a movie poster. To scan it, I had to download a special app on my Iphone. The software was still buggy and fiddly — I was hunched over for 15 seconds, scanning and rescanning, until finally it worked. Lo and behold: A crappy browser opened up, showing me the website for the movie.

Serving cell-grown meat to high-end restaurants

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 22:52:16 -0600

Serving cell-grown meat to high-end restaurants

A food tech startup is partnering with an avant-garde San Francisco chef to serve the company’s cultivated, cell-grown chicken at her restaurant.

Why it matters: Cultivated meat — animal products grown from cells, rather than processed from slaughtered animals — faces technical and economic challenges, but it also has to gain consumer acceptance.

Placing the products in high-end restaurants could help speed that process.

What’s happening: Cultivated chicken from the Oakland-based startup Upside Foods will be served in San Francisco chef Dominique Crenn’s Atelier Crenn restaurant, Upside announced on Thursday — the first such partnership between a cultivated meat maker and a three-star Michelin chef.

Lawyer Is Shot Months After Unsolved Killing of His Wife and Son

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 21:06:47 -0600

Lawyer Is Shot Months After Unsolved Killing of His Wife and Son

Alex Murdaugh, the descendant of a prominent family of lawyers in rural South Carolina, was shot on Saturday, nearly three months after his wife and son were killed at their home.

An entrance to the rural estate of Alex and Maggie Murdaugh in Colleton County, S.C., in June.Credit…Michael M. DeWitt, via Imagn Content Services

Published Sept. 4, 2021Updated Sept. 6, 2021

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 14:33:07 -0600

Checked in at Tributary Market & Drinkery.

39.755807-105.220434

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 12:41:49 -0600

Checked in at Mayhem Gulch.

39.7371628-105.3713045

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 10:40:43 -0600

Checked in at Floyd Hill.

39.7199635-105.4042368

Opinion | The Simplest Tool for Improving Cities Is Also Free

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 22:55:08 -0600

Opinion | The Simplest Tool for Improving Cities Is Also Free

Guest Essay

The Simplest Tool for Improving Cities Is Also Free

July 16, 2021

Credit…Son Eunkyoung

Ms. Hendren is an artist and design researcher, a professor at Olin College of Engineering and the author of “What Can a Body Do? How We Meet the Built World.”

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — For decades, a stretch of Memorial Drive here that runs along the Charles River has been closed to automobiles on Sundays for the warmer half of the year. In the absence of cars on a four-lane thoroughfare beside the water, all kinds of other street uses blossom: skateboards, bicycles, hoverboards, strollers, wheelchairs and walkers, people on feet and on wheels now moving slowly enough to witness the late spring goslings, the ever-present sea gulls or the rarer magic and grace of a heron feeding along the water’s edge. A towering line of stately, centenarian sycamores forms an unbroken canopy over several blocks.

When **it Gets Real

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 22:41:11 -0600

When **it Gets Real

The heat has come.

In Portland, Oregon, it was hotter (108ºF) Saturday than it’s ever been there. . Yesterday, it was hotter still (114ºF). Records are dropping in Seattle and Vancouver and scores of smaller Pacific Northwest cities. That green and rainy corner of the world is baking in greenhouse sun and drought.

All this is, the National Weather Service informs us, “unprecedented.” No one has ever experienced what it’s like to live in these places at these temperatures. We’re in the unknown, now; Terra incognita. And here be dragons.

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 19:32:59 -0600

Checked in at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews.

#malllife — with erika

39.7362672-105.1589893

How Many People Can Someone Lead?

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 18:24:04 -0600

How Many People Can Someone Lead?

Contents

The Short Answer

A common question I hear in my technical leadership workshops is, “How many people can someone (e.g. a Tech Lead or Engineering Manager) lead?”

What’s the magic number?

My answer is generally 5-7 people for an experienced leader, but many factors affect the final number. Some of these factors include their leadership scope, other leadership roles, the experience level of the leader, the experience level of the team, and the level of organisational bureaucracy.

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 15:49:38 -0600

Checked in at Central Denver Eyecare.

Picking up new eyeballs.

39.732798-104.989246

Why does it cost so much to build things in America?

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 11:47:05 -0600

Why does it cost so much to build things in America?

As Congress argues over the size of the infrastructure bill and how to pay for it, very little attention is being devoted to one of the most perplexing problems: Why does it cost so much more to build transportation networks in the US than in the rest of the world?

In an interview in early June, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg acknowledged the problem, but he offered no solutions except the need to study it further.

Google’s New AI Photo Upscaling Tech is Jaw-Dropping

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 10:11:19 -0600

Google’s New AI Photo Upscaling Tech is Jaw-Dropping

Photo enhancing in movies and TV shows is often ridiculed for being unbelievable, but research in real photo enhancing is actually creeping more and more into the realm of science fiction. Just take a look at Google’s latest AI photo upscaling tech.

In a post titled “High Fidelity Image Generation Using Diffusion Models” published on the Google AI Blog (and spotted by DPR), Google researchers in the company’s Brain Team share about new breakthroughs they’ve made in image super-resolution.

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 08:58:03 -0600

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 11:14:43 -0600

Checked in at Little Scraggy TH.

39.3449083-105.2574834

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 14:51:10 -0600

Checked in at King Soopers.

with erika

39.7645661-105.1399987

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 19:04:36 -0600

Checked in at El Camino.

Friday night continues. — with erika

39.7621287-105.0353644

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 15:57:46 -0600

Checked in at Little Machine Beer.

Two breweries in one day? Why not, it’s Friday.

39.747316-105.024345

Structure Eats Strategy

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 15:22:14 -0600

Structure Eats Strategy

Again and again, I run into situations in which change agents in organizations that I work with run into organizational boundaries that stop them from moving forward in a way that makes perfect sense from a business and innovation perspective. For various reasons, within the current organization, agreements have been reached where some functions have responsibilities that others can not intrude upon without causing major hassle and disturbance in the company. The result is a situation where the current organization dictates what the company looks like going forward, no matter if this is the right setup or not.

The Art of Not Taking Things Personally

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 15:22:04 -0600

The Art of Not Taking Things Personally

Psychology

Why other people’s emotions might not be about you — and your emotions might not be about them

Dave Bailey Follow

Aug 18 · 6 min read

Photo by Norbu Gyachung on Unsplash

‘That’s irrational.’

‘That’s stupid.’

‘They’re making things difficult for the sake of it.’

When we encounter emotions and behaviours that don’t make sense to us, it’s often because we don’t have all the information. And in the absence of information, we tend to assume the worst.

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 14:02:24 -0600

Checked in at Auto Glass Now Denver.

39.711511-105.009592

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 12:54:48 -0600

Checked in at Chain Reaction Brewery.

Seems like a good spot to wait while my windshield is being replaced.

39.699577-105.0013346

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 12:47:13 -0600

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 12:32:36 -0600

Checked in at Auto Glass Now Denver.

39.711511-105.009592

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 10:59:12 -0600

Checked in at Edgewater Public Market.

Lunch with Scott.

39.749124-105.057063

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 10:36:16 -0600

Checked in at Apex Park.

39.7160542-105.2097546

How to take a vacation – Jo VanEvery

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 10:10:49 -0600

How to take a vacation – Jo VanEvery

Just because your work doesn’t always look like work, doesn’t mean you don’t get to take a real vacation.

You already deserve this vacation; it’s not a reward for achieving summer goals. In fact, not only do you deserve a vacation, you need a vacation.

Why you need a holiday.

You work hard. Fatigue impairs cognitive function. Being tired at the end of the academic year is a feature, not a bug. Rest of all kinds helps you recharge so that you are able to do the work you do. Taking a vacation is an important part of that.

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 16:37:03 -0600

Checked in at curve feed store.

Chicken supplies.

39.695626-105.071169

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 08:53:56 -0600

Checked in at Unravel.

Morning ritual. Super cool looking cafe inside a hotel (Gravity Haus), with a #cafeworking space upstairs (Starter Haus)

39.918855-105.784542

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 19:00:25 -0600

Checked in at GREEN MOUNTAIN PARK.

39.6904016-105.1522934

Better Coordination, or Better Software?

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 22:53:18 -0600

Better Coordination, or Better Software?

TL;DR: When different parts of an organization need to coordinate, it seems like a good idea to help them coordinate smoothly and frequently. Don’t. Help them coordinate less — more explicitly, less often.

Software systems get big, and they have lots of parts, and those parts need to talk to each other. Maybe we’re building a new customer portal, and the new web services need to talk with existing CRM, and with warehouse systems for returns, and with invoicing. The software crosses organizational boundaries.

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 15:36:30 -0600

Checked in at The Home Depot.

39.7228376-105.1898082

Sun, 22 Aug 2021 10:43:41 -0600

Checked in at Coalton Trailhead.

39.9289008-105.1666641

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 21:57:48 -0600

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 16:24:06 -0600

Checked in at K’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers.

I am dying of hunger

38.8400757-106.1317436

A Manager’s Guide to Holding Your Team Accountable

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 20:03:15 -0600

A Manager’s Guide to Holding Your Team Accountable

Management

If you struggle with holding people to account, try this.

Dave Bailey

Jun 30·7 min read

Being held to account for our decisions, actions, and results can drive high performance. It helps clarifies our commitments, increases our diligence, and improves our self-awareness.

Most of us report to someone. For CEOs, it’s a board of directors. For others, it’s their manager or their coach. But despite all our reporting structures, real accountability is elusive for many teams.

People Who Brag About Being in Back-to-Back Meetings Deeply Misunderstand Productivity

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 20:03:03 -0600

People Who Brag About Being in Back-to-Back Meetings Deeply Misunderstand Productivity

The Buddha’s empty calendar explains an alternate reality.

Tim Denning Jun 23 · 5 min read

Image Credit: Kingsman/RexFeatures

Looking back at corporate life, it becomes apparent: I don’t miss meetings.

One recruiter I encountered left me with a moment I will never forget. They reached out to me on LinkedIn. They wanted…

How Figma Became Design’s Hottest Startup, Valued At $10 Billion

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 09:49:35 -0600

How Figma Became Design’s Hottest Startup, Valued At $10 Billion

As Google Docs did for word processing and GitHub for code, so Dylan Field’s Figma is doing for design. Employees at companies like Netflix, AirBNB, Zoom and Discord are all users.

BY ALEX KONRAD

In April, Dylan Field had his craziest day since he skipped out on Brown University to try his hand at startups nearly a decade ago. At the virtual conference of his design software company, Figma, popular with customers including Airbnb, BMW and Zoom, he announced just its second-ever product, a tool for online whiteboarding sessions punnily called FigJam. Hours later, he found out his wife, Elena, was pregnant with their first child.

Discovery When Working Remotely

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 22:23:46 -0600

Discovery When Working Remotely

Normally the question I focus on in my work and in my writing is “How can we leverage the best practices of the very best companies in order to give ourselves the very best chance for continuous innovation?”

While there are many practices that are important and contribute to this, I have long been a champion of the power of the co-located product team.

This Jeff Bezos quote sums up my experiences quite well:

Simple Systems Have Less Downtime

Sun, 15 Aug 2021 22:42:16 -0600

Simple Systems Have Less Downtime

The Maersk Triple-E Class container ship is 1,300 feet long, carries over 18,000 containers across 11,000 miles between Europe and Asia, and… Its entire crew can fit inside a passenger van.

As a former naval architect and a current marketing consultant to startups, I found that the same principle that lets a 13-person crew navigate the world’s largest container ship to a port halfway around the world without breaking down also applies to startups working towards aggressive growth goals:

Sat, 14 Aug 2021 13:41:51 -0600

Checked in at H Mart Westminster.

Special outing for her birthday 😂 — with erika

39.8625296-105.0518169

Shifting Modes: Creating a Program to Support Sustained Resilience

Sat, 14 Aug 2021 12:03:21 -0600

Shifting Modes: Creating a Program to Support Sustained Resilience

Key Takeaways

Incidents cannot be prevented because incidents are the inevitable result of success.
Organizations must shift from a “prevent and fix” safety mode to a “learn and adapt” (Learn & Adapt) safety mode to manage reliability and resilience. This shift helps to more effectively cope with increasing complexity and scale.
Finding advocates to help socialize the movement and communicating broadly are key aspects of creating a sustained shift to a Learn & Adapt mode.
Normalizing behaviors — such as stating assumptions, asking more questions, increasing cooperation between diverse roles, and broadly sharing incident write-ups across the organization — help with the mode shift by increasing the flow of information.
Developing the cultural traits of opportunity creation, flexibility, agility, and trust are necessary for an organization poised to shift to Learn & Adapt.

To most software organizations,Covid-19 represents a fundamental surprise- a dramatic surprise that challenges basic assumptions and forces a revising of one’s beliefs (Lanir, 1986).

He predicted the dark side of the Internet 30 years ago. Why did no one listen?

Sat, 14 Aug 2021 12:02:28 -0600

He predicted the dark side of the Internet 30 years ago. Why did no one listen?

In 1994 — before most Americans had an email address or Internet access or even a personal computer — Philip Agre foresaw that computers would one day facilitate the mass collection of data on everything in society.

That process would change and simplify human behavior, wrote the then UCLA humanities professor. And because that data would be collected not by a single, powerful “big brother” government but by lots of entities for lots of different purposes, he predicted that people would willingly part with massive amounts of information about their most personal fears and desires.

Metaverses

Sun, 08 Aug 2021 10:08:09 -0600

Metaverses

Satya Nadella, for the record, was first: on May 25, 2021, during the keynote for Microsoft’s Build developer conference, he characterized a collection of Azure offerings as a metaverse:

Finally, as the virtual and physical worlds converge the metaverse made up of digital twins, simulated environments, and mixed reality, is emerging as a first-class platform. With the metaverse the entire world becomes your app canvas. With Azure Digital Twins you can model any asset or place with Azure IoT and keep the digital twin live and up-to-date. Synapse tracks the history of digital twins and finds insights to predict future states, and with Azure you can build autonomous systems that continually learn and improve. Power Platform enables domain experts to expand on and interact with digital twin data using low-code/no-code solutions. And Mesh and Hololens brings real-time collaboration.

Team Meeting Audit: 3 Tests for an Effective Meeting OS

Sat, 07 Aug 2021 13:29:49 -0600

Team Meeting Audit: 3 Tests for an Effective Meeting OS

Copy this doc Connect with a Rituals Architect

Meetings are important — and they suck.

No matter the size of your team, some amount of meetings are necessary to get work done. The problem is that most people don’t actually like their Meeting Operating System

. Have you ever wondered how much time your team spends in meetings? Or which of them has the best technique for managing free time? Or wanted to take a hacksaw to a particularly ineffective meeting?

Sat, 07 Aug 2021 13:02:33 -0600

Checked in at New Terrain Brewing Co.

Paying for parking. Smoky ride on NT

39.7794665-105.1860322

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 16:55:35 -0600

Checked in at O’Toole’s Garden Center.

with erika

39.7383846-105.1224276

Reducing Product Risk and Removing the MVP Mindset

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 23:42:33 -0600

Reducing Product Risk and Removing the MVP Mindset

I originally wrote this piece internally at Eventbrite and thought it might be valuable to folks who do not work at Eventbrite as well. Slightly edited to remove Eventbrite jargon.

What is the right way to build products? Earlier in my career, I would have told you everything should be AB tested, and that you should build only as little as you need to validate a hypothesis. Every problem should have user research involved at the beginning, aligned on the problem instead of just validating or invalidating solutions. Every key result should be outcome based. Every engineer, designer and product manager on the team should be involved in defining the problem and the solution. These are all good ideas. However, once you add enough of these “best practices” up, it reads kind of like those articles talking about the morning habits of the most successful people in the world. If you actually try to follow all of those habits, it would take you six hours a day and cost a lot of money. I was once reading an article about what a futurist at Google eats for breakfast every morning to live longer. The article added up that his diet of food and pills cost him $1 million per year. My morning ain’t that long, and I ain’t got that much money.

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 12:54:13 -0600

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 12:54:01 -0600

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 10:58:19 -0600

Mind the Platform Execution Gap

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 23:06:51 -0600

Mind the Platform Execution Gap

Leaders of software development organisations are under great pressure to

ensure that their employees spend their time on value-adding activities. One

way to achieve this is to use SaaS to outsource functionality that isn’t

part of their organisation’s core business. Another way is to consolidate

infrastructure capabilities required by many teams and services into a

digital platform (which might in turn rely upon SaaS and cloud providers).

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 12:46:04 -0600

The Problem With Prioritization Frameworks

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 07:48:06 -0600

The Problem With Prioritization Frameworks

Why prioritization frameworks have little value for empowered product teams

Product managers often complain that prioritization is one of the most challenging aspects of the job: there is always so much to do and so little time. It is therefore not a surprise that there are a ton of frameworks out there that are meant to help make difficult prioritization decisions, for example:

These frameworks are used to make prioritization decisions by classifying opportunities (or features) according to some measures, and then making prioritization decisions based on the resulting list or matrix.

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 14:34:35 -0600

Checked in at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, for Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain.

Anthony Bourdain docco — with erika

39.7406011-105.0423464

Sat, 31 Jul 2021 15:17:34 -0600

Checked in at Raices Brewing Company.

with erika

39.7387784-105.0173354

Sat, 31 Jul 2021 12:48:17 -0600

Checked in at Cherry Creek Shopping Center.

with erika

39.7164298-104.9531385

How to Find Your Zone of Genius

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 22:18:54 -0600

How to Find Your Zone of Genius

Mathilde Collin

1 day ago·6 min read

The saying goes: “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.” I don’t think it’s accurate: if you want to do your best work, it’s going to take a lot of effort. The opposite, however, is absolutely true: if you do what you hate, you’ll be miserable every single day. Yet a lot of people find themselves in that very situation, spending their time on tasks that drain their energy, fully convinced that there’s no other way. There is another way: to find your zone of genius, and to progressively move to a job where you spend 80% of your time in it. Hat tip to Matt Mochary who shared this method with me years ago.

Mark Zuckerberg is betting Facebook’s future on the metaverse

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 22:18:53 -0600

Mark Zuckerberg is betting Facebook’s future on the metaverse

As June came to an end, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told his employees about an ambitious new initiative. The future of the company would go far beyond its current project of building a set of connected social apps and some hardware to support them. Instead, he said, Facebook would strive to build a maximalist, interconnected set of experiences straight out of sci-fi — a world known as the metaverse.

The Metaverse Has Always Been a Dystopian Idea – VICE

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 22:18:53 -0600

The Metaverse Has Always Been a Dystopian Idea – VICE

A big shift is apparently underway in Silicon Valley.

The company that operates the world’s largest and most profitable social media network will not, according to its CEO, be a social media company much longer. In an announcement that inspired a fervid wave of speculation, analysis, and mockery, Mark Zuckerberg proclaimed that Facebook is going to become a “metaverse company” instead.

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 13:18:08 -0600

Checked in at Five Guys.

I’ve earned lunch

39.7320939-105.1638079

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 13:17:52 -0600

Checked in at Jefferson County Fairgrounds.

Spitting in a tube, for science.

39.7235701-105.1658187

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 08:05:03 -0600

Guiding Critical Projects Without Micromanaging: The Limits of Flexible Management

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 22:14:27 -0600

Guiding Critical Projects Without Micromanaging: The Limits of Flexible Management

The limits of flexible management

Camille Fournier

Jul 17·5 min read

I’m a big believer in flexibility as a senior manager. I do not think I know or even can know the exact way to run any given team in my organization. The magic of effective teams is a combination of the personalities involved, the project lifecycle they’re in, and so many other factors. Forcing every team into a single process, whether it’s classic Agile-type two week sprints or Scrum or whatever is optimizing for uniformity of process at the likely expense of the needs of the teams themselves. Being outcomes-driven (is the work getting done, with good quality, in reasonable time, without burning out the people involved) is the only way I know how to work.

Incremental Note-Taking

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 22:14:25 -0600

Incremental Note-Taking

I’ve been delving deeper into the vast and strange world of knowledge organizing tools (notes apps, contact organizers, personal search engines). During this rather abstract expedition, one of my goals has been to emerge with some opinionated thesis about the way these tools should be designed to harbor and extend our knowledge effectively.

Though I’m hesitant to say I’m there yet, I’ve found myself repeatedly coming back to a group of related ideas I’m going to call incremental note-taking about how to best gather knowledge into notes, and how we should design tools built around this workflow. This post is one attempt (of hopefully many more) to share them with you. This is a longer post, so here’s a roadmap. If you’re impatient, I suggest you begin with the principles.

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 18:46:03 -0600

Checked in at Outback Steakhouse.

39.734552-105.1646087

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 10:04:44 -0600

Checked in at Rooster’s Crow Cafe.

Need some fuel for the day — with erika

38.8459263-106.1345874

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 19:32:53 -0600

Checked in at Deerhammer Distilling Company.

with erika

38.8425122-106.1298434

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 17:50:12 -0600

Checked in at Surf Chateau Boutique Hotel.

Here for a wedding… and maybe for the riding — with erika

38.8426056-106.119606

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 15:45:34 -0600

Checked in at Barbara Whipples BV Trail.

38.846895-106.121368

MIT Predicted in 1972 That Society Will Collapse This Century. New Research Shows We’re on Schedule.

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 12:43:45 -0600

MIT Predicted in 1972 That Society Will Collapse This Century. New Research Shows We’re on Schedule.

A remarkable new study by a director at one of the largest accounting firms in the world has found that a famous, decades-old warning from MIT about the risk of industrial civilization collapsing appears to be accurate based on new empirical data.

As the world looks forward to a rebound in economic growth following the devastation wrought by the pandemic, the research raises urgent questions about the risks of attempting to simply return to the pre-pandemic ‘normal.’

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 08:30:14 -0600

Checked in at Red Silo Coffee Roasters.

39.815666-105.162326

Concepts I Use Every Day: BAPO

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 22:15:33 -0600

Concepts I Use Every Day: BAPO

Jason Yip Jul 4 · 3 min read

Because org structure change can get messy, there’s a tendency to have structure drive strategy

Changing org structure can be messy

There are several reasons why org structure changes can get messy:

Changing org structure can mean changing managers. Given “people leave managers, not companies”, the org structure change can trigger problems including departures;
Changing org structure typically means responsibilities are re-allocated. People are no longer responsible for work they used to be responsible for and/or they are now responsible for work that they might not want to do. This can lead to disengagement or even departures;
From the manager side, changing org structure can mean more or less direct reports. This can mean overwork with too many reports and contexts to stay on top of. This can mean status threat and political jockeying with too few reports;

Organisation constrains architecture; architecture constrains strategy

“Any organization that designs a system (defined broadly) will produce a design whose structure is a copy of the organization’s communication structure.”

The Limits of Optimization

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 22:15:32 -0600

The Limits of Optimization

Welcome to the Convivial Society*, a newsletter about technology and society, broadly speaking. If you find the writing helpful, you can sign up if you haven’t already, share it with others, or subscribe.*

I’m a Mets fan. Right at this moment, that’s not such a bad thing. Despite having up to 17 players on the injured list earlier this season, they’ve been in first place in their division for nearly two months. Over the past three decades, however, being a Mets fan has meant mostly disappointment and frustration, punctuated by rare moments of joy. Naturally, I’m bequeathing this legacy of emotional turmoil to my daughters.

Developing Resilience: Overcoming and Growing from Setbacks

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 23:09:52 -0600

Developing Resilience: Overcoming and Growing from Setbacks

Find the strength to keep going.

I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. – American inventor, Thomas Edison

According to legend, Thomas Edison made thousands of prototypes of the incandescent light bulb before he finally got it right. And, since the prolific inventor was awarded more than 1,000 patents, it’s easy to imagine him failing on a daily basis in his lab at Menlo Park.

Focus on Your First 10 Systems, Not Just Your First 10 Hires

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 08:07:11 -0600

Focus on Your First 10 Systems, Not Just Your First 10 Hires

Introduction

In his six years at HashiCorp, **Kevin Fishner**has strung together a unique set of startup experiences. He joined the cloud infrastructure automation company in 2014 as the first business hire, going on to spin up the sales, solutions engineering, account management, and marketing teams. Afterwards, he spent a few years building out the product management and education groups as VP of Product. But for the last year and a half, he’s had a different perch — as the Chief of Staff.

David Rock’s SCARF Model – Career Skills From Mindtools.com

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 07:49:44 -0600

David Rock’s SCARF Model – Career Skills From Mindtools.com

Enhance the “feel-good factor” by maximizing your people’s reward response.

Jan is managing a new team, and she notices that one of her team members, Carl, is using a new piece of software incorrectly. She offers him some advice and returns to her work. But later, she notices that he’s still misusing it. So, she decides to sit with him until he gets it right.

The invisible addiction: is it time to give up caffeine?

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 07:40:39 -0600

The invisible addiction: is it time to give up caffeine?

After years of starting the day with a tall morning coffee, followed by several glasses of green tea at intervals, and the occasional cappuccino after lunch, I quit caffeine, cold turkey. It was not something that I particularly wanted to do, but I had come to the reluctant conclusion that the story I was writing demanded it. Several of the experts I was interviewing had suggested that I really couldn’t understand the role of caffeine in my life – its invisible yet pervasive power – without getting off it and then, presumably, getting back on. Roland Griffiths, one of the world’s leading researchers of mood-altering drugs, and the man most responsible for getting the diagnosis of “caffeine withdrawal” included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the bible of psychiatric diagnoses, told me he hadn’t begun to understand his own relationship with caffeine until he stopped using it and conducted a series of self-experiments. He urged me to do the same.

Sat, 10 Jul 2021 16:17:49 -0600

Checked in at Ohm Brewing.

Back to the local for a post-ride/fish bevvie — with erika

39.746067-105.143901

What we learned after one month of operating a hybrid office

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 22:21:24 -0600

What we learned after one month of operating a hybrid office

Fifteen months after shutting down “out of an abundance of caution,” Quartz’s office in New York City reopened to employees on June 1 under new guidelines befitting our changed world, increasingly far-flung workforce, and rapidly evolving ideas about the future of work. We’ve learned a lot in our first month operating a hybrid office, and wanted to share those lessons for managers and executives thinking through similar questions right now.

An Incomplete List of Skills Senior Engineers Need, Beyond Coding

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 22:48:04 -0600

An Incomplete List of Skills Senior Engineers Need, Beyond Coding

For varying levels of seniority, from senior, to staff, and beyond.

Camille Fournier

Jun 6·2 min read

How to run a meeting, and no, being the person who talks the most in the meeting is not the same thing as running it
How to write a design doc, take feedback, and drive it to resolution, in a reasonable period of time
How to mentor an early-career teammate, a mid-career engineer, a new manager who needs technical advice
How to indulge a senior manager who wants to talk about technical stuff that they don’t really understand, without rolling your eyes or making them feel stupid
How to explain a technical concept behind closed doors to a senior person too embarrassed to openly admit that they don’t understand it
How to influence another team to use your solution instead of writing their own
How to get another engineer to do something for you by asking for help in a way that makes them feel appreciated
How to lead a project even though you don’t manage any of the people working on the project
How to get other engineers to listen to your ideas without making them feel threatened
How to listen to other engineers’ ideas without feeling threatened
How to give up your baby, that project that you built into something great, so you can do something else
How to teach another engineer to care about that thing you really care about (operations, correctness, testing, code quality, performance, simplicity, etc)
How to communicate project status to stakeholders
How to convince management that they need to invest in a non-trivial technical project
How to build software while delivering incremental value in the process
How to craft a project proposal, socialize it, and get buy-in to execute it
How to repeat yourself enough that people start to listen
How to pick your battles
How to help someone get promoted
How to get information about what’s really happening (how to gossip, how to network)
How to find interesting work on your own, instead of waiting for someone to bring it to you
How to tell someone they’re wrong without making them feel ashamed
How to take negative feedback gracefully

Enjoy this post? You might like my book, The Manager’s Path, available on Amazon and Safari Online!

Single Decisive Reasoning (SDR) at Superhuman

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 22:45:14 -0600

Single Decisive Reasoning (SDR) at Superhuman

At Superhuman, we use Reid Hoffman’s “Single Decisive Reason” (SDR) principle

. It’s an incredibly powerful decision-making tool, especially for rapidly scaling startups.

Here’s why you should use SDR — and how to apply it to your next big decision.

The perils of “blended reasoning”

When you have a dozen reasons to do something… don’t .

As Nassim Nicholas Taleb explains in Antifragile

, giving myriad justifications for an action exposes inner uncertainty.

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 18:19:50 -0600

Checked in at Simms Steakhouse.

Anniversary dinner! — with erika

39.7267038-105.1326328

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 15:28:10 -0600

Checked in at O’Toole’s Garden Center.

Our new local garden spot — with erika

39.7383846-105.1224276

Mise-en-Place for Knowledge Workers: 6 Practices for Working Clean – Forte Labs

Sun, 04 Jul 2021 22:25:32 -0600

Mise-en-Place for Knowledge Workers: 6 Practices for Working Clean – Forte Labs

Knowledge work is unique among skilled professions in that we lack a culture of systematic improvement.

Other skilled trades – from carpenters to welders to nurses to pilots – have been around long enough and are repeatable enough that the best practices are widely understood.

How to frame a door, how to weld a seam, how to prepare an IV, how to prepare for landing – these tasks aren’t a mystery. Other professions have developed training over time to teach every novice how to master them.

How to Work Hard

Sun, 04 Jul 2021 22:25:31 -0600

How to Work Hard

June 2021

It might not seem there’s much to learn about how to work hard.

Anyone who’s been to school knows what it entails, even if they

chose not to. There are 12 year olds who work amazingly hard. And

yet when I ask if I know more about working hard now than when I

was in school, the answer is definitely yes.

One thing I know is that if you want to do great things, you’ll

Sun, 04 Jul 2021 11:10:42 -0600

Checked in at Teller’s Taproom & Kitchen.

Brunching. Like adults. — with erika

39.747036-105.1419412

Protein, Carbs, or Fat? Choose the Right Calories for Cycling

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 23:27:27 -0600

Protein, Carbs, or Fat? Choose the Right Calories for Cycling

Home

Selle Anatomica Blog

Protein, Carbs, or Fat? Choose the Right Calories for Cycling

June 23, 2021

If you’re serious about cycling, there’s a good chance you’re serious about nutrition. You may closely track your calories each day to make sure you’re getting enough to meet the demands you’re putting on your body.

So why, if you haven’t changed your total calorie consumption, would you suddenly feel like you don’t have enough energy for your long rides? Well, there’s more to calories than a simple number. If you’ve changed the source of those calories, it could have a significant effect on your cycling success.

The 4 Ds of Time Management | Definition and Overview

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 23:22:35 -0600

The 4 Ds of Time Management | Definition and Overview

What are the 4 Ds of Time Management?

The 4 Ds of time management, sometimes referred to as the 4 Ds of productivity, is a popular strategy for discerning whether or not a task or project is worth your time. It involves making a quick decision about what to act on now either by doing it yourself or delegating to someone else, what to act on in the future, or what to drop from your to-do list.

Why We Need to Rethink the Computer ‘Desktop’ as a Concept

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 07:07:51 -0600

Why We Need to Rethink the Computer ‘Desktop’ as a Concept

Thoughts about a new direction for desktop UI

Ben Zotto

May 18·13 min read

Just contemplating some Serious Business before hitting the tennis court. From “Macintosh” (1984) by Apple Computer.

The long-lived “desktop” operating system has been with us for almost 40 years. Although some of the mechanics have proven remarkably durable, contemporary computer usage is very different from the context these were born in, and it’s time to do some rethinking.

The Rotting Internet Is a Collective Hallucination – The Atlantic

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 22:18:58 -0600

The Rotting Internet Is a Collective Hallucination – The Atlantic

Sixty years ago the futurist Arthur C. Clarke observed that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. The internet—how we both communicate with one another and together preserve the intellectual products of human civilization—fits Clarke’s observation well. In Steve Jobs’s words, “it just works,” as readily as clicking, tapping, or speaking. And every bit as much aligned with the vicissitudes of magic, when the internet doesn’t work, the reasons are typically so arcane that explanations for it are about as useful as trying to pick apart a failed spell.

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 18:35:26 -0600

A Project of One’s Own

Sun, 27 Jun 2021 21:34:17 -0600

A Project of One’s Own

June 2021

A few days ago, on the way home from school, my nine year old son

told me he couldn’t wait to get home to write more of the story he

was working on. This made me as happy as anything I’ve heard him

say — not just because he was excited about his story, but because

he’d discovered this way of working. Working on a project of your

Sat, 26 Jun 2021 20:28:19 -0600

Checked in at Ohm Brewing.

New local is pretty solid! — with erika

39.746067-105.143901

Sat, 26 Jun 2021 14:04:23 -0600

Checked in at DLM Sand & Gravel.

Back to this kinda thing. Feeling rural – spring cleaning on the chicken coop. — with erika

39.799633-105.0554765

On Workplace Productivity – Future

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 23:09:14 -0600

On Workplace Productivity – Future

What does it mean to be productive? At the beginning of the pandemic, when many workers went remote, some managers were tempted to start counting things — whether hours, objects, or other things. But they’re about 100 years and two industrial revolutions too late: In the mechanical and electrical revolutions, productivity was indeed a measure of output, and it helped drive the economy. We created cars, machines, widgets by successfully measuring things this way.

No Code Reviews by Default

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 23:03:47 -0600

No Code Reviews by Default

At Raycast, we do not require code reviews. Engineers push to the main branch and request reviews when they think it’s necessary. In this blog post, I outline how we built an engineering culture that is based on trust and allows us to move incredibly fast.

The beginning

When Petr and I started Raycast, we were sitting next to each other in the same flat for three months. Every day, we built features to iterate as fast as possible to something users want. At this time, we didn’t do any code reviews and trusted each other blindly. If there was a technical question, we solved it in person, committed the code to the main branch and moved on to the next problem.

Becoming an engineering director | LeadDev

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 08:41:53 -0600

Becoming an engineering director | LeadDev

I was promoted to director less than a year after becoming a manager. In the movie version of my life, getting promoted was a recognition of years of hard work and undeniable, innate leadership ability. The truth is probably closer to me being the available warm body to throw at the problem.

To set the scene, it had been about eight months since I had switched tracks from individual contributor (IC) to manager. I walked into a meeting with the VP of Engineering for what I thought would be a compensation adjustment to go along with the change in my role. Instead, I got a hearty handshake and a ‘Congratulations, you’re the new Director of Infrastructure. Keep doing what you’re doing.’ And, mustering as much fake confidence as I could, I smiled, mewled a quick thank you, and walked out the door.

Why It’s Difficult to Build Teams in High Growth Organisations

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 08:23:24 -0600

Why It’s Difficult to Build Teams in High Growth Organisations

Jason Yip

May 31·4 min read

By “high growth”, I mean in terms of employee count and roughly doubling or more every year. Even at slower growth rates, some of the phenomena I’ll describe may be relevant.

Two reasons why building teams in high growth is difficult: can’t assume stable teams, can’t rely on cultural osmosis.

In high growth, the odds are the teams won’t be stable

There are several options to accommodate new people:

Product Management in Infrastructure Engineering

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 23:15:46 -0600

Product Management in Infrastructure Engineering

Recently a bunch of teams I work with have turned the corner, having paid down technical debt to a long-term sustainable level. The future unfurls with possibility. We can do anything. That’s exciting! It can also be pretty disorienting. For me, this is the most inspiring moment of management, and one of the hardest.

When we were completely focused on system reliability or churning tasks, most teams pulled their roadmaps down to a month or two, and we got so focused that we disconnected from our internal users. With less time soaked by maintenance, we’ve scurried to understand our users’ needs and define an optimistic, future-facing roadmap to support them.

Incident Writeup as Sociological Storytelling

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 22:36:38 -0600

Incident Writeup as Sociological Storytelling

Back when Game of Thrones was ending, the sociology professor Zeynep Tufekci wrote an essay titled The Real Reason Fans Hate the Last Season of Game of Thrones. Up until the last season, Game of Thrones was told as a sociological story. Even though the show followed individual characters, the story wasn’t about those characters as individuals. Rather, it was a story about larger systems, such as society, norms, external events, and institutions, told through these characters. The sociological nature of the story was how the series maintained cohesion even though major characters died so often. In the last season, the showrunners switched to telling psychological stories, about the individual characters.

The Power of Product Thinking

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 22:13:51 -0600

The Power of Product Thinking

In many design, product management, engineering, or even venture capital interviews and pitches, you’ll be assessed on a dimension called “product thinking,” sometimes also called “product sense.” If you’re a builder aspiring to create something new and valuable (or someone who invests in such builders), having well-honed product thinking will help you — and the products you work on — stand out from the crowd.

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 16:25:19 -0600

Checked in at Joyride Brewing Company.

Great rooftop weather — with erika

39.753086-105.0535794

Sat, 19 Jun 2021 19:40:43 -0600

Checked in at On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina.

We’re all about that mall life — with erika

39.7349123-105.1608467

Sat, 19 Jun 2021 14:30:04 -0600

Checked in at River North Brewery.

Coffee/beer launch with Bivouac! — with erika

39.8067557-104.978612

Sat, 12 Jun 2021 14:21:25 -0600

Checked in at Five Guys.

I am not sad that this is right here.

39.7320939-105.1638079

Jade Rubick – Unusual tips to keep Slack from becoming a nightmare

Sun, 06 Jun 2021 09:04:01 -0600

Jade Rubick – Unusual tips to keep Slack from becoming a nightmare

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 14:07:39 -0600

Checked in at Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Really living up this mall-life.

39.7341005-105.1599753

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 08:30:16 -0600

Checked in at Einstein Bros Bagels.

39.7338355-105.1631344

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 14:06:34 -0600

Checked in at Costco Gasoline.

39.78785-105.0831161

Mon, 31 May 2021 19:53:42 -0600

Checked in at Spangalang Brewery.

Last drink here as a local 😭 — with erika

39.7550951-104.9770794

Mon, 31 May 2021 14:16:27 -0600

Checked in at The Home Depot.

New home base. — with erika

39.7228376-105.1898082

Humans Were Born to Carry Weight on Our Backs

Sat, 29 May 2021 22:38:08 -0600

Humans Were Born to Carry Weight on Our Backs

Carrying weight for distance — or rucking — is part of the human design and it can keep us fit and healthy

Michael Easter

May 17·7 min read

Photo: Sicmanta

Last fall I found myself standing on the Arctic Tundra, about 120 miles from civilization. One hundred pounds of caribou filled my pack. I had to hoof the weight back to camp, which was five miles away. All uphill and across the tundra. And the tundra is a savage landscape comprised of dirt that exists in an ice-cream-like state: spongy layers of dense moss, mucky swamp, and basketball-sized tufts of grass called tundra tussocks. A mile out there is like five on a regular trail.

The future of war is bizarre and terrifying

Sat, 29 May 2021 10:28:31 -0600

The future of war is bizarre and terrifying

On December 11, 1941, Winston Churchill received a phone call informing him that the Prince of Wales and the Repulse, a British battleship and battlecruiser in the South China Sea, had both been sunk by Japanese aircraft. At first he couldn’t believe it; no capital ships, moving under their own power and actively defending themselves, had been sunk by airplanes ever before. These were the first. But they would not be the last.

Why Your Huge Tech Team Isn’t Delivering

Fri, 28 May 2021 22:47:13 -0600

Why Your Huge Tech Team Isn’t Delivering

Roger Nesbitt Follow

Sep 10, 2018 · 10 min read

“Our team used to go fast when it was small. Now we have ten times as many people and less work gets done. What happened?!”

Short answer:

Your workstream is controlled by people whose job it is to ship more features, and your software engineers think their job is to write code.

Long answer:

Hiring vs Nurturing Managers

Thu, 27 May 2021 23:33:24 -0600

Hiring vs Nurturing Managers

Over the last few years, companies put a lot of effort and money into developing their engineering management teams: one-on-ones, yearly goal setting, feedback, coaching, and whatnot. I believe there are two primary reasons for such investments:

As software eats the world, there are more development teams. As organizations get bigger, they start to create more management structures to make sure they can scale. That increases the demand for such profiles.
Hiring and keeping good engineering talent is a Sisyphean task. The more capable management teams are, the odds of succeeding in doing those tasks increase.

In my journey of becoming an engineering manager, some start-up CTOs and good friends asked me:

The Cost of Cloud, a Trillion Dollar Paradox – Andreessen Horowitz

Thu, 27 May 2021 22:51:13 -0600

The Cost of Cloud, a Trillion Dollar Paradox – Andreessen Horowitz

There is no doubt that the cloud is one of the most significant platform shifts in the history of computing. Not only has cloud already impacted hundreds of billions of dollars of IT spend, it’s still in early innings and growing rapidly on a base of over $100B of annual public cloud spend. This shift is driven by an incredibly powerful value proposition — infrastructure available immediately, at exactly the scale needed by the business — driving efficiencies both in operations and economics. The cloud also helps cultivate innovation as company resources are freed up to focus on new products and growth.

True Product Market Fit is a Minimum Viable Company | by Ann Miura-Ko | The Startup | Medium

Wed, 26 May 2021 22:39:38 -0600

True Product Market Fit is a Minimum Viable Company | by Ann Miura-Ko | The Startup | Medium

Ann Miura-Ko Feb 15, 2020 · 11 min read

Hi, I’m Ann. I was one of the first investors in Lyft, Refinery29, and Xamarin. I have been on the Midas List for the past 3 years and was recently named on The New York Times’ list of The Top 20 Venture Capitalists worldwide. In 2008, I co-founded Floodgate, one of the first seed-stage VC funds in Silicon Valley.

Building Products at Stripe: Go Deep, Move Fast, and Build Multi-Decade Abstractions

Wed, 26 May 2021 22:39:37 -0600

Building Products at Stripe: Go Deep, Move Fast, and Build Multi-Decade Abstractions

This is the next part of my ongoing series about product culture. If you missed it, check out my previous piece about Airbnb and my article on strong product cultures that kicked everything off.

Stripe co-founders Patrick and John Collison

This month we’re going deep on Stripe. As you’re about to learn, “going deep” is a core product principle at Stripe. The company is now the most valuable startup in the United States, raising a round in March at a breathtaking $95 billion valuation. (Disclosure: I am an investor in Stripe and have a relationship with the company dating back to 2015.)1

Mon, 24 May 2021 15:27:13 -0600

Checked in at Denver Botanic Gardens.

with erika

39.7317459-104.960289

Mon, 24 May 2021 09:20:42 -0600

Sun, 23 May 2021 17:44:16 -0600

Checked in at Costco Gasoline.

39.78785-105.0831161

Sun, 23 May 2021 14:00:45 -0600

Checked in at Palisade Rim Trailhead.

39.1179558-108.320466

Sun, 23 May 2021 12:37:41 -0600

Checked in at Peach Street Distillers.

One for the road — with erika

39.1112451-108.3526465

Sun, 23 May 2021 09:51:35 -0600

Checked in at Best Slope.

Meeting up with Marjorie! — with erika

39.159593-108.731657

Fri, 21 May 2021 15:12:56 -0600

Checked in at Russo’s Pizza Glennwood Springs Co.

Carb loading — with erika

39.553908-107.343577

Understanding Denver Streets’ decimal system; Or why the intersection of Broadway and Ellsworth is so important

Thu, 20 May 2021 23:05:04 -0600

Understanding Denver Streets’ decimal system; Or why the intersection of Broadway and Ellsworth is so important

Whether you’ve just moved to the Mile-High City or you’ve lived here your whole life, decoding Denver’s street can be a real challenge. But the mystery of how the Denver street grid is laid out can be somewhat easily solved once you understand the importance of the intersection of Broadway and Ellsworth to the streets off the downtown grid.

Efficiency is the Enemy

Thu, 20 May 2021 22:58:56 -0600

Efficiency is the Enemy

There’s a good chance most of the problems in your life and work come down to insufficient slack. Here’s how slack works and why you need more of it.

Imagine if you, as a budding productivity enthusiast, one day gained access to a time machine and decided to take a trip back several decades to the office of one of your old-timey business heroes. Let’s call him Tony.

Thu, 20 May 2021 19:54:22 -0600

Checked in at Terminal East.

39.8489391-104.6732391

The Memex Method

Sun, 16 May 2021 14:55:28 -0600

The Memex Method

Top highlight

When your commonplace book is a public database

Cory Doctorow

4 days ago·9 min read

I’ve been a blogger for a little more than 20 years and in that time I’ve written a little more than 20 books: novels for adults; novels for teens; short story collections; essay collections; graphic novels for adults, highschoolers and middle-schoolers; a picture-book for small children, and book-length nonfiction on various subjects. I’ve written and delivered some hundreds of speeches as well, for several kinds of technical and non-technical audience, as well as for young kids and teens.

Sun, 16 May 2021 13:53:06 -0600

Checked in at Goed Zuur.

Post-pedaling ramen and beer.

39.7559033-104.9768421

Sat, 15 May 2021 10:16:19 -0600

Checked in at Green Mountain.

39.6965627-105.1922167

Why Your New Strategy Will Fail

Sat, 15 May 2021 08:38:16 -0600

Why Your New Strategy Will Fail

As organizational transformation consultants, we’re often invited to help functions, departments, and teams of all kinds within massive enterprises recover from failed strategy implementations. Regardless of the industry or organization, the narrative of each failure follows a familiar arc. A “new strategy” is developed over several months of backbreaking creative and consensus-building efforts. It ultimately results in a key artifact (usually an exceedingly beautiful deck of slides) that clearly articulates a smart and cogent shift in priority. There is (seemingly) buy-in from all the key players and generally a sense of, “Okay, this makes sense. Now we just have to implement it.” Inevitably, the strategy fails to manifest in any major positive changes and after 18–36 months of middling returns, it’s decided that a shift in strategy is needed and the cycle begins anew.

Why Your One-On-One’s Should Probably Be Longer

Sat, 15 May 2021 08:19:52 -0600

Why Your One-On-One’s Should Probably Be Longer

Don Neufeld Mar 25 · 5 min read

As an Engineering Manager, one-on-ones with your team members are a core responsibility of your role, and often one of the largest consumers of your time.

As a leadership coach, I often work with individuals who are struggling with their calendars. One of the most effective ways to improve their effectiveness is to re-evaluate how they are scheduling their one-on-ones.

Why “Standups” are Useless and How to Run Great Product Team Meetings

Sat, 15 May 2021 08:11:32 -0600

Why “Standups” are Useless and How to Run Great Product Team Meetings

Andy Johns Oct 14, 2019 · 11 min read

The majority of meetings are a waste of time. And in my opinion, one flavor of meeting that tops the charts in uselessness is the “status update” meeting. You know this meeting — the meeting where everyone gets together to share what they’ve been doing. It’s ironic that meetings like this exist because it gets in the way of people actually doing something productive. A cross-functional group of people (product, design, engineering, marketing and so on) working on a new product doesn’t greatly benefit from status updates.

Career Development: What It Really Means to Be a Manager, Director, or VP

Fri, 14 May 2021 22:43:38 -0600

Career Development: What It Really Means to Be a Manager, Director, or VP

It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of big-company HR practices. I’m more of the First Break all the Rules type. Despite my general skepticism of many standard practices, we still do annual performance reviews at my company, though I’m thinking seriously of dropping them. (See Get Rid of the Performance Review.)

Another practice I’m not hugely fond of is “leveling” — the creation of a set of granular levels to classify jobs across the organization. Leveling typically results in something that looks like this:

Harnessing Everyday Genius

Fri, 14 May 2021 22:43:28 -0600

Harnessing Everyday Genius

Idea in Brief

The Problem

The number of “good jobs” in the United States and other countries is declining despite sustained government and policy efforts.

Why It Happens

There is a widespread assumption that low-wage jobs are filled with minimally capable people—a prejudice that has denied millions of employees the opportunity to enhance their skills and use their brains.

The Solution

Companies like Michelin have challenged that mindset and dramatically increased the authority and accountability of workers on the front lines. Michelin kick-started this change through a bottom-up process involving targeted experiments in select plants and eventually scaled up the most successful approaches across the organization.

Thinking Subtractively – Simple Thread

Thu, 13 May 2021 22:31:58 -0600

Thinking Subtractively – Simple Thread

Worried you’ll miss us?

Subscribe to get our articles and updates in your inbox.

In some news from my backyard, UVA researchers at the Batten School and the school of Engineering recently published an interesting paper in Nature: People systematically overlook subtractive changes.

The gist is that when people are looking at a problem and thinking about solutions, we typically think of adding something to solve the problem – even when removing something is an easier, simpler solution.

The Art of Self-Organizing Engineering Teams

Thu, 13 May 2021 08:43:10 -0600

The Art of Self-Organizing Engineering Teams

So, it is no wonder that we want to know what makes those teams special. A few ideas that come to mind right away are:

Everybody on the team is a genius and top of their class
The team’s manager is able to perfectly define and scope the work
Everybody is paid lots of money for the successful completion of their work.

All of the above scenarios might help, but none of them guarantee high performance. More important for the success of the team is how well people work together. It is the collective intelligence that counts.

35 Principles for 35 Years

Mon, 10 May 2021 22:51:10 -0600

35 Principles for 35 Years

I turn 35 today. Here are 35 principles I have accumulated and try to live by (you can listen to the narrated version here):

Life is too Short for Short Term Games. We only have so many years for long term games to compound.
Writing is Stupendously High Leverage.

It helps to organize my thoughts and learning (aka Building My Second Brain). I win even if nobody reads me.
It enables me to share great ideas even while I sleep (as a Friendcatcher). I am constantly shocked at the caliber of people that read my work and DM me their thoughts. There is absolutely no other way I would be on their radar.
Blogging helped me sell $4k worth of an empty PDF on the day I decided to write my book because people trusted me.
It’s led to multiple job opportunities from great companies (e.g. Netlify, AWS, Temporal) that I would have otherwise struggled to be hired at.

Learn in Public. Most of you know me for this one… (read up if you’re new round here, welcome!)
Good Enough is Better than Best. In a world of infinite abundance, you can lose yourself constantly chasing the hottest new thing. Satisfice rather than Maximize.
Less is More. Minimalism wins: Subtracting is harder than Adding. Quantity reduces perceived quality. Depth and whitespace stand out. (yes I realize the irony of this principle in a list of 35)
Create Clarity. Simple Explanations of What, Why, and How are extremely underrated and extremely useful. This is also a core skill of all leaders.
Optimize for Change. Optimizing for anything else tends to make systems MORE fragile, not less. If you learn only one lesson from React and GraphQL, learn this. https://overreacted.io/optimized-for-change/
Seek First To Understand, Then To Be Understood. Don’t get defensive about your point of view or perception of reality – understand theirs first. Either you will learn something new or you’ll understand how to better get your point across. Hold multiple perspectives in your head and be able to summarize the best arguments of all major parties in a way that THEY agree with.
Praise in Public, Criticize in Private.

As satisfying as it might be to dump on someone publicly, I need to remember how it makes them feel.
Everything is not awesome, and I despise fake positivity. But I can either help or make them feel bad about it and the former is more effective than the latter.
Exception for companies and people that are actively harming or misleading the vulnerable.

Build an Empathy Check Habit. I can’t take back an impulsive response that hurts someone. When I can’t check with trusted friends, I need to think before I tweet.
People remember how you made them feel, before what you said. A good story has more power than a good argument.
Treat Others How They Want To Be Treated. The Golden Rule is -sadly- not good enough when your privilege is higher or expectations are lower than others’. Time for The Platinum Rule.
Complete Truths are Not Welcome.

Most people are more interested in…
- being entertained
- sharing outrage
- feeling good about themselves
- defending their reputation
…than debating truth or improving themselves.
Trying to change them is ineffectual.
Let them be, and seek out like minds.

Organize IRL Events. You can do a lot to create excitement and connection in a community simply by organizing dinners and meetups and conferences. Svelte Society started on a whim exactly like this. Now there are thousands of members drawn to the Svelte community that wouldn’t have before.
Don’t offer unsolicited help. Make Sure Help Is Wanted Before Offering It. Men – be especially wary about this when women are talking about their problems. Sometimes they just need support, not solutions. (But sometimes it really IS about The Nail…)
Ask For Help More. People are happy to help and like you more when they have helped you. Don’t worry about showing weakness; you are getting something far more valuable in return. Use a Help Timeout.
Log Your Wins. e.g. when you ship something big or small, or when someone says nice things about you. They can help when you are feeling emotionally down, or when writing a brag document. Help others celebrate their wins too. P.S. a brag slack channel can serve as an OLTP store of personal wins.
Don’t End The Week With Nothing. The reason you don’t see any of my work prior to 2017 is because I thought it was sufficient to just work hard at my finance job. Now all of my intellectual output from my 20’s – some of the best research and writing I have ever done – is locked up in some mailbox somewhere. Never again.
Pick Up What They Put Down. Guarantee feedback by giving feedback. https://www.swyx.io/PUWTPD
Speak Succinctly. Stop speaking in trailing sentences and double-barreled questions. Set the general direction and shut up. If they’re off-track, interject. This is preferable to preempting all conversation paths to show how smart you are.
Optimize for Retention, not Consumption. We are the sum total of still-relevant knowledge we still remember, not the total of the volume of content we consume.
Illustrate Your Point. Adding code samples or drawing 2×2’s and system diagrams makes your idea much more effective. A picture IS worth a thousand words! Even this shitty example works, you can do better than me.
Separate Your Identity from Your Work. You can learn a lot on the Internet for the low, low price of $YOUR_EGO.
Build Tools For Yourself. This is a superpower and a sandbox all rolled in one that is guaranteed to make you happy.
Collect Questions

Obsess on collecting good answers and you might be precise but irrelevant.
Obsess on collecting good questions and you will be approximately right.
My Work-in-Progress list of questions here, but see also the Reverse Interview repo and Feynman’s 12 Problems.

Systems > Goals. “You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” — James Clear
Play Games You Cannot Win. Our world is full of “winnable” games – likes, retweets, #1 of the day, employee of the month. External motivators destroy our intrinsic drive. You don’t play infinite games to win. Only way to keep childlike creativity is to play games that you cannot win.
Use Your Calendar as a Todo List. Normal todo lists don’t force you to make tradeoffs. Sequence your work, set limits, and know when to decline or delegate tasks. When time block planning, eat your frog: Put First Things First.
Practice Stoicism. It’ll never stay as great as you want, it’s never really as bad as you feel. This, too, shall pass.
Have a Productivity Keystone. If you start a day unproductive, you are extremely likely to be unproductive the rest of the day. Instead, start off with something productive that you do every morning, you reinforce the idea that today is going to be a productive day.
Incorporate. Companies pay expenses before taxes, People pay taxes before expenses. (Singapore is pretty great if you have this choice).
Stay in the Game. Berkshire Hathaway originally had a third partner, Rick Guerin. He got caught out with margin loans and had to sell out. Warren and Charlie survived 14 recessions. https://www.swyx.io/psychology-of-money/
Don’t Skimp On Your Equipment. Spending a few hundred dollars on your keyboard and monitor setup will save tens of thousands of physiotherapy and pain in future.
Earn White Collar, Spend Blue Collar. Don’t let your expenses rise as fast as your income – you probably don’t need what you’re thinking of buying. Spend part of your white collar income making up for white collar downsides – gym, group classes, personal trainer.
Always Turn Lessons To Principles. When we make mistakes or have great success, we should form them into principles so we can write them down and learn from or repeat them. It is the only way for past versions of you to communicate lessons to future you.

The full thread and discussions are here:

The Paradox of Genius: Why Long-Term Thinking Wins

Mon, 10 May 2021 22:35:23 -0600

The Paradox of Genius: Why Long-Term Thinking Wins

by James Currier (@JamesCurrier). James is a General Partner at NFX, a seed-stage venture firm headquartered in San Francisco.

By necessity, Founders are rooted in the “here and now” mental framework required for launching a new startup.

But *great* Founders do something different at the same time: They are obsessed with what will endure 10 or 50 years from now.

Kevin Kelly helps you rise to that level. He is the legendary tech thinker who lives in the future — he co-founded Wired back in 1994 when only a few saw the digital revolution coming. In his best-selling books he told us all our future before it happened (The Inevitable, What Technology Wants, and New Rules For The New Economy).

I Could Build This During the Weekend

Mon, 10 May 2021 22:33:18 -0600

I Could Build This During the Weekend

Every time people buy a new house, car, or TV, they say lovely things first. It’s the honeymoon phase. Then, they realize their expensive, fancy stuff has flaws too. Engineers tend to take it one step further. We enter solution mode and start thinking about solutions for those flaws and how we’d design those items. We are so intelligent. We’d make it better, wouldn’t we? However, when we do this kind of analysis, we may miss the context. Maybe the folks responsible for the design had constraints. It can be a tight timeline, low-quality, or too-expensive materials. Sometimes, it’s a waterfall process, and it’s too late or too expensive to fix it. We often ignore how most people prefer to have something that works rather than something perfect. There are plenty of reasons why some things are flawed or, at least, they look one order of magnitude more complicated than they should be. I still remember when Andrew Houston submitted Dropbox on Hackernews. The first and most infamous comment read like this:

Crazy New Ideas

Mon, 10 May 2021 22:32:40 -0600

Crazy New Ideas

May 2021

There’s one kind of opinion I’d be very afraid to express publicly.

If someone I knew to be both a domain expert and a reasonable person

proposed an idea that sounded preposterous, I’d be very reluctant

to say “That will never work.”

Anyone who has studied the history of ideas, and especially the

history of science, knows that’s how big things start. Someone

proposes an idea that sounds crazy, most people dismiss it, then

The Other Side of Languishing Is Flourishing. Here’s How to Get There.

Mon, 10 May 2021 13:21:21 -0600

The Other Side of Languishing Is Flourishing. Here’s How to Get There.

Research shows that the pandemic took a toll on our overall well-being and left many of us drained. Here are seven simple steps to get you thriving again.

The New York Times

3 days ago·7 min read

A Guide to Better Meetings

Sat, 08 May 2021 17:24:58 -0600

A Guide to Better Meetings

Dick Brouwer

Dec 6, 2018·6 min read

“Meetings are useless”

Do you also hear that all the time? But stepping back, that’s like saying “screwdrivers are bad”. Meetings are a tool, and they are indispensable for effective, transparent communication.

Transparency is critical if you want to build trust in your organization. I have been in situations where “coffee walks” were the norm. As a result, information was delivered to each individual slightly differently. This information asymmetry generates distrust in the organization and its leadership. As the saying goes “Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair”. Transparent communication is a cornerstone of building trust. Distributing information in meetings that involve all relevant stakeholders is essential if you want to build trust. A friend who works at a successful analytics company even told me that “we don’t do meetings, everything is communicated in one-on-ones”. This is a sure way to inject unnecessary politics into an organization. Meetings are a tool to direct verbal and non-verbal information flow between stakeholders.

Sat, 08 May 2021 10:00:19 -0600

Remote work culture: Lessons from top companies – NoHQ Remote Work Guides

Thu, 06 May 2021 12:41:03 -0600

Remote work culture: Lessons from top companies – NoHQ Remote Work Guides

Are you looking to understand — and improve — your remote work culture?

While useful, digital tools are not stand-ins for remote work culture. Many remote work employers start with tools and leave culture for last, mistaking Slack, Zoom, and Calendly as their company “culture.”

Factors such as different employee cultural backgrounds, nationalities, life experiences, and more can make constructing and supporting a digital-first team difficult. This is where the importance of your remote culture comes in: a thriving company culture is what allows remote work companies to develop a well-oiled team that runs on its own.

The tragedy of the commons is a false and dangerous myth – Michelle Nijhuis | Aeon Essays

Thu, 06 May 2021 12:40:59 -0600

The tragedy of the commons is a false and dangerous myth – Michelle Nijhuis | Aeon Essays

Locals at the Marienfluss Conservancy in Namibia meet to discuss conservation. Photo courtesy of NACSO/WWF Namibia

In December 1968, the ecologist and biologist Garrett Hardin had an essay published in the journal Science called ‘The Tragedy of the Commons’. His proposition was simple and unsparing: humans, when left to their own devices, compete with one another for resources until the resources run out. ‘Ruin is the destination toward which all men rush, each pursuing his own best interest,’ he wrote. ‘Freedom in a commons brings ruin to all.’ Hardin’s argument made intuitive sense, and provided a temptingly simple explanation for catastrophes of all kinds – traffic jams, dirty public toilets, species extinction. His essay, widely read and accepted, would become one of the most-cited scientific papers of all time.

Inside Elon Musk’s plan to build one Starship a week—and settle Mars | Ars Technica

Wed, 05 May 2021 22:53:06 -0600

Inside Elon Musk’s plan to build one Starship a week—and settle Mars | Ars Technica

Enlarge / Three barrels welded together are lowered onto a pressure dome for SN2 at the South Texas Launch Site this week.

BOCA CHICA BEACH, Texas—How badly does Elon Musk want to get to Mars? Let me tell you a story. On Sunday, February 23, Musk called an all-hands meeting at the South Texas site where SpaceX is building his Starship spacecraft.

The Emerging Architectures for Modern Data Infrastructure

Tue, 04 May 2021 16:29:36 -0600

The Emerging Architectures for Modern Data Infrastructure

As an industry, we’ve gotten exceptionally good at building large, complex software systems. We’re now starting to see the rise of massive, complex systems built around data – where the primary business value of the system comes from the analysis of data, rather than the software directly. We’re seeing quick-moving impacts of this trend across the industry, including the emergence of new roles, shifts in customer spending, and the emergence of new startups providing infrastructure and tooling around data.

Your brain on progress – Increment: Reliability

Tue, 04 May 2021 16:28:59 -0600

Your brain on progress – Increment: Reliability

My favorite engineering role was working on web page performance at Etsy. My team and I made tweaks, found small opportunities for page load time improvement, and shipped incremental updates that made the site—often imperceptibly—faster.

Management work often consists of building up your team’s resilience to organizational storms.

But no matter how small the improvement we made to site speed, you could see it on our dashboards. The graphs, they were glorious. We celebrated changes in milliseconds! We even created an internal site to acknowledge “performance heroes” on other teams, complete with graphs that illustrated our coworkers’ site performance improvements and descriptions of their implemented solutions. We’d email every designer and developer at Etsy when we updated the dashboard with a new hero so everyone could chime in and high five the person who’d improved the site.

Sun, 02 May 2021 12:51:19 -0600

Checked in at Bivouac Coffee.

Summer series. Checking out some Five10 shoes

39.687253-105.361011

The Process Is Not the Product — The Software Methodology Anti-Manifesto.

Sun, 02 May 2021 08:44:43 -0600

The Process Is Not the Product — The Software Methodology Anti-Manifesto.

The Process is not the Product — The Software Methodology Anti-Manifesto.

Michael Karliner

Feb 20·3 min read

TLDR;
TheSoftware Methodology Anti-Manifesto – The Process is not the Product
– Leading not Managing
– Dialog not Dictation

That’s it, you can work out the rest for youselves, but for those of you who want to, read on.

The Process is not the ProductIn a (very) long technical career, I must have been exposed to the majority of software methodologies, and experience has shown that they are, by and large, more of a liability than a help. In fact, I’ll go further and say that I think that too much methodology is much more dangerous that too little. However, the cult of the One True Methodology continues to thrive, and it worth taking a few moments to consider why.

Engineering Productivity Can Be Measured – Just Not How You’d Expect

Sun, 02 May 2021 08:39:54 -0600

Engineering Productivity Can Be Measured – Just Not How You’d Expect

From each of our two experiences starting out as introductory-level engineers at Box, to becoming first-time managers overseeing five-person teams, then directors overseeing 30-50, and ultimately VPs managing hundreds, we’ve experienced software engineering from every angle.

At every step of the way, we asked ourselves: “how do we know if we are bringing value as engineering leaders?” Effective leadership uniquely blends human qualities – influence, empathy, courage, and results. This latter quality always brings the question of productivity – how effective are you at producing results through enabling others?

Execute Like a Rookie, Lead Like a Multiplier | First Round Review

Sun, 02 May 2021 08:39:28 -0600

Execute Like a Rookie, Lead Like a Multiplier | First Round Review

In 1989, Liz Wiseman took her first job out of business school at a mid-size startup called Oracle. With no previous experience, she was recruited as a technical trainer, charged with teaching programming to all of the company’s new engineering recruits. She admits she barely knew what the company did, much less how to teach engineers. A year later, she was promoted to manage the training department and make CEO Larry Ellison‘s vision for what he called ‘Oracle University’ a reality. She was 24.

How to Prepare for a “Megadisaster” | Columbia Magazine

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 23:14:18 -0600

How to Prepare for a “Megadisaster” | Columbia Magazine

Jeffrey Schlegelmilch, the director of Columbia’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness, discusses the cataclysmic events that may threaten our future and how planning and research can help save us.

What does your work entail?

The center’s mission is to conduct research that helps the US prevent, prepare for, and respond to natural and human-driven disasters. Our faculty and staff investigate nearly all aspects of the country’s capacity for dealing with disasters, from the readiness of governmental and nongovernmental organizations to the effectiveness of on-the-ground emergency-response strategies to public awareness of disaster risk.

Ringelmann effect – Wikipedia

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 23:07:57 -0600

Ringelmann effect – Wikipedia

A tug of war is often used as an illustration of the Ringelmann effect. As more people are involved in a task, their average performance decreases, each participant tending to feel that their own effort is not critical.

The Ringelmann effect is the tendency for individual members of a group to become increasingly less productive as the size of their group increases. This effect, discovered by French agricultural engineer Maximilien Ringelmann (1861–1931), illustrates the inverse relationship that exists between the size of a group and the magnitude of group members’ individual contribution to the completion of a task. While studying the relationship between process loss (i.e., reductions in performance effectiveness or efficiency) and group productivity, Ringelmann (1913) found that having group members work together on a task (e.g., pulling a rope) actually results in significantly less effort than when individual members are acting alone. Ringelmann discovered that as more and more people are added to a group, the group often becomes increasingly inefficient, ultimately violating the notion that group effort and team participation reliably leads to increased effort on behalf of the members.

How to Hire an Engineering Manager: From Within or Without?

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 22:55:45 -0600

How to Hire an Engineering Manager: From Within or Without?

Hiring, onboarding & retention

Posted: 19 April 2021

Join LeadDev.com for free to access this content

Membership is free and gives you access to videos, downloads, live digital events and more, as well as a chance to subscribe to our weekly newsletter: LeadDev Originals.

Enter email address

We have linked your account and just need a few more details to complete your registration:

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 17:09:38 -0600

Checked in at Hop Alley.

Dining in an ice fishing tent. Because these are weird times. — with erika

39.7669586-104.9742803

Who were we and what were we thinking? A return to offices frozen in time.

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 23:13:31 -0600

Who were we and what were we thinking? A return to offices frozen in time.

Ellery Frahm is an archaeologist who unearths artifacts spanning half a million years of human history, all around the globe. But he recently unearthed a perplexing ancient artifact close to home. It was a Post-it note from last March, recovered from the debris of his Yale University office.

Written on it? A phone number. Whose number? A mystery.

Director to VP Engineering: What Is Expected and How to Prepare?

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 15:10:23 -0600

Director to VP Engineering: What Is Expected and How to Prepare?

Director to VP Engineering: what is expected and how to prepare?

Director to VP of Engineering

A lot of engineering leaders made it to the director level and now wonder what it looks like at a VP level, and even more importantly, how to prepare for that level in day to day job as a director.

I was there and shared the same curiosity. Now that I took both a senior director role in a $1.5B unicorn startup and a VP role in a seed stage company, I am glad to share thoughts on this topic.

7 Reasons to Get Serious About Your Open-Source Strategy

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 15:09:57 -0600

7 Reasons to Get Serious About Your Open-Source Strategy

Does your company help steer the open-source projects it relies on? Would in-house software projects benefit from outside contributors? Is there somebody in the organization responsible for answering those questions?

These days, admitting that open source is a viable software-development model isn’t enough. Companies also have to set open-source strategies that make sense for their technical and business goals.

Cheryl Hung, VP of ecosystem at Cloud Native Computing Foundation, heads up the foundation’s community of users and advises startups about their open-source strategies. Often, she told me, companies’ open-source programs are entirely bottom up, with individual developers taking the reins. That’s not a bad thing, but more organized programs can help companies make the most of developers’ time — and the available open-source tools.

Solve the Product Maze Backwards | Psychohistory

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 23:11:45 -0600

Solve the Product Maze Backwards | Psychohistory

As the father of young children, I can tell you that there is a special place in my heart for restaurants that provide puzzles and crayons for small children to pass the time.

On a recent trip out to The Counter in Mountain View, Jordan (who is 8) was really struggling with a large maze puzzle on one of these activity sheets. It was a fairly large maze, and he was frustrated by his inability to see the dead ends ahead, forcing him to retrace his somewhat tortured crayon path.

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 16:26:23 -0600

Checked in at Denver Botanic Garden Sculpture Garden.

39.7322222-104.9608208

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 15:55:48 -0600

Checked in at Blossoms Of Light.

with erika

39.7320188-104.9601821

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 11:28:03 -0600

Robin Rendle › Newsletters

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 09:57:43 -0600

Robin Rendle › Newsletters

Robin Rendle ∙ January 2021

Newsletters; or, an enormous rant about writing on the web that doesn’t really go anywhere and that’s okay with me

My friend Lucy once told me that she falls in love with the way that someone thinks…

…and that’s what newsletters make possible for me; they’re a record of how strangers see the world.

Newsletters give me permission to fall in love with someone I’ll never meet…

Adding is favoured over subtracting in problem solving

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 09:49:25 -0600

Adding is favoured over subtracting in problem solving

Consider the Lego structure depicted in Figure 1, in which a figurine is placed under a roof supported by a single pillar at one corner. How would you change this structure so that you could put a masonry brick on top of it without crushing the figurine, bearing in mind that each block added costs 10 cents? If you are like most participants in a study reported by Adams et al. in Nature, you would add pillars to better support the roof. But a simpler (and cheaper) solution would be to remove the existing pillar, and let the roof simply rest on the base. Across a series of similar experiments, the authors observe that people consistently consider changes that add components over those that subtract them — a tendency that has broad implications for everyday decision-making.

We mentor early-career developers. Here’s what they need to succeed.

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 15:41:41 -0600

We mentor early-career developers. Here’s what they need to succeed.

Note: This article first appeared on LinkedIn.

Knowing how to code is just one aspect of being a professional web developer. Another super important skill is knowing how to collaborate effectively on a software team. Most coding bootcamps don’t teach this skill or don’t teach it effectively. This leads early-career developers to stumble in interviews and require a lot of ramp up time in their first tech jobs. The Collab Lab is a program Stacie Taylor and I created to help solve this problem.

Blogumentation – Writing Blog Posts as a Method of Documentation

Sat, 24 Apr 2021 09:57:12 -0600

Blogumentation – Writing Blog Posts as a Method of Documentation

Written by

Jamie Tanna
on June 25, 2017
CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Apache-2.0
4 mins

Blogumentation – Writing Blog Posts as a Method of Documentation

Table of Contents

You may have noticed that recently I’ve been writing more articles, often tagged under blogumentation. These short articles are concerned with documenting a piece of information about certain workflow-enhancing tips, and I find they fit under a term I have coined blogumentation, that is, blog posts as a form of documentation.

“Asynchronous” Working in 2021

Sat, 24 Apr 2021 09:57:10 -0600

“Asynchronous” Working in 2021

“…the mere consciousness of an engagement will sometimes worry a whole day.” — Charles Dickens

Inspired by a friend, Sahil Lavingia, and his stance over the last year to work “asynchronously” (aka, instead of having to line up “synchronous” meetings with multiple people, choose somewhat arbitrary time blocks of 30 minutes or 60 minutes, and waiting days for relevant communication to take place when calendars align), I am going to adopt an asynchronous working style in 2021.

The Feynman Technique Can Help You Remember Everything You Read

Sat, 24 Apr 2021 09:57:08 -0600

The Feynman Technique Can Help You Remember Everything You Read

Books give you access to the smartest brains on our planet. And learning from the greatest thinkers and doers is your fast track to health, wealth, and wisdom.

Yet, reading per se doesn’t elevate your life. You can read 52 books a year without changing at all.

Member Brief: It’s Not Us, It’s Them

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 12:53:29 -0600

Member Brief: It’s Not Us, It’s Them

This report is supported by 2PM’s Executive Membership and is temporarily unlocked for the Monday letter. To be a part of what we’re building, you can join here: The Executive Membership.

The concept of opportunity is deeply personal to me. Opportunity is earned through hard work, proximity, favor, and luck. For many, luck is the variable that wavers. But for others, it is often proximity. One of the last obstacles in eCommerce is the democratization of access and proximity to opportunity.

A framework for balancing and budgeting engineering resourcing | by Matt Eccleston | Engineering Operations | Medium

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 16:12:35 -0600

A framework for balancing and budgeting engineering resourcing | by Matt Eccleston | Engineering Operations | Medium

Matt Eccleston Jun 25, 2020 · 13 min read

Matt Eccleston formerly served as VP of Engineering and Growth at Dropbox, and from 2013–2019 helped the company scale from hundreds to thousands of employees. Prior to that, Matt spent 13 years in various Engineering leadership positions at VMware, helping it scale from tens to tens of thousands. Matt now advises late stage startups as part of ICONIQ Growth’s Technical Advisory Board. Balancing and budgeting engineering resourcing as a company scales is one of the most frequent topics that comes up.

American Idle — Remains of the Day

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 15:09:58 -0600

American Idle — Remains of the Day

I promised one final piece on TikTok, focused primarily on the network effects of creativity. And this is that, in part. But it discusses a bunch of other topics, some only tangentially related to TikTok.

All the points I wanted to cover seem hyperlinked in a sprawling loose tangle. This could easily have been several standalone posts. I’ve been stuck on how to structure it.

People are spending millions on NFTs. What? Why?

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 15:09:07 -0600

People are spending millions on NFTs. What? Why?

Image: Cryptokitties.co

There’s nothing like an explosion of blockchain news to leave you thinking, “Um… what’s going on here?” That’s the feeling I’ve experienced while reading about Grimes getting millions of dollars for NFTs or about Nyan Cat being sold as one. And by the time we all thought we sort of knew what the deal was, the founder of Twitter put an autographed tweet up for sale as an NFT.

Sat, 17 Apr 2021 13:47:59 -0600

Open Source: From Community to Commercialization

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 13:22:37 -0600

Open Source: From Community to Commercialization

Editor’s Note: The open source software (OSS) movement has created some of our most important and widely used technologies, including operating systems, web browsers, and databases. Our world would not function, or at least not function as well, without open source software.

While open source has delivered amazing technological innovation, commercial innovation – most recently and notably the rise of software-as-a-service – has been just as vital to the success of the movement. And since open source is by definition software that is free for anyone to use, modify, and distribute, open source businesses have required different models and a different go to market than other kinds of software companies.

Google Aims to Be the Anti-Amazon of E-Commerce. It Has a Long Way to Go. – The New York Times

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 14:09:57 -0600

Google Aims to Be the Anti-Amazon of E-Commerce. It Has a Long Way to Go. – The New York Times

Google presents itself to independent sellers as cheaper and less restrictive. But it is not clear whether it can change people’s habits of going straight to Amazon.

When Fritzy’s Roller Skate Shop in San Diego set up a storefront on Shopify, the owner linked her Shopify account to Google’s retail software.Credit…John Francis Peters for The New York Times

Companies are about to get pelted by employee turnover as the pandemic ends – Axios

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 14:04:32 -0600

Companies are about to get pelted by employee turnover as the pandemic ends – Axios

Millions of workers are planning to jump to new jobs or new lines of work after the pandemic eases up.

Why it matters: High-skilled workers with plenty of opportunities are the hardest to replace. This massive reshuffling also will create major headaches for employers, and will likely expand the gaps between men and women in the workplace.

You Might Not Realize How Much You Miss the Office

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 20:18:21 -0600

You Might Not Realize How Much You Miss the Office

How to Build a Life

Switching to Zoom forever might be convenient, but it’s a recipe for loneliness.

Arthur C. Brooks

April 1, 2021

JAN BUCHCZIK

” is a weekly column by Arthur Brooks, tackling questions of meaning and happiness.

Arthur C. Brooks will discuss the science of happiness live at 11 a.m. ET on May 20. Register for In Pursuit of Happiness here.

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 10:29:15 -0600

Fifth-Generation Management

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 13:03:38 -0600

Fifth-Generation Management

In today’s episode, I want to talk about an idea I call fifth-generation management.

1/ Fifth-generation management is an emerging style of management we don’t know much about because it doesn’t actually exist yet. But it is guaranteed to emerge post-Covid because historically, big sharp disruptions have reliably triggered discontinuous changes in management culture, and it is already clear that this one is doing that.

2/ The idea of generations in management, in the form I’m going to lay it out, is causally related to the idea of generations of warfare, and in particular the idea that contemporary styles of warfare strongly shape future styles of management. So if there are generations in warfare, they are going to cause generations in management. Military ideas are not the only cause of course, but I’m going to argue that historically they’ve been the strongest one. Strong enough to almost be determinative. During WW2 for instance, business and military culture became almost the same thing for a few years.

Things Your Manager Might Not Know

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 12:24:12 -0600

Things Your Manager Might Not Know

When people talk about “managing up”, sometimes it’s framed as a bad thing –

massaging the ego of people in charge so that they treat you well.

In my experience, managing up is usually a lot more practical. Your manager

doesn’t (and can’t!) know every single detail about what you do in your job,

and being aware of what they might not know and giving them the information

What I wish I knew before building a Shopify App

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 12:12:09 -0600

What I wish I knew before building a Shopify App

I spent the last week building an App for the Shopify Marketplace. It was unlike anything I’ve done before on the Web. Knowing some of the things I’m going to share, before you start building, could save you some headache.

Here is the summary of my experience, more details below.

Key insights

They expect you to make a onepage application (SPA)

The polaris design system officially only supports react

Integration with the shop frontend is difficult if you’re not making a theme

Integrating functionality via webhooks is more tedious than it needs to be

Payments are simple to implement, once you understand how

The API is constantly changing in big ways

The API is surprisingly unreliable

Backend reliability isn’t great

Local development of integrated apps is hard

Modifying the checkout is not possible

They expect you to make a onepage application

Once you start studying the documentation and examples you’ll quickly notice all the examples use NodeJS and React. No big deal, right? That’s what’s all the rage these days, so it makes sense to build the docs to match that.

The Passion Economy and the Future of Work – Li Jin

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 12:00:30 -0600

The Passion Economy and the Future of Work – Li Jin

Also published on a16z.com

The top-earning writer on the paid newsletter platform Substack earns more than $500,000 a year from reader subscriptions. The top content creator on Podia, a platform for video courses and digital memberships, makes more than $100,000 a month. And teachers across the US are bringing in thousands of dollars a month teaching live, virtual classes on Outschool and Juni Learning.

Those Pesky Pull Request Reviews

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 11:48:32 -0600

Those Pesky Pull Request Reviews

They’re everywhere. In Slack: “hey, can I get a review on this?” In email: “Your review is requested!” In JIRA: “8 user stories In-Progress” (but code-complete). In your repository: 5 open pull requests. They’re slowing your delivery. They’re interrupting your developers.

How can we get people to review pull requests faster??

We could blame the people. We could nag them more. We could even automate the nagging!

Building Products at Airbnb

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 11:47:23 -0600

Building Products at Airbnb

“Snow White Storyboards” at Airbnb

I asked Bring the Donuts readers to tell me more about the product culture at their own companies. I figured I’d get a handful of volunteers that I could interview. Instead, more than 150 of you offered up detailed thoughts and observations from a diverse set of companies. There are familiar big tech names, of course, but also startups, non-tech companies, and even government agencies. I’m overwhelmed by your response and grateful.

Making the case to decision makers: the presentation format to follow

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 11:25:35 -0600

Making the case to decision makers: the presentation format to follow

I wrote before about the five questions you should be asking yourself before putting together a presentation. These questions should offer guidance on what you need to think about as you prepare your content, but they don’t offer a simple format to articulate that content well.

Over the last few years, I’ve spent a good amount of time presenting to our executive leadership team. A couple of years ago, one of these presentations was directly to our CEO. As I prepared for it, I spent dozens of hours, 50 different presentation styles and outlines, and many different pre-meetings to test out my template until I came around to this one. Since then, I’ve been using this as my guiding format to build the case for decisions makers. It’s also the format that runs in my head as I get a presentation where I need to make a call.

Bidenomics, explained

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 11:09:52 -0600

Bidenomics, explained

“When the formula stops working, you change the formula.” — Arin Hanson

“The era of ‘big government is over’ is over.” — James Medlock

I know this post has a very Vox-like title, but in fact I’m not going to go through Biden’s new infrastructure plan point by point and tell you what’s in it. if you want that, you can check out the actual Vox explainer, or the always-excellent writeup by the WaPo’s Jeff Stein et al. You can also check out Brad DeLong’s thoughts and David Roberts’ deep dive into the climate aspects. I’m sure there will be more in the days to come, and I’ll have plenty of thoughts on the specific provisions as well.

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 10:55:36 -0600

Checked in at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.

39.8198151-104.8611075

Sat, 03 Apr 2021 12:20:53 -0600

Checked in at Waterton Canyon.

39.491323-105.0936893

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 09:33:21 -0600

Checked in at Chase Bank.

Trying to close on our house. Starting to hate Chase — with erika

39.752-105.001559

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 08:14:47 -0600

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 17:31:23 -0600

Checked in at Slohi City Park.

39.74032-104.94953

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 14:40:28 -0600

The Let-Down Effect: Why You Might Feel Bad After the Pressure Is Off | Wellness | US News

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 21:01:25 -0600

The Let-Down Effect: Why You Might Feel Bad After the Pressure Is Off | Wellness | US News

How to Successfully Join a Company as Engineering Manager

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 17:10:21 -0600

How to Successfully Join a Company as Engineering Manager

Shut up and listen

Before joining the company, a friend, who’s also kind of a mentor, gave me invaluable advice: “Use the first three months to learn as much as you can about the organization and its culture, decision-making methodologies, processes, ownership, development cycle, and more. Observe, ask many questions, document, but keep feedback and suggestions for changes to yourself.”

If you knew me, you’d know that this isn’t my nature, yet I followed his advice. I resisted the urge of pointing out problems that seemed crucial because I knew I didn’t have the full picture. It’s a good thing I did, because many times, these problems turned out to be marginal when I became aware of the greater context. I kept reminding myself not to try to fix things that are not broken, simply because I’m used to doing them differently.

A concept from physics called negentropy could help your life run smoother

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 16:22:38 -0600

A concept from physics called negentropy could help your life run smoother

Energy loss in your daily life is just like heat leaking out of a badly sealed house. Credit: Passivhaus Institut, CC BY-SA

Life is full of small decisions: Should I pick up that sock on the floor? Should I do the dishes before bed? What about fixing the leaky faucet in the bathroom?

Leaving a sock on the ground is a manifestation of a concept from physics you may have heard of: entropy. Entropy is a measure of how much energy is lost in a system. If a system loses too much energy, it will disintegrate into chaos. It takes only a little bit of energy to pick up one sock. But if you don’t take care of your yard, let pipes stay clogged and never fix electrical problems, it all adds up to a chaotic home that would take a lot of energy to fix. And that chaos will leach away your time and ability to accomplish other things.

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 12:07:24 -0600

Checked in at GREEN MOUNTAIN PARK.

39.6904016-105.1522934

The Elusive Pursuit of Getting It (all) Done

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 11:17:20 -0600

The Elusive Pursuit of Getting It (all) Done

20 Mar The elusive pursuit of getting it (all) done

Posted at 12:37h in Blog by

Growing up, my French-speaking parents always warned me about having “plus de gueule que de sac.”

While the Google translation is entertaining, English has its own version: “Having eyes bigger than your stomach.” Growing up, this idiom always stayed with me, whether it was at the all-you-can-eat hotel buffet or a post-soccer practice McDonalds run.

Healthy Goals

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 11:12:42 -0600

Healthy Goals

Goal Setting by Julian Cutler

I worked with a manager once who explained his rationale behind goal-setting:

Without goals, no one will do anything! There’s no accountability on the team. People don’t take their commitments seriously. They give me silly excuses. Whenever I turn around, they are chatting on Slack or on Reddit. I’m not sure what they do all day. It feels like we are going in circles. Without goals, it will be impossible to keep score, and if I need to manage someone out, it will be hard! So yes, goals are important!

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 09:15:16 -0600

Outgrowing software — Benedict Evans

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 08:30:47 -0600

Outgrowing software — Benedict Evans

Ten years ago Marc Andreessen wrote an article in the WSJ called ‘Software is eating the world’, arguing that there was a fundamental shift in the role that software plays in the economy. In the past, IBM, Oracle or Microsoft sold technology to other companies, as a tool. They sold computers and software to GE, P&G and Citibank. Now there’s a generation of companies that both create software and use it themselves to enter another industry, and often to change it. Uber and Airbnb don’t sell software to taxi companies and hotel companies, Instacart doesn’t sell software to grocery companies, and Transferwise doesn’t sell software to banks.

Terror in a Boulder supermarket: How the King Soopers shooting unfolded

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 08:55:07 -0600

Terror in a Boulder supermarket: How the King Soopers shooting unfolded

BOULDER, Colo. — Dean Schiller was nearby shopping when he heard the shots. So Schiller, who regularly live-streams crime scenes on YouTube, hustled over to the entrance of the King Soopers supermarket.

Immediately, he came upon two bodies, sprawled on the pavement.

“Whoa, someone’s down right here,” he narrated. At the store entrance, he asked a man, “Did you see which way the shooter went?”

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 19:31:14 -0600

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 09:32:07 -0600

Checked in at Birdcall.

39.7544788-104.9766835

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 09:15:59 -0600

Checked in at Queen City Coffee Collective.

39.757412-104.9744

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 12:07:29 -0600

Checked in at Children’s Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora.

39.7417805-104.8348737

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 10:07:19 -0600

Checked in at Rosenberg’s Bagels & Delicatessen.

Breakfast on the move. Kicked out of our house for more showings — with erika

39.7548357-104.9775313

Sat, 20 Mar 2021 18:52:42 -0600

Checked in at Tacos Tequila Whiskey.

39.7620121-105.0300189

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 13:08:18 -0600

Presentations — Benedict Evans

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 22:36:31 -0700

Presentations — Benedict Evans

The Great Unbundling

Every year, I produce a big presentation digging into macro and strategic trends in the tech industry. This year, ‘The Great Unbundling’.

Covid brought shock and a lot of broken habits to tech, but mostly, it accelerates everything that was already changing. 20 trillion dollars of retail, brands, TV and advertising is being overturned, and software is remaking everything from cars to pharma. Meanwhile, China has more smartphone users than Europe and the USA combined, and India is close behind – technology and innovation will be much more widely spread. For that and lots of other reasons, tech is becoming a regulated industry, but if we step over the slogans, what does that actually mean? Tech is entering its second 50 years.

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 20:55:07 -0700

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 13:16:29 -0700

Keyring 3.0

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 13:16:27 -0700

Well it’s been a while, but I’ve just pushed a 3.0 release of Keyring.

Keyring is a generalized framework for WordPress which handles authentication with, and authenticated requests to remote services. It provides a set of predefined “Services” which describe how to communicate with a collection of popular platforms, and also makes it easy for you to plug into that framework and define your own Services for other systems.

This version includes a bunch of improvements and compatibility updates, including all sorts of contributions from other folks. There are a lot of fixes and tweaks that have come back into the project as part of it being used on WordPress.com, and as part of the hiring process at Automattic.

Your Engineering Team Is (probably) Too Big

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 22:11:11 -0700

Your Engineering Team Is (probably) Too Big

David Adams Nov 5, 2019 · 5 min read

Source: Rob Curran via Unsplash

Of all the places you can spend money in a tech company, the engineering team is often by far the largest cost-centre. Similar to digital ads, it’s also a place where, if you aren’t careful, you can waste a lot of money.

If less is more, think how much more more would be

Short Fat Engineers Are Undervalued

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 23:11:34 -0700

Short Fat Engineers Are Undervalued

Professionals supposedly come in two shapes: either short and fat, or tall and skinny, meaning their skill set is either broad or deep. They can also be T-shaped—knowing a lot about a little and a little about a lot—but in this metaphor, that’s a compromise. After all, even a T need not have a 1:1 aspect ratio.

Should we prefer either dimension over the other when studying or hiring? Both dimensions can be useful; but breadth gives us perspective, and thus wisdom. On a long enough time line, wisdom is always more valuable than knowledge.

Leading Without Managing

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 23:07:30 -0700

Leading Without Managing

What does it mean to lead when you don’t have coercive power to get your way?

Good managers are often good leaders. But managers don’t have to be good

leaders to get their way because they have authority to make decisions

unilaterally.

What if you don’t have that authority?

Perhaps you’re an individual contributor. Perhaps you are a manager, but

want to show leadership when you’re the junior person in the room. In both

Take Your Full Lunch Break. Schedule Your PTO.

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 22:20:09 -0700

Take Your Full Lunch Break. Schedule Your PTO.

Christina M. Tapper

12 hours ago·3 min read

Photo: Westend61/Getty Images

Many of us are either caught up in multitasking a day’s worth of work (for both for the job and home) or frozen on our couches, trying to make sense of the stunning events of the last year. Our bodies are fatigued; our minds are fogged. And while we may already have an intimate (and unfortunate) relationship with exhaustion due to oppressive societal demands, the indefatigable enervation that we are experiencing is on a whole new level.

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 11:25:41 -0700

Shopify — Benedict Evans

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 22:21:52 -0700

Shopify — Benedict Evans

This is an impressive story of entrepreneurship, and of the acceleration of ecommerce in lockdown, but it’s interesting more generally because it illustrates three pretty important trends in tech and ecommerce.

1: “No-one can compete with Amazon”

Shopify isn’t doing what Amazon does – it isn’t competing directly and it wouldn’t fit inside a competition lawyer’s market definition (I wrote more about the market definition challenge here). But it challenges Amazon at a very basic point of leverage by doing something different, but relevant. This is very often what competitive threats look like in technology. In markets with strong network effects or winner-takes-most effects, it’s very hard to displace a new incumbent directly, but pretty common to address an underlying customer need in another way. So, Google doesn’t think about Bing nearly as much as it thinks about Amazon and Facebook, and Amazon thinks about Shopify, because they change what the businesses might be, and offer your customers a different way to solve their problem.

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 09:42:40 -0700

Why did I leave Google or, why did I stay so long?

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 08:58:47 -0700

Why did I leave Google or, why did I stay so long?

It’s been two weeks since I left Google and I keep getting asked “why did I leave now”? I think the better question is “why did I stay for so long”? When Waze was acquired by Google, most of the people who know me did not believe I would last 7 weeks, let alone 7 years…

So the question of why I stayed has many different aspects to it. When we were evaluating the offers to sell the company, we asked ourselves what would really change by being acquired? Due to a bunch of mistakes early on, we did not own substantial amounts of equity and had a pretty bad relationship with some of our board members. I remember the bottom line: “wouldn’t you rather work for Larry Page than our current board”? We were committed to our mission and saw this as a change in the cap table rather than a change of mission. This counted on the fact that Google had promised us autonomy to continue to act as Waze and we believed them.

Microsoft Analyzed Data on Its Newly Remote Workforce

Sat, 20 Feb 2021 15:18:44 -0700

Microsoft Analyzed Data on Its Newly Remote Workforce

Teams that don’t communicate. Market disruption. Unidentified logjams. Employee burnout. Lost efficiency. As part of a group of data scientists, management consultants, and engineers at Microsoft, we help companies harness behavioral data to measure and solve these kinds of challenges — the kinds that firms feel but usually cannot see.

Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) | GitLab

Sat, 20 Feb 2021 15:04:52 -0700

Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) | GitLab

You are here:
About GitLab
Objectives and Key Results (OKRs)

Maintained by:

[ Stella Treas

@streas](https://gitlab.com/streas)

Most recent OKRs

All our OKRs are public and listed on the pages below.

What are OKRs?

OKRs stand for Objectives and Key Results and are our quarterly objectives.

OKRs are how to achieve the goal of the Key Performance Indicators KPIs.

The Jagged Stones of Dublin

Sat, 20 Feb 2021 14:38:08 -0700

The Jagged Stones of Dublin

This is a true story about my last trip to Dublin. It happened over two years ago. Some details may have blurred over time. You have my permission to laugh at my discomfort.

Sunny Dublin

I was going to Dublin, Ireland for a payments conference. This was my second trip to Dublin. I love the pub food. I love the Guinness. And I love the people. I think we resonate on a similar frequency. There’s a blue collar, wise-cracking attitude that reminds me of growing up in the Midwest.

Be a Schedule Builder, Not a To-Do List Maker

Sat, 20 Feb 2021 14:17:47 -0700

Be a Schedule Builder, Not a To-Do List Maker

Imagine you bought a new phone, but at the end of each day, every day, the operating system crashed. Would you keep using the faulty phone? Of course not. You’d take it back to the store, complain, and get a new one.

And yet, many people run their entire lives on a faulty operating system. It’s called the to-do list. Have you ever met someone who runs their day using a to-do list and actually finishes everything they said they’d do? Me neither.

There Are Spying Eyes Everywhere—and Now They Share a Brain

Sat, 20 Feb 2021 13:27:24 -0700

There Are Spying Eyes Everywhere—and Now They Share a Brain

Security cameras. License plate readers. Smartphone trackers. Drones. We’re being watched 24/7. What happens when all those data streams fuse into one?

One afternoon in the fall of 2019, in a grand old office building near the Arc de Triomphe, I was buzzed through an unmarked door into a showroom for the future of surveillance. The space on the other side was dark and sleek, with a look somewhere between an Apple Store and a doomsday bunker. Along one wall, a grid of electronic devices glinted in the moody downlighting—automated license plate readers, Wi-Fi-enabled locks, boxy data processing units. I was here to meet Giovanni Gaccione, who runs the public safety division of a security technology company called Genetec. Headquartered in Montreal, the firm operates four of these “Experience Centers” around the world, where it peddles intelligence products to government officials. Genetec’s main sell here was software, and Gaccione had agreed to show me how it worked.

Strategies for Learning from Failure

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 15:57:46 -0700

Strategies for Learning from Failure

The wisdom of learning from failure is incontrovertible. Yet organizations that do it well are extraordinarily rare. This gap is not due to a lack of commitment to learning. Managers in the vast majority of enterprises that I have studied over the past 20 years—pharmaceutical, financial services, product design, telecommunications, and construction companies; hospitals; and NASA’s space shuttle program, among others—genuinely wanted to help their organizations learn from failures to improve future performance. In some cases they and their teams had devoted many hours to after-action reviews, postmortems, and the like. But time after time I saw that these painstaking efforts led to no real change. The reason: Those managers were thinking about failure the wrong way.

Scaling Product Delivery: The “Dirty” Secret of High Performing Product Teams

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 15:27:35 -0700

Scaling Product Delivery: The “Dirty” Secret of High Performing Product Teams

Andy Johns

Andy Johns is a Partner at Unusual Ventures, ex-Wealthfront, Quora, Facebook and co-creator of the Scaling Product Delivery program.

Matt Greenberg

Matt Greenberg is the CTO at Reforge, former VP Engineering at Credit Karma, and co-creator of the Scaling Product Delivery program.

Now Accepting Applications for All Live Programs. Click Here to Apply

The Dirty Secret of High Performing Product Teams

The dirty secret of Silicon Valley is that most great product teams follow a system that resembles waterfall (gasp!) to launch new innovative features/products repeatably. The system starts with high conviction based on judgment, intuition, and instinct rather than relying on iterative customer feedback to build conviction over time.

Some Open-Source Projects Are More Open Than Others

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 07:37:27 -0700

Some Open-Source Projects Are More Open Than Others

Piotr Zakrzewski is a sometime-contributor to open source projects. He’s not a regular on any one project, but more of a dabbler — a self-described “outsider contributor” who sometimes submits pull requests to projects he enjoys using.

In fact, Zakrzewski said, many contributors to open-source projects are outsiders.

“We are talking about people who usually use the project,” he said. “They don’t work on the project directly, they just use it for something else. And they found a bug or a missing feature, and because they were passionate about it and they like open source, they decided to give it a chance and make a contribution.”

Tools for Effective Delegation in Engineering Management

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 23:31:00 -0700

Tools for Effective Delegation in Engineering Management

Maybe it’s a piece of code that we’ve shepherded for many years, or maybe it’s a program or project that has special importance. And, while many times we will have confidence in the person to whom we are delegating, it may still feel uncomfortable letting go. Delegating has been a frequent topic among my clients of late, so I thought I’d share some of the lessons I’ve learned over the years.

Leading your engineering team with ‘experiments’ not ‘processes’

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 23:14:23 -0700

Leading your engineering team with ‘experiments’ not ‘processes’

Process monster (n): a manager for whom the answer is always, always ‘process’. The process monster will add more and more processes to the team until the team collapses under the weight of them. Eventually, the monster will move to another role, and the failure of the team will be explained as ‘resistance to process’.

I’m sure you’ve encountered process monsters in the wild before. Some have enough empathy and are in the right roles to be successful, while some have the effect of strong glue: slowly grinding a team to a halt under the illusion of improving efficiency that never materializes.

6 Lessons I Learned While Implementing Technical RFCs as a Decision Making Tool

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 19:49:13 -0700

6 Lessons I Learned While Implementing Technical RFCs as a Decision Making Tool

Process is what I ship 🚢

This situation was the result of a process failure, and given that process is what I ship as the VP of Engineering, I was also responsible for improving the process so the team doesn’t find itself in these positions. We needed a way to make decisions as a team that would allow us to:

How We Introduced Levels to Our Engineering Organisation Without Losing People or Hurting Our Productivity

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 00:09:29 -0700

How We Introduced Levels to Our Engineering Organisation Without Losing People or Hurting Our Productivity

#### Dafna Rosenblum

Jan 30·6 min read

Photo by Chad Greiter on Unsplash

Why

The good thing about levels, is the transparency. When it’s clear to people what’s expected of them, stress goes down. It’s much easier to give frequent feedback with reference. “Remember that expectation from the list? I think you can improve in it by doing this and that”. With frequent feedback and low stress levels, productivity goes up. Aspiring to progress towards the next level can encourage managers to be more mindful about careers when allocating people to certain projects or tasks.

What I’ve Learned in 45 Years in the Software Industry

Sat, 13 Feb 2021 17:19:14 -0700

What I’ve Learned in 45 Years in the Software Industry

BTI360 teammate Joel Goldberg recently retired after working in the software industry for over four decades. When he left he shared with our team some of the lessons he learned over his career. With his permission, we reshare his wisdom here.

Looking back on four decades in the software industry, I’m struck by how much has changed. I started my career with punch cards and I am ending in the era of cloud computing. Despite all this change, many principles that have helped me throughout my career haven’t changed and continue to be relevant. As I step away from the keyboard, I want to share six ideas I’ve learned from my career as a software engineer.

Sat, 13 Feb 2021 12:59:57 -0700

Checked in at Costco.

with erika

39.7898409-105.0825361

Sat, 13 Feb 2021 11:22:51 -0700

Checked in at Whole Foods Market.

39.73635-105.1612972

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 16:31:41 -0700

Checked in at Spangalang Brewery.

39.7550951-104.9770794

2021 State of Remote Work

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 13:30:24 -0700

2021 State of Remote Work

Overview

The world of remote work is growing more than ever before. This year, we not only surveyed people who were remote by choice, but also people who started working remotely suddenly and during a pandemic. Forty-five percent of respondents to this year’s State of Remote Work survey are working remotely due to COVID-19 (see chart #5).

Despite nearly half of the respondents being pushed to work from home in 2020, the responses to our first two questions stayed nearly the same as in previous years when that wasn’t the case. Overwhelmingly, remote workers would like to work remotely at least some of the time for the rest of their careers (see chart #1) and, just as we’ve seen in the past few years, 97 percent of remote workers would recommend remote work to others (see chart #2).

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 11:07:54 -0700

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 14:19:45 -0700

What Is Product-Led Growth & Why It’s Taking Off?

Sun, 07 Feb 2021 12:38:23 -0700

What Is Product-Led Growth & Why It’s Taking Off?

Product-Led Growth is defined as a go-to-market strategy that relies on using your product as the main vehicle to acquire, activate, and retain customers. If you’ve used Slack or Dropbox, you’ve witnessed this first-hand-you didn’t read a lengthy whitepaper on the benefits of strong internal communication or cloud-based file sharing. You wanted to see the product in action!

What Makes Product-Led Growth Unique?

Unlike sales-led companies where the whole goal is to take a buyer from Point A to Point B in a sales cycle, product-led companies flip the traditional sales model on its head. Product-led companies make this possible by giving the buyer the “keys” to use the product and helping them experience a meaningful outcome while using the product. At this point, upgrading to a paid plan becomes a no-brainer.

How to Join a Team and Learn a Codebase

Sun, 07 Feb 2021 11:58:13 -0700

How to Join a Team and Learn a Codebase

Home > Articles > new codebase, who dis? (How to Join a Team and Learn a Codebase)

new codebase, who dis? (How to Join a Team and Learn a Codebase)

I have switched teams more often than I have had to implement an AVL tree, and you can guess which one of those two was taught in school. I wish someone had taught me how to join a new team! While learning a new codebase can be daunting, I’ve found a few things that work for me.

How Big Technical Changes Happen at Slack

Sun, 07 Feb 2021 11:51:35 -0700

How Big Technical Changes Happen at Slack

Most new things in technology turn out to be fads: patterns of talking and doing that come and go without leaving a permanent mark. Microkernels; EPIC architectures like IA-64; object request brokers; and 1990s’-style neural nets are gone, and will not return. Sorry for the deep throwbacks; only time proves which things are fads, so for uncontroversial examples we have to reach pretty far back.

How to Measure and Improve Success in Your Engineering Team

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 23:01:12 -0700

How to Measure and Improve Success in Your Engineering Team

Eric Rabinovich

Jan 24·13 min read

As an engineering leader, senior developer, or founder of a new startup, I want you to take a minute and think — really think — about a project you are currently working on.

Now, let me ask you four questions about that project:

What will you consider a huge success?
What will you consider a massive failure?
How do you know that you are currently on the right path towards success?
And my last question is, once finished, how can you tell if you nail what you wanted to achieve?

As developers or engineering managers, we run many projects — including:

“How Do I Feel Worthwhile as a Manager When My People Are Doing All the Implementing?”

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 23:20:54 -0700

“How Do I Feel Worthwhile as a Manager When My People Are Doing All the Implementing?”

“How do I feel worthwhile as a manager when my people are doing all the implementing?”

— An Engineering Manager

Hey, real quick: how long have you been managing? If it’s less than two years, honey, the answer is “you don’t.” Your feelings about your performance don’t mean much in a new role. If you think you’re crushing it, you probably aren’t. But hey, if you think you’re screwing it up royally, you probably aren’t that either. ☺️

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 15:43:34 -0700

Checked in at Natural Grocers.

39.7729348-104.9758995

From Software Engineer to CTO. Cathy Polinsky, former CTO @ Stitch Fix… | by Pear VC | Sep, 2020 | Medium | Medium

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 23:00:35 -0700

From Software Engineer to CTO. Cathy Polinsky, former CTO @ Stitch Fix… | by Pear VC | Sep, 2020 | Medium | Medium

Laying the groundwork as a software engineer scaling early Amazon

Like many young graduates in computer science today, Cathy’s first job out of school was as a software engineer at a fast growing company — Amazon, in 1999, right before the dotcom crash.

“I thought I’d missed the interesting times at Amazon. I thought I’d missed the early stage startup. Little did I know, I was living the interesting times. It was a gritty time. I was there during the dotcom collapse and all my stock was underwater,” Cathy recalls.

How to Start a New Tech Exec Job

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 10:51:50 -0700

How to Start a New Tech Exec Job

#### Nir Rubinstein

Jan 21·5 min read

This will be a bit different from the usual stuff I write about, which usually deals with tech stacks and architecture. Why? Well, I recently took on a new position and I knew that I had to set up some clear basic guidelines to myself on how I’m going to tackle this new challenge.
See, my last place of employment was the longest stint of my career — close to 9 years. In that time, I had the privilege of joining a startup of 2 co-founders and watching it grow to a 1000+ people company. Needles to say, growing a company means that you get to witness, firsthand, a lot of new people take on new roles. That being the case, and if you’re a vigilant learner, you can learn a lot about the dos and don’tsof how tostart a new job.

Sat, 30 Jan 2021 12:57:05 -0700

Checked in at New Terrain Brewing Co.

Mid-ride refresher. Windy AF.

39.7794665-105.1860322

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 17:30:34 -0700

Checked in at REI.

Picking up Leroy.

39.755622-105.009853

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 16:03:09 -0700

Checked in at Chimney Gulch.

39.750258-105.2312998

The Codeless Code: Case 154 A Bridge To Nowhere

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 23:09:06 -0700

The Codeless Code: Case 154 A Bridge To Nowhere

A bridge builder was completing his inspection

of Zjing’s Bridge when he spied master Kaimu standing nearby.

The builder said to Kaimu: “I have heard your monks

speak of themselves as ‘software engineers.’ As a true

engineer I find such talk absurd…

“In my profession we analyze all aspects of our task

before the first plank is cut.

When our blueprints are done I can tell you exactly how much

Strategy Turns

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 23:05:29 -0700

Strategy Turns

Real rockets don’t go straight up. They go up, and then they turn.

Rockets do this to transition from “mostly going up” to “mostly going sideways” in order to achieve orbit. This is known as a gravity turn (technically, they pitchover, but that’s a less catchy title).

I see a lot of “turns” in life – when something makes sense to do at first, but becomes a bad idea once you’re established, and you notice the “pros” do something else instead.

Feedback

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 23:32:26 -0700

Feedback

1/12/2021

By: Josh Sloat

Why do we stink at giving feedback?

Giving feedback is hard … really hard … because we tend to focus more on the criticism and less on the human receiving it. As a giver of feedback, we must learn to separate these and deliver our message in a more emotionally friendly manner.

Humans are highly emotional creatures and receiving feedback puts us in a highly vulnerable position. If navigated without awareness and sensitivity, feedback often leads to an emotional response. It’s well understood by psychologists that our brain’s emotional muscle is far more dominant than its objective counterpart. Once engaged – especially in a negative manner – any logical, constructive conversation immediately becomes an impossible journey.

The Middle Slump: The Power of Weekly Project Goals

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 07:17:02 -0700

The Middle Slump: The Power of Weekly Project Goals

There’s a thing writers call the middle slump. It’s that period in the middle of writing something when the author has lost initial momentum, feels stuck and has difficulty making forward progress.

A post in the writing subreddit frames it well: “The beginning of your story is so far behind you and yet the end is nowhere in sight”.

The idea of the middle slump is pretty universal. There are examples everywhere. From the infamous mid-life crisis to the way 2/3ds of the population feels in the afternoon.

How to Do Pay Transparency Right | Built In CO

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 23:20:40 -0700

How to Do Pay Transparency Right | Built In CO

For most of her career, Caryn Hubbard thought of salaries as a private matter. Then, she joined Buffer as its VP of finance.

Known for its culture of radical transparency, Buffer posts salary information for its employees online. That means anyone — not just other employees — can find her and her coworkers’ salaries on Buffer’s website. The exposure took some getting used to at first, she said, but it’s also had a profound impact on how she thinks about salaries.

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 18:28:35 -0700

Checked in at REI.

Back for more, always.

39.755622-105.009853

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 13:18:24 -0700

No, Engineers Don’t Suck at Time Estimates

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 22:48:50 -0700

No, Engineers Don’t Suck at Time Estimates

No, engineers don’t suck at time estimates – and generally speaking humans are better estimators than what most people believe. This seems rather surprising given all we’ve heard about the problems of bad time estimations, projects going overboard, etc and of course, your personal experience with software time estimates. But if people are really bad at estimation, how does that fit with our obvious evolutionary need to make quick decisions based on partial data? if we can’t estimate well how did we decide if a gap is wide enough to jump over, if an animal is worth the hunt, if a certain area is more likely to have water and shade? Without estimation skills we wouldn’t survive. So what’s going on?

Principles of the Urban Sky

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 22:35:12 -0700

Principles of the Urban Sky

Image: World Economic Forum

Safety

The dawn of the jet age unlocked new possibilities for long-distance travel and commerce, with commercial aviation becoming the world’s safest form of travel. The aviation industry’s ability to effectively manage operational risk has created expectations among the travelling public, regulatory authorities and other government stakeholders regarding safety. Therefore, to gain acceptance, new forms of air transport will need to achieve levels of safety performance consistent with conventional aviation operations. UAM operations will need to assure safety through adherence to regulatory requirements and industry standards that have contributed to aviation’s current safety record.

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 15:49:42 -0700

Checked in at Spangalang Brewery.

Patio beers — with erika

39.7550951-104.9770794

Best Satellite Messengers: Comparison & Reviews | REI Co-op Journal

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 13:45:26 -0700

Best Satellite Messengers: Comparison & Reviews | REI Co-op Journal

With the recent launch of two new satellite messengers, the Garmin inReach Mini and the SPOT X, backcountry enthusiasts have more options than ever for staying connected when venturing off the grid. You might be wondering, “Which satellite messenger is best for me?”

We’re here to help you make that decision with a rundown of the major differences between four of the most popular satellite messengers we carry at REI—the Garmin inReach Mini, Garmin inReach Explorer+, SPOT X and SPOT Gen3.

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 12:02:51 -0700

Checked in at REI.

with erika

39.755622-105.009853

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 08:41:22 -0700

[DATA] Post-Pandemic Silicon Valley Isn’t A Place

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 07:34:20 -0700

[DATA] Post-Pandemic Silicon Valley Isn’t A Place

Where are tech companies going to go once the pandemic subsides as vaccines reach more and more Americans?

I wanted to provide granular data to the question of how concentrated the technology in the Bay Area will be after the pandemic. I’ve been tracking data on this question for several years internally within the Initialized Capital portfolio, both through annual founder surveys and in looking at the geographic composition of company headquarters across funds. Typically, we get around 90 companies responding per survey.

Think You Don’t Have Enough Time? Think Again.

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 21:46:00 -0700

Think You Don’t Have Enough Time? Think Again.

“Not enough time” is likely not the source of your inability to get things done. The “Vicious Cycle of Distraction” is to blame.

#### Nir Eyal

6 hours ago·5 min read

A few weeks ago I saw this chart, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it:

According to this data, the average working American spends more than two hours watching TV per day, and has more than four hours per day of overall leisure time.

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 08:46:50 -0700

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 18:00:03 -0700

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 14:54:28 -0700

Principles of the Urban Sky | World Economic Forum

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 21:31:51 -0700

Principles of the Urban Sky | World Economic Forum

The future of the skies is in development today, as next-generation aviation technologies are tested, certified and piloted for commercial operations in coming years. A different type of aircraft – one better suited to urban transport – is emerging. This reflects a mix of novel designs (combining vertical take-off-and-landing configurations with distributed propulsion), improvements in alternative energy sources, and greater quality and availability of digital connectivity.

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 13:50:20 -0700

Checked in at New Terrain Brewing Co.

39.7794665-105.1860322

Business, Product, and Marketing Concepts for Engineers

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 13:24:30 -0700

I worked as a full stack engineer/developer for many years before going into more leadership type positions, where an understanding of the business itself became much more important than specific product experiences, features, or codebases. Along that journey I’ve needed to learn a lot of acronyms and concepts that aren’t a part of pure engineering, and would like to summarize some of the more fundamental pieces below in case they’re useful for others making a similar transition.

They Can’t Leave the Bay Area Fast Enough

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 07:06:44 -0700

They Can’t Leave the Bay Area Fast Enough

San Francisco doesn’t have the same hold on the tech world, now that remote work is here to stay.Credit…Lucas Foglia for The New York Times

As a tech era draws to an end, more workers and companies are packing up. What comes next?

San Francisco doesn’t have the same hold on the tech world, now that remote work is here to stay.Credit…Lucas Foglia for The New York Times

Cracking the Engineering Manager Interview

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 23:03:49 -0700

Cracking the Engineering Manager Interview

Cracking the Engineering Manager interview — Part 1

Srivatsan Sridharan Dec 14, 2020 · 9 min read

Practical steps to prepare for and ace your next engineering manager interview

Image credits: Nick Youngson

While coding interviews have become more or less standardized across the industry, there is still a big variability when it comes to hiring for Engineering Manager roles. What questions get asked in an EM interview, is a concern on many peoples’ minds. It certainly was on my mind during my recent job search a few months ago. I ended up interviewing for EM roles at several top tech companies and learned a lot through the process. I’ve also built EM interview loops in the past and have been a hiring manager for EMs.

My Favorite Management Hack of 2020

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 22:50:15 -0700

My Favorite Management Hack of 2020

2020 was a rough year for everyone, even for those of us blessed to be able to work from home. Psychologically and emotionally, it’s easy to feel disconnected and lonely when you don’t see people outside your household for weeks and months on end. And this presents some unique challenges for maintaining culture and productivity, and keeping morale up in general.

The Challenge

When the pandemic hit in March and everyone in the world started working remotely, we were worried about how to keep people connected and plugged in. We had to adapt quickly to keep communication flowing and make sure that everyone felt connected and a part of the community that we somewhat lost when everyone stopped going into the office.

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 12:52:32 -0700

Checked in at Teller Farm Trailhead.

40.0217297-105.1586724

100 Tips For A Better Life

Wed, 06 Jan 2021 17:12:27 -0700

100 Tips For A Better Life

The other day I made an advice thread based on Putanumonit’s from last year! If you know a source for one of these, shout and I’ll edit it in.

Possessions

1 .If you want to find out about people’s opinions on a product, google reddit. You’ll get real people arguing, as compared to the SEO’d Google results.

Some banks charge you $20 a month for an account, others charge you 0. If you’re with one of the former, have a good explanation for what those $20 are buying.

3. Things you use for a significant fraction of your life (bed: 1/3rd, office-chair: 1/4th) are worth investing in.

Beer Mode and Coffee Mode – David Perell

Wed, 06 Jan 2021 07:28:01 -0700

Beer Mode and Coffee Mode – David Perell

Creatives have two ways of working: open mode and closed mode.

Open mode is a state of unfocused play where you discover new ideas. In contrast, closed mode is a state of focus where you work towards a specific outcome.

The problem with traditional productivity advice is that it doesn’t take open mode seriously. Standard tropes like turn off the Internet, tune out distractions, and turn towards your goals are all examples of closed mode thinking. The productivity world is oriented around closed mode because it’s easy to define, easy to measure, and therefore, easier to write about.

A Team Charter Template You Can Use Today

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 21:58:32 -0700

A Team Charter Template You Can Use Today

August 17, 2018

Digital Collaboration

Remote Work

Visual Thinking

Templates

[

Back to All Posts](https://www.mural.co/blog) David Chin

Design Strategist at MURAL // Moving beyond the pixels to connect intuition, reason, and opportunity.

What qualities define a successful, productive team?

✔︎ Dedication

✔︎ Transparency

✔︎ Empathy

✔︎ …

The list goes on and on…

There are many concepts that qualify as “positive team attributes”, but not every team works in the same way or values the same things – so there’s no universal guide that every team can follow to find success.

The 3 most effective ways to build trust as a leader – Know Your Team | Blog

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 21:54:18 -0700

The 3 most effective ways to build trust as a leader – Know Your Team | Blog

Based on data from 597 people, the best ways to build trust as a leader aren’t what you think they are.

How do you build trust as a leader? The answer seems intuitive enough.

For many of us, we hold company off-sites and run team-building activities. Informal lunches, monthly social get-togethers, and one-on-one meetings are part of how we build trust at work.

A 25-Year-Old Bet Comes Due: Has Tech Destroyed Society?

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 09:48:59 -0700

A 25-Year-Old Bet Comes Due: Has Tech Destroyed Society?

In 1995, a WIRED cofounder challenged a Luddite-loving doomsayer to a prescient wager on tech and civilization’s fate. Now their judge weighs in.

On March 6, 1995, WIRED’s executive editor and resident techno-optimist Kevin Kelly went to the Greenwich Village apartment of the author Kirkpatrick Sale. Kelly had asked Sale for an interview. But he planned an ambush.

Kelly had just read an early copy of Sale’s upcoming book, called Rebels Against the Future. It told the story of the 19th-century Luddites, a movement of workers opposed to the machinery of the Industrial Revolution. Before their rebellion was squashed and their leaders hanged, they literally destroyed some of the mechanized looms that, they believed, reduced them to cogs in a dehumanizing engine of mass production.

Reverse Engineering the source code of the BioNTech/Pfizer SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine – Articles

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 09:46:53 -0700

Reverse Engineering the source code of the BioNTech/Pfizer SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine – Articles

Welcome! In this post, we’ll be taking a character-by-character look at the

source code of the BioNTech/Pfizer SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine.

*I want to thank the large cast of people who spent time previewing this

article for legibility and correctness. All mistakes remain mine though,

but I would love to hear about them quickly at bert@hubertnet.nl or

@PowerDNS_Bert*

Now, these words may be somewhat jarring – the vaccine is a liquid that gets

Owning Your Onboarding (Specially in Remote Work)

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 18:46:25 -0700

Owning Your Onboarding (Specially in Remote Work)

Career moves like starting a new role are challenging, can often be unnerving, and for sure requires leveling up.

A few months back, I accepted an offer with another business group at Intel. To me, it was a great way of exploring new opportunities within the company and experiencing another flavor of its engineering culture. This new role was a scale-up from my previous one, a lot of new areas for me to contribute, learn, and explore.

3 Ways to Increase Running Cadence for Speed – PodiumRunner

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 18:08:49 -0700

3 Ways to Increase Running Cadence for Speed – PodiumRunner

To run faster, you either need to take longer strides or quicker strides. While both stride length and rate will increase as you become a fitter, stronger, more experienced runner, focusing on increasing your running cadence, or stride rate, may help you get faster quicker and more safely.

Runners, especially inexperienced or developing runners, often take longer strides when they speed up. “Among most distance runners, bias is always toward stride length initially,” says Bryan Heiderscheit, Director of the Runner’s Clinic through the University of Wisconsin Sports Medicine Center and a leading researcher on cadence. “Then they start to have that overstriding, overreaching landing.”

The Rise Of Everywhere – AVC

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 17:46:37 -0700

The Rise Of Everywhere – AVC

This is a theme I have come back to many times over the last decade but in the wake of all of the headlines about high profile founders, VCs, and companies leaving the bay area, I thought I would return to it.

There is no question that the bay area is losing some talent to other markets but I don’t think that is anywhere near the most important thing. It is also the case that Google and Apple show no signs of leaving the bay area any time soon. Silicon Valley will remain a mecca for talent and tech for as far into the future as I can see.

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 11:07:45 -0700

Sat, 02 Jan 2021 12:27:49 -0700

Checked in at Coalton Trailhead.

39.9289008-105.1666641

Doing Old Things Better vs. Doing Brand New Things

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 14:55:35 -0700

Doing Old Things Better vs. Doing Brand New Things

New technologies enable activities that fall into one of two categories: 1) doing things you could already do but can now do better because they are faster, cheaper, easier, higher quality, etc. 2) doing brand new things that you simply couldn’t do before. Early in the development of new technologies, the first category tends to get more attention, but it’s the second that ends up having more impact on the world.

Manager OKRs, Maker OKRs: How Early Stage Startups Should Think About Goal-Setting

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 14:55:33 -0700

Manager OKRs, Maker OKRs: How Early Stage Startups Should Think About Goal-Setting

You’re Not Yet Google, So Don’t Blindly Mimic Their Processes

#### Hunter Walk

Dec 21, 2020·4 min read

Google’s internal management approach has sustained and scaled pretty impressively over the years. Quantitative goal-setting, setting stretch targets — these principles are as evident in the 2020s as they were when I arrived in 2003. Underpinning it all are OKRs — Objectives and Key Results — the framework by which individuals, teams and the entire company is managed. Xoogler Don Dodge did a…

Team Initiatives — Stop Starting and Start Finishing

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 14:55:32 -0700

Team Initiatives — Stop Starting and Start Finishing

Dennis Nerush Dec 31, 2020 · 5 min read

Let me know if this sounds familiar: your teammate comes up with an idea to do something great with our infrastructure, a suggestion to improve some bad process, or just a question that is worth discussing with the team, however, it stops there — in the “idea” or “suggestion” phase. How about another scenario where the team actually agrees to change something in their process, but, a few weeks later, everyone forgets about it as it wasn’t fully adopted. A week later another teammate suggests a different thing, and this cycle repeats itself.

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 15:54:04 -0700

Checked in at Molly’s Spirits.

39.7787255-105.0594376

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 14:08:23 -0700

Checked in at REI.

39.755622-105.009853

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 16:06:23 -0700

Checked in at Spangalang Brewery.

One on the way home

39.7550951-104.9770794

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 13:22:56 -0700

Checked in at Joyride Brewing Company.

Bike and beer, again! — with erika

39.753086-105.0535794

Freezing, Ornot. Tips for cool weather riding.

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 12:20:21 -0700

Freezing, Ornot. Tips for cool weather riding.

December 22, 2020

4 min read

Riding in the summer is 100% more comfortable than the winter. No argument. But, zwifting all winter may be 100% of a bummer. So, get out in the cold, ride your bike, feel that cold air in your lungs. Below are some tips beyond the typical, “dress in layers”, “wear our wool cap“, “use this jacket“, you need these full length bib tights, etc.

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 15:35:51 -0700

Checked in at City Park Lake.

39.746241-104.949138

Sat, 26 Dec 2020 12:43:10 -0700

Checked in at Highline Canal Trailhead.

39.5643891-104.9972002

Thu, 24 Dec 2020 12:39:49 -0700

Checked in at Waterton Canyon.

39.491323-105.0936893

Sun, 20 Dec 2020 14:03:55 -0700

Checked in at Joyride Brewing Company.

Ride here on Leroy. Very distanced, on the rooftop. Still feels weird — with erika

39.753086-105.0535794

Sun, 20 Dec 2020 13:05:14 -0700

Checked in at REI.

39.755622-105.009853

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 11:45:19 -0700

Gather & Give – Snow Peaker Responses

Sun, 13 Dec 2020 23:24:28 -0700

Gather & Give – Snow Peaker Responses

< Back to Blog

Written by: Savanna Frimoth

November

30th

2020

During the week of Thanksgiving, we asked our community of Snow Peakers to join us in spreading the spirit of giving through a series of giveaways. Your answers blew us away and we’re grateful to each person who participated. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorites and hope you enjoy reading them as much as we did! Despite the year’s challenges, we hope you all can find some solace in the outdoors, gratitude for loved ones and hope for the new year to come.

Sun, 13 Dec 2020 11:08:29 -0700

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 09:28:46 -0700

Stripe: Platform of Platforms – Stratechery by Ben Thompson

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 22:08:47 -0700

Stripe: Platform of Platforms – Stratechery by Ben Thompson

Today Stripe is announcing Stripe Treasury; from the company’s press release:

Stripe, the technology company building economic infrastructure for the Internet, today announced that it is launching Stripe Treasury. This gives Stripe’s platform users powerful APIs to embed financial services, enabling their customers to easily send, receive and store funds…

Stripe Treasury…enabl[es] platforms like Shopify to easily offer its merchants access to critical financial products to manage their businesses’ finances. With Stripe Treasury, platforms can offer their users interest-earning accounts eligible for FDIC insurance in minutes, enabled by Evolve Bank & Trust. Platform business customers can have near-instant access to revenue earned through Stripe, spend this directly from their balance with a dedicated card, transfer it via ACH or wire transfer, pay bills, and more.

Stripe’s Remote Engineering Hub, One Year In

Sun, 29 Nov 2020 22:54:44 -0700

Stripe’s Remote Engineering Hub, One Year In

Last May, Stripe launched our remote engineering hub, a virtual office coequal with our physical engineering offices in San Francisco, Seattle, Dublin, and Singapore. We set out to hire 100 new remote engineers over the year—and did. They now work across every engineering group at Stripe. Over the last year, we’ve tripled the number of permanently remote engineers, up to 22% of our engineering population. We also hired more remote employees across all other teams, and tripled the number of remote Stripes across the company.

7 ways of giving feedback that encourage change – Know Your Team | Blog

Sun, 29 Nov 2020 22:38:57 -0700

7 ways of giving feedback that encourage change – Know Your Team | Blog

You’re giving feedback because you want your team to improve. Here’s how to give feedback that precisely helps nudge your team in the right direction.

The reason you’re giving feedback is that you want something to be different, in the first place. You want a direct report to make sure he’s not rubbing the rest of the team the wrong way. You want a new hire to improve how she interacts with clients.

Brutal Honesty And Radical Candor: 6 Ways You’re Getting Radical Candor Wrong And 5 Ways To Get It Right | Radical Candor

Sun, 29 Nov 2020 22:28:28 -0700

Brutal Honesty And Radical Candor: 6 Ways You’re Getting Radical Candor Wrong And 5 Ways To Get It Right | Radical Candor

We have learned something really important from the way that the press sometimes covers Radical Candor. And we want your advice on how to communicate this idea more clearly. We want to learn to describe Radical Candor in a way that is not open to misinterpretation: too often press articles assert that Radical Candor is the same thing as brutal honesty, as front-stabbing, or that it is some sort of license to be a jerk. It is none of those things!

Sun, 29 Nov 2020 16:03:13 -0700

Open-source excursions: A journey into remote record keeping – Increment: Remote

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 13:22:03 -0700

Open-source excursions: A journey into remote record keeping – Increment: Remote

Can you list the key points of the last meeting you attended? No? You’re not alone.

Let’s be real: We spend way too much time in meetings to leave them wondering what the point was.

Why is this so often the case?

Because we tend to leave meetings without a record of what happened, we don’t have useful artifacts to guide further action. Whether 30 minutes or two hours, the time spent in these discussions is unfulfilling, lost, and—dare I say—depleting.

How to Ruthlessly Prioritize Tasks to Get More Done

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 12:31:45 -0700

How to Ruthlessly Prioritize Tasks to Get More Done

Checking items off your to-do list is a beautiful thing—but it’s also easier said than done. The best way I’ve found to make sure you complete your tasks is through ruthless prioritization. That means deciding not to do things you’d really like to do. It also means deciding what’s the most important task even when everything on your list feels crucial.

Why Everyone’s Suddenly Hoarding Mason Jars

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 09:41:21 -0700

Why Everyone’s Suddenly Hoarding Mason Jars

How the must-have hipster vessel of DIY authenticity also became a foreboding signal of the economy.

#### Jen Doll

12 hours ago·12 min read

Illustration: Ariel Davis

Late this summer, after the pandemic turned everyone into an amateur gardener and home cook, a frenzy erupted on Facebook. Food historian Sarah Wassberg Johnson first spotted it while perusing a private Facebook group called Recipes of North Dakota — everyone was talking about mason jars. “For many of them, food preservation is a part of their daily life,” says Wassberg Johnson, who grew up in Fargo. They were keeping tabs on where they saw canning jars and lids, trying to nail down a fast-moving target. “It was this live tracking of them — this store in this town, this hardware store had them — where can you get them?”

Relax for the Same Result

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 09:23:14 -0700

Relax for the Same Result

from the book “Hell Yeah or No”:

Relax for the same result

2015-10-02

A few years ago, I lived in Santa Monica, California, right on the beach.

There’s a great bike path that goes along the ocean for seven and a half miles.

So, fifteen miles round trip.

On weekday afternoons, it’s almost empty.

It’s perfect for going full speed.

So a few times a week, I’d get on my bike and go as fast as I could for the fifteen-mile loop.

The Future of Work Is Written

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 09:20:25 -0700

The Future of Work Is Written

Contrary to popular belief, distributed work isn’t a modern invention. The Roman Catholic Church, for example, has been working at a distance for centuries; so have organizations like the Hudson’s Bay Company.1 Distributed work is the evolution of telecommuting, which originated with in-home sales like the Tupperware parties of the 1950s. Telecommuting itself was later adopted by government institutions like NASA, motivated by the 1970s energy crisis, and eventually found its way to technology companies like IBM.

Can You Really Measure Individual Developer Productivity?

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 16:53:01 -0700

Can You Really Measure Individual Developer Productivity?

A reader asks a question that comes up at some point in every engineer’s and engineering manager’s career, where their manager, or the one above will pop the question. Can you measure engineering productivity? And if so, how can we measure it right now? They ask:

I work as an engineering manager for a company whose non-technology leadership insists there has to be a way to measure the individual productivity of a software engineer. I have the opposite belief. I don’t believe you can measure the productivity of “professional” careers, or thought workers (ex: how do measure productivity of a doctor, lawyer, or chemist?). For software engineering in particular, I feel that metrics can be gamed, don’t tell the whole story, or in some cases, are completely arbitrary.

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 12:43:23 -0700

Checked in at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.

39.8198151-104.8611075

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 17:06:54 -0700

The Age of Infinite Leverage

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 18:08:36 -0700

The Age of Infinite Leverage

Guest Author & Illustrator: Andrew Yu Text adapted from Eric Jorgensen and The Almanack of Naval Ravikant

Leverage allows you to accomplish 100x what others can – it is a force multiplier for your effort, skill, and judgement.

Today, we live in an age of infinite leverage where our work can be replicated at no cost, and we don’t need permission to get started.

The economic rewards for genuine intellectual curiosity have never been higher – it’s time to make today’s labor tomorrow’s leverage.

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 11:37:41 -0700

Sun, 22 Nov 2020 09:01:34 -0700

Product Thinking vs. Project Thinking

Sat, 21 Nov 2020 00:28:59 -0700

Product Thinking vs. Project Thinking

Kyle Evans Follow

Oct 22, 2018 · 8 min read

One of the biggest challenges a product manager will face (or an organization for that matter) is trying to elevate thinking and culture from a project level to a product level.

Project Thinking

Project thinking is fairly pervasive. Many folks, especially in software development, have spent a lot of their careers focused on projects and project management. Large organizations often have PMO departments, focused exclusively on project management. It’s not surprising, because project management has been around a very long time. And we as humans tend to think in terms of projects: things we need to get done.

How The ‘Lost Art’ Of Breathing Can Impact Sleep And Resilience

Sat, 21 Nov 2020 00:17:39 -0700

How The ‘Lost Art’ Of Breathing Can Impact Sleep And Resilience

Breathing slowly and deeply through the nose is associated with a relaxation response, says James Nestor, author of Breath.As the diaphragm lowers, you’re allowing more air into your lungs and your body switches to a more relaxed state.

Sebastian Laulitzki/ Science Photo Library

Humans typically take about 25,000 breaths per day — often without a second thought. But the COVID-19 pandemic has put a new spotlight on respiratory illnesses and the breaths we so often take for granted.

When Covid hit, I started walking 20,000 steps a day. It’s changed my life | Walking | The Guardian

Sat, 21 Nov 2020 00:08:16 -0700

When Covid hit, I started walking 20,000 steps a day. It’s changed my life | Walking | The Guardian

Show caption

Walkers at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York. Photograph: Caitlin Ochs/Reuters

The uplift

When Covid hit, I started walking 20,000 steps a day. It’s changed my life

Setting a daily goal made me fitter, boosted my mood and allowed me to explore parts of New York I’d never seen before

Your First Day as a New Engineering Manager

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 23:04:46 -0700

Your First Day as a New Engineering Manager

When you join a new team as a manager, it may seem like complete chaos to you. Everything and everyone is unfamiliar. The amount of information you need to absorb is immense. It feels overwhelming and confusing. You’re trying to understand the product, meet the team, learn architecture, and, at the same time, make sure the execution continues.

Usually, you have to push back on requests and demands to protect the team from over-commitment on day one. It may feel uncomfortable or even stressful as a new person on the team, but necessary.

Growing with your company’s complexity.

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:54:41 -0700

Growing with your company’s complexity.

When finishing up a difficult project, I sometimes pause to dream

about how it’ll nudge my career forward. My thinking advances

down the storyline of “If I bundle this project with a few others, mix in good team health,

add a dash of time for the flavor to deepen, and undoubtedly this

will get me to the coveted next level.”

Then I’ll take a few minutes to savor the future.

How Real Product Teams Make OKRs work: Survey Results – Mind the Product

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:45:33 -0700

How Real Product Teams Make OKRs work: Survey Results – Mind the Product

In collaboration with NEO Culture, Mind the Product conducted a short survey on OKRs investigating their use in product teams in real companies. Now, the results are in.

In this post, we’ll provide an overview of the survey results and, if you’re a Mind the Product member you can access an extended report including analysis of all the areas covered below – go to the extended report.

Assign Problems (Not Work) to Your Teams to Build Extraordinary Products

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:40:15 -0700

Assign Problems (Not Work) to Your Teams to Build Extraordinary Products

To leverage the huge unused potential, we need to define the primary role of product managers and their collaboration with development teams quite differently. Product managers should be assigning their teams problems to solve instead of predefined work to get done. We need product managers and team leads to become experts in facilitating inclusive participatory problem-solving in their teams to build innovative products long-term, and to solve the hard problems of their businesses.

Frameworks

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:30:51 -0700

Frameworks

#### Sarah Tavel

Sep 28·3 min read

A successful framework distills the complex, and in that synthesis, gets to a timeless insight. That’s always my aspiration, to varying degrees of success.

Here’s a running list of frameworks I’ve written on a range of topics.

Recipes to build enduring, mass-market businesses:

10x and Cheaper — What do Airbnb, Amazon, Netflix, Uber, and WhatsApp all have in common? They created a 10x better product and made it cheaper by recasting cost structures of incumbents.
Saving people money — Fintech edition for 10x and Cheaper. It’s not just about being able to buy something better for less. This recipe also applies if you help someone do more with their money.
Democratizing development — If you can democratize something that is valuable but previously the domain of a few specialized talents, you can dramatically expand (and capture) a market. In this (very old) post I talk about this framework with a focus on software development.
Rocks, Sand, Water —We know that consumer companies fight a zero-sum game for a user’s attention, but some companies find it easier to get that DAU than others. Why? A framework for thinking about how a consumer divides their time up in a day.

Product / Strategy

3 Keys to Career Success: The Pieces of PIE – Mondo Frank

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:27:07 -0700

3 Keys to Career Success: The Pieces of PIE – Mondo Frank

How well you do your job has very little to do with how successful you are in your professional career. Or, more precisely, how well you do your prescribed work will account for about 10% of your overall success. That’s according to Harvey Coleman in his book Empowering Yourself, The Organizational Game Revealed. Briefly stated, Coleman asserts that career success is based on the 3 key elements of Performance, Image and Exposure (a.k.a. PIE):

Paint Drip People

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 20:40:46 -0700

Paint Drip People

Keith Adams worked on kernels at VM Ware. Then virtual machines. Then search performance at Facebook. Then the HHVM implementation of PHP. Then machine

Keith Adams worked on kernels at VM Ware. Then virtual machines. Then search performance at Facebook. Then the HHVM implementation of PHP. Then machine learning. Now he’s Chief Architect at Slack. In between he worked on hundreds of little projects that lasted hours or days or weeks. Keith is a Paint Drip Person.

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 10:17:22 -0700

The Pyramid of Clarity: A Way to Achieve Strategic Alignment

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 16:21:08 -0700

The Pyramid of Clarity: A Way to Achieve Strategic Alignment

Leading with clarity

& Jennifer Nan

How do you get your company to produce great results? This can be hard, even if your company is comprised of smart, well-intentioned people. It’s hard to get everyone aligned in the same direction, and it’s even harder to get everyone to continue running in the same direction.

Part of the challenge is keeping sight of the forest for the trees. Most people spend the majority of their time executing on day-to-day work, so it’s easy to get caught up in daily details and lose sight of the bigger picture. This is a dangerous mistake because it can lead to inadvertently optimizing for the wrong goal.

Jeffrey Paul: Your Computer Isn’t Yours

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 16:17:47 -0700

Jeffrey Paul: Your Computer Isn’t Yours

It’s here. It happened. Did you notice?

I’m speaking, of course, of the world that Richard Stallman predicted in 1997. The one Cory Doctorow also warned us about.

On modern versions of macOS, you simply can’t power on your computer, launch a text editor or eBook reader, and write or read, without a log of your activity being transmitted and stored.

It turns out that in the current version of the macOS, the OS sends to Apple a hash (unique identifier) of each and every program you run, when you run it. Lots of people didn’t realize this, because it’s silent and invisible and it fails instantly and gracefully when you’re offline, but today the server got really slow and it didn’t hit the fail-fast code path, and everyone’s apps failed to open if they were connected to the internet.

Sat, 14 Nov 2020 22:36:11 -0700

Sat, 14 Nov 2020 09:29:31 -0700

Checked in at Costco.

Nothing stops us from visiting this place. Apparently. — with erika

39.7898409-105.0825361

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 13:18:53 -0700

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 12:00:13 -0700

Checked in at Denver Botanic Gardens.

Things are looking a bit dead, but still love this place — with erika

39.7317459-104.960289

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 11:59:09 -0700

Checked in at Copper Door Coffee Roasters.

New spot at the Gardens — with erika

39.733362-104.959918

How to Structure Teams for Building Better Software Products

Sat, 07 Nov 2020 20:44:33 -0700

How to Structure Teams for Building Better Software Products

Team Topologies Book Summary

Matt Lane Jun 25, 2020 · 8 min read

Book by Manuel Pais and Matthew Skelton

The team topology approach treats humans and technology as a single sociotechnical ecosystem, and thus it takes a team-sized architecture approach (people first) rather than a technology-first approach, e.g., the monolith vs microservices debate. NOTE: If you have microservices but are still waiting to do…

Good Decision-Making Depends on an ‘Archer’s Mindset’

Sat, 07 Nov 2020 20:44:30 -0700

Good Decision-Making Depends on an ‘Archer’s Mindset’

A professional poker player’s advice for optimizing outcomes

#### Annie Duke

Oct 16·4 min read

Photo: hobo_018/Getty Images

Most decisions are ultimately a guess. You can’t be certain that anything you do will lead to a specific outcome, and you can’t know the exact likelihood of any outcome at all. Part of becoming a better decision-maker is shifting your mindset about guessing.

Sat, 07 Nov 2020 16:14:00 -0700

Checked in at Zoka’s.

Been a while since I dropped in here. Felt like I should celebrate Biden/Harris.

39.4075594-105.3158132

Sat, 07 Nov 2020 13:14:10 -0700

Checked in at Buffalo Creek.

39.3631894-105.2536716

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 10:24:15 -0700

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 11:40:43 -0700

Memento Mori — i4design

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 21:19:06 -0700

Memento Mori — i4design

Memento mori (Latin ‘remember that you [have to] die’) is an artistic or symbolic reminder of the inevitability of death. – Wikipedia

When you’re young and healthy, it’s understandable to feel invincible and for death to be an abstract concept, either happening to those belonging to earlier generations or the unlucky. At some point, we all come to realize that we are actually mortal; when people close to us die we are reminded of mortality, but I didn’t realize how differently it would feel when faced with my own. Surviving a heart attack, having surgery, and making the necessary adjustments to my life has made an already unusual 2020 even more poignant.

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 16:30:53 -0700

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 16:12:11 -0700

Checked in at New Terrain Brewing Co.

Gotta pay for my parking… 🍺

39.7794665-105.1860322

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 16:11:27 -0700

Checked in at North Table Mountain Park.

Needed a ride today, so cut out early.

39.7815012-105.2245574

Managers: what do you do when your teammate shares their grief? | Lara Hogan

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 12:42:12 -0700

Managers: what do you do when your teammate shares their grief? | Lara Hogan

Managers: what do you do when your teammate shares their grief?

Originally posted Oct 29, 2020

Most of us aren’t taught how to respond when someone shares with us a really heavy piece of information.

My mom is a pastor, so growing up, I watched her model how to have tough conversations about grief, loneliness, and despair. Though I haven’t always gotten it right, this informal education helped me navigate conversations with direct reports as they shared tough news (e.g. a parent dying, miscarriage, divorce, or needing to leave the country). These days it’s helped me more and more with friends who are processing old trauma, and new grief.

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 20:40:55 -0700

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 16:17:51 -0700

Checked in at Ratio Beerworks.

with erika

39.7615117-104.981292

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 11:52:47 -0700

Checked in at West Mag Trailhead.

39.9473132-105.5169941

Sat, 31 Oct 2020 15:01:53 -0600

Checked in at Costco.

with erika

39.7898409-105.0825361

Sat, 31 Oct 2020 12:10:12 -0600

Checked in at Mt. Falcon Vantage Point.

39.6373189-105.2191351

Sat, 31 Oct 2020 11:00:18 -0600

Checked in at Summer White House.

39.6403391-105.2184838

The Myth Of the Grand Unified UX Metric

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 11:46:09 -0600

The Myth Of the Grand Unified UX Metric

In 2003, The Harvard Business Review published an article by a consultant named Fred Reichheld, called The One Number You Need to Grow. In this article, Fred described how asking a single question, on a numeric scale, could predict customer loyalty and, subsequently, business success. He called his measure the Net Promoter Score (NPS).

Though lots of businesses still use it, it turns out that the Net Promoter Score doesn’t predict either loyalty or business success. By itself, the score proves to not be any more useful than following the horoscope in the daily newspaper.

A Navy SEAL, a Quadcopter, and a Quest to Save Lives in Combat

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 11:44:01 -0600

A Navy SEAL, a Quadcopter, and a Quest to Save Lives in Combat

On the battlefield, any doorway can be a death trap. A special ops vet, and his businessman brother, have built an AI to solve that problem.

Fifteen years ago, when I returned home after fighting in Iraq, a friend asked me to describe the bravest thing I saw anyone do. I had led a Marine platoon in the Second Battle of Fallujah, in 2004, and had seen plenty of heroism—Marines dragging their wounded off machine-gun-swept streets, or fighting room to room to recover a comrade’s body. But none of these compared to the cumulative heroism of the 19- and 20-year-old infantrymen who placed their bodies across that fatal funnel—a doorway with a potential enemy inside—every day. Clearing the enemy from the city, house by house, was a game of Russian roulette played on a grand scale. You never knew who might be waiting on the other side of the door.

Netflix’s ‘Keeper Test’ and Why You Need It | Lorne Rubis

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 21:10:16 -0600

Netflix’s ‘Keeper Test’ and Why You Need It | Lorne Rubis

Key Point: I was revisiting the now famous set of slides developed by Netflix CEO Reed Hastings and then (2012) Netflix chief talent officer, Patty McCord. The Netflix “people philosophy” was posted on the web for anyone to read. Over five million people have now viewed the principles behind Netflix culture and HR strategy. The PowerPoint itself is without any “whiz bang.” In fact, by presentation standards, it’s lousy. It went viral primarily based on the merits of the slide content and challenge to much conventional thinking regarding people and culture.

Collaborative Single Player Mode

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 21:06:12 -0600

Collaborative Single Player Mode

The Product Hunt engineering team has always been remote and it’s surprisingly small for all the features and products we are shipping. One of our “secret” weapon for this is what we call “collaborative single-player mode”.

The single-player mode was something I heard for the first time from Andreas Klinger, the previous CTO of Product Hunt. He often talks about it.

The core of the idea is simple – everyone should be able to execute without depending on other people. Especially in a remote environment, when people work at different times, this is essential.

Early Work

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 21:00:57 -0600

Early Work

October 2020

One of the biggest things holding people back from doing great work

is the fear of making something lame. And this fear is not an

irrational one. Many great projects go through a stage early on

where they don’t seem very impressive, even to their creators. You

have to push through this stage to reach the great work that lies

beyond. But many people don’t. Most people don’t even reach the

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 22:31:44 -0600

How a one line change decreased our build times by 99%

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 08:06:44 -0600

How a one line change decreased our build times by 99%

Pinterest Engineering Oct 23 · 3 min read

Urvashi Reddy | Software Engineer, Engineering Productivity Team
Adam Berry | Tech Lead, Engineering Productivity Team
Rui Li | Software Engineer, Engineering Productivity Team

The Engineering Productivity team at Pinterest came across a small change that had a large impact in reducing build times across pipelines. We found that setting the refspec option during git fetch reduced our build times by 99%.

The Days Are Long but the Decades Are Short

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 17:22:57 -0600

The Days Are Long but the Decades Are Short

I turned 30 last week and a friend asked me if I’d figured out any life advice in the past decade worth passing on. I’m somewhat hesitant to publish this because I think these lists usually seem hollow, but here is a cleaned up version of my answer:

Never put your family, friends, or significant other low on your priority list. Prefer a handful of truly close friends to a hundred acquaintances. Don’t lose touch with old friends. Occasionally stay up until the sun rises talking to people. Have parties.

The Decision Matrix: How to Prioritize What Matters

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 17:16:12 -0600

The Decision Matrix: How to Prioritize What Matters

The decisions we spend the most time on are rarely the most important ones. Not all decisions need the same process. Sometimes, trying to impose the same process on all decisions leads to difficulty identifying which ones are most important, bogging us down and stressing us out.

I remember once struggling at the intelligence agency shortly after I received a promotion. I was being asked to make too many decisions. I had no way to sort through them to figure out which ones mattered, and which ones were inconsequential.

A Framework for Making Smarter Decisions and Fewer Errors

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 17:10:17 -0600

A Framework for Making Smarter Decisions and Fewer Errors

Few things will change your trajectory in life or business as much as learning to make effective decisions.

The decision-making principles in this article aren’t pulled out of thin air. They’re the result of many years of experience and experimentation. They draw upon the combined expertise of some of history’s deepest thinkers. They summarize the core insights and skills from influential books on decision-making.

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 11:46:52 -0600

Checked in at Park Hill Supermarket.

with erika

39.7721936-104.9434538

Sat, 24 Oct 2020 10:29:44 -0600

Sat, 24 Oct 2020 10:29:04 -0600

11 Essential Communication Skills for the Workplace

Sun, 18 Oct 2020 22:58:03 -0600

11 Essential Communication Skills for the Workplace

You probably believe you’re a decent communicator. You know how to fire off an email or a Slack message; you smile and nod when your colleague is talking; you have a firm handshake (remember those?).

Then again, similar to how 73% of people think they’re above-average drivers (which is, of course, a mathematical impossibility), many of us are likely over-estimating our abilities when it comes to communicating.

Sat, 17 Oct 2020 06:56:10 -0600

Limiting Work in Progress

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 23:14:41 -0600

Limiting Work in Progress

In many organizations today there is one thing that almost always is true: there

are too many things done in parallel, there is too much work-in-progress,

everyone is busy but nothing gets done. If this is so ubiquitous why is no one

doing anything about it? Are people not aware or do they not know how to fix it?

This is so predominant, that it almost is too easy to just claim:

A Manifesto for Small Teams Doing Important Work

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 23:03:15 -0600

A Manifesto for Small Teams Doing Important Work

We are always under tight deadlines, because time is our most valuable asset.

If you make a promise, set a date. No date, no promise.

If you set a date, meet it.

If you can’t make a date, tell us early and often. Plan B well prepared is a better strategy than hope.

Clean up your own mess.

Clean up other people’s messes.

Groups Search for Consensus, Individuals Search for Truth

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 23:01:16 -0600

Groups Search for Consensus, Individuals Search for Truth

Naval: What’s considered to be true is fought over. Individuals search for truth but groups search for consensus—and society is the largest group. So the biggest problem we run into is this: What society wants for you is not always what’s good for you.

Even smart people go along with society’s lies

Even smart, critical thinkers go along with many of society’s truths, knowing deep down they are lies.

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 21:56:57 -0600

Working With Cross Functional Teams: Master Effective Collaboration in the Workplace

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 14:32:00 -0600

Working With Cross Functional Teams: Master Effective Collaboration in the Workplace

As I played multiple roles in cross functional teams over years – developer on a small part of the product to leading engineering teams to guidance in a leadership role, I experienced feelings of frustration, anger, disappointment and at times even helplessness. With continued focus on cross functional team collaboration in every organisation, I failed to understand why there’s so little investment in setting up these teams for success.

healthOS

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 22:28:01 -0600

healthOS

This essay was co-authored by Rob Litterst and Nathan Baschez

1

“What do we do with Apple,” Jim Cramer barked, sleeves rolled above his elbows, “now that it’s become one of the most hated stocks around?”

It was January 2019, and AAPL was in free fall. The main concern was the iPhone. Growth seemed to be slowing, and investors were panicked.

Shares cost just $150 — 35% down from the all-time high they hit a few months prior. Things were so bad that Ben Thompson published an article that week titled “Apple’s Errors” and led with this chart:

Four Vital Signs of SaaS | Scale Venture Partners

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 19:14:00 -0600

Four Vital Signs of SaaS | Scale Venture Partners

SaaS metrics should be to a management team what patient vital signs are to an emergency room doctor: a simple set of universally understood numbers that allow a doctor to quickly know how ill a patient is and what needs fixing first.

Heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and temperature are the big four vital signs in the ER. Everyone knows what they are, what they mean, and what good and bad looks like. When a patient is wheeled in, the doctor does not start by asking the EMT, “How exactly are we defining heart rate?” This shared understanding allows for rapid evaluation then fast, focused action.

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 12:53:05 -0600

Asking Better Questions

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 23:28:55 -0600

Asking Better Questions

At Amplitude, I facilitate lots of workshops. Many of these workshops center around deciding what to measure. This starts, of course, with asking good questions. Good questions help teams focus their measurement/telemetry efforts, and increase the likelihood that what they measure will enable valuable insights. A couple of well chosen events and event properties beat out a firehose of data and/or an autotrack solution any day.

In this post, I’d like to share some helpful approaches to eliciting impactful questions so that your team can make better decisions about what to measure. This takes practice, but better question asking is within any team’s reach.

Dropbox goes Virtual First

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 23:11:46 -0600

Dropbox goes Virtual First

Dropbox has always prioritized creativity and collaboration as key to building a thriving business, and our office spaces were designed for it. Though we make software that helps people work from anywhere, most of our employees came to an office every day.

This year’s abrupt shift to remote work was jarring for us, along with everyone else. But we’re fortunate that our product helped us transition pretty seamlessly, and that it helped others too—we’ve seen increased adoption and usage this year. As virtually all work becomes digital, organizing all your team’s content in one place has never felt so important.

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 19:15:05 -0600

Checked in at Insomnia Cookies.

Dessert because we deserve it — with erika

39.6790964-104.9596617

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 18:51:34 -0600

Checked in at Yum Yum Spice.

Fooooood. Not doing dine-in at all. Take out only. — with erika

39.6795024-104.9597084

What’s Luck Got to Do With It? (Postmortems)

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 23:01:13 -0600

What’s Luck Got to Do With It? (Postmortems)

October 6, 2020

One element I’ve seen repeatedly is reference to “How did we get lucky in this incident?” It’s an aspect of incidents some like to discuss, because I also hear it in conversations and stories about incidents: “Oh man, we were so lucky that Beth happened to be on-call that particular night!”

But I’ve always wondered: why do people bother asking this question? What’s the goal of discussing what amounts to the finer points of randomness and “noise” in a complex socio-technical system? Unless you happen to be in possession of one of those probability-altering devices from the second season of Deep Space Nine, it seems like a pretty pointless digression.

How narcissistic leaders infect their organizations’ cultures | Haas News | Berkeley Haas

Sun, 11 Oct 2020 21:58:00 -0600

How narcissistic leaders infect their organizations’ cultures | Haas News | Berkeley Haas

Image credit: Olivier Le Moal for iStock

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all? The answer: not the organizations led by narcissists.

A new paper by Berkeley Haas Prof. Jennifer Chatman and colleagues shows not only the profound impact narcissistic leaders have on their organizations, but also the long-lasting damage they inflict. Like carriers of a virus, narcissistic leaders “infect” the very cultures of their organizations, the researchers found, leading to dramatically lower levels of collaboration and integrity at all levels—even after they are gone.

Sun, 11 Oct 2020 11:55:47 -0600

Checked in at 11 Mile Reservoir.

38.9478044-105.5008087

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 17:09:36 -0600

Checked in at King Soopers.

Final supplies. Heading camping! — with erika

39.7021648-104.9415049

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 12:00:46 -0600

Post-Commit Reviews

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 23:12:09 -0600

Post-Commit Reviews

Cindy Sridharan Jul 12 · 9 min read

I recently read an excellent article in the Amazon Builder’s Library by Clare Liguori which goes into great detail about AWS’s CI/CD architecture. It’s a truly brilliant post and I recommend everyone interested in CI/CD infrastructures read the article. The article covers the gamut from unit testing to integration testing (in production) to staged rollouts in “waves” to automated rollbacks. I guarantee there’s something valuable you’ll learn from the article even if you’re not building the largest distributed systems in the world like AWS does.

What Working At Stripe Has Been Like | Kalzumeus Software

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 22:52:26 -0600

What Working At Stripe Has Been Like | Kalzumeus Software

I joined Stripe four years ago to make starting an Internet business easier, mostly by work on Stripe Atlas. This has been a series of adjustments for me: to working as an employee, to experiencing hypergrowth, to being closer to the Silicon Valley culture, and to some of the challenges in balancing career and other commitments during my life stage and the global coronavirus pandemic of 2020.

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 14:55:13 -0600

Checked in at A.F. Williams University Physicians.

39.7603891-104.9009681

How to take meeting notes – Beyond Bare Hands

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 23:31:03 -0600

How to take meeting notes – Beyond Bare Hands

Hi friend,

Long time no chat. I’ve spent August figuring out how learning works and how we can apply spatial cognition and computers to improve how we learn. And I’ve got some pretty exciting stuff coming out in the next few weeks. Spoiler: if you’ve ever tried learning how to program but failed miserably, you’ll appreciate this even more.

But today I want to talk memory.

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 14:07:37 -0600

Planning a remote offsite. The team I support has traditionally… | by Uma Chingunde | Oct, 2020 | Medium

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 23:19:04 -0600

Planning a remote offsite. The team I support has traditionally… | by Uma Chingunde | Oct, 2020 | Medium

Uma Chingunde Oct 3 · 5 min read

The team I support has traditionally done offsites twice a year. We are very distributed and find it useful to spend time together in the same location as a team at a planned cadence. This is important to get to know each other socially, plan work, and have some planning and strategy conversations. We usually do them in the summer as a team and the entire company does a large gathering in the winter. Due to Covid this year’s plan was delayed but after some thought we decided to do a “remote offsite”. I shared our experience via a Twitter thread and got questions around logistics so I’m sharing notes on what worked for us. A lot of these ideas came from the entire team, particularly my stellar staff team which is the managers and engineers who report directly to me.

Unlock Your Productivity by Taking Better Notes

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 23:10:44 -0600

Unlock Your Productivity by Taking Better Notes

As managers, we have to multitask a lot. Switching between meetings, random conversations, one on ones, status updates, planning, presentations all the time. It feels overwhelming and exhausting. Keeping everything organized is the key to be productive and supporting your team. Context switching is draining your energy and focus. It gets even worse if you don’t have a system that helps you arrange everything in order, prioritized with clear action items.

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 21:27:51 -0600

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 15:04:42 -0600

Checked in at Eddyline Restaurant & Brewery.

Boooo line. I’m so hungry.

38.8412445-106.1195122

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 08:15:40 -0600

Checked in at Coffee Lab.

Coffee line out the door!

38.900404-106.966597

Sat, 03 Oct 2020 20:22:03 -0600

Checked in at Elevation Hotel & Spa.

Take out banquet and cocktails back on my room. Could be a lot worse.

38.899347-106.9663892

Sat, 03 Oct 2020 19:46:57 -0600

Sat, 03 Oct 2020 19:31:12 -0600

Checked in at Slogar’s.

I’m going to die after this meal, and I can’t wait.

38.8682107-106.9875736

Sat, 03 Oct 2020 18:58:47 -0600

Sat, 03 Oct 2020 18:50:16 -0600

Checked in at The Dogwood Cocktail Cabin.

I absolutely love this place. Only just caught it before their off season!

38.8702125-106.9860392

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 19:48:17 -0600

Coinbase is a mission focused company

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 23:16:19 -0600

Coinbase is a mission focused company

Brian Armstrong Follow

Sep 27 · 8 min read

There have been a lot of difficult events in the world this year: a global pandemic, shelter in place, social unrest, widespread protests and riots, and west coast wildfires. On top of that we have a contentious U.S. election on the horizon.

Everyone is asking the question about how companies should engage in broader societal issues during these difficult times, while keeping their teams united and focused on the mission. Coinbase has had its own challenges here, including employee walkouts. I decided to share publicly how I’m addressing this in case it helps others navigate a path through these challenging times.

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 18:43:08 -0600

A Primer on Engineering Delivery Metrics

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 23:45:31 -0600

A Primer on Engineering Delivery Metrics

Before joining Stripe, I had the opportunity to build, grow, and lead the Splice engineering organization for almost four years (yes, still I mix up the names). The most challenging engineering problem I’ve had to tackle so far has been working on accelerating software delivery in an organization that grew from 5 to 55+ engineers in my first 18 months. As the Splice team expanded, our ability to deliver software ground to a halt. The processes that worked when the company was small couldn’t support the explosive growth, and we needed to find a way to get back on track. By focusing on delivery metrics, we were able to increase the rate of software delivery drastically, and you don’t have to take my word for it, let’s look at a graph of cycle time (or delivery lead time) from May 2018 to April 2019.

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 10:07:22 -0600

How exclusion and trauma impact workforces

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 23:31:41 -0600

How exclusion and trauma impact workforces

As an epigenetic and executive coach to some of the world’s largest technology companies, I have dedicated my career to understanding the biology of belonging and the toxic, pervasive effects of exclusion in the workplace.

In the past five years, there has been a significant push for inclusion in the workplace, encouraging leaders to absorb an abundance of programming on how to build inclusive cultures, teams, and brands. But to build anything “inclusively,” we must first saliently understand where we are excluding. We need to focus on the insidious ways in which we permit exclusion in our corporate culture and commit to behaving and thinking differently.

How to Prioritize Your Company’s Projects

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 23:02:27 -0600

How to Prioritize Your Company’s Projects

Building Great Engineering Teams

Every organization needs what I call a “hierarchy of purpose.” Without one, it is almost impossible to prioritize effectively.

When I first joined BNP Paribas Fortis, for example, two younger and more dynamic banks had just overtaken us. Although we had been a market leader for many years, our new products had been launched several months later than the competition — in fact, our time to market had doubled over the previous three years. Behind that problem was a deeper one: We had more than 100 large projects (each worth over 500,000 euros) under way. No one had a clear view of the status of those investments, or even the anticipated benefits. The bank was using a project management tool, but the lack of discipline in keeping it up to date made it largely fruitless. Capacity, not strategy, was determining which projects launched and when. If people were available, the project was launched. If not, it stalled or was killed.

Building Great Engineering Teams

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 22:30:36 -0600

If you have ever come across The Pragmatic Engineer, you probably know the man behind it, Gergely Orosz. More than a simple blog, or newsletter, it is a treasure trove of knowledge on the ins and outs of Engineering, Engineering Management and, in general, all things leadership in tech. As the website name implies, Gergely is all about pragmatism and helping engineering leaders develop themselves, while delivering massive value to their companies and those around them.

The Management Flywheel

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 15:42:05 -0600

The Management Flywheel

Camille Fournier Sep 22 · 5 min read

Have you ever worked on a team that felt like it was just stuck in a rut? Somehow things were always just one fix away from improving: the next project, the next quarter, the next hire, this would turn the situation around. And yet these projects came, the quarters went by, new people were hired and joined and left and nothing ever really improved. It’s a sadly common situation, and one of the few that I believe can be laid squarely at the feet of the team’s manager.

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 14:02:35 -0600

Sat, 26 Sep 2020 10:33:07 -0600

Checked in at Alderfer/Three Sisters Park.

39.6233801-105.3464171

10 tips for growing a globally distributed engineering team

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 22:49:27 -0600

10 tips for growing a globally distributed engineering team

Jason Smale Dec 27, 2019 · 14 min read

Zendesk has built out a global engineering team spread across four continents, nine countries and 10 cities around the world. We started the journey relatively early in our company’s life, it’s been difficult, and we’ve learned lessons along the way. Many of the things we got right, came from key people who had run global teams before (and knew the mistakes they didn’t want to repeat). Many of the things we got wrong, were based on assumptions that Zendesk would work as another business did. We’ve learned there’s no perfect strategy for expanding beyond head office, but we have been able to refine down some of the core beliefs that anchor us. These seem applicable beyond Zendesk, so I wanted to share. To do that, it’s worth spending a little time talking about how Zendesk grew up, so you can understand the incremental decisions we made to get to where we are today.

Thoughts on Managerial Practices. Preface | by Toby Murdock | Aug, 2020 | Medium

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 22:26:22 -0600

Thoughts on Managerial Practices. Preface | by Toby Murdock | Aug, 2020 | Medium

Photo by Brian Scott on Unsplash

Toby Murdock Aug 28 · 14 min read

Preface

This document expresses my thoughts on best managerial practices to drive business success based upon my experience in many organizations and in particular upon my tenure as CEO of Kapost. There are many drivers of business success — function-specific practices, external strategy decisions, culture, organizational health, etc. By managerial practices I refer to internal practices that are applicable across functions. In defining success I include the various perspectives of the many stakeholders involved: customers, shareholders and colleagues. Many of these concepts I learned the hard way, i.e. by doing the opposite. My own practice of the concepts is a work in progress.

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 19:28:43 -0600

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 08:26:10 -0600

Written Communication Is Remote Work Super Power

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 23:32:39 -0600

Written Communication Is Remote Work Super Power

Update: An interesting discussion around this started in hacker news

The remote work environment is different from the office. Different environments call for different communication systems. A communication system that is adapted to the remote work reality can unlock amazing benefits: (even) better productivity, a competitive advantage in the long run and much a better work-life balance on top of it all.

Asynchronous written communication is the tool best suited for remote work. We are so used to talking to each other in the office, expecting immediate responses in work chat, and having meetings all day, that we tried to replicate that at home with zoom and slack.

The traits of good remote leaders · Intense Minimalism

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 23:22:20 -0600

The traits of good remote leaders · Intense Minimalism

A study based on 770 people over six months analyzed which sets of traits are more effective at different levels of remoteness, thus helping us answering the question of what are the differences between remote leads and in-person leads that make them successful? I’ve distilled two sets of traits from the paper.

In-person leads are defined by matching and projecting the idea of leadership to the people in the team (projecting “being”).
These are their traits:

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 15:26:13 -0600

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 13:58:04 -0600

A Quick Primer on the Rule of 40 | Scale Venture Partners

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 09:20:35 -0600

A Quick Primer on the Rule of 40 | Scale Venture Partners

There is an expansive universe of SaaS metrics out there. Which is great for tracking performance internally, as it allows a company to customize metrics to reflect its operating realities. But what if you want to compare performance between companies? That’s when the lack of standard definitions becomes a problem. Just look at how many ways customer retention is calculated.

The Passion Economy and the Future of Work

Sun, 20 Sep 2020 23:13:57 -0600

The Passion Economy and the Future of Work

These stories are indicative of a larger trend: call it the “creator stack” or the “enterprization of consumer.” Whereas previously, the biggest online labor marketplaces flattened the individuality of workers, new platforms allow anyone to monetize unique skills. Gig work isn’t going anywhere—but there are now more ways to capitalize on creativity. Users can now build audiences at scale and turn their passions into livelihoods, whether that’s playing video games or producing video content. This has huge implications for entrepreneurship and what we’ll think of as a “job” in the future.

Sun, 20 Sep 2020 10:32:56 -0600

Checked in at Creekside Mountain Bike Loop.

Looking forward to what promises to be a beautiful ride!

39.9259592-105.8588833

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 11:40:27 -0600

Things to Know About Engineering Levels

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 10:19:50 -0600

Things to Know About Engineering Levels

This twitter thread seemed to strike a chord with people, rather astonishingly so. I am transcribing parts of it for the sake of longevity and findability.

I keep talking to engineers who are antsy to get to senior and beyond, frustrated that it is taking so long. And I’ve encountered one very, very widespread blind spot around leveling

Which is …✨not every opportunity exists✨at every company✨at every time.✨

Options, Not Roadmaps

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 10:11:35 -0600

Options, Not Roadmaps

Since Shape Up came out, many people asked some version of this question:

I understand you make bets six weeks at a time. But how do you plan in the longer term? Don’t you have some kind of a roadmap?

The short answer is: no. We don’t have roadmaps. We think about what to do at the timescale larger than single bets, but we do it in a different way.

Using Drones to Disrupt the Status Quo

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 10:01:22 -0600

Using Drones to Disrupt the Status Quo

From Standing Rock to Syria, drones are being used to hold the powerful to account. Let’s keep it that way.

Drone-based digital imagery can be used to better estimate the size of large crowds. Source: author image

By: Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick

The civil rights movement and Moore’s law are colliding to transform politics. On the street, smartphone technology is being used to document social life as never before, putting power into the hands of the public and making eyewitnesses of us all.

An Open Letter to Matt Mullenweg: What folks often get wrong about Jamstack

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 23:20:55 -0600

An Open Letter to Matt Mullenweg: What folks often get wrong about Jamstack

WordPress Co-Founder Matt Mullenweg claims the Jamstack isn’t ready for prime time, here’s what he’s missing.

Richard MacManus had an interesting email exchange with Matt Mullenweg, creator of WordPress and co-founder/CEO of Automattic, about the Jamstack. It resulted in an Aug 31, 2020, writeup in TheNewStack. I have a deep appreciation for Matt’s role in shaping web publishing but also feel that his points (e.g. “JAMstack is a regression for the vast majority of the people adopting it”) are a bit misleading. Matt chooses to compare a modern architecture like the Jamstack to a monolithic product like WordPress. I don’t expect a recently popularized architecture to provide the tailored features that a 15-year-old product has. We should be asking whether Jamstack is a better architecture than LAMP and what gaps currently exist with products and solutions built on top of the Jamstack.

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 22:30:42 -0600

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 17:51:00 -0600

Checked in at GREEN MOUNTAIN PARK.

with erika

39.6904016-105.1522934

When a Jump Down to a Smaller Scope is a Jump up in Maturity and Wisdom – Plato

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 23:25:03 -0600

When a Jump Down to a Smaller Scope is a Jump up in Maturity and Wisdom – Plato

Problem

In 2016 I was leading supply growth with four subteams totaling 35 people, which was a pretty large scope. As a part of a reorganization, I was asked to join a much smaller team of only a PM and one and a half engineer (one person being part-time). It was a humbling moment — I went down in scope in terms of reports but that helped me understand what really matters and allowed me to work in a high leverage area of the company. Eventually, the scope increased and the team became larger, but learning what I did was far more important.

Can Engineering Productivity Be Measured?

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 23:19:58 -0600

Can Engineering Productivity Be Measured?

I follow you on Twitter and read your blog. I particularly enjoy this post: https://charity.wtf/2019/05/01/friday-deploy-freezes-are-exactly-like-murdering-puppies/ I’m reaching out looking for some guidance.

I work as an engineering manager for a company whose non-technology leadership insists there has to be a way to measure the individual productivity of a software engineer. I have the opposite belief. I don’t believe you can measure the productivity of “professional” careers, or thought workers (ex: how do measure productivity of a doctor, lawyer, or chemist?).

When Your Coworker Does Great Work, Tell Their Manager

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 23:12:31 -0600

When Your Coworker Does Great Work, Tell Their Manager

I’ve been thinking recently about anti-racism and what it looks like to support

colleagues from underrepresented groups at work. The other day someone in a

Slack group made an offhand comment that they’d sent a message to an engineer’s

manager to say that the engineer was doing exceptional work.

I think telling someone’s manager they’re doing great work is a pretty common

Stephen Olmstead of inVision about approaching remote work as a fully distributed team – NoHQ Remote Work Guides

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 23:02:25 -0600

Stephen Olmstead of inVision about approaching remote work as a fully distributed team – NoHQ Remote Work Guides

Stephen Olmstead is the Chief of Staff at the fully remote company inVision, the well-known digital product design platform. As the right-hand to the inVision CEO he takes part in a lot of parts of a well-working fully distributed remote-first company. What it took to grow a fully distributed business over almost a decade and how this all changes in the times of COVID-19 in our interview.

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 15:57:06 -0600

Replacing Wink with Home Assistant

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 15:57:03 -0600

I used to have Wink set up, managing some smart home devices throughout our house. I liked it because the app UI was quite nicely done, and it seemed to be compatible with “everything”. I had even upgraded from their version 1 hub, to the version 2. But then a few months ago they decided (somewhat out of the blue) that they were going to start charging a subscription fee. Coupled with some recent outages and frequent command delays, and it was the “motivation” I needed to invest in a Home Assistant system, and move away from Wink entirely.

The surprising traits of good remote leaders – BBC Worklife

Sat, 12 Sep 2020 19:09:33 -0600

The surprising traits of good remote leaders – BBC Worklife

Strong in-person leadership skills don’t necessarily translate to being a good virtual leader. Instead, organisation and competency reign supreme. F

Fifteen years ago, Steven Charlier, chair of management at Georgia Southern University in the US, had a hunch that in-person charisma and leadership skills don’t translate virtually. “Before I became an academic, I worked for IBM for a number of years on a lot of virtual teams,” he says. “I had a boss who was a wonderful guy and great manager, and he drove me crazy trying to communicate. He was incredibly slow and unresponsive.”

If Management Isn’t a Promotion, the Engineering Isn’t a Demotion

Sat, 12 Sep 2020 19:03:10 -0600

If Management Isn’t a Promotion, the Engineering Isn’t a Demotion

I wrote a piece this week about what motivates people to become managers (tldr mostly org dysfunction), and Julian Dunn replied with some typically insightful tweets:

(I originally titled this article “Julian Dunn and the Case of the Bad Manager”, lol)

God, YES. This is something that has been on my queue of “topics to write about” for so long, and I haven’t because it’s just too big (and sometimes I tell myself, optimistically, it’s just too obvious?).

Sat, 12 Sep 2020 17:16:43 -0600

Checked in at REI.

39.755622-105.009853

Sat, 12 Sep 2020 13:47:19 -0600

Checked in at Centennial Cone Park.

39.7497555-105.383095

Sat, 12 Sep 2020 10:44:53 -0600

Checked in at Centennial Cone Park.

Back to conquer Travois.

39.7497555-105.383095

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 14:18:22 -0600

Checked in at Pepsi Center Parking Lot.

#covid-19 test 💀

39.7457733-105.0101729

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 13:42:43 -0600

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 16:47:09 -0600

Useful randomness & how we play

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 23:17:08 -0600

Useful randomness & how we play

This week we uncovered an assorted collection of signals that focus on how randomness can be used to Useful randomness & how we play

By Ethical Futures Lab • Issue #30 • View online

This week we uncovered an assorted collection of signals that focus on how randomness can be used to obscure and inspire, and how tech breakthroughs are changing how we play with machines. Save some time to poke around at beautiful devices from Soviet history and to draw lots of very wrong cats. —Alexis & Matt

Principles Trump Processes

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 23:06:41 -0600

Principles Trump Processes

Photography is a hobby for me. As a novice photographer, I believed the camera makes the photo. Whenever I met a fellow hobby photographer, I would discuss things related to photography, but mostly would gravitate to cameras. That was until I stumbled on Sephi. He shoots exquisite photos on an iPhone, debunking the myth that the “camera makes the photo.”

Camera, lenses, bags, and filters are the visible parts of photography, and they are easy to debate, discuss, and dissect. Learning the fundamentals of lighting, composition, and creativity is the hardest, so many photographers are not interested in them.

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 11:52:58 -0600

Checked in at King Soopers.

with erika

39.6933489-105.3584421

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 18:06:53 -0600

Checked in at Spangalang Brewery.

Picking up our monthly beer club… and some extra — with erika

39.7550951-104.9770794

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 10:32:34 -0600

Checked in at Little Scraggy TH.

39.3449083-105.2574834

Sat, 05 Sep 2020 20:34:31 -0600

Checked in at The Plimoth.

Actually dining out 😱 — with erika

39.7571239-104.9588845

Independence, Autonomy, and Too Many Small Teams

Fri, 04 Sep 2020 17:55:32 -0600

Independence, Autonomy, and Too Many Small Teams

“The two pizza team” paradigm has become really popular in the context of organizing software teams. The idea is to have small, self-reliant teams working independently to solve problems. The “two-pizza” refers to the guidance to keep the team small enough that we need not order more than two pizzas to feed them.

These teams are all around us today, but we are not seeing the kind of productivity or shipping velocity that we expected to see. Most developers, especially in larger organizations, complain about meetings, the burden of communication, the slow pace of change etc. Startups often sell themselves to potential candidates by touting their agility. But why should larger companies be slow if everyone is using the same “empowered team”/”autonomous team” model for organizing themselves?

How to Spot and Magnify the Powers of Your Engineering Superheroes

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 19:37:37 -0600

How to Spot and Magnify the Powers of Your Engineering Superheroes

It may not be instinctual to link director Christopher Nolan and Looker founder Lloyd Tabb, but the two might view the world through a shared lens. A serial entrepreneur, Tabb has assembled development teams for his startups by classifying engineers by their superhero personas, rather than by standard roles. As Nolan created a reality that hinges on the counterbalance of heroes and antiheroes in The Dark Knight Trilogy, so does Tabb with his engineering team.

Why Johnny Won’t Upgrade · Jacques Mattheij

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 18:20:36 -0600

Why Johnny Won’t Upgrade · Jacques Mattheij

Software distribution has over the years gone through an enormous revolution in efficiency. Originally, software was developed on things called ‘plug boards’, a matrix of sockets that allowed quick (or so they thought) re-configuration of computing hardware to adapt it to different problems. This was soon followed by papertape, then the punched card deck, a stack of paper cards that contained the program code in a series of holes punched into the paper. Special readers and writers took care of reading, ordering and punching the cards. Woe to you if you dropped a deck of such cards or if your reader jammed or you spilled coffee all over a deck. (From personal experience: if you don’t immediately copy such a deck; within 10 minutes or so the cards will swell to the point that the reader will jam, this will not make your boss happy.) That principle plus miniaturization caused a quick succession of hardware based software distribution models culminating in ROM cartriges, a physical device that you buy which contains the program.

Skydio Engagement and Responsible Use Principles

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 23:13:24 -0600

Skydio Engagement and Responsible Use Principles

Skydio Jul 13 · 3 min read

Our mission is to make the world more productive, creative, and safe with autonomous flight.

We consider the holistic impact our products have on communities and countries. Our focus is on advancing our mission to make the world more productive, creative, and safe. We are shaped by core values of accountability, transparency, and the protection of privacy and civil liberties. Informed by these values, we seek positive impact. This also requires us to proactively understand and mitigate potential misuse.

Feedback Equation | Lara Hogan

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 22:43:44 -0600

Feedback Equation | Lara Hogan

Feedback Equation

Originally posted Jul 15, 2018

As I mention in my book Demystifying Public Speaking, humans are mostly bad at giving feedback. We’re also really bad at preparing ourselves to receive feedback.

Many of us are paralyzed by the fear of having these awkward conversations. We actively avoid asking for feedback because it’s just so painful sometimes, and often we receive nonspecific, general feedback from others. I wrote a whole chapter in that book about feedback, because I so deeply want folks to learn how to deliver (and request!) better feedback at work.

Debugging Engineering Velocity and Leading High-Performing Teams

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 22:40:06 -0600

Debugging Engineering Velocity and Leading High-Performing Teams

Problem

You have a solid set of engineers, you’ve embraced OKRs and Agile, you’ve got standups, and you also do Sprint planning and retrospectives. But have you still felt frustrated by your team’s speed of execution? Have you asked yourself, perhaps in the middle of a Sprint planning session, are we stuck?

Why do some teams seem to work faster than others? Why do some people perceive a team as too slow, while others think the same team is working at a good pace? And why do engineers on some teams appear to be more satisfied and more motivated than those on other teams?

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 17:28:50 -0600

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 09:08:32 -0600

Product Operating Rhythm

Sun, 30 Aug 2020 23:15:45 -0600

Product Operating Rhythm

One of the toughest challenges I’ve faced while running product teams in the past is knowing which level to engage a team and when. Anyone can easily get caught up in debates about specific product details and unpacking a singular OKR status. And while that level of granularity is important, going there at the wrong time is often a major distraction for a team.

As teams scale, there’s an inflection point when you add a layer of product leadership between yourself and the teams closest to the work. I most recently felt this when Thumbtack moved from a totally flat product org to one with a lead in each key area. The processes that worked for a flat org led to a lack of clarity as the org matured.

Sun, 30 Aug 2020 15:11:30 -0600

Checked in at Denver Botanic Gardens.

with erika

39.7317459-104.960289

Why Tech Companies Need Science Fiction Writers On Staff

Sun, 30 Aug 2020 09:41:21 -0600

Why Tech Companies Need Science Fiction Writers On Staff

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 16:59:44 -0600

Checked in at Big Shooter Coffee.

40.059231-106.3915863

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 16:50:36 -0600

Checked in at Kremmling.

40.057949-106.393674

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 11:23:17 -0600

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 13:49:34 -0600

Checked in at Skull Creek Greek.

Kind of #burritofriday

40.4850772-106.8335321

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 22:37:41 -0600

Convergent Evolution

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 22:58:31 -0600

Convergent Evolution

This entry is part 9 of 9 in the series Recognitions

Gabriel Ugueto. “Chamosaurine Phylogeny.” 2016.

Similarly to how social media collapsed high and low culture into a sinuous, middling unibrow; it made room for the fringe to graze the mainstream while allowing outliers and niche practitioners a foot in the door. Though institutional barriers to entry persist, a new art world has never been more possible. It would however be blinkered to consider it only in terms of finished and sanctified outputs; which often makes parameters of fault lines ripe for the pushing. Because it’s structural, the revolution won’t be televised until it’s irreversible and given us its first, fixed forms. The bet is safe, though: anticipate swerves wherever generalised crisis meets new media, patronage and deep shifts in values. The history of the avant-garde has never been more forward-facing.

Thoughts on Conway’s Law and the Software Stack

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 22:57:35 -0600

Thoughts on Conway’s Law and the Software Stack

Ramblings from Jessie

I’ve been talking to a lot of people in different layers of the stack during my

funemployment. I wanted to share one of the problems I’ve been thinking about

and maybe you can think of some clever solutions to solve it.

Conway’s Law states “organizations which design systems … are constrained

to produce designs which are copies of the communication structures of these

The Cadence: How to Operate a SaaS Startup

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 22:50:02 -0600

The Cadence: How to Operate a SaaS Startup

You think you need a COO. What you really need is an operating philosophy.

David Sacks Jul 1 · 13 min read

Let’s face it: most startups are a shitshow. Perhaps the most pervasive problem afflicting venture-backed startups, once they achieve a basic level of product-market fit, is managing the organizational chaos that results from rapid growth. Almost by definition, this is a chronic challenge of Series A-C stage startups since the rapid expansion of the team to chase a new market opportunity is the purpose of that venture funding in the first place. During this time, the growing pains of the startup will reach such a crescendo that the founders and board will cry out as one, “we need a COO!”

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 10:34:31 -0600

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 13:21:01 -0600

The Magic Wand Approach to Surfacing People’s Strengths

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 23:19:52 -0600

The Magic Wand Approach to Surfacing People’s Strengths

Everyone wants to succeed, and for managers, that means leading highly capable teams that deliver excellent results. In order to drive team members to deliver successfully, managers need to identify what those capabilities are and harness them in a way that serves the organizational goals.

There are many approaches to identifying and evaluating employees’ skills. Some rely on measurable tests and assessment methodologies. Others are less formal and rely on observation, such as what people are known for, and are asked to do again and again (more on that in Whitney Johnson’s HBR article).

How We Experience Code

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 23:12:10 -0600

How We Experience Code

How your first programming language shapes your perspective

DEV.BIZ.OPS Aug 13 · 5 min read

It was a simple question. I did not expect a large response. I was genuinely curious though when the thought popped in my head while I was taking a shower that morning. So I posted the following on Twitter and LinkedIn and moved on with work:

What was your first programming language?

What I got was a steady stream of responses that are still going strong since a week ago. It was both a blast from the past and a pleasant journey looking back into how many of us geeks and techies got our start in the software business. I welcome you to share your first experience with programming in the comments!

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 18:19:37 -0600

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 17:06:36 -0600

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 14:02:24 -0600

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 12:28:20 -0600

Sun, 16 Aug 2020 22:04:40 -0600

Sun, 16 Aug 2020 21:53:17 -0600

Sun, 16 Aug 2020 12:21:39 -0600

Checked in at Dushanbe Teahouse.

This place is such a random, cool addition to Boulder.

40.0154171-105.2773564

Sat, 15 Aug 2020 22:32:43 -0600

Build effective remote design teams with the right communication model – Automattic Design

Sat, 15 Aug 2020 10:36:54 -0600

Build effective remote design teams with the right communication model – Automattic Design

As designers, we are often very comfortable in working together using the physical space to our own advantage — critiques, workshops, brainstorming sessions, etc. It’s usually part of our education, and it evolves with our practice and experience. Facilitating an in-person workshop is second nature to many of us. Which is why one of the most common questions about working without being in the same room is: how do you design remotely?

Sat, 15 Aug 2020 10:15:20 -0600

Tools of the trade: How I communicate at GitHub (and why)

Sat, 15 Aug 2020 09:09:33 -0600

Tools of the trade: How I communicate at GitHub (and why)

One of my favorite “laws” is Conway’s Law, an adage that organizations will design systems that mirror their communication structure. As I’ve long said, “how you work is as important as what you work on”:

The tools you choose matter. Tools are more than mere convenience. Tools force teams into particular workflows, workflows that constrain not just how software is produced, but what software is possible. It’s no coincidence then that the open source community, in order to produce the type of software it produces, adopts vastly different tools than most enterprise developers have available to them at their office.

Growth Without Goals

Sat, 15 Aug 2020 09:00:08 -0600

Growth Without Goals

Four years ago, soon after learning that my wife was pregnant with our first child, I was sitting on the Metro-North commuter train, reading. I was thinking about being a father; specifically, I was wondering what it would take to be a great father. Unconditional love and support seemed obvious. Patience too. But what could I teach my son Pierce and future kids that would help them live good, fulfilling lives? That day, I read the following passage from Jiddu Krishnamurti:

Chipping Away at a Monolith

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 23:25:29 -0600

Chipping Away at a Monolith

My team recently embarked on a journey toward unbundling our part of Gusto’s monolithic Ruby on Rails app.

A monolithic app is a single application that contains code across many domains. The boundaries are unclear. The domains are fuzzy. Typically, as a monolithic app grows, it becomes increasingly difficult for developers to make changes due to unexpected consequences. This is especially true for Ruby on Rails applications, as the ✨ Rails magic ✨ encourages side effects, indistinct domains, and generally spaghetti code.

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 22:53:27 -0600

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 11:10:38 -0600

How to Manage a Remote Engineering Team

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 22:46:42 -0600

How to Manage a Remote Engineering Team

One good thing that has come out of the recent quarantine is that we’ve begun to explore what’s truly possible when all kinds of teams work from home. Though there have been growing pains for many in-person office jobs, most people have been able to make it work. Remote engineering teams are no different; they suffer from the same challenges, but they also have an advantage thanks to the great collaborative software options available.

Why Balanced Teams work better together | by Pam Dineva | Product Labs | Medium

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 23:27:48 -0600

Why Balanced Teams work better together | by Pam Dineva | Product Labs | Medium

Pam Dineva Apr 28, 2016 · 5 min read

What is Balanced Team?

Balanced Team is a global movement of people who value multi-disciplinary collaboration and iterative delivery focused on customer value as a source for innovation.

https://cutle.fish/blog/when-you-hear-pay-attention/

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 18:45:54 -0600

https://cutle.fish/blog/when-you-hear-pay-attention/

Note: With dad-hood I’m doing more lists. They’re easier to write while learning to care for this awesome little farting/burping/pooping/smiling human. Apologies if you’re a fan of the longer posts. I’ll get back to them eventually/occasionally.

A quick list of hints that there may be an opportunity for improvement (and/or that you’re about to fall into a trap and need to pay attention):

Might as well do [some extra thing] while we [do the original thing]

Opinion | We’ve Hit a Pandemic Wall – The New York Times

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 18:43:13 -0600

Opinion | We’ve Hit a Pandemic Wall – The New York Times

It’s Not Just You. We’ve All Got a Case of the Covid-19 Blues.

New data show that Americans are suffering from record levels of mental distress.

Opinion Columnist

Lyfe Tavarres in his apartment in Portland, Ore. He has found support during the coronavirus crisis by reaching out to family members and friends.Credit…Leah Nash

I am trying to think of when I first realized we’d all run smack into a wall.

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 18:35:14 -0600

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 09:34:55 -0600

Checked in at Winter Park Resort.

🚵🏼 #MTB #transition #sentinel

39.886844-105.76248

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 17:11:59 -0600

Checked in at Costco.

with erika

39.7898409-105.0825361

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 16:14:40 -0600

Checked in at The Home Depot.

39.7922976-105.0825917

Sat, 01 Aug 2020 18:25:02 -0600

Checked in at Joyride Brewing Company.

39.753086-105.0535794

Sat, 01 Aug 2020 18:13:16 -0600

Checked in at Skyline Pub.

39.748151-105.0536632

Sat, 01 Aug 2020 13:39:54 -0600

Checked in at West Mag Trailhead.

39.9473132-105.5169941

Don’t Work on Vacation. Seriously.

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 11:55:50 -0600

Don’t Work on Vacation. Seriously.

Loading…

Managing yourself

8.95 Buy Copies

Loading…

Executive Summary

As more and more employees shift to flexible work schedules, it’s become increasingly common for people to work during time off. But new research shows that working on weekends or holidays can have a significant impact on intrinsic motivation, leading to both lower employee satisfaction rates and lower quality work product. To combat this, the authors suggest a simple but effective strategy for situations in which working during time off is unavoidable: by mentally reframing time off as “work time,” you’re likely to feel more motivated, find your work more meaningful, and put more effort into your work.

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 17:55:36 -0600

Checked in at New Terrain Brewing Co.

Thursday bike n beer.

39.7794665-105.1860322

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 16:41:04 -0600

Checked in at North Table Mountain Park.

39.7815012-105.2245574

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 14:23:07 -0600

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 19:18:18 -0600

Checked in at Ratio Beerworks.

Feels super weird to sit in a brewery right now — with erika

39.7615117-104.981292

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 17:56:43 -0600

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 13:16:41 -0600

Stepping Stones Not Milestones

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 09:12:01 -0600

Stepping Stones Not Milestones

A mythology often develops around successful large engineering projects. We celebrate the end results and reflect on the positive steps taken to get there but quickly forget about all the missteps and uncertainty along the way. These “moonshot projects” teach engineers a terrible anti-pattern: Large projects addressed via completely disjoint phases of design, execution, and delivery.

This anti-pattern typically manifests itself in one of two ways:

The team that is paralyzed at the prospect of designing a solution to a multi-year problem. The warning signs are months of iteration on design proposals, increasingly complex architectures before a single line of code has been written, optimizations for problems we aren’t even sure exist yet, and an ever-increasing demand for “engineering resources” before we can start building stuff.
The team that has a complete system design and execution plan but doesn’t plan to deliver any value to the company or any means for reevaluation until the very end of the project. The warning signs are usually surprise that a VP is hesitant to green-light the project, or an increasing backlog of dependencies from other teams getting stalled on project completion.

In both cases it’s possible to successfully deliver on a project like this, but it’s a huge risk.

Sat, 25 Jul 2020 15:56:58 -0600

Sat, 25 Jul 2020 15:55:47 -0600

Sat, 25 Jul 2020 15:15:39 -0600

Checked in at Flux Studio and Gallery.

39.709696-105.001738

Sat, 25 Jul 2020 12:47:04 -0600

Checked in at Milk Market.

with erika

39.7531976-104.9971416

Sat, 25 Jul 2020 11:30:47 -0600

Checked in at Patagonia.

39.759197-104.985748

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 18:40:36 -0600

Checked in at GREEN MOUNTAIN PARK.

39.6904016-105.1522934

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 08:27:10 -0600

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 17:41:29 -0600

Checked in at Costco.

with erika

39.7898409-105.0825361

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 14:14:58 -0600

Checked in at Jaime’s Mexican Restaurant.

with erika

39.68155-105.05692

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 14:16:29 -0600

Checked in at Collegiate Peaks Overlook.

38.8167424-106.0866697

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 11:34:51 -0600

Checked in at Tributary Roasters.

Back again! Love this place. — with erika

38.54479-106.92657

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 13:41:29 -0600

Checked in at Eddyline Restaurant & Brewery.

38.8412445-106.1195122

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 12:10:45 -0600

Tiny Wins

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 20:29:30 -0600

Tiny Wins

Over the years, I’ve worked on many important, large-scale projects, from figuring out high level strategy and blue sky products, to overhauling core flows and IA, to implementing design systems from the ground up.

Working on these big projects can be exhilarating. They’re often deemed critical by company leadership and various stakeholders, and it’s validating to be trusted with and attached to something so visible and impactful.

I recently shipped two things at GitHub that had an impact beyond my wildest dreams. The amount of gratitude and love that spilled out of the community is like nothing I’ve seen before.

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 18:12:15 -0600

Checked in at REI.

39.755622-105.009853

Spotify’s Failed #SquadGoals

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 12:17:29 -0600

Spotify’s Failed #SquadGoals

Failed#SquadGoals

Spotify doesn’t use “the Spotify model”
and neither should you.

By Jeremiah Lee

Sunday, April 19, 2020 • Listen • En français • 日本語で • Português (Brasil)

Of all the allures of startup culture, few are more desireable than the speed and nimbleness of a small team. Maintaining that feeling as a company grows is a challenge. In 2012, Spotify shared its way of working and suggested it had figured it out.

Human-scale digital spaces

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 21:23:59 -0600

Human-scale digital spaces

#### Alexis Lloyd

Jul 13·3 min read

Jane Jacobs. Photo: Phil Stanziola

I was watching Citizen Jane last night (a documentary on everyone’s favorite urbanist, Jane Jacobs), and thinking through the parallels between urban planning philosophies and internet ecosystems. In many ways, the tensions between the open web and the platform web perfectly reflect the Jane Jacobs vs. Robert Moses theories of urban planning.

Jacobs’s perspective was that urban life happens at street level, and that access to a wide range of other people on the sidewalks of a city allow for an emergent culture that is unpredictable and messy, vital and communal. On the other hand, Moses’s idea of progress involved sweeping away the mess and unpredictability, creating regimented highways and high-rises that would allow for urban life to be planned, and therefore improved. In many ways the contrast is also about scale — for Jacobs, the city should work at the scale and speed of the pedestrian, whereas Moses believed a modern city should reflect the scale and speed of the automobile.

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 08:29:52 -0600

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 07:55:11 -0600

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 22:54:21 -0600

Sun, 12 Jul 2020 17:41:54 -0600

Sun, 12 Jul 2020 16:22:03 -0600

Fri, 10 Jul 2020 18:16:55 -0600

Checked in at Spangalang Brewery.

with erika

39.7550951-104.9770794

Covid-19 Is Accelerating Human Transformation—Let’s Not Waste It

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 23:02:47 -0600

Covid-19 Is Accelerating Human Transformation—Let’s Not Waste It

The Neobiological Revolution, is here. Now’s the time to put lessons from the Digital Revolution to use.

Back when we started WIRED magazine, it was all digital, all the time. In Silicon Valley, bodies were treated like the somewhat inconvenient and sometimes embarrassing things that needed to be fueled and occasionally rested so that they could support big heads that housed big ideas about the future. Human biology wasn’t exactly on our radar, except in science fiction, where pandemics always seemed du jour.

Gravel Bike Adventures

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 15:21:26 -0600

Excellent curated list of gravel bike rides in Colorado (mostly), and beyond.

https://gravelbikeadventures.com/index/

Sun, 05 Jul 2020 14:22:14 -0600

Checked in at Outer Range Brewing.

39.5892086-106.0989465

Sun, 05 Jul 2020 12:00:48 -0600

Checked in at Peaks Trail.

39.488014-106.0853423

A Guide to Making Better Decisions

Sat, 04 Jul 2020 17:41:42 -0600

A Guide to Making Better Decisions

Villi Iltchev Apr 10 · 4 min read

Making decisions is one of the main jobs of a founder and a manager. The average organization, big and small, makes thousands of decisions every day. How teams make these decisions is one of the most important factors in the health, culture, and success of an organization. I believe the cadence and effectiveness with which an organization makes decisions is directly correlated to its ability to stay ahead of competitors and win in the marketplace. Most decisions are sequential and impact other decisions downstream, which means that an inefficient decision making process has magnifying implications as it reverberates through an organization. Today, in this challenging and disruptive business environment, leaders in every organization are facing difficult and important decisions that will impact the trajectory and success of their companies going forward. Strong culture and processes that facilitate clear and efficient decision making are critical to success, which is why I wanted to offer a few thoughts and observations about making decisions.

How to Overcome Dread Tasks

Sat, 04 Jul 2020 17:30:51 -0600

How to Overcome Dread Tasks

April 2019

There are things you want to do. There are things you need to do. Sometimes these are the same. This post is how to handle life when they aren’t.

The sensation of thinking of a task can be pleasant or painful. This is because your brain is always predicting how rewarding any future scenario will be. You experience joy when your mind is imagining a future fantasy where you’ll be engaged in flow (“when you get to that weekend side-project, things will be interesting, time will fly by”).

Proposal for Near-Future Blogging Megastructures

Sat, 04 Jul 2020 13:23:51 -0600

Proposal for Near-Future Blogging Megastructures

This post is part of Blogging Futures, a collaborative blogchain-based learning adventure exploring how we can reimagine blogging. Feel free to join the conversation!

Blogging is great, but it sometimes feels like every blog is an island. To have a robust blog society requires connection, community, conversation. Part of the problem is we don’t have many great ways to connect blogs together into larger conversation structures.

Addressable ideas & the connective tissue of the web

Sat, 04 Jul 2020 13:16:11 -0600

Addressable ideas & the connective tissue of the web

We’re forgoing our usual format this week to do a deeper dive on signals in a space that’s very close Addressable ideas & the connective tissue of the web

By Ethical Futures Lab • Issue #28 • View online

We’re forgoing our usual format this week to do a deeper dive on signals in a space that’s very close to our hearts (and work) — reading and writing on the internet. We look at the foundational affordances for writing and linking on the web, and explore how some nascent alternatives might change the way we share ideas and have conversations. —Alexis & Matt

Building Strong OKR’s – Plato

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 23:11:53 -0600

Building Strong OKR’s – Plato

Problem

Teams say that they want to be empowered, but when everything is in front of you, it’s really hard to make decisions, defend them, and show how you measure against them.

Actions taken

The simplest OKR’s are the best ones. I spend a lot of time with my teams distilling down their OKR’s. I steer them away from flashy words and big adjectives that take them away from what they are actually doing.
We participate in OKR drafts in a Google Doc that everyone reads and comments on so that it is understood in simple terms by all.
With metrics, I like to put myself in the mindset of a product manager and work with my product counterpart to decide how the feature is being used and what is most important. I then use that as part of my key results for the things I want to measure while trying to achieve those objectives.

Lessons learned

The two questions of ‘what you are doing’ and ‘how you will measure it’ are extremely powerful. Those who are really good at explaining the impact know how to write their OKR’s in a way that is simple and easy to measure. If a non-technical person can’t understand what you are doing you have not written your OKR well. Technical background or not, we are all shareholders and fully empowered to make the decisions around what we want to build within a set of constraints and governance.
I have been in organizations where you do the feature and then you make sure there are enough metrics on it. It doesn’t work that way. Unless you’ve defined the business impact of what you are looking for in your metrics and logs, then it’s just a bunch of garbage data that is being spewed out.
I am really impressed with how many conversations that were originally happening after features had already been built are now part of a Google Docs document early on in the cycle.

Triggered: How one of Colorado’s smallest protests became its most violent

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 21:57:12 -0600

Triggered: How one of Colorado’s smallest protests became its most violent

ALAMOSA — The protesters, about a dozen in all, gathered on June 4 in the intersection of State Avenue and Main Street. Like protesters across the country in the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing by police, they were demanding police accountability and racial justice.

The group occupied the crosswalk during red lights, then stepped to the curb on green. Letting traffic pass, they figured, would help keep things peaceful.

To Be a Great Leader, You Need To Find Time for Yourself – Plato

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 10:17:32 -0600

To Be a Great Leader, You Need To Find Time for Yourself – Plato

Problem

As a leader, you often feel short of time. Blocking time for yourself — free of meetings and calls — is vital for boosting your creativity and setting you up in a pro-active mode. Oftentimes great people have their escape; they run marathons, fly planes, or cycle like I do — they are immersed in activities that are taking them away from the noise of the world. As you climb a career ladder you will have increasingly less time and exceedingly more things that will require your attention. The first thing to get compromised will be your time for yourself. While this is true for almost anyone, leaders will particularly experience it. Your time will become the most significant scarcity and you will have to learn how to secure time for yourself.

Leading Virtually – AVC

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 08:40:31 -0600

Leading Virtually – AVC

Most (all?) of our portfolio companies have been working remotely for over three months now. So have we at USV.

The initial experience with remote work has been mostly positive. The typical comment has been “we are doing a lot better than I expected.” Productivity is up in some places, down in some places, but overall our portfolio companies have adapted to the remote work model quickly and well.

Sun, 28 Jun 2020 13:50:49 -0600

Checked in at Costco Gasoline.

39.78785-105.0831161

Loving this new label at @spangalangbrewery !

Sat, 27 Jun 2020 19:29:15 -0600

https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t50.2886-16/105330423_579297246107529_8734484796582320243_n.mp4?_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&_nc_ohc=l7Kkkm21wM0AX_6gTq4&oe=5EFA241F&oh=71a22a01cef7187805081caaf699bad3

Loving this new label at @spangalangbrewery !

39.7552419-104.9770576 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_me553738f6e4f375e658824a787ada88b = { positions : { 570 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7552419’, ‘-104.9770576’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_me553738f6e4f375e658824a787ada88b’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_me553738f6e4f375e658824a787ada88b.positions ) { gmap_me553738f6e4f375e658824a787ada88b.bounds.extend( gmap_me553738f6e4f375e658824a787ada88b.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_me553738f6e4f375e658824a787ada88b.positions ) { gmap_me553738f6e4f375e658824a787ada88b.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_me553738f6e4f375e658824a787ada88b.map, position : gmap_me553738f6e4f375e658824a787ada88b.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_me553738f6e4f375e658824a787ada88b.map.setCenter( gmap_me553738f6e4f375e658824a787ada88b.positions[570] ); });

Sat, 27 Jun 2020 18:51:59 -0600

Checked in at Spangalang Brewery.

This is our first time consuming anything at a public place since mid-March #covid19 — with erika

39.7550951-104.9770794

Sat, 27 Jun 2020 11:53:59 -0600

Sat, 27 Jun 2020 11:52:24 -0600

What we can learn from early adopters of distributed work

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 23:02:22 -0600

What we can learn from early adopters of distributed work

A conversation with InVision and Automattic, two organizations with a combined 24 years of office-less work experience

Filed under

Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, has been fully distributed since its 2005 inception. In 2017, they experimented with a 15,000 square foot event and community space in San Francisco as an option for Bay Area employees. It looked the part: converted warehouse, open design, a custom-made barn door for good measure. But Automattic’s existing work model was so effective that the space was used infrequently, and the company abruptly ended its lease. No good deed, as it were.

WP-Admin Reference

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 12:59:08 -0600

This is a place where you can quickly reference elements from wp-admin. You can use them in your own plugins.

This is an actual WordPress Dashboard loaded. All the styles and scripts are already available on the admin side. You can just grab the HTML and you are all set.

https://wpadmin.bracketspace.com/

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 11:11:57 -0600

5 Engineering Manager Archetypes – patkua.com

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 14:44:53 -0600

5 Engineering Manager Archetypes – patkua.com

Contents

“There are only two hard things in Computer Science: cache invalidation and naming things.”

— Phil Karlton

Introduction

In today’s tech organisations, you find 2 types of technical leadership roles in teams – Tech Leads and Engineering Managers. Tech Leads are better defined with The Definition of a Tech Lead but the Engineering Manager (EM) role remains unclear. In this article, we will explore 5 Engineering Manager archetypes commonly found in the industry.

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 13:20:57 -0600

The Majestic Monolith

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 23:19:06 -0600

The Majestic Monolith

Monolith by Rene Aigner

Some patterns are just about the code. If your code looks like this, and you need it to do that, here’s what to do. You’d do well to study such patterns, as they give you a deep repertoire of solutions ready to apply and make your code better every time you hit their context.

Then there are other patterns that are less about the code and more about how the code is being written, by whom, and within which organization. The Majestic Monolith is one of those patterns. But before we dive into all its glory, let’s first examine its opposite pattern: Micro/services oriented architecture.

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 22:00:15 -0600

Using OKR Based Leadership to Empower Teams – Plato

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 23:07:56 -0600

Using OKR Based Leadership to Empower Teams – Plato

Problem

In most of the previous companies I have worked with, our goal was to keep empowering teams, yet there was somewhat of a confined matrix around it. So much so, that the teams never truly felt empowered. What we were going to do in the matrix had already been decided. Teams were empowered to find the ‘how’ and maybe contest or argue about estimates in order to inform the ‘what’, and make trade-off decisions around that. These companies would continue to claim that teams were empowered, but in talking to the teams, we all felt rather disempowered.

What comes after Zoom? — Benedict Evans

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 23:00:43 -0600

What comes after Zoom? — Benedict Evans

We had video calls in science fiction, and we had video conferencing in the 1990s, just as the web was taking off, as a very expensive and impractical tool for big companies. It was proposed as a use case for 3G, which didn’t happen at all, and with the growth of consumer broadband we got all sorts of tools that could do it, but it never really became a mass-market consumer behaviour. Now, suddenly, we’re all locked down, and we’re all on video calls all the time, doing team stand-ups, play dates and family birthday parties, and suddenly Zoom is a big deal. At some point many of those meetings will turn back into coffees, we hope, but video will remain.

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 20:15:40 -0600

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 10:04:20 -0600

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 13:41:03 -0600

Sat, 20 Jun 2020 22:54:20 -0600

Sat, 20 Jun 2020 22:51:53 -0600

Time Management as an Engineering Leader — enrich

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 23:32:56 -0600

Time Management as an Engineering Leader — enrich

Many engineering leaders are finding that remote work in today’s circumstances is causing fatigue. Kids and roommates are home, you may not have a proper desk setup, there’s no commute time to zone out and collect your thoughts, and you have to call or type questions to your coworkers and wait for answers instead of looking over your shoulder and quickly asking them. If you’re not able to properly manage your time you’re liable to burn out real quick, and so will your team.

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 12:40:21 -0600

Checked in at Pence Park.

39.6355328-105.2788356

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 10:48:03 -0600

🍆🍆🍆

Posted on Instagram 10:48 am, June 18, 2020

How to never lose another memory again

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 08:46:33 -0600

How to never lose another memory again

Editor’s note: We’ve anonymized the interview subject’s identity at his request.

Seven years ago on July 4th, MC bought his mom a Mother’s Day gift.

We don’t know why MC bought his mom a gift on that date, two months after Mother’s Day. All we know is that it happened on a day when he did laundry, went for a light jog, and finally finished the sixth season of 30 Rock.

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 17:14:12 -0600

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 13:59:06 -0600

How to Run Engineering Team Meetings (and not waste anyone’s time) | Hacker Noon

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 23:52:09 -0600

How to Run Engineering Team Meetings (and not waste anyone’s time) | Hacker Noon

February 3rd 2017

@cat.the.redCatherine Miller

Growing pains: the affliction of all mid-size startups, Flatiron included. It used to be that everyone fit in a single room and overheard everything that was going on; now we barely fit in an auditorium. While there are many struggles in this process (office space, not knowing everyone’s name, needing a second overflow volleyball team), communication is by far the biggest. We want everyone to to be empowered with information, and we want input from as many people as possible; before you know it, our calendars are covered with meetings of all shapes and sizes with tiny “BLOCK: Work” rectangles few and far between.

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 08:28:36 -0600

Betting on Things That Never Change

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 00:55:49 -0600

Betting on Things That Never Change

Amazon launched 22 years ago this week.

Its first web page shows its early days:

What’s neat about this isn’t what’s changed. It’s what’s stayed the same.

The line, “One million titles, consistently low prices” seems like marketing guff. But it helps explain why Amazon has dominated where others have failed.

The allure of the Internet in 1995 was betting on change. New paradigms born. Old strategies discarded. Something requiring radically different thinking.

Avoiding Employee Burnout: How to Help You & Your Team Thrive in Quarantine

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 00:47:59 -0600

Avoiding Employee Burnout: How to Help You & Your Team Thrive in Quarantine

How are you feeling right now?

Like really…how are you doing?

If you’re like most people I’ve spoken to, things are pretty rough with quarantine continuing. You may be feeling it, and there is likely some employee burnout on your team.

An informal poll of my followers on Twitter showed that over 2/3rds of respondents are already feeling burnout symptoms, or feel fully burned out now.

Sat, 13 Jun 2020 20:18:36 -0600

Sat, 13 Jun 2020 13:05:46 -0600

Obsidian

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 18:42:09 -0600

Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base that works on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files.

https://obsidian.md/

Our grimdark meathook cyberpunk now – TechCrunch

Sun, 31 May 2020 23:23:24 -0600

Our grimdark meathook cyberpunk now – TechCrunch

Our grimdark meathook cyberpunk now

@rezendi /

6:00 am PDT • May 31, 2020

Image Credits: Ethan Zhan / Pixabay under a Pixabay License license.

Jon Evans

Contributor

Jon Evans is the CTO of the engineering consultancy HappyFunCorp; the award-winning author of six novels, one graphic novel, and a book of travel writing; and TechCrunch’s weekend columnist since 2010. More posts by this contributor

Ten years ago, the joke was: “It’s weird how, once everyone started carrying phones with cameras all the time, UFOs stopped visiting, and the cops started beating everyone up.” It was darkly funny, then. Now it feels something more like despairing.

Sun, 31 May 2020 22:51:22 -0600

Sun, 31 May 2020 22:29:56 -0600

Sun, 31 May 2020 13:45:58 -0600

Sun, 31 May 2020 13:42:01 -0600

Sat, 30 May 2020 12:56:34 -0600

Checked in at Molly’s Spirits.

Booze Mecca — with erika

39.7787255-105.0594376

Sat, 30 May 2020 11:54:27 -0600

Fri, 29 May 2020 21:12:44 -0600

Fri, 29 May 2020 14:45:14 -0600

Checked in at Centennial Cone Park.

39.7497555-105.383095

Why Everyone Always Hates Redesigns, Even When They’re Good

Tue, 26 May 2020 23:40:04 -0600

Why Everyone Always Hates Redesigns, Even When They’re Good

The strange psychology that shapes your reactions

Angela Lashbrook May 19 · 6 min read

Photo illustration: Angela Lashbrook

In Microprocessing, columnist Angela Lashbrook aims to improve your relationship with technology every week. Microprocessing goes deep on the little things that define your online life today to give you a better tomorrow.

Whenever a popular web interface gets any kind of significant visual change, a lot of people react with confusion, dismay, and even anger. This month, it’s the new Google Docs sharing interface: The Next Web wrote an entire piece detailing complaints about the new sharing menu. One podcaster says she “just doesn’t like it,” and others are “completely baffled.”

The Work of Byron Katie

Tue, 26 May 2020 23:30:29 -0600

The Work of Byron Katie

By Tom Moon, MFT–

Corey came to see me, consumed with hurt and rage. Two years ago, his partner Lyle, whom Corey said “was the love of my life,” abruptly moved out of their apartment and disappeared while Corey was at work. In the following days, Corey discovered that Lyle had been involved with Lyle’s “best friend” for more than a year, and that the two had left the state together. Corey subsequently spent most of his waking hours so preoccupied with angry and vengeful thoughts that his life came to a standstill. He wanted to let go, but he felt completely stuck.

Scrum Made Zero Sense for My Young Startup. So I Designed an Alternative.

Tue, 26 May 2020 00:08:01 -0600

Scrum Made Zero Sense for My Young Startup. So I Designed an Alternative.

Nowadays there are more opinions on how to develop software than there are firms actually doing the development. Some people call programming a science. Others call it engineering, a craft, or even art. Just as coding’s 70-year history has produced hundreds (if not thousands) of languages, it’s also spawned countless processes and frameworks purporting to have the best model for guiding a team to build software.

Product for Internal Platforms

Mon, 25 May 2020 00:43:58 -0600

Product for Internal Platforms

For the past 3 years, I have been running a platform engineering organization. Since that term is vague, where I work it means the software side of infrastructure. Compute platforms like kubernetes, storage systems, software development tools, and frameworks for services are part of the mandate. Our customers are other engineers at the company.

I also oversee the product team for this area. Now, I’m not a product manager (which I’ll shorten to PM for the rest of this post, not to be confused with project manager), and I rely on my PM team heavily for their expertise. But that doesn’t mean that I can personally neglect the product side, and indeed I spend a lot of time thinking about the products and strategy for my org as part of my day-to-day work.

Sun, 24 May 2020 15:18:27 -0600

Checked in at Echter’s Nursery and Garden Center.

with erika

39.7897415-105.0998002

Had a pretty cool little visitor in the garden this evening, slurpin’ on our honeysuckle. #moth

Sat, 23 May 2020 20:11:53 -0600

https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t50.2886-16/98176221_1185865921779341_1219548950954559011_n.mp4?_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&_nc_ohc=qHlN50Nhlc8AX_jsZvA&oe=5ECBD798&oh=258bb8055963c8a939791ec353d0ccea

Had a pretty cool little visitor in the garden this evening, slurpin’ on our honeysuckle. #moth

39.7572-104.967 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m45197d8dbea7668015202ae7c29df75b = { positions : { 858 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7572’, ‘-104.967’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m45197d8dbea7668015202ae7c29df75b’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m45197d8dbea7668015202ae7c29df75b.positions ) { gmap_m45197d8dbea7668015202ae7c29df75b.bounds.extend( gmap_m45197d8dbea7668015202ae7c29df75b.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m45197d8dbea7668015202ae7c29df75b.positions ) { gmap_m45197d8dbea7668015202ae7c29df75b.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m45197d8dbea7668015202ae7c29df75b.map, position : gmap_m45197d8dbea7668015202ae7c29df75b.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m45197d8dbea7668015202ae7c29df75b.map.setCenter( gmap_m45197d8dbea7668015202ae7c29df75b.positions[858] ); });

Sat, 23 May 2020 13:25:51 -0600

Checked in at REI.

39.755622-105.009853

In defense of the modern web – DEV

Fri, 22 May 2020 23:13:35 -0600

In defense of the modern web – DEV

I expect I’ll annoy everyone with this post: the anti-JavaScript crusaders, justly aghast at how much of the stuff we slather onto modern websites; the people arguing the web is a broken platform for interactive applications anyway and we should start over; React users; the old guard with their artisanal JS and hand authored HTML; and Tom MacWright, someone I’ve admired from afar since I first became aware of his work on Mapbox many years ago. But I guess that’s the price of having opinions.

Fri, 22 May 2020 07:49:29 -0600

Yesterday’s ride was much-needed. #sentinel

39.4934-105.38177

#sentinel

Posted on Instagram 7:49 am, May 22, 2020 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_mb634d302d00ef66c1f606e49c35c1bf0 = { positions : { 664 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.4934’, ‘-105.38177’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_mb634d302d00ef66c1f606e49c35c1bf0’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_mb634d302d00ef66c1f606e49c35c1bf0.positions ) { gmap_mb634d302d00ef66c1f606e49c35c1bf0.bounds.extend( gmap_mb634d302d00ef66c1f606e49c35c1bf0.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_mb634d302d00ef66c1f606e49c35c1bf0.positions ) { gmap_mb634d302d00ef66c1f606e49c35c1bf0.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_mb634d302d00ef66c1f606e49c35c1bf0.map, position : gmap_mb634d302d00ef66c1f606e49c35c1bf0.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_mb634d302d00ef66c1f606e49c35c1bf0.map.setCenter( gmap_mb634d302d00ef66c1f606e49c35c1bf0.positions[664] ); });

Thu, 21 May 2020 13:20:45 -0600

Checked in at Stauton State Park.

39.4967784-105.3821254

50 Ideas That Changed My Life — David Perell

Tue, 19 May 2020 22:43:10 -0600

50 Ideas That Changed My Life — David Perell

Here are the 50 ideas that changed my life.

These are my guiding principles and the light of my intellectual life. All of them will help you think better, and I hope they inspire curiosity.

Inversion: Avoiding stupidity is easier than trying to be brilliant. Instead of asking, “How can I help my company?” you should ask, “What’s hurting my company the most and how can I avoid it?” Identify obvious failure points, and steer clear of them.

Spotify vs. Fitbit and the Model of Agile at Scale

Tue, 19 May 2020 22:04:22 -0600

Spotify vs. Fitbit and the Model of Agile at Scale

I thought I was done with the series of articles on the importance of empowered engineers, but then an article came out a few days ago criticizing the Spotify model of Agile at scale, and I could not pass up the opportunity to try to turn this into a teachable moment.

The author criticizes the Spotify model of scaled Agile, but neglects to mention that Spotify built a company now worth more than $25B, while competing – and often winning – against both Apple and Amazon, two of the very best product companies in the world.

Not even wrong: ways to predict tech — Benedict Evans

Tue, 19 May 2020 21:57:36 -0600

Not even wrong: ways to predict tech — Benedict Evans

“That is not only not right; it is not even wrong”

– Wolfgang Pauli

A lot of really important technologies started out looking like expensive, impractical toys. The engineering wasn’t finished, the building blocks didn’t fit together, the volumes were too low and the manufacturing process was new and imperfect. In parallel, many or even most important things propose some new way of doing things, or even an entirely new thing to do. So it doesn’t work, it’s expensive, and it’s silly. It’s a toy.

Tue, 19 May 2020 14:51:22 -0600

Mon, 18 May 2020 15:54:17 -0600

Checked in at GREEN MOUNTAIN PARK.

39.6904016-105.1522934

Sun, 17 May 2020 18:43:23 -0600

My first commissioned “piece”. Made this table for @melbrace303 today from reclaimed fence and pergola wood.

Sun, 17 May 2020 13:09:19 -0600

Checked in at The Home Depot.

39.7119654-105.0700042

Sat, 16 May 2020 17:35:42 -0600

Sat, 16 May 2020 16:00:22 -0600

Sat, 16 May 2020 08:43:56 -0600

Thu, 14 May 2020 14:10:43 -0600

Checked in at Table Mountain.

39.7661706-105.2141266

Thu, 14 May 2020 10:13:09 -0600

Wed, 13 May 2020 16:50:01 -0600

Using Dynalist as a Productivity Tool

Wed, 13 May 2020 16:49:59 -0600

I’ve been searching for years for the “perfect tool” to help me take notes, organize ideas, and keep track of all the tasks I need to do. I’ve also been deeply obsessed with lists forever. At some point I came across Workflowy, which I quite liked. I don’t remember why, but I then discovered and switched over to Dynalist.io. I don’t know if it’s the perfect tool, but I’ve adapted a way of using it that’s working well for me. I now pay for a yearly subscription, and use it for most things.

Three signs of a poor hiring process—and four ways to fix it

Wed, 13 May 2020 14:00:04 -0600

Three signs of a poor hiring process—and four ways to fix it

When given the opportunity to establish a process, we’re all biased to advocate for one in which we would be successful ourselves. In hiring, this plays out in two main ways: “A” players build monocultures, hiring people just like them, and “B” players hire “C” players, hiring people who won’t threaten them.

In other words, top performers too narrowly define what top performance is, and okay performers hire mediocre people; in both cases, they’re making selections that bolster their own position.

Seniorless — 4 Tips for Effectively Onboarding Juniors

Wed, 13 May 2020 13:47:26 -0600

Seniorless — 4 Tips for Effectively Onboarding Juniors

Gabriel Grinberg Mar 30 · 8 min read

The previous post — “Seniorless — 5 Reasons You Should Hire More Juniors” was about why juniors are a great, and even essential, assets to your engineering group.

Of course, hiring non-experienced members comes with risks/costs. The main reasons I get from other team leaders for not doing so are:

Second-guessing the modern web – macwright.org

Sun, 10 May 2020 20:34:43 -0600

Second-guessing the modern web – macwright.org

The emerging norm for web development is to build a React single-page application, with server rendering. The two key elements of this architecture are something like:

The main UI is built & updated in JavaScript using React or something similar.
The backend is an API that that application makes requests against.

This idea has really swept the internet. It started with a few major popular websites and has crept into corners like marketing sites and blogs.

Sun, 10 May 2020 13:42:15 -0600

Checked in at Spangalang Brewery.

39.7550951-104.9770794

The Berkshire Hathaway of the Internet

Sat, 09 May 2020 23:15:46 -0600

The Berkshire Hathaway of the Internet

Andrew Wilkinson Mar 19, 2017 · 8 min read

Warren Buffett is famous for handshake deals and one-page contracts. He often buys multi-billion-dollar companies after a few phone calls, usually without ever meeting the management team in person or visiting their facilities. Not only that, but he typically pays below market prices and avoids dealing with investment bankers. Despite all this, he has amassed a collection of over 65 wholly owned companies, ranging from See’s Candies, to Dairy Queen, to Fruit of The Loom.

Sat, 09 May 2020 16:08:46 -0600

Checked in at Turin Bicycles.

Back door deals. Getting tubeless set up and new baby tuned in.

39.7274751-104.9857864

Fri, 08 May 2020 12:39:43 -0600

The Most Terrifying Thought Experiment of All Time

Thu, 07 May 2020 23:54:19 -0600

The Most Terrifying Thought Experiment of All Time

Before you die, you see Roko’s Basilisk. It’s like the videotape in The Ring. Dreamworks LLC

WARNING: Reading this article may commit you to an eternity of suffering and torment.

Slender Man. Smile Dog. Goatse. These are some of the urban legends spawned by the Internet. Yet none is as all-powerful and threatening as Roko’s Basilisk. For Roko’s Basilisk is an evil, godlike form of artificial intelligence, so dangerous that if you see it, or even think about it too hard, you will spend the rest of eternity screaming in its torture chamber. It’s like the videotape in The Ring. Even death is no escape, for if you die, Roko’s Basilisk will resurrect you and begin the torture again.

Engineering OKR examples for different levels in the organisation

Tue, 05 May 2020 23:40:00 -0600

Engineering OKR examples for different levels in the organisation

3. Engineering

Team Level OKRs

Objective 1: Create a high performing engineering team

Key results:

Hire 10 new engineers by end of Q2 FY 2017-18
Agree & document performance measurement metrics for individual contributions
Increase knowledge & enhance skill sets of team members by ensuring each one participates in at least one of the industry-wide hackathons

Discussion:

Look at the objective & it will become crystal clear that the same objective can be equally applicable to any company. The actual difference is made by the key results, how are you measuring your success. These key results will definitely be different for different teams, although they may have the same objective.

Tue, 05 May 2020 15:35:15 -0600

Tue, 05 May 2020 11:03:51 -0600

Tue, 05 May 2020 10:35:05 -0600

Mon, 04 May 2020 17:20:32 -0600

The Anti-Amazon Alliance

Mon, 04 May 2020 15:36:25 -0600

The Anti-Amazon Alliance

Manage your Stratechery subscription.

The nonsensical tie-in has long been one of my favorite PR genres, and the coronavirus crisis has created a whole host of examples; Casey Newton posted a particularly egregious one:

Using a current news event as cover is hardly limited to bad PR pitches;

1 look no further than this announcement from Google, which used the coronavirus crisis to frame a major change in Google Shopping:

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 19:39:37 -0600

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 15:08:59 -0600

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 20:59:08 -0600

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 21:29:00 -0600

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 21:10:42 -0600

Plot Economics

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 23:24:38 -0600

Plot Economics

For the fourth time in my adult memory, humanity has collectively, visibly lost the plot at a global level. My criteria are fairly restrictive: The dotcom bust and the 2007 crash don’t make my list for instance, and neither do previous recent epidemics like SARS or Ebola. Global narrative collapse is a fairly severe condition, but apparently no longer as rare as it once was. Here’s my shortlist:

Everything Is Content: WordPress in the 2020s

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 19:45:37 -0600

Everything Is Content: WordPress in the 2020s

Over the last decade, WordPress has established itself as the go-to content management platform for online newspapers, magazines, and blogs of all sizes. It’s also begun to gain footholds in the broader world of publishing: corporate newsrooms, brand sites, and content marketing vehicles. Despite WordPress’ commanding presence – nearly a third of the web’s top million sites – there’s still significant opportunity in up-ending more bluechip offerings, like Adobe Experience Manager and SiteCore, as the “first CMS” for large enterprises.

Notes on Escaping the Build Trap

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 19:36:20 -0600

Notes on Escaping the Build Trap

Last year while thinking about product management in infrastructure

I read Cagan’s Inspired: How to Create Products Customers Love,

which I thought was a solid book, roughly summarized as “use rapid experimentation to guide product innovation.”

It’s apparently the time of year when I read about product management, and having heard quite a bit of praise for

Melissa Perri‘s

Escaping the Build Trap, I decided

What Do Executives Do, Anyway?

Sun, 26 Apr 2020 11:46:31 -0600

What Do Executives Do, Anyway?

What do executives do, anyway?

An executive with 8,000 indirect reports and 2000 hours of work

in a year can afford to spend, at most, 15 minutes per year per

person in their reporting hierarchy… even if they work on

nothing else. That job seems impossible. How can anyone make any

important decision in a company that large? They will always be

the least informed person in the room, no matter what the topic.

Coronavirus Will Change the World Permanently. Here’s How. – POLITICO

Sun, 26 Apr 2020 11:03:58 -0600

Coronavirus Will Change the World Permanently. Here’s How. – POLITICO

Magazine

A crisis on this scale can reorder society in dramatic ways, for better or worse. Here are 34 big thinkers’ predictions for what’s to come.

Illustration by DAQ

By POLITICO MAGAZINE

03/19/2020 07:30 PM EDT

For many Americans right now, the scale of the coronavirus crisis calls to mind 9/11 or the 2008 financial crisis—events that reshaped society in lasting ways, from how we travel and buy homes, to the level of security and surveillance we’re accustomed to, and even to the language we use.

Brick by Brick

Sat, 25 Apr 2020 23:32:16 -0600

Brick by Brick

6 min read

Brick by Brick

by Josh Sloat | Mar 17, 2020 | Commentary |

A lot of folks have been asking what I’ve been up to since moving on from my post as Head of Product and Tech at Axios. The short answer is, things I should’ve focused on much sooner. The longer answer is shared below, expressed with far more digital vulnerability than comes with my default programming.

Sun, 12 Apr 2020 13:45:27 -0600

Sun, 12 Apr 2020 10:54:48 -0600

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 18:23:05 -0600

Quarantine project complete. New pergola for the patio area. @tojagrid frame with custom diagonal slats.

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 14:09:53 -0600

https://dentedreality-content.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/03122829/91332028_652674875482255_8824208381062844614_n.mp4

Quarantine project complete. New pergola for the patio area. @tojagrid frame with custom diagonal slats.

39.7391-104.9836 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m56034dcc68fbe51266baca3eefe54b04 = { positions : { 215 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7391’, ‘-104.9836’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m56034dcc68fbe51266baca3eefe54b04’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m56034dcc68fbe51266baca3eefe54b04.positions ) { gmap_m56034dcc68fbe51266baca3eefe54b04.bounds.extend( gmap_m56034dcc68fbe51266baca3eefe54b04.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m56034dcc68fbe51266baca3eefe54b04.positions ) { gmap_m56034dcc68fbe51266baca3eefe54b04.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m56034dcc68fbe51266baca3eefe54b04.map, position : gmap_m56034dcc68fbe51266baca3eefe54b04.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m56034dcc68fbe51266baca3eefe54b04.map.setCenter( gmap_m56034dcc68fbe51266baca3eefe54b04.positions[215] ); });

Leader as Avatar (Ed Batista)

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 23:26:31 -0600

Leader as Avatar (Ed Batista)

The English word avatar is derived from the Sanskrit avatāra, meaning “to descend,” which came to signify a deity who has come down to earth and taken human form. Lord Rama, above, was the seventh avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, summoned to defeat a demon-king.

In a secular context, an avatar is a personification that represents a larger entity, and it’s a concept that comes up frequently in my coaching practice. We often view leaders–especially CEOs–as avatars of the organizations they lead, and leaders may see themselves in the same way–especially founders.

Selling into a Crisis (Rights and Wrongs)

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 09:17:48 -0600

Selling into a Crisis (Rights and Wrongs)

Sell to the need – not the situation. In times of any crisis people are managing and adapting to it 24×7. They know their problems all too well and so will most likely react negatively when being “educated” to what their situation is. Rather, most people will be tuned to the problem they have and any matter of fact messaging about what your product does will be picked up. For example, most people have been busily expanding their remote working/collaboration capabilities and capacity and will likely be ripe to hear about anything that can help them with that – you don’t need to mention it’s because of Covid-19, or any other crisis.
Support your existing customers and make genuine offers of help. Many businesses are doing extraordinary things to support their customers. A lot of companies are actively networking with others in particular sectors and across supply chains and so, if you have a great solution with great support then word will get out.
Amplify learning. In times of crisis people innovate in the use of products/services, in fact they may stretch the hell out of them to get what they need. Therefore, figure out a way of sharing such innovation with your wider customer base – with permission or suitably anonymized. This will help people, and will likely drive new sales or an increase in deployments at existing customers over time.
Seek feedback. This is a prerequisite of 2 and 3: ask your customers what else they need and seek to be maximally flexible especially in eliminating bureaucracy, for example: if your customer needs another 5000 users deployed on your product/service then enable it – figure out the contract/payment details later, they will come through.
Start planning your products for the new normal. The stretching of your products/services now are, in essence, your customers defining your product roadmaps for the next 24 months. Listen to it. A lot of things won’t return to the way they were after this crisis, just like other crises have been jolts to create new modes of working or entirely new business models.
Support hardship. There are plenty of small businesses, medical facilities, not-for-profits, and other entities that might need your products/services. If you can, then set them up with some capability. Do this for altruism – it might pay off later (brand, future sales, adjacent benefits) but it might not.
Look after your employees. You can’t do 1 through 6 if your employees, your contractors or supply chain, aren’t feeling protected.

We’re not going back to normal

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 10:31:56 -0600

We’re not going back to normal

Getty images

Tech Policy

Mar 17, 2020

Getty images

To stop coronavirus we will need to radically change almost everything we do: how we work, exercise, socialize, shop, manage our health, educate our kids, take care of family members.

Open Space, Deep Work, and Self-Care

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 10:22:07 -0600

Open Space, Deep Work, and Self-Care

My coaching clients are typically senior leaders with rapidly growing or very large organizations who are responsible for hiring a management team, identifying a winning strategy, and building a culture that supports their goals. A theme that emerges consistently in my work with them is the importance of open space, deep work, and self-care. What do I mean by these terms, and what’s their significance for effective leadership?

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 09:40:01 -0600

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 08:30:43 -0600

Your Mission Is To Produce Outcomes, Not Outputs | Barry O’Reilly

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 23:25:03 -0600

Your Mission Is To Produce Outcomes, Not Outputs | Barry O’Reilly

Most companies are looking for outcomes, unfortunately the majority of what they get is output.

Everyone from executives to entrepreneurs don’t want to create products, they want what a product can create for them—truly extraordinary customer benefits. They don’t want to solve point problems, they want better, faster and cheaper results. They are looking for a competitive advantage for their customers to experience, value and love.

How to Think (More on Open Space and Deep Work)

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 23:20:09 -0600

How to Think (More on Open Space and Deep Work)

Most of my coaching clients are senior leaders in rapidly growing companies, and they often find themselves in the midst of a difficult transition. Previously they were in a position to add value by doing–because they knew the most about the product, or were closer to the customer, or were more experienced than their colleagues, they could simply execute more effectively than everyone around them. But as the company has grown larger and more complex, and as they’ve hired people with greater expertise and stronger functional skills, they find that they’re no longer able to add value in the same way. As I’ve written before,

Leadership as Professional Practice (Ed Batista)

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 22:26:59 -0600

Leadership as Professional Practice (Ed Batista)

In the Enchiridion (or handbook) of Epictetus [1], the Stoic philosopher offers guidance to those of us with high aspirations:

In every act observe the things which come first, and those which follow it… A man wishes to conquer at the Olympic games, I also wish indeed, for it is a fine thing. But observe both the things which come first, and the things which follow… You must do everything according to rule, eat according to strict orders, abstain from delicacies, exercise yourself as you are bid at appointed times, in heat, in cold, you must not drink cold water, nor wine as you choose… And sometimes you will strain the hand, put the ankle out of joint, swallow much dust, sometimes be flogged, and after all this be defeated. When you have considered all this, if you still choose, go to the contest.

Firebreaks and Rapid Repairs

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 22:13:13 -0600

Firebreaks and Rapid Repairs

I don’t get to write very often about productivity these days. I’m too busy doing things. There’s some sad irony there.

Yet, there’s two points that have been so critical, so valuable, so life-affirming… that I so often see people doing the exact opposite of what’s correct in… that I thought I’d spend my morning writing this up.

Images via Wikipedia article on “firebreak.”

1. Firebreaks: Because When Your Mind Can’t Be Trusted, It Really Can’t Be Trusted

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 14:14:40 -0600

The Making of a Corporate Athlete

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 11:15:01 -0600

The Making of a Corporate Athlete

Open Loops (Leadership and Uncertainty) (Ed Batista)

If there is one quality that executives seek for themselves and their employees, it is sustained high performance in the face of ever-increasing pressure and rapid change. But the source of such performance is as elusive as the fountain of youth. Management theorists have long sought to identify precisely what makes some people flourish under pressure and others fold. We maintain that they have come up with only partial answers: rich material rewards, the right culture, management by objectives.

Open Loops (Leadership and Uncertainty) (Ed Batista)

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 09:17:40 -0600

One of the most significant steps in a leader’s development is cultivating the ability to 1) tolerate greater uncertainty 2) over longer periods of time 3) on a larger number 4) of increasingly important issues. A coaching client once described it as “living with open loops.” What makes this so challenging is that we’ve evolved a strong preference for certainty because the predictability of recurring patterns in familiar situations allows us to minimize the expenditure of attention and concentration, which are finite resources. David Rock, Director of the NeuroLeadership Institute, discusses the mental processes at work here:

That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 09:06:46 -0600

That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief

HBR Staff/d3sign/Getty Images

Production Oriented Development

We’ve made our coronavirus coverage free for all readers. To get all of HBR’s content delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Daily Alert newsletter.

Some of the HBR edit staff met virtually the other day — a screen full of faces in a scene becoming more common everywhere. We talked about the content we’re commissioning in this harrowing time of a pandemic and how we can help people. But we also talked about how we were feeling. One colleague mentioned that what she felt was grief. Heads nodded in all the panes.

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 15:59:43 -0600

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 15:45:52 -0600

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 15:45:25 -0600

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 14:14:08 -0600

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 08:31:01 -0600

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 12:44:40 -0600

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 19:02:58 -0600

Snowy Intersection

39.7391-104.9836

Posted on Instagram 7:02 pm, March 20, 2020 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m0d32f446a417e1da543523f0c9453249 = { positions : { 750 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7391’, ‘-104.9836’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m0d32f446a417e1da543523f0c9453249’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m0d32f446a417e1da543523f0c9453249.positions ) { gmap_m0d32f446a417e1da543523f0c9453249.bounds.extend( gmap_m0d32f446a417e1da543523f0c9453249.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m0d32f446a417e1da543523f0c9453249.positions ) { gmap_m0d32f446a417e1da543523f0c9453249.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m0d32f446a417e1da543523f0c9453249.map, position : gmap_m0d32f446a417e1da543523f0c9453249.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m0d32f446a417e1da543523f0c9453249.map.setCenter( gmap_m0d32f446a417e1da543523f0c9453249.positions[750] ); });

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 14:27:05 -0600

Remote Work At Scale

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 14:26:57 -0600

COVID-19 (aka coronavirus) has many companies suddenly experimenting with remote work for the first time. I tweeted yesterday that unfortunately people are likely to have a pretty rough time due to the rushed nature of the experiment, and some folks asked if I could expand on that, so here we are. There are already a bunch of write-ups, resources, and tools if you look around (including one from our CEO Matt, and this great webinar-format session from Cate and Nicole), so it’s worth getting other views and ideas as well.

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 18:35:43 -0600

Checked in at Flux Studio and Gallery.

with erika

39.709696-105.001738

Production Oriented Development

Sun, 08 Mar 2020 20:00:58 -0600

read

Throughout my career, I’ve developed some opinions. Some have worn particularly deep ruts,

reinforced by years of experience. I tried to figure out what these

had in common, and it’s

the idea that code in production is the only code that matters. Staging doesn’t

matter, code on your laptop doesn’t matter, QA doesn’t matter,

only production matters. Everything else is debt.

This perspective probably comes from years sitting in between

Flew LGA:DEN

Sun, 08 Mar 2020 16:22:00 -0600

Flew LGA:DEN

Sun, 08 Mar 2020 16:22:00 -0600

Flew LGA:DEN

Sun, 08 Mar 2020 16:22:00 -0600

Sun, 08 Mar 2020 15:54:02 -0600

Checked in at Gate 44.

👋🏼

40.774654-73.869087

Micro Feedbacks — Management Advice for Technical People Managers

Sun, 08 Mar 2020 15:15:41 -0600

Micro Feedbacks — Management Advice for Technical People Managers

Tal Joffe Nov 26, 2019 · 10 min read

Intro

As technical managers in the software industry, we are accustomed to talking about technical best practices but not so much about management best practices. Most of us started in technical roles, and were trained for that, but when we moved to a managerial position we just had to figure it out by ourselves.

Flew ORD:LGA

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 11:00:00 -0700

Flew ORD:LGA

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 11:00:00 -0700

Flew ORD:LGA

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 11:00:00 -0700

Hiring Engineering Leaders

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 11:46:18 -0700

Hiring Engineering Leaders

This post is about the interview process for an engineering leader. Hiring involves a lot more than the interview part – everything from reviewing resumes, sourcing great candidates, getting them to come onsite, the interview itself, evaluation, offer, and close. In this post, I focus primarily on mechanics, propose a concrete interview process, along with sample questions for the non-technical parts, and propose a template that companies can use to build a custom process suited to their needs. This post is based on my long experience managing engineering teams at Google and Facebook and interviewing numerous amazing managers for various roles. This entire post is available as a coda doc that you can duplicate and use.

Flew DEN:ORD

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 11:17:00 -0700

Flew DEN:ORD

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 11:17:00 -0700

Flew DEN:ORD

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 11:17:00 -0700

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 11:09:13 -0700

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

DEN:ORD

39.8497327-104.6739819

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 10:24:45 -0700

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 10:06:13 -0700

Checked in at TSA Security Checkpoint.

#nocovid

39.8483606-104.6738591

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 16:22:48 -0700

Checked in at Mollner Dentistry.

39.7318382-104.986682

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 15:16:49 -0700

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 09:40:12 -0700

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 21:51:49 -0700

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 18:28:09 -0700

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

39.7676715-104.9738261

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 16:08:06 -0700

Checked in at Fidelity Investments.

Dolla dolla bills. LOL not really — with erika

39.755204-105.000258

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 12:15:20 -0700

Checked in at Zeppelin Station.

Lunch with #TechStarsAnywhere founders from Symba

39.7692756-104.9772374

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 12:58:32 -0700

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 12:47:10 -0700

Checked in at Costco.

This might be a terrible mistake. Y’all preppin CO? — with erika

39.7898409-105.0825361

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 10:54:58 -0700

Sat, 29 Feb 2020 21:39:26 -0700

Checked in at Hi-Dive.

And now, this — with erika

39.7163623-104.9878198

Sat, 29 Feb 2020 18:27:27 -0700

Checked in at Osaka Ramen.

They had Demon Slayer! — with erika

39.7595449-104.9862147

Sat, 29 Feb 2020 18:11:07 -0700

Checked in at Ratio Beerworks.

with erika

39.7615117-104.981292

Sat, 29 Feb 2020 13:20:02 -0700

Checked in at Spangalang Brewery.

Having a #voted beer. That’s a thing, right?

39.7550951-104.9770794

Sat, 29 Feb 2020 13:11:06 -0700

Checked in at Blair-Caldwell Library.

#voted — with erika

39.7521866-104.9814187

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 20:33:21 -0700

Checked in at Sunday Vinyl.

Date night — with erika

39.752724-105.000863

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 14:26:21 -0700

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:34:16 -0700

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:02:52 -0700

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Home again.

39.8497327-104.6739819

Rethinking the Daily Stand-Up

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 08:44:20 -0700

Rethinking the Daily Stand-Up

Different engineering teams function in different ways. Each employ various strategies and processes, informed and shaped by changing technologies, markets, personnel, competitive landscapes, and company culture.

But one ritual — the daily stand-up — has become particularly popular with engineering teams around the world. The format is remarkably similar in every organization; teams get together for a short amount of time and run through what each person did yesterday, what they’re working on today, and anything that’s blocking them.

A Blueprint for Internal Open Source

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 08:29:50 -0700

A Blueprint for Internal Open Source

Skyscanner Engineering Mar 13, 2018 · 5 min read

By Chris Downey

Internal Open Source (aka Inner source) is a topic that I’ve seen come up in lots of different places, but I’ve never seen it first-hand translate into anything beyond an interesting discussion.

In Skyscanner, an internal blog generated a slack discussion, which soon became a working group of interested people from different parts of the company. We all shared a desire to create a workable Inner source approach for Skyscanner and this is how we went about it.

The a16z Marketplace 100 – Andreessen Horowitz

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 08:03:50 -0700

The a16z Marketplace 100 – Andreessen Horowitz

Today we introduce the Marketplace 100, a ranking of the largest and fastest-growing consumer-facing marketplace startups and private companies.

Over the past few decades, marketplaces like eBay, Airbnb, Uber and Lyft, Alibaba, and Instacart, have become some of the most impactful companies in the world economy. Collectively, millions of individuals and small businesses make a living operating on these platforms, where hundreds of billions of dollars of goods and services trade hands each year. Today, ridesharing platforms alone account for roughly 1 percent of US household income and there are an estimated 75 million gig workers in the US, and growing, according to the Fed. By possessing powerful network effects, marketplaces can become huge economies themselves. Over time, such companies have revolutionized a series of diverse industries, from travel to food to childcare. Marketplaces are at the center of many of society’s most important trends—the gig economy, the new generation of creative work, microentrepreneurship, and beyond. There’s much more to come. As investors in Airbnb, Instacart, and many others, it’s no secret that we’re bullish on (if not obsessed with) marketplace companies.

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 07:06:16 -0700

Checked in at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Ciao SF, it’s been… brief.

37.616713-122.3870945

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 23:36:04 -0700

Checked in at Hotel Carlton.

Couple more hours sleep then another plane.

37.7877166-122.4179542

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 20:22:22 -0700

Checked in at Nara Sushi.

Back to my old favorite. It’s been remodeled… again! — with Cate

37.7908675-122.4207536

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 19:23:19 -0700

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 19:22:15 -0700

Checked in at Little Creatures.

Absolutely cannot believe there is a Little Creatures here now — with Cate

37.775508-122.390269

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 14:11:54 -0700

Checked in at The Sandwich Shop.

37.763608-122.388656

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 14:01:51 -0700

Checked in at Neighbor Bakehouse.

37.759746-122.38823

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 10:12:10 -0700

Checked in at Dogpatch.

37.7604361-122.3887872

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 08:46:03 -0700

Checked in at Terminal 3.

37.6182172-122.3863542

The Alchemy of Leading

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 08:05:11 -0700

The Alchemy of Leading

Here in the Wasatch mountains, 2020 arrived with fresh snowfall and the promise of more powder to come in the first few days of the new year. For those who traveled here for the Christmas and New Year holiday in hopes of an idyllic winter vacation with heaps of snow and cozy evenings around the fireplace, their wish came true. For me, the holidays have been a delightful mix of spending time with friends and family, reviving a tradition of skiing on Christmas morning, and with the arrival of the New Year a healthy dose of reflection—not just of the past year, but of the past few decades.

Flew DEN:SFO:DEN

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 06:00:00 -0700

Flew DEN:SFO:DEN

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 06:00:00 -0700

Flew DEN:SFO:DEN

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 06:00:00 -0700

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 05:01:16 -0700

Checked in at TSA Security Checkpoint.

DEN:SFO Hoping for no #covid19 😬😷

39.8483606-104.6738591

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 19:43:03 -0700

Checked in at Modera River North.

39.762152-104.983467

How MeUndies Connects Multiple Teams with Different Project Management Tools

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 22:36:05 -0700

How MeUndies Connects Multiple Teams with Different Project Management Tools

Comfort is everything at MeUndies. Well, comfort, killer designs, charity, and efficient workflows. The first three are obvious if you explore the MeUndies website, where you can learn about the company’s sustainably sourced, naturally soft materials for super-comfortable underwear, their dedication to creating fair paying and empowering jobs, and browse new designs rolled out each season.

But under the hood, Vicky Tatar, Director of Project Management at MeUndies, built and maintains a simple but robust system using Asana and Pivotal Tracker to manage projects between different teams.

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 16:01:14 -0700

Checked in at Atlas Physical Therapy.

Last one (for now)

39.740028-104.955447

Opinion | Is the Coronavirus Outbreak a Pandemic Yet?

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 11:17:03 -0700

Opinion | Is the Coronavirus Outbreak a Pandemic Yet?

Is the Coronavirus Outbreak a Pandemic Yet?

It’s now clear that the epidemic was never going to be contained. What’s next?

Mr. Osterholm is an infectious disease expert. Mark Olshaker is a writer and documentary filmmaker.

A Christian church service in Seoul on Sunday. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in South Korea jumped in recent days.Credit…Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters

On Tuesday, Feb. 18, no coronavirus cases had been reported in Iran. On Sunday, the government announced 43 cases and eight deaths. Some 152 cases (and at least three deaths) were confirmed in Italy on Sunday, up from three cases on Thursday. The number of infected people in South Korea jumped to 763 (and six deaths) in just days.

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 15:29:12 -0700

Checked in at Odell Brewing – Denver.

Oops. Another drink stop — with erika

39.76219-104.9809643

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 13:40:49 -0700

Checked in at The Denver Central Market.

Woah. Busy. — with erika

39.7593773-104.9845861

Gross Company Happiness

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 08:47:46 -0700

Gross Company Happiness

Humans love measuring things. Mostly because they love comparing themselves to their neighbors, which involves measuring things.

Countries measure themselves using Gross Domestic Product (GDP), companies use EBITA, and individuals use their net worth (indicated via fancy watches, sneakers, and Instagrammed vacations).

When we look for ways to measure ourselves, we are drawn to easily quantifiable metrics (like money), and then naturally we invest in the things we are measuring (like working hard at our jobs to get promoted). We want instant gratification for our efforts, which companies are only too eager to provide. Less clearly quantifiable things, such as the strength of a marriage, are more likely to get overlooked when allocating your efforts. The net result is focusing on things that won’t make you happy while neglecting the things that actually do—ergo, suffering.

The Simple Dutch Cure for Stress – Facts So Romantic – Nautilus

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 08:35:52 -0700

The Simple Dutch Cure for Stress – Facts So Romantic – Nautilus

*“Uitwaaien” is a popular activity around Amsterdam—one believed to have important psychological benefits.*Photograph by John Loo / Flickr

Recently I was in San Francisco, a city known for its tech companies, steep hills, and fierce winds. Each day I’d run around the neighborhood and up through the park, ending with a spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Back in my AirBnB, I’d feel energized and refreshed, fingers tingling from the breeze. It was cold, exhausting, but completely exhilarating.

Sat, 22 Feb 2020 13:27:57 -0700

Checked in at The Home Depot.

Living the dream — with erika

39.7922976-105.0825917

How Will You Measure Your Life?

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 10:07:58 -0700

How Will You Measure Your Life?

Editor’s Note: When the members of the class of 2010 entered business school, the economy was strong and their post-graduation ambitions could be limitless. Just a few weeks later, the economy went into a tailspin. They’ve spent the past two years recalibrating their worldview and their definition of success.

The students seem highly aware of how the world has changed (as the sampling of views in this article shows). In the spring, Harvard Business School’s graduating class asked HBS professor Clay Christensen to address them—but not on how to apply his principles and thinking to their post-HBS careers. The students wanted to know how to apply them to their personal lives. He shared with them a set of guidelines that have helped him find meaning in his own life. Though Christensen’s thinking comes from his deep religious faith, we believe that these are strategies anyone can use. And so we asked him to share them with the readers of HBR.

The Internet of Beefs

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 09:18:18 -0700

The Internet of Beefs

You’ve heard me talk about crash-only programming, right? It’s a programming paradigm for critical infrastructure systems, where there is — by design — no graceful way to shut down. A program can only crash and try to recover from a crashed state, which might well be impossible. I came up with a term for the human version: beef-only thinking.

A beef-only thinker is someone you cannot simply talk to. Anything that is not an expression of pure, unqualified support for whatever they are doing or saying is received as a mark of disrespect, and a provocation to conflict. From there, you can only crash into honor-based conflict mode, or back away and disengage.

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 08:50:53 -0700

Checked in at UCHealth Steadman Hawkins Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic – Denver.

Last knee check up.

39.5751392-104.8725522

Thu, 20 Feb 2020 18:00:25 -0700

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

Keeping warm.

39.7676715-104.9738261

11 Reasons Not to Become Famous (or “A Few Lessons Learned Since 2007”)

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 14:47:39 -0700

11 Reasons Not to Become Famous (or “A Few Lessons Learned Since 2007”)

November of 2008. I had more hair, a flip phone, and absolutely no idea what was coming.

Let the cymbals of popularity tinkle still. Let the butterflies of fame glitter with their wings. I shall envy neither their music nor their colors.

— John Adams
Letters of John Adams Addressed to His Wife

“If I’m not famous by 30, I might as well put a bullet in my head.”

The messy, secretive reality behind OpenAI’s bid to save the world

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 14:35:30 -0700

The messy, secretive reality behind OpenAI’s bid to save the world

Every year, OpenAI’s employees vote on when they believe artificial general intelligence, or AGI, will finally arrive. It’s mostly seen as a fun way to bond, and their estimates differ widely. But in a field that still debates whether human-like autonomous systems are even possible, half the lab bets it is likely to happen within 15 years.

In the four short years of its existence, OpenAI has become one of the leading AI research labs in the world. It has made a name for itself producing consistently headline-grabbing research, alongside other AI heavyweights like Alphabet’s DeepMind. It is also a darling in Silicon Valley, counting Elon Musk and legendary investor Sam Altman among its founders.

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 13:37:07 -0700

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 11:25:42 -0700

Observations on Product Management

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 21:27:20 -0700

Observations on Product Management

Dan Hill Dec 30, 2017 · 3 min read

I’ve spent 10 years now building products — from consulting, to startups, to larger teams like Airbnb. I wanted to capture some of the things I’ve learned, mostly for my own memory. But if others find them useful, great!

Mostly these are things that are either obvious but no-one ever says them, or non-obvious but important.

Establish Clear Priorities Using ‘Even Over’ Statements – Tool

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 21:23:55 -0700

Establish Clear Priorities Using ‘Even Over’ Statements – Tool

Make priorities matter again

You become what you focus on.

Confusing priorities drive confusing results.

Prioritization requires clarity but, most importantly, sacrifice. Saying yes to what’s important is easy. What you say ‘no’ to defines your success.

An ‘even over’ statement is a declaration of priority. You are saying you will prioritize one good thing even over another good thing.

Use this tool to establish clear team priorities. Your team will become what they focus on.

Essentialism — The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 11:22:32 -0700

Essentialism — The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Johan Steenkamp Feb 10, 2018 · 4 min read

Notes from the book, Essentialism by Greg McKeown.

The problem is that we have too many choices, too much social pressure, and believe we can “have it all”.

If you don’t prioritise your life, someone else will.

Our lives get cluttered with well-intended commitments and activities that do not have an expiry date, consequently we need a system to clean up.

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 11:08:24 -0700

Sat, 15 Feb 2020 22:13:02 -0700

Sat, 15 Feb 2020 11:18:31 -0700

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 16:10:04 -0700

Checked in at Spangalang Brewery.

Left the house! — with erika

39.7550951-104.9770794

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 15:53:34 -0700

Tasty Baby Cakes with @akires for Valentine’s Day at @spangalangbrewery

39.7552419-104.9770576

Posted on Instagram 3:53 pm, February 14, 2020 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_mc2aea45fe914039da2005464c80e5d9b = { positions : { 686 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7552419’, ‘-104.9770576’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_mc2aea45fe914039da2005464c80e5d9b’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_mc2aea45fe914039da2005464c80e5d9b.positions ) { gmap_mc2aea45fe914039da2005464c80e5d9b.bounds.extend( gmap_mc2aea45fe914039da2005464c80e5d9b.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_mc2aea45fe914039da2005464c80e5d9b.positions ) { gmap_mc2aea45fe914039da2005464c80e5d9b.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_mc2aea45fe914039da2005464c80e5d9b.map, position : gmap_mc2aea45fe914039da2005464c80e5d9b.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_mc2aea45fe914039da2005464c80e5d9b.map.setCenter( gmap_mc2aea45fe914039da2005464c80e5d9b.positions[686] ); });

Thu, 13 Feb 2020 09:19:15 -0700

Commencement Address, American University in Beirut

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 21:56:11 -0700

Commencement Address, American University in Beirut

Nassim Nicholas Taleb Aug 14, 2016 · 8 min read

This is the first commencement I have ever attended (I did not attend my own graduation). Further, I have to figure out how lecture you on success when I do not feel successful yet –and it is not false modesty.

Success as a Fragile Construction

For I have a single definition of success: you look in the mirror every evening, and wonder if you disappoint the person you were at 18, right before the age when people start getting corrupted by life. Let him or her be the only judge; not your reputation, not your wealth, not your standing in the community, not the decorations on your lapel. If you do not feel ashamed, you are successful. All other definitions of success are modern constructions; fragile modern constructions.

Pitching Ideas – It’s Not About Perfect

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 19:13:03 -0700

Pitching Ideas – It’s Not About Perfect

I realized a long time ago that I was not the type of person who could create, build & polish ideas all by myself. I need collaboration with others to hone and build ideas. More than not, I’m not the one who starts the idea. I pick up something from someone else – bend it, twist it, and turn it into something different.

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 18:45:06 -0700

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 15:41:47 -0700

Lean into your imposter syndrome

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 22:35:50 -0700

Lean into your imposter syndrome

I was recently asked an interesting question:

“Now that you’re responsible for a broader scope of work and a team, how do

you get over the fact that you always feel like you’re doing a bad job?”

And after thinking about it, I answered truthfully:

“To be honest, I don’t really feel like I’m doing a bad job at all. I used to

feel that way a lot, especially earlier in my career when I was more affected

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 20:05:16 -0700

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 16:19:30 -0700

Checked in at Atlas Physical Therapy.

Keep the knee moving.

39.740028-104.955447

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 15:47:33 -0700

Recharging is for batteries, not people – The Art of Ass-Kicking

Sun, 09 Feb 2020 22:45:23 -0700

Recharging is for batteries, not people – The Art of Ass-Kicking

Last year, journalist Anne Helen Petersen wrote a widely shared piece in Buzzfeed naming millennials the “Burnout Generation”. According to Petersen, we’re overworked, underpaid, and often paralyzed by the systemic dysfunction of our increasingly volatile world. As a result, many of us struggle with even the most basic tasks of “adulting,” like paying bills or registering to vote.

One year later, things seem worse than ever. Wages have continued to stall, the U.S. is on the brink of war with Iran, and raging wildfires have killed more than a billion animals in Australia. Fifty-seven percent of tech workers are currently experiencing burnout, according to a survey conducted by Blind of 11,500 workers.

Sun, 09 Feb 2020 14:59:50 -0700

Checked in at Marczyk Fine Foods.

39.7431387-104.9779279

Sun, 09 Feb 2020 14:36:27 -0700

Checked in at Lou’s Italian Specialties.

39.764149-104.973537

Sun, 09 Feb 2020 13:18:04 -0700

Checked in at mattress and appliance center.

39.8493467-104.9931861

Normalization of Deviance

Sun, 09 Feb 2020 01:03:05 -0700

Normalization of Deviance

Normalization of deviance

Have you ever mentioned something that seems totally normal to you only to be greeted by surprise? Happens to me all the time when I describe something everyone at work thinks is normal. For some reason, my conversation partner’s face morphs from pleasant smile to rictus of horror. Here are a few representative examples.

There’s the company that is perhaps the nicest place I’ve ever worked, combining the best parts of Valve and Netflix. The people are amazing and you’re given near total freedom to do whatever you want. But as a side effect of the culture, they lose perhaps half of new hires in the first year, some voluntarily and some involuntarily. Totally normal, right?

Sat, 08 Feb 2020 15:29:24 -0700

Checked in at Birdcall.

Snackeeee time — with erika

39.7544788-104.9766835

Sat, 08 Feb 2020 13:40:23 -0700

Checked in at Spangalang Brewery.

with erika

39.7550951-104.9770794

How to Build a PaaS for 1500 Engineers

Fri, 07 Feb 2020 21:42:16 -0700

How to Build a PaaS for 1500 Engineers

*This article is based on a presentation I gave as part of

AdevintaTalks in Barcelona on November 2019.

I’m experimenting with this format: I went through the slides typing what

I’d speak over them, edited the text, and added some of the most

relevant slides inbetween paragraphs.

Let me know how it works.*

Discussion in Hacker News

–

Today’s topic is about Technical Infrastructure, a term I found first in

Flew PDX:DEN

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 16:46:00 -0700

Flew PDX:DEN

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 16:46:00 -0700

Flew PDX:DEN

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 16:46:00 -0700

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 15:59:35 -0700

Checked in at Portland International Airport (PDX).

45.5887881-122.5937086

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 15:59:21 -0700

Checked in at Gate E1.

Adios PDX. It’s been… brief.

45.5901599-122.592144

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 02:40:58 -0700

Checked in at The Porter Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton.

45.5136757-122.6771067

Radical Candor: Software Edition

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 12:38:54 -0700

Radical Candor: Software Edition

Rina Artstain Follow

Jan 6 · 19 min read

I was lucky to be in Dropbox’s headquarters when Kim Scott came to speak about her (then) new book “Radical Candor”. Dropbox was nice enough to hand out free copies (yay! free books!) so I actually ended up reading most of the book on the flight home.

Even though the book was written with managers in mind, I found myself referring back to it pretty often. Its insights proved quite useful in my daily work as a software engineer, especially in processes which require written or in person interaction with our co-workers. A little bit of Radical Candor can totally change how we do and react to code or design reviews, driving better results and higher satisfaction.

Habits vs. Goals: A Look at the Benefits of a Systematic Approach to Life

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 12:17:02 -0700

Habits vs. Goals: A Look at the Benefits of a Systematic Approach to Life

Nothing will change your future trajectory like your habits. We all have goals, big or small, things we want to achieve within a certain time frame. Some people want to make a million dollars by the time they turn 30. Some people want to lose 20 pounds before summer. Some people want to write a book in the next six months. When we begin to chase an intangible or vague concept (success, wealth, health, happiness), making a tangible goal is often the first step.

CrossFit’s Founder Has an Easy Health Care Fix: More CrossFit

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 12:09:45 -0700

CrossFit’s Founder Has an Easy Health Care Fix: More CrossFit

It’s a hot August morning in Madison, Wisconsin, and Greg Glassman is sipping iced tea in an air-conditioned, glass-walled room perched above a preternaturally green field. Below, two dozen ripped athletes are hanging by their feet from bars, performing upside-down sit-ups in sync while Kendrick Lamar’s “Loyalty” blasts from the speakers. The sun-warmed bleachers are a blur of taut and bulging skin, fans already drinking beer and getting rowdy above signs that declare this event the “Ultimate Proving Grounds for the Fittest on Earth.” It’s the 2019 CrossFit Games, the annual competitionthat brings together athletes from around the world to prove themselves worthy of this title. Here, the high-intensity workout regimen happening in nondescript gyms across the globe becomes a sport. And for the millions of CrossFit enthusiasts, it’s a big deal.

Pursuing the Perfect Project Manager – Tom Peters

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 11:47:48 -0700

Pursuing the Perfect Project Manager – Tom Peters

Home
About
Speaking
Slides
Writing
Video
Blog
Action
Contact

Pursuing the Perfect Project Manager

Tom Peters

One theme has poked its head through the lines of these columns time and again—tomorrow’s corporation as a “collection of projects.” I’ve also discussed “networking” beyond the firm’s borders: Companies will work as equals, on new products, delivery systems and the like, with a shifting cast of vendors, middlemen, and customers.

Flew DEN:PDX

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 09:45:00 -0700

Flew DEN:PDX

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 09:45:00 -0700

Flew DEN:PDX

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 09:45:00 -0700

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 08:23:14 -0700

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

They switched Pre Check and CLEAR around

39.8497327-104.6739819

Reclaim unreasonable software.

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 23:40:11 -0700

Reclaim unreasonable software.

Big Ball of Mud was published twenty years ago and rings just as true today: the most prominent architecture in successful, growth-stage companies is non-architecture. Crisp patterns are slowly overgrown by the chaotic tendrils of quick fixes, and productivity creeps towards zero.

After a couple years wallowing at zero, many companies turn towards The Grand Migration pattern and rewrite their software. These rewrites are quite challenging and often fall.

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 13:09:33 -0700

On Drafting an Engineering Strategy

Sun, 02 Feb 2020 14:38:31 -0700

On Drafting an Engineering Strategy

During the first weeks in a new role, one of the things I’ve most recently focused on is to assess the direction of the engineering department as a whole. Will Larson has written at length about the first ninety days in a senior engineering leadership role. He also mentions documenting the existing strategy as one of the key milestones to take care of.

At the time I started there was no explicit strategy in place. Which is also not an unusual thing for a young company, just to be clear. So I set out to draft one.

The Rise of the Outrage Machine — The Creative Factor

Sun, 02 Feb 2020 13:42:15 -0700

The Rise of the Outrage Machine — The Creative Factor

Hello, Amanda writing from a rainy San Francisco this week. After attending an art show recently, my husband and I found ourselves standing outside the venue chatting with groups of other attendees. Although strangers, the discussions between all of us were easygoing and lively, spurred by a feeling of familiarity through our shared experience. It was fleeting – after a while the groups broke apart, phones were fired up, and we all retreated back into our technology and out into the night.

Sun, 02 Feb 2020 09:12:46 -0700

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 19:25:00 -0700

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 12:00:05 -0700

Checked in at Zeppelin Station.

39.7692756-104.9772374

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 18:51:06 -0700

Checked in at Cart-Driver.

Celebrating with friends — with erika

39.757531-104.98634

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 12:37:29 -0700

Your first 90 days as CTO or VP Engineering.

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 23:19:48 -0700

Your first 90 days as CTO or VP Engineering.

Whenever I transition to a new opportunity, I think about how to start well. How can I ramp up as effectively as possible? How do I balance the urge to “show value” early with making the right decisions?

The canonical book on starting a new role is The First 90 Days, and I got a fair amount out of it when I read it six or seven years ago. That said, its advice skews generic at times. Yes, I should learn as much as possible. Yes, I should achieve alignment and negotiate for resources. Yes, I should build a team and partner with other organizations. In my first leadership role, these ideas reshaped my perspective, but these days I want more.

Sending weekly 5-15 updates.

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 23:07:56 -0700

Sending weekly 5-15 updates.

The trendy thing to do on the internet is to start publishing a newsletter.

Trendy enough that even I started sending out my blog posts each week in email format.

I’ve consistently noticed that emails generate far more discussion than other distribution

methods, which really shouldn’t have surprised me: I’ve been sending company-internal updates for some time

and they’ve frequently created important, spontaneous conversations.

About a year ago I started my most recent approach to sending weekly updates to relevant public (within the company)

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 09:50:12 -0700

Exerting Influence Without Authority

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 17:31:58 -0700

Exerting Influence Without Authority

Congratulations—you’ve been asked to lead a change initiative! But there’s a catch—its success hinges on the cooperation of several people across your organization over whom you have no formal authority.

If you’re like most managers, you’re facing this sort of challenge more often these days because of flatter management structures, outsourcing, and virtual teams. For those reasons, a greater number of managers now need to get things done through peers inside and outside their organizations. In this age of heightened business complexity, moreover, change itself has grown increasingly complicated. A majority of change initiatives now involve multiple functions within and even between companies, and many such efforts encompass an entire firm.

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 14:28:53 -0700

Drippy tea mug. Made by me, at @fluxstudiodenver

39.70949-105.002

Posted on Instagram 2:28 pm, January 26, 2020 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_mbfb8a33eddad34e631ea3b3c97b0bc66 = { positions : { 507 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.70949’, ‘-105.002’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_mbfb8a33eddad34e631ea3b3c97b0bc66’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_mbfb8a33eddad34e631ea3b3c97b0bc66.positions ) { gmap_mbfb8a33eddad34e631ea3b3c97b0bc66.bounds.extend( gmap_mbfb8a33eddad34e631ea3b3c97b0bc66.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_mbfb8a33eddad34e631ea3b3c97b0bc66.positions ) { gmap_mbfb8a33eddad34e631ea3b3c97b0bc66.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_mbfb8a33eddad34e631ea3b3c97b0bc66.map, position : gmap_mbfb8a33eddad34e631ea3b3c97b0bc66.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_mbfb8a33eddad34e631ea3b3c97b0bc66.map.setCenter( gmap_mbfb8a33eddad34e631ea3b3c97b0bc66.positions[507] ); });

The “Care” in “Self Care”

Sat, 25 Jan 2020 22:42:05 -0700

The “Care” in “Self Care”

Credit: Pixabay / Alexas_Fotos

On my weekly todo list, there is an item “do something nice for a friend”. Last week, I assembled a care package. I asked myself, “what does a useless man need but won’t buy for himself?” – the answer, incidentally, was an exceptionally fluffy blanket, some really nice chocolate, vitamins, and assorted skincare.

As I impatiently waited for it to be delivered, I thought about care, how easy it is for me to do things like that, and the journey I’ve been on to have that care for myself. That perhaps the clearest outcome of the year I spent in therapy (I finished at the start of December, a move that felt both completely right and completely time and absolutely terrifying), is the shift in my attitude and approach and how I relate to the idea of “self care”.

40 Lessons From 40 Years

Sat, 25 Jan 2020 22:37:47 -0700

40 Lessons From 40 Years

Steve Schlafman Oct 6, 2019 · 4 min read

I turn forty today. I can’t even believe I just typed that sentence. Over the past month, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons I’ve learned directly through experience or indirectly from family, friends, mentors and teachers.

I wanted capture and share these learnings for one important reason: I’m now a father to a beautiful baby girl and I’m not going to be here forever. Preserving myself digitally is becoming more important as I enter middle age.

Sat, 25 Jan 2020 17:55:37 -0700

Sat, 25 Jan 2020 13:16:39 -0700

Checked in at Flux Studio and Gallery.

Picking up our finished loot!

39.709696-105.001738

The new drugs of 2019

Thu, 23 Jan 2020 21:26:31 -0700

The new drugs of 2019

The 48 medicines represent another highly productive year for the pharmaceutical industry, with cancer and rare-disease drugs again dominating the list

by

January 17, 2020

| APPEARED IN

VOLUME 98, ISSUE 3

Credit: Will Ludwig/C&EN/iStock Photo

Effective Mental Models for Code and Systems

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 23:09:34 -0700

Effective Mental Models for Code and Systems

Cindy Sridharan Dec 30, 2018 · 16 min read

As always, I’m greatly indebted to Fred Hebert for reviewing a draft of this post and offering some invaluable insights.

A little over a month ago, Carmen Andoh gave a talk at a meetup in Copenhagen about visualizations, though it really was a talk on mental models. In her talk, Carmen described a mental model as:

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 17:08:13 -0700

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 08:04:39 -0700

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 17:19:10 -0700

Checked in at American Cultures Kombucha Taproom.

#cafeworking until dinner time.

39.763083-105.011332

Sun, 19 Jan 2020 18:08:47 -0700

Sun, 19 Jan 2020 15:59:46 -0700

The Lesson to Unlearn

Sun, 19 Jan 2020 12:53:07 -0700

The Lesson to Unlearn

December 2019

The most damaging thing you learned in school wasn’t something you

learned in any specific class. It was learning to get good grades.

When I was in college, a particularly earnest philosophy grad student

once told me that he never cared what grade he got in a class, only

what he learned in it. This stuck in my mind because it was the

only time I ever heard anyone say such a thing.

Defining Aggregators

Sun, 19 Jan 2020 11:49:56 -0700

Defining Aggregators

(Note: this is not a typical Stratechery article; there is no over-arching narrative or reference to current news. Rather, the primary goal is to provide a future point of reference)

Aggregation Theory describes how platforms (i.e. aggregators) come to dominate the industries in which they compete in a systematic and predictable way. Aggregation Theory should serve as a guidebook for aspiring platform companies, a warning for industries predicated on controlling distribution, and a primer for regulators addressing the inevitable antitrust concerns that are the endgame of Aggregation Theory.

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 10:33:07 -0700

Checked in at Queen City Coffee Collective.

Longest walk since surgery. #cafeworking for a couple hours.

39.757412-104.9744

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 16:22:35 -0700

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 09:13:59 -0700

Checked in at UCHealth Steadman Hawkins Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic – Denver.

Time for a knee check up.

39.5751392-104.8725522

Sun, 12 Jan 2020 11:57:24 -0700

Checked in at H Mart.

Living that busted-knee-electric-cart thug life — with erika

39.6661138-104.8632133

Sun, 12 Jan 2020 11:29:35 -0700

Checked in at Flux Studio and Gallery.

Glazing day! — with erika

39.709696-105.001738

2019 in Review

Sat, 11 Jan 2020 16:49:54 -0700

2019 in Review

1w agoJanuary 2, 2020 (1w ago)28,526 views

This post is a quick summary of the evolution of our company, our open-source work, interesting news and lessons in product design and engineering throughout 2019.

#Static is the new Dynamic

Throughout 2019 we have continued to see the growth of the JAMstack. The idea is quite simple: Any website or app you build and deploy will use the stack of client-side JavaScript, APIs, and Markup.

AWS, MongoDB, and the Economic Realities of Open Source

Sat, 11 Jan 2020 16:26:48 -0700

AWS, MongoDB, and the Economic Realities of Open Source

In 1999, music industry revenue in the United States peaked at $14.6 billion (all numbers are from the RIAA). It is important to be precise, though, about what was being sold:

$12.8 billion was from the sale of CDs
$1.1 billion was from the sale of cassettes
$378 million was from the sale of music videos on physical media
$222.4 million was from the sale of CD singles

In short, the music industry was primarily selling plastic discs in jewel cases; the music encoded on those discs was a means of differentiating those pieces of plastic from other ones, but music itself was not being sold.

Quality and Effort

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 22:43:24 -0700

Quality and Effort

It seems as though the opposite of “careless” ought to be “careful.” That the best way to avoid avoidable errors is to try harder, to put more care into the work.

This means that if surgeons were more careful, there would be fewer errors. And that so many of the mistakes that mess things up would go away if people just tried harder.

And this is true. For a while. But then, it’s not effort but systems that matter.

Bill Gates Says You Must Provide This Perk if You Want to Hire and Keep the Best Employees

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 22:41:18 -0700

Bill Gates Says You Must Provide This Perk if You Want to Hire and Keep the Best Employees

The unemployment rate in the U.S. is at its lowest level in more than four decades. In response, companies have been in a veritable arms race to offer bigger and better perks and win over employees, from the cliché office ping pong table to quirky Google Nap Pods.

According to Bill Gates, these efforts and many others miss the mark while the most important perk is hiding in plain sight: flexibility.

Google Spent 2 Years Researching What Makes a Great Remote Team. It Came Up With These 3 Things

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 22:37:54 -0700

Google Spent 2 Years Researching What Makes a Great Remote Team. It Came Up With These 3 Things

As someone who’s worked remotely for several years, I know the challenges of a virtual workplace. Building relationships with colleagues I’ve never actually met (in person), working across various time zones, technology that doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to– handled wrong, any of these can sabotage your team’s chances at success.

Google knows this, too. The company has nearly 100,000 workers spread over 150 cities. In more than 50 countries. On five continents.

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 19:50:13 -0700

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 11:08:52 -0700

Checked in at UCHealth Steadman Hawkins Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic – Denver.

Time to get my knee chopped — with erika

39.5751392-104.8725522

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 21:46:14 -0700

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 17:00:02 -0700

Checked in at Queen City Coffee Collective.

Knocking out the afternoon, #cafeworking here

39.757412-104.9744

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 14:59:12 -0700

Checked in at Shake Shack.

Delicious late lunch. I’ve missed you SS.

39.7622771-104.9807526

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 13:27:49 -0700

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 12:13:42 -0700

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 17:31:35 -0700

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

Last one for a while!

39.7676715-104.9738261

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 19:03:15 -0700

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 17:20:11 -0700

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

Getting in some pain before my knee takes me out of action for a month+

39.7676715-104.9738261

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 16:36:42 -0700

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 09:45:17 -0700

Sat, 04 Jan 2020 18:38:25 -0700

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 16:26:33 -0700

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 16:19:06 -0700

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Home — with erika

39.8497327-104.6739819

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 13:03:00 -0700

Checked in at International Terminal.

37.6159311-122.3893905

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 12:43:46 -0700

Checked in at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

37.616713-122.3870945

Flew ICN:SFO:DEN

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 02:00:00 -0700

Flew ICN:SFO:DEN

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 02:00:00 -0700

Flew ICN:SFO:DEN

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 02:00:00 -0700

My Approach to 1-on-1s — Marco Rogers

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 21:54:03 -0700

My Approach to 1-on-1s — Marco Rogers

This is an outline of how I approach having 1-on-1s with my direct reports. I think of 1-on-1s as my primary tools for connecting with an individual and working on their morale, engagement, productivity and growth.

I usually like to find out if my report wants to lead the conversation. You might start with a simple question. Do you have an agenda or something that’s on your mind? If not, then I think about which one of the major points below I want to get into.

11 Ideas About the Decade That Killed iTunes

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 21:51:23 -0700

11 Ideas About the Decade That Killed iTunes

One of the great cultural events of the 2010s was the slow abandonment and ultimate death of iTunes. By the time the software was euthanized earlier this year, it had become an embarrassment, a mess of greasy preference panes and grayed-out, unreliable content. We were glad to see it go.
When iTunes launched in January 2001, Apple’s software was a place to organize the MP3s and other music files on your desktop computer. (It was not yet even a tool to sync an iPod, because the first iPod didn’t come out until October 2001.) But within a few years, it became a “digital hub,” a place to organize your music and movies and, eventually, iPhone, which debuted in 2007. (Note for younger readers: An iPod was like an iPhone, except it could not make phone calls, or search the internet, or sext, and the sexts would have been terrible, because it had a black-and-white screen.) But iTunes kept guzzling other functions: digital movies, TV shows, and then apps.

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 08:18:47 -0700

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 06:30:33 -0700

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 04:11:31 -0700

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 04:02:02 -0700

@racoonamatata_busan with @akires #raccoon #korea

35.1360178129.1001975

#korea
#raccoon

Posted on Instagram 4:02 am, January 2, 2020 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m3e25bbc9b29ffc2b852f2c884378b36f = { positions : { 316 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘35.1360178’, ‘129.1001975’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m3e25bbc9b29ffc2b852f2c884378b36f’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m3e25bbc9b29ffc2b852f2c884378b36f.positions ) { gmap_m3e25bbc9b29ffc2b852f2c884378b36f.bounds.extend( gmap_m3e25bbc9b29ffc2b852f2c884378b36f.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m3e25bbc9b29ffc2b852f2c884378b36f.positions ) { gmap_m3e25bbc9b29ffc2b852f2c884378b36f.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m3e25bbc9b29ffc2b852f2c884378b36f.map, position : gmap_m3e25bbc9b29ffc2b852f2c884378b36f.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m3e25bbc9b29ffc2b852f2c884378b36f.map.setCenter( gmap_m3e25bbc9b29ffc2b852f2c884378b36f.positions[316] ); });

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 03:49:05 -0700

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 19:12:58 -0700

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 06:17:52 -0700

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 03:45:52 -0700

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 22:08:53 -0700

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 00:00:10 -0700

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 22:07:42 -0700

Checked in at Tartine Manufactory.

37.7619059-122.4119635

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 19:47:59 -0700

Checked in at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Extended layover then off to Korea! — with erika

37.616713-122.3870945

Flew DEN:SFO:ICN

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 17:15:00 -0700

Flew DEN:SFO:ICN

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 17:15:00 -0700

Flew DEN:SFO:ICN

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 17:15:00 -0700

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 17:10:35 -0700

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

DEN:SFO — with erika

39.8497327-104.6739819

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 16:34:00 -0700

Checked in at United Club East.

39.858676-104.671609

Sat, 21 Dec 2019 20:26:23 -0700

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 17:21:03 -0700

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

Swole or die.

39.7676715-104.9738261

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 07:48:13 -0700

#blossomsoflight Chihuly

39.7320808-104.9611041

#blossomsoflight

Posted on Instagram 7:48 am, December 17, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m2bbab894c55bfc3f8dd938c78f4530c3 = { positions : { 413 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7320808’, ‘-104.9611041’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m2bbab894c55bfc3f8dd938c78f4530c3’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m2bbab894c55bfc3f8dd938c78f4530c3.positions ) { gmap_m2bbab894c55bfc3f8dd938c78f4530c3.bounds.extend( gmap_m2bbab894c55bfc3f8dd938c78f4530c3.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m2bbab894c55bfc3f8dd938c78f4530c3.positions ) { gmap_m2bbab894c55bfc3f8dd938c78f4530c3.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m2bbab894c55bfc3f8dd938c78f4530c3.map, position : gmap_m2bbab894c55bfc3f8dd938c78f4530c3.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m2bbab894c55bfc3f8dd938c78f4530c3.map.setCenter( gmap_m2bbab894c55bfc3f8dd938c78f4530c3.positions[413] ); });

What Makes a Good Goal?

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 23:12:57 -0700

What Makes a Good Goal?

John Allspaw has a great tweet on problem discovery:

I’ve always loved the tweet, but I only recently noticed the paper he cites in the thread. It’s called “ The Art of Problem Discovery: Adaptive Thinking for Innovation and Growth “, by Brian Mathews.

In the prologue, the paper tells the origin story of Swiffer — Proctor & Gamble’s billion-dollar hit product line. It all started with a simple question: “ how can we make the floors cleaner? “

Sat, 14 Dec 2019 08:48:00 -0700

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

39.8497327-104.6739819

Flew ATL:DEN

Sat, 14 Dec 2019 05:00:00 -0700

Flew ATL:DEN

Sat, 14 Dec 2019 05:00:00 -0700

Sat, 14 Dec 2019 04:40:29 -0700

Checked in at Gate T17.

👋🏼 Atlanta

33.6434046-84.4424425

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 22:10:09 -0700

Checked in at Artmore Hotel.

33.7902-84.388202

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 18:00:04 -0700

Checked in at The Book House Pub.

with Kelly

33.77399-84.3629652

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 15:24:45 -0700

Checked in at Biltong Bar.

with Kelly

33.773348-84.3654625

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 14:37:55 -0700

Checked in at Ponce City Market.

with Kelly

33.7724784-84.3658313

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 11:14:14 -0700

Checked in at Allegro Coffee Company.

with Kelly

33.78661-84.3883

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 17:04:43 -0700

Checked in at Lure.

with Kelly

33.7849721-84.3844081

Jack Dorsey wants to decentralize Twitter – Decrypt

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 06:45:44 -0700

Jack Dorsey wants to decentralize Twitter – Decrypt

Jack Dorsey wants to decentralize Twitter

By Tim Copeland 4 min read; Dec 11, 2019

image: pixabay

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has revealed he wants to create an open standard for decentralized social media. And the goal will be to have Twitter conform to that standard.

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 19:09:07 -0700

Checked in at artmore hotel courtyard.

33.7902943-84.3881225

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 16:59:57 -0700

Checked in at Mary Mac’s Tea Room.

33.7725744-84.3797886

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 16:15:05 -0700

Good evening, Atlanta.

33.7909265-84.3795191

Posted on Instagram 4:15 pm, December 11, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m911e5879fe057e7f607eb32aea3d6832 = { positions : { 259 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘33.7909265’, ‘-84.3795191’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m911e5879fe057e7f607eb32aea3d6832’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m911e5879fe057e7f607eb32aea3d6832.positions ) { gmap_m911e5879fe057e7f607eb32aea3d6832.bounds.extend( gmap_m911e5879fe057e7f607eb32aea3d6832.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m911e5879fe057e7f607eb32aea3d6832.positions ) { gmap_m911e5879fe057e7f607eb32aea3d6832.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m911e5879fe057e7f607eb32aea3d6832.map, position : gmap_m911e5879fe057e7f607eb32aea3d6832.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m911e5879fe057e7f607eb32aea3d6832.map.setCenter( gmap_m911e5879fe057e7f607eb32aea3d6832.positions[259] ); });

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 15:59:17 -0700

Checked in at Winn Park.

#drone

33.7906186-84.3792801

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 17:08:57 -0700

Checked in at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

33.6405441-84.4334078

Flew DEN:ATL

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 13:37:00 -0700

Flew DEN:ATL

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 13:37:00 -0700

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 13:17:29 -0700

Sat, 07 Dec 2019 12:32:53 -0700

Welcome to the family, Mt Bross. #snowflake

#Snowflake

Posted on Instagram 12:32 pm, December 7, 2019

Sat, 07 Dec 2019 12:31:56 -0700

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 19:08:38 -0700

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 18:41:51 -0700

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 08:22:09 -0700

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 20:23:15 -0700

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 20:12:44 -0700

Portability and Interoperability

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 09:29:35 -0700

Portability and Interoperability

In Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s March 2019 op-ed in the Washington Post calling for federal regulation of technology, he included something that caught some observers by surprise:

Regulation should guarantee the principle of data portability. If you share data with one service, you should be able to move it to another. This gives people choice and enables developers to innovate and compete.

This is important for the Internet — and for creating services people want. It’s why we built our development platform. True data portability should look more like the way people use our platform to sign into an app than the existing ways you can download an archive of your information. But this requires clear rules about who’s responsible for protecting information when it moves between services.

Data Transfer Project

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 09:15:37 -0700

The Data Transfer Project was launched in 2018 to create an open-source, service-to-service data portability platform so that all individuals across the web could easily move their data between online service providers whenever they want.

https://datatransferproject.dev/

The 70-20-10 Rule for Innovation – Innovation Excellence

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 23:23:33 -0700

The 70-20-10 Rule for Innovation – Innovation Excellence

by Greg Satell

One of the things I always get asked about from the companies I work with is how to manage their innovation resources. Should they bet big on an unproven, but possibly breakthrough idea? Or focus on improving the products that they already know their customers want? Or maybe leveraging existing resources into a new market?

This is an important question. As Steve Blank recently pointed out in an article in Harvard Business Review, it was the failure to deal with this issue that led to many of General Electric’s current problems. The company became so focused on “disruptive opportunities” that it let execution slip.

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 20:17:52 -0700

Checked in at The Home Depot.

And a failed trip to copy a key — with erika

39.7922976-105.0825917

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 20:02:53 -0700

Checked in at Costco.

Weekday Costco WTF — with erika

39.7898409-105.0825361

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 17:24:43 -0700

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

Burn the turkey!

39.7676715-104.9738261

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 13:10:44 -0700

Inefficient Efficiency

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 22:49:25 -0700

Inefficient Efficiency

Kent Beck Nov 26 · 4 min read

Now I’m Feeling Thirsty

You’re making morning drip coffee. You need to make 2 cups. Do you:

Put 1 cups worth of water in the boiler so the water boils sooner and the first cup is ready sooner or,
Put 2 cups worth of water in so both cups are done sooner?

I posted the question above on Twitter and received 50 replies (a lot for one of my tweets). Most of the comments were either snark or thoughtful coffee making advice, so I don’t think I got my point across.

How Soylent Uses Zapier to Automatically Transcribe Phone Calls and Build a Database of Legal Advice

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 21:14:23 -0700

How Soylent Uses Zapier to Automatically Transcribe Phone Calls and Build a Database of Legal Advice

Bread, meat, fruit, veggies, dairy. Those are the essential building blocks of a nutritious diet, the ones mom taught you about when you were five. We’ve been working with the same formula since the dawn of time, and it hasn’t failed us yet.

Food is food. Why change what works?

John Coogan would argue that food doesn’t work. At least, not as well as it should. He’s the co-founder/CTO of Soylent, a company that wants to provide your daily dose of macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals in a more convenient package. Think of it as food 2.0.

On Messing Up Your Remote Team—And Then Getting It Right

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 20:54:58 -0700

On Messing Up Your Remote Team—And Then Getting It Right

Charity Majors is the CTO and founder of Honeycomb, a platform offering full stack observability for event driven debugging. Below is her story about how Honeycomb built a fully distributed team of over 30.

I knew from the very start that I wanted Honeycomb to be geographically distributed. Long before we had any thoughts of hiring anyone, I knew it was the right thing to do and the direction I wanted to take.

The 4 Biggest Mistakes First-Time Managers Make

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 20:41:53 -0700

The 4 Biggest Mistakes First-Time Managers Make

After years of quality hard work, you, the star employee, have been promoted to be a manager of a team, a first-time accomplishment for you. Congrats! You should take time to feel proud of this achievement. But you also don’t have time to waste.

As soon as you accept this new role, your superiors and your reports will be judging how you lead, and once opinions are formed, they will be hard to shake off. You have to prove yourself all over again. And what worked for you as an individual performer may be your downfall as a manager of warring egos and goals.

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 18:35:56 -0700

Denver winter skyline.

39.7391-104.9836

Posted on Instagram 6:35 pm, December 1, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_mcf5bc8ecf7f83b9095857cbd0aefb491 = { positions : { 428 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7391’, ‘-104.9836’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_mcf5bc8ecf7f83b9095857cbd0aefb491’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_mcf5bc8ecf7f83b9095857cbd0aefb491.positions ) { gmap_mcf5bc8ecf7f83b9095857cbd0aefb491.bounds.extend( gmap_mcf5bc8ecf7f83b9095857cbd0aefb491.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_mcf5bc8ecf7f83b9095857cbd0aefb491.positions ) { gmap_mcf5bc8ecf7f83b9095857cbd0aefb491.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_mcf5bc8ecf7f83b9095857cbd0aefb491.map, position : gmap_mcf5bc8ecf7f83b9095857cbd0aefb491.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_mcf5bc8ecf7f83b9095857cbd0aefb491.map.setCenter( gmap_mcf5bc8ecf7f83b9095857cbd0aefb491.positions[428] ); });

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 16:27:10 -0700

Checked in at Shake Shack.

erika is at the gym around the corner, I’m eating a burger. :chef-kiss:

39.7622771-104.9807526

Sat, 30 Nov 2019 19:59:12 -0700

Checked in at Mission Ballroom.

And now, this — with erika

39.776047-104.969565

Sat, 30 Nov 2019 18:36:01 -0700

Checked in at Smök.

with erika

39.7686407-104.9803621

Sat, 30 Nov 2019 16:52:33 -0700

Checked in at Zeppelin Station.

with erika

39.7692756-104.9772374

Sat, 30 Nov 2019 14:30:00 -0700

Checked in at Improper City.

I guess it’s a crawl — with erika

39.7650997-104.9789681

Sat, 30 Nov 2019 14:08:34 -0700

Checked in at Peteybird Ice Cream Sandwiches.

with erika

39.764004-104.981273

Sat, 30 Nov 2019 13:41:21 -0700

Checked in at Blue Sparrow Coffee.

39.7643333-104.981187

Sat, 30 Nov 2019 13:41:05 -0700

Checked in at Erico Motorsports.

39.7618396-104.9830327

Sat, 30 Nov 2019 11:39:03 -0700

Checked in at Stowaway.

39.7586883-104.9867767

Field Report for the Calendar Year Triple Crown

Sat, 30 Nov 2019 00:13:31 -0700

Field Report for the Calendar Year Triple Crown

About the Calendar Year Triple Crown

The first person to conceptualize and complete the Calendar Year Triple Crown was Brian Robinson. He completed his trek in 2001. By the end of 2018, 8 additional people had completed it. The Calendar Year Triple Crown entails completing the entirety of three of the longest and oldest National Scenic Trails in the United States all within a single calendar year. These trails are the 2,190 mile Appalachian Trail (AT), the 2,660 mile Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and the ~3,000 mile Continental Divide Trail (CDT). This comprises well over 7,000 miles of hiking across nearly half the states of the Union (22!) in less than 365 days. Only about 400 people total have completed all three of these trails over a lifetime, most of whom take 4-6 months for each hike. I was the first female to complete the Calendar Year Triple Crown and I am the only woman to have completed the Triple Crown trails each 3 times.

Fri, 29 Nov 2019 14:40:55 -0700

Fri, 29 Nov 2019 14:07:24 -0700

Checked in at Foundation Cycles.

Picking up my bike. So fresh and so clean.

39.677885-104.992088

Thu, 28 Nov 2019 14:05:52 -0700

Enjoying some @stranahans #snowflake (Quandry), building anticipation for next Friday.

#Snowflake

Posted on Instagram 2:05 pm, November 28, 2019

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 21:59:04 -0700

Lots of pots coming along #ceramics #pottery #potterywheel #clay

39.70949-105.002

Posted on Instagram 9:59 pm, November 27, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_mf48eae0fd637a5b87e31bda23d45ca62 = { positions : { 68 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.70949’, ‘-105.002’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_mf48eae0fd637a5b87e31bda23d45ca62’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_mf48eae0fd637a5b87e31bda23d45ca62.positions ) { gmap_mf48eae0fd637a5b87e31bda23d45ca62.bounds.extend( gmap_mf48eae0fd637a5b87e31bda23d45ca62.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_mf48eae0fd637a5b87e31bda23d45ca62.positions ) { gmap_mf48eae0fd637a5b87e31bda23d45ca62.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_mf48eae0fd637a5b87e31bda23d45ca62.map, position : gmap_mf48eae0fd637a5b87e31bda23d45ca62.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_mf48eae0fd637a5b87e31bda23d45ca62.map.setCenter( gmap_mf48eae0fd637a5b87e31bda23d45ca62.positions[68] ); });

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 14:50:26 -0700

Checked in at Target.

with erika

39.7465945-105.0555685

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 13:29:07 -0700

Checked in at Edgewater Public Market.

This place is pretty rad! — with erika

39.749124-105.057063

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 11:58:19 -0700

Checked in at American Cultures Kombucha Taproom.

#cafeworking on some #Keyring updates while erika is at the gym.

39.763083-105.011332

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 20:52:38 -0700

Checked in at Ratio Beerworks.

5 day weekend! — with erika

39.7615117-104.981292

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 20:51:56 -0700

Checked in at The Block Distilling Co.

Nutty Putin — with erika

39.7622114-104.9806488

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 18:09:51 -0700

Forget About Setting Goals. Focus on This Instead.

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 23:10:36 -0700

Forget About Setting Goals. Focus on This Instead.

This article is an excerpt from Atomic Habits, my New York Times bestselling book.

Prevailing wisdom claims that the best way to achieve what we want in life—getting into better shape, building a successful business, relaxing more and worrying less, spending more time with friends and family—is to set specific, actionable goals.

For many years, this was how I approached my habits too. Each one was a goal to be reached. I set goals for the grades I wanted to get in school, for the weights I wanted to lift in the gym, for the profits I wanted to earn in business. I succeeded at a few, but I failed at a lot of them. Eventually, I began to realize that my results had very little to do with the goals I set and nearly everything to do with the systems I followed.

The Work Required to Have an Opinion

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 23:03:19 -0700

The Work Required to Have an Opinion

*“I never allow myself to have an opinion on anything that

I don’t know the other side’s argument better than they do.”*

— Charlie Munger

***

While we all hold an opinion on almost everything, how many of us do the work required to have an opinion?

The work is the hard part, that’s why people avoid it. You have to do the reading. You have to talk to anyone competent you can find and listen to their arguments. You have to think about the key variables and how they interact. You have to listen and chase down arguments that run counter to your views. You have to think about how you might be fooling yourself. You have to see the issue through multiple lenses. You need to become your most intelligent critic and have the intellectual honesty to kill some of your best-loved ideas.

Deploys to Production: It’s Not Actually About Fridays

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 22:53:51 -0700

Deploys to Production: It’s Not Actually About Fridays

I just read this piece, which is basically a very long subtweet about my Friday deploy threads. Go on and read it: I’ll wait.

Here’s the thing. After getting over some of the personal gibes (smug optimism? literally no one has ever accused me of being an optimist, kind sir), you may be expecting me to issue a vigorous rebuttal. But I shan’t. Because we are actually in violent agreement, almost entirely.

Everything is Broken

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 10:38:19 -0700

Everything is Broken

Everything is broken, and it’s actually starting to sort of scare me that we’re not willing to acknowledge how bad things have become. It’s starting to scare me that the industry tends to have discussions about morals and ethics in bars, and sometimes in the hallways and dark corners at conferences, rather than in the harsh light of day. It’s really starting to scare me that nobody in the industry reads or understands history any more.

Informal Communication

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 10:10:34 -0700

Informal Communication

You are here:
About GitLab
GitLab Culture
All Remote
Informal Communication

Introduction

On this page, we’re detailing how informal communication occurs at GitLab, and why it matters in an all-remote culture.

Why Execution Is Everything In Business

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 10:00:41 -0700

Why Execution Is Everything In Business

There were search engines before

Google

GOOGL +0%

Google

GOOGL

$0(+0%)

As of 11/11/2019, 01:18pm EST

, social networks before Facebook, and lending platforms before

Lending Club

. So how did these latecomers win? I find the answer interesting.

One word: Execution.

. Lending Club was at best the third online consumer lending platform when it arrived on the scene in 2007, but it grew into the market leader through its awesome execution of a clear vision, and it is now poised for what will likely be a blockbuster initial public offering.

Peacetime Productivity, Wartime Productivity

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 09:54:22 -0700

Peacetime Productivity, Wartime Productivity

Productivity should adopt an idea from military and business strategy: the distinction between peacetime and wartime.

Ben Horowitz, the co-founder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, made this distinction for business strategy in his 2014 book The Hard Thing About Hard Things. Peacetime and wartime “require radically different management styles” from CEOs:

Peacetime in business means those times when a company has a large advantage over the competition in its core market, and its market is growing. In times of peace, the company can focus on expanding the market and reinforcing the company’s strengths.

Privilege and inequality in Silicon Valley

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 09:46:26 -0700

Privilege and inequality in Silicon Valley

Why “few successful startup founders grew up desperately poor”

My co-founder David and I both grew up in poverty and can call ourselves “battle-tested” when it comes to both life and startups, so when the talk in the Valley turned to income inequality, our ears perked up. For a moment, our two worlds were colliding. Here’s a quote from Paul Graham that got our attention.

“Closely related to poverty is lack of social mobility. I’ve seen this myself: you don’t have to grow up rich or even upper middle class to get rich as a startup founder, but few successful founders grew up desperately poor.” (link)

Software Architecture Patterns

Sat, 23 Nov 2019 22:48:05 -0700

Software Architecture Patterns

Chapter 3. Microkernel Architecture

The microkernel architecture pattern (sometimes referred to as the plug-in architecture pattern) is a natural pattern for implementing product-based applications. A product-based application is one that is packaged and made available for download in versions as a typical third-party product. However, many companies also develop and release their internal business applications like software products, complete with versions, release notes, and pluggable features. These are also a natural fit for this pattern. The microkernel architecture pattern allows you to add additional application features as plug-ins to the core application, providing extensibility as well as feature separation and isolation.

The Last Business System You’ll Ever Need

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 19:50:46 -0700

The Last Business System You’ll Ever Need

How To Write A Standard Operating Procedure

I read a post from Dylan Hassinger on a private entrepreneurship forum I’m a member of that compared business to software at some point last year. That analogy has stuck with me ever sense.

I don’t have a software background, though so I like to envision businesses as manufacturing machines.

You put something in one end and then it goes through all these defined processes of scaling in business and then it comes out the other end as profit (or not). Depending on how those processes work, you get something different out the backend.

5 concerns the US must tackle to compete in AI

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 19:42:50 -0700

5 concerns the US must tackle to compete in AI

A group of technology experts chartered by Congress to guide American efforts in artificial intelligence have released their initial report on how to ensure AI development stays on track inside the United States. And, overall, there’s a lot of work to do.

Created by the National Defense Authorization Act in 2018, the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence is explicitly tasked with reviewing “advances in artificial intelligence, related machine learning developments, and associated technologies,” for the express purpose of addressing “the national and economic security needs of the United States, including economic risk, and any other associated issues.”

Paul Virilio – Wikipedia

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 19:35:24 -0700

Paul Virilio – Wikipedia

Paul Virilio (French: [viʁiljo]; 4 January 1932 – 10 September 2018)[3] was a French cultural theorist, urbanist, and aesthetic philosopher. He is best known for his writings about technology as it has developed in relation to speed and power, with diverse references to architecture, the arts, the city and the military.

According to two geographers, Virilio was a “historian of warfare, technology and photography, a philosopher of architecture, military strategy and cinema, and a politically engaged provocative commentator on history, terrorism, mass media and human-machine relations.”[4]

The Best Way to Consume Information – Of Dollars And Data

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 19:22:50 -0700

The Best Way to Consume Information – Of Dollars And Data

How to Combat Information Overload

Photo: Pixabay

It was 1439 when arguably the greatest invention in human history came into being—the printing press. Though the printing press had been independently invented in South Korea a century prior, it was Johannes Gutenberg’s moveable type that hoisted Europe out of the Dark Ages and into the Renaissance and beyond. Elizabeth Einstein, author of The Printing Press as an Agent of Change, stated that the printing press was “a decisive point of no return in human history.”

Notes on Building Evolutionary Architectures.

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 19:16:39 -0700

Notes on Building Evolutionary Architectures.

I recently picked up Building Evolutionary Architectures by Ford, Parsons and Kua. It occupies a similar spot in my head as Accelerate and A Philosophy of Software Design, in the category of seasoned software practitioners sharing their generalized approach to software. Altogether, I rather enjoyed it, and it more elegantly explains many of the points I attempted to make in Reclaim unreasonable software.

Below are my notes from Building Evolutionary Architecture.

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 08:44:43 -0700

Checked in at Advanced Medical Imaging.

MRI #2

39.8605741-104.9840344

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 15:17:47 -0700

Sun, 17 Nov 2019 11:43:26 -0700

Sat, 16 Nov 2019 14:54:52 -0700

Fri, 15 Nov 2019 19:59:53 -0700

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 10:55:47 -0700

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 21:47:49 -0700

I’m making pots over here people.

39.70949-105.002

Posted on Instagram 9:47 pm, November 13, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_me806612be5546463d6063ee4a54ca248 = { positions : { 371 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.70949’, ‘-105.002’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_me806612be5546463d6063ee4a54ca248’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_me806612be5546463d6063ee4a54ca248.positions ) { gmap_me806612be5546463d6063ee4a54ca248.bounds.extend( gmap_me806612be5546463d6063ee4a54ca248.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_me806612be5546463d6063ee4a54ca248.positions ) { gmap_me806612be5546463d6063ee4a54ca248.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_me806612be5546463d6063ee4a54ca248.map, position : gmap_me806612be5546463d6063ee4a54ca248.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_me806612be5546463d6063ee4a54ca248.map.setCenter( gmap_me806612be5546463d6063ee4a54ca248.positions[371] ); });

Tue, 12 Nov 2019 22:03:59 -0700

Tue, 12 Nov 2019 08:58:57 -0700

Checked in at UCHealth Steadman Hawkins Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic – Denver.

Stupid knee

39.5751392-104.8725522

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 18:32:44 -0700

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

Kill me.

39.7676715-104.9738261

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 10:20:59 -0700

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 13:08:22 -0700

Checked in at King Soopers.

with erika

39.7442252-105.0546846

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 12:57:54 -0700

Checked in at Edgewater Ace Hardware.

with erika

39.7471-105.0534

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 11:59:28 -0700

Checked in at Rupert’s at the Edge.

Brunchin — with erika

39.7485326-105.0535461

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 08:19:39 -0700

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Back again! Looking forward to a few weeks at home before my next trip.

39.8497327-104.6739819

Flew AUS:DEN

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 06:20:00 -0700

Flew AUS:DEN

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 06:20:00 -0700

Flew AUS:DEN

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 06:20:00 -0700

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 05:36:08 -0700

Checked in at Gate 31.

AUS:DEN

30.2022183-97.6705118

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 05:35:47 -0700

Checked in at Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).

Heading home for a whole month, which feels like a luxury at this point.

30.2020687-97.667186

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 21:12:14 -0700

Checked in at Craft Pride.

Ongoing — with Cate, Nikolay

30.2578956-97.7388622

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 19:02:22 -0700

Checked in at P6.

30.263071-97.744064

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 16:08:10 -0700

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 14:48:00 -0700

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 14:38:47 -0700

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 13:31:28 -0700

Checked in at Hyatt Regency Austin.

#LeadDevAustin — with Cate, Nikolay

30.2608365-97.7467799

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 12:56:43 -0700

Checked in at Don Gume’s Tacos & More.

Mooooore tacos! — with Nikolay

30.2569895-97.7465747

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 11:04:10 -0700

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 09:12:27 -0700

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 09:09:24 -0700

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 08:26:09 -0700

Checked in at Hyatt Regency Austin.

#LeadDevAustin — with Cate, Nikolay

30.2608365-97.7467799

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 07:27:52 -0700

Checked in at Taco Joint.

Yesssss breakfast tacos, and meeting @jyjsu for the first time!

30.2563622-97.7455755

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 06:44:55 -0700

Checked in at Homewood Suites by Hilton Austin Downtown.

30.2582747-97.7381166

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 18:49:17 -0700

Checked in at Lustre Pearl.

with Nikolay

30.2607151-97.7382806

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 17:56:58 -0700

Checked in at Iron Works BBQ.

TTBBQ 2 hrs — with Nikolay

30.2619452-97.7388792

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 17:01:53 -0700

Checked in at Homewood Suites by Hilton Austin Downtown.

30.2582747-97.7381166

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 15:36:09 -0700

Checked in at Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).

Airports all the way down.

30.2020687-97.667186

Flew DEN:AUS

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:45:00 -0700

Flew DEN:AUS

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:45:00 -0700

Flew DEN:AUS

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:45:00 -0700

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 12:47:04 -0700

Checked in at Gate B22.

DEN:AUS for #LeadDevAustin

39.8586864-104.6782708

This Japanese Toaster Costs $270. It Only Makes One Slice at a Time

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 06:52:34 -0700

This Japanese Toaster Costs $270. It Only Makes One Slice at a Time

Perfectly made toast isn’t just an obsession in Japan. It’s a business opportunity.

Over the past few years, there’s been a quiet boom in the pursuit of expertly reheated bread, from high-end toasters and premium loaves, to cafes catering to connoisseurs seeking that satisfying crunch.

Joining the fray is the next best thing for sliced bread, a toaster designed for just one task: making a single piece of toast, flawlessly. Made by Mitsubishi Electric Corp., better known for its workaday refrigerators and rice cookers, the Bread Oven hit store shelves last month, retailing for about 29,000 to 30,000 yen ($270). While that might seem expensive, Japanese consumers are already used to paying top price for toasters; the popular Balmuda, which debuted a few years ago, sold for about $230.

Wed, 06 Nov 2019 10:43:14 -0700

Checked in at Queen City Coffee Collective.

#cafeworking solo today

39.757412-104.9744

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 17:41:25 -0700

Checked in at Spangalang Brewery.

Don’t worry, I’m not drinking — with erika

39.7550951-104.9770794

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 13:27:31 -0700

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 13:22:17 -0700

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Home! For… 48 hours 😭

39.8497327-104.6739819

Make Great Decisions Quickly With TOMASP

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 10:35:33 -0700

Make Great Decisions Quickly With TOMASP

As technical leaders and managers, our job is to make the right decision most of the time. Hiring, firing, technology choices, software architecture, and project prioritization are examples of high impact decisions that we need to make right if our teams are to be successful.

This is hard. As humans, we’re naturally bad at making those types of decisions. I’ll show you how you can consistently make great decisions quickly using a simple framework called TOMASP. I made up the acronym for the purpose of this blog post but it’s inspired from many great books (see resources) as well as my personal experience of leading engineering teams for almost 15 years.

Yes, You Should Estimate Software Projects

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 10:21:53 -0700

Yes, You Should Estimate Software Projects

I hear more voices saying there is little point in doing time-based estimations on how long building software will take, and thus we should just stop doing it. “Let’s just use story points and estimate complexity, but not the time” and “Let’s just try #noestimates” are suggestions people around me recently brought up. I’m personally skeptical of both approaches. While I do think that doing time-based estimates is really hard, it comes with so many benefits for those who keep doing it.

SLOs Are the API for Your Engineering Team

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 10:11:03 -0700

SLOs Are the API for Your Engineering Team

Key Takeaways

Establish a perimeter: SLOs give you the ability to push back when demands from other parties exceed your capacity to deliver what the business has deemed most important.
Reach agreement faster: SLOs make interacting with other members of the organization more effective and less unpredictable because all parties have already signed off on the goal.
Focus on what matters: SLOs mean the arguing can stop. Everyone knows what’s at stake and can make good decisions based on real data without having to waste time debating priorities.
Drive production excellence: SLOs offer leverage and autonomy to invest in your team’s ability to meet the agreed-upon goals.
The knob goes both ways: SLOs help you realize when it’s time to tinker and time to hunker (down) and focus on greater resilience.

If your job involves direct leadership of engineering teams, managing how and what they deliver, you’ve surely come across situations where the pressure to deliver features won out and led to poor service reliability. You’ve probably had your team’s workflow disrupted by interference from senior managers about minor individual issues. Or, you’ve seen or heard execs questioning your team’s planned work to reduce technical debt or improve your delivery processes.

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 01:55:26 -0700

Checked in at Gate Z18.

50.04697778.5675013

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 22:24:50 -0700

Checked in at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) (Frankfurt Airport).

We meet again, FRA

50.05008488.5719109

Stevey’s Google Platforms Rant

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 19:58:52 -0700

Stevey’s Google Platforms Rant

I was at Amazon for about six and a half years, and now I’ve been at Google for that long. One thing that struck me immediately about the two companies — an impression that has been reinforced almost daily — is that Amazon does everything wrong, and Google does everything right. Sure, it’s a sweeping generalization, but a surprisingly accurate one. It’s pretty crazy. There are probably a hundred or even two hundred different ways you can compare the two companies, and Google is superior in all but three of them, if I recall correctly. I actually did a spreadsheet at one point but Legal wouldn’t let me show it to anyone, even though recruiting loved it.

Moving Past Shallow Incident Data

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 19:23:33 -0700

Moving Past Shallow Incident Data

Here is some data: the last incident your company experienced lasted 54 minutes. What insight does this data reveal besides a) an incident happened, and b) it lasted 54 minutes (at least according to someone interpreting an event as an incident)?

What else could we glean from this data? Hrm. What if we found that someone marked down when this incident was “detected”? Now we have more data!

What You Need to Know About Continuous Integration

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 19:13:26 -0700

What You Need to Know About Continuous Integration

The most popular software applications on the planet have a few things in common. They solve a real problem, they’re (usually) easy to use, and they offer a best-in-class customer experience. Sounds simple, right? Even if you’re just starting your career, you probably know that the opposite is true. In most cases, the “best” apps are often sophisticated projects that require ongoing testing and software updates.

Flew CPT:FRA:DEN

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 09:20:00 -0700

Flew CPT:FRA:DEN

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 09:20:00 -0700

Flew CPT:FRA:DEN

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 09:20:00 -0700

Everything is Amazing, But Nothing is Ours

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 07:51:31 -0700

Everything is Amazing, But Nothing is Ours

Back in 2015, I wrote a blog post called Dropbox: the First Dead Decacorn. At the time, it was the most widely shared take I’d ever written. I learned several things from writing this piece, and none of them had to do with Dropbox: I learned, for instance, that a great way to get people to click on your blog post is to make them mad. I also learned about a company called Social Capital, after my soon-to-be-colleague Ray reached out to me about what I’d written. I’m certainly thankful I wrote it.

WeWork Is The Past. This Is What The Future Of Co-Working Will Be.

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 07:12:05 -0700

WeWork Is The Past. This Is What The Future Of Co-Working Will Be.

Top highlight

Welcome to the beginning of the end for traditional office leasing.

Kristin Wilson Oct 9 · 6 min read

Photo by Tom Parkes on Unsplash

WeWork rode its reputation as an “innovative” tech company all the way to a $47 billion valuation in August, only to crash weeks later in spectacular fashion. Yet, while Adam Neumann’s downfall makes for a good headline, contemplating the company’s next move is a waste a time.

How We Run Skillshare

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 07:05:14 -0700

How We Run Skillshare

Matt Cooper Sep 19 · 11 min read

The Skillshare team in a recent design sprint

I have the opportunity to meet with other CEOs on a pretty frequent basis. I’m part of a CEO group in NYC that meets monthly for breakfast, attend a few other networking groups that meet several times a year, and each of our investors has an annual portfolio company meeting. A consistent topic of discussion and sharing of best practices is the cadence of how we run the business — annual/quarterly/monthly routines, planning, communications, check-ins, goal setting, etc.

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 16:26:33 -0600

Such epic views from Table Mountain!!

-33.957507318.4030829

Posted on Instagram 4:26 pm, November 1, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_md6c5f1ffc8c9223d0af2a476ecda4cbd = { positions : { 268 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘-33.9575073’, ‘18.4030829’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_md6c5f1ffc8c9223d0af2a476ecda4cbd’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_md6c5f1ffc8c9223d0af2a476ecda4cbd.positions ) { gmap_md6c5f1ffc8c9223d0af2a476ecda4cbd.bounds.extend( gmap_md6c5f1ffc8c9223d0af2a476ecda4cbd.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_md6c5f1ffc8c9223d0af2a476ecda4cbd.positions ) { gmap_md6c5f1ffc8c9223d0af2a476ecda4cbd.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_md6c5f1ffc8c9223d0af2a476ecda4cbd.map, position : gmap_md6c5f1ffc8c9223d0af2a476ecda4cbd.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_md6c5f1ffc8c9223d0af2a476ecda4cbd.map.setCenter( gmap_md6c5f1ffc8c9223d0af2a476ecda4cbd.positions[268] ); });

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 05:28:22 -0600

Checked in at Constantia Botanicum.

#cafeworking with Warren

-34.02437718.430139

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 16:30:32 -0600

Flew DEN:FRA:CPT

Mon, 21 Oct 2019 17:30:00 -0600

Flew DEN:FRA:CPT

Mon, 21 Oct 2019 17:30:00 -0600

Flew DEN:FRA:CPT

Mon, 21 Oct 2019 17:30:00 -0600

Sat, 19 Oct 2019 12:09:45 -0600

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 12:52:48 -0600

Checked in at Queen City Coffee Collective.

#cafeworking for a couple of hours

39.757412-104.9744

Sun, 13 Oct 2019 16:22:02 -0600

Checked in at Safeway.

39.7711302-105.0796138

Death, Injuries and an Amputation: Is ‘Resident Evil’ Hollywood’s Most Dangerous Franchise?

Sun, 13 Oct 2019 13:55:21 -0600

Death, Injuries and an Amputation: Is ‘Resident Evil’ Hollywood’s Most Dangerous Franchise?

Stuntwoman Olivia Jackson nearly died on the set of 2016’s ‘The Final Chapter.’ Her colleague was killed. And over the course of the billion-dollar series, many others have been injured. What happened — and who might pay for it?

It was raining on the day of the shoot. That morning, Sept. 5, 2015, Olivia Jackson mucked around on the lonely stretch of road outside Pretoria, South Africa, where Resident Evil: The Final Chapter was filming. None of the other crewmembers, decked in gum boots and rain jackets, seemed to think they would be shooting that day. Jackson, a 34-year-old veteran stunt performer, had been scheduled to film a fight scene. Instead, at the last minute, she learned that she’d be doing a tricky stunt on a motorcycle.

Sat, 12 Oct 2019 19:32:43 -0700

Checked in at Run For The Roses.

39.752607-104.996797

A forty year career.

Sat, 12 Oct 2019 16:53:30 -0600

A forty year career.

The Silicon Valley narrative centers on entrepreneurial protagonists who are poised one predestined step away from changing the world. A decade ago they were heroes, and more recently they’ve become villains, but either way they are absolutely the protagonists. (Although, perhaps the role of protagonist is expanding a bit.) Working within the industry, I’ve worked with quite a few non-protagonists who experience their time in technology differently: a period of obligatory toil required to pry open the gate to the American Dream.

Writing Docs at Amazon

Sat, 12 Oct 2019 16:37:27 -0600

Writing Docs at Amazon

Scott Follow

Feb 10 · 8 min read

Recently, Ben Bashaw published a good article about the way that Amazon (almost uniquely) uses written documents to make decisions. This was posted to Hacker News and a lively discussion ensued. While I was at Amazon, I wrote or contributed to dozens of documents that were presented to Jeff Bezos. In the HN discussion, I was asked for some clarity on the do’s and don’ts of these documents, so I figured I’d write something up in longer form than a comment.

Building a First Team Mindset – Jason Wong’s Blog

Sat, 12 Oct 2019 15:12:43 -0600

Building a First Team Mindset – Jason Wong’s Blog

Imagine a world where you bring together the top leaders in your organization to solve the company’s most pressing challenges, and, instead of coming together as a core group to solve that problem, they approach the exercise as a collection of factions that are more concerned about their and their team’s self interest than solving the company’s needs. It sounds tragic, but also probably like another day at work for a lot of folks, and it’s why I spend a lot of time building a First Team mindset amongst the leaders in my organization.

Compensation for remote employees

Sat, 12 Oct 2019 15:06:38 -0600

Compensation for remote employees

If you can employ anyone, from anywhere, what should you pay them? What is fair?

There are a few ways to go about this: You pay everyone the same, independent of location; You pay people according to local rates; or you make up your own scheme.

TL;DR: Pay well to hire great people

What companies are doing today

Companies that do not hire remotely, tend to pay local rates. They are competing for talent directly with other local companies, and have to adjust rates to be able to hire great people.

Sat, 12 Oct 2019 11:35:22 -0600

Checked in at Queen City Coffee Collective.

Weekend vibes — with erika

39.757412-104.9744

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 21:06:23 -0600

Checked in at The Plimoth.

Date night — with erika

39.7571239-104.9588845

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 13:30:26 -0600

Checked in at Queen City Coffee Collective.

Replaced Purple Door and I’m pretty excited to have another great cafe in the neighborhood.

39.757412-104.9744

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 12:34:12 -0600

Checked in at Birdcall.

39.7544788-104.9766835

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 19:00:12 -0600

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 14:12:47 -0600

Context over control: the future of remote work

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 22:33:43 -0600

Context over control: the future of remote work

Lately, I’ve been reading quite a lot of reports on the state and the future of remote work. While I think it’s great to finally see some open resources about what still looks a very underexplored field, I couldn’t find any unique insights or anything more interesting than some generalized polls or surveys. Yet I think we still know very little about this subject and there’s a lot to be uncovered in terms of strategies, frameworks, and models. This write-up (and more generally this blog) is an attempt to provide insights and more qualitative thinking on such topics.

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 21:44:15 -0600

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 21:30:37 -0600

Microsoft’s LinkedIn loses appeal over access to user profiles

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 12:25:53 -0600

Microsoft’s LinkedIn loses appeal over access to user profiles

(Reuters) – A federal appeals court on Monday rejected LinkedIn’s effort to stop a San Francisco company from using information that users of the professional networking website have deemed public.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals let stand an August 2017 preliminary injunction that required LinkedIn, a Microsoft Corp unit with more than 645 million members, to give hiQ Labs Inc access to publicly available member profiles.

Why you shouldn’t use pie charts – Tips for better data visualization

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 12:05:13 -0600

Why you shouldn’t use pie charts – Tips for better data visualization

I was talking to a colleague the other day who told me about a conversation they just had with a customer. The customer had asked “Why can’t I create pie charts in Funnel?” and my colleague’s response, jokingly, was “Our product team really doesn’t like pie charts”. While it’s true most of us are no huge fans of pie charts, the reason we haven’t invested in supporting a pie charting option is because we believe they are rarely a good fit for the problem they’re intended to solve.

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 17:25:50 -0600

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

I’m sure this is going to feel great after a week at sea level…

39.7676715-104.9738261

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 23:10:44 -0600

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Finally home.

39.8497327-104.6739819

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 19:09:53 -0600

Checked in at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).

One day I’ll get home… ORD:DEN.

41.9770715-87.9011822

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 15:17:36 -0600

Checked in at Maple Leaf Lounge (Transborder).

Waiting out a delay…

45.4575971-73.7530279

How to Design Your Office for Improved Productivity and Purpose

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 09:36:10 -0600

How to Design Your Office for Improved Productivity and Purpose

Design creates culture. Culture shapes values. Values determine the future.
–Robert L. Peters

When’s the last time you thought about office design? Would you be proud to show your office to family and friends? Are you comfortable in your workplace?

The average full-time employee works 1,800 hours per year, most of which are likely in an office. Here at Bonusly, we recently redesigned our headquarters, which got us thinking about how our space impacts the team. That meant adjustable desks, modern chairs, updated layouts, and new technology. And it all started when we asked ourselves, “How can we design our office for productivity and purpose?” Now we’re sharing our lessons with you!

The Secret to a Great Planning Process — Lessons from Airbnb and Eventbrite

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 08:40:27 -0600

The Secret to a Great Planning Process — Lessons from Airbnb and Eventbrite

This article is by Lenny Rachitsky, a former product lead and head of consumer supply growth at Airbnb, and Nels Gilbreth, former Head of Global Revenue Strategy at Eventbrite.

It’s almost the end of Q3, which means annual (and quarterly) planning is just around the corner. If you’re like most people, this sentence just filled you with dread.

We’ve been through dozens of planning cycles after spending 10 years at Eventbrite and seven years at Airbnb, so we’ve seen firsthand how messy and challenging it can be. Sometimes we were still working on our annual plan — three months into the year. Other times a half-assed plan was rushed through approvals, only to be abandoned entirely after only six months. For most of us, by the time planning ends we’re left with bruised egos, misaligned plans, and a lack of buy-in.

Could Climate Change Really End the World?

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 05:16:40 -0600

Could Climate Change Really End the World?

End Times

Species are going extinct and the climate is warming rapidly — yet at least materially, humans are doing better than ever. Welcome to the environmentalist’s paradox.

Bryan Walsh Aug 16 · 7 min read

Photo: Josh Edelson / AFP / Getty Images

Asteroids, supervolcanoes, nuclear war, climate change, engineered viruses, artificial intelligence, and even aliens — the end may be closer than you think. For the next two weeks, OneZero will be featuring essays drawn from editor Bryan Walsh’s forthcoming book End Times: A Brief Guide to the End of the World, which hits shelves on August 27 and is available for pre-order now, as well as pieces by other experts in the burgeoning field of existential risk. But we’re not helpless. It’s up to us to postpone the apocalypse.

New Productivity — Benedict Evans

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 05:05:25 -0600

New Productivity — Benedict Evans

We are in the middle of a wave of interesting new productivity software startups – there are dozens of companies that remix some combination of lists, tables, charts, tasks, notes, light-weight databases, forms, and some kind of collaboration, chat or information-sharing. All of these things are unbundling and rebundling spreadsheets, email and file shares. Instead of a flat grid of cells, a dumb list of files, and a dumb list of little text files (which is what email really is), we get some kind of richer canvas that mixes all of these together in ways that are native to the web and collaboration.

The Single Most Important Internal Email in the History of Amazon

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 04:57:29 -0600

The Single Most Important Internal Email in the History of Amazon

I never planned to do a series of articles, but this write-up almost came as a natural follow-up to the post I wrote last week about Context over Control and the future of remote work. Last week I explored the ground rules of the future of work. Specifically, I talked about how and why the fundamental prerequisites of work have changed. Here I’m taking a step further and describing some of the literature behind today’s organizations’ communication systems. What they’re made of, why they can be so impactful in today’s organizations, and how they’re related to the concept of remote working.

Five years of home office – a recap

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 03:57:07 -0600

Five years of home office – a recap

TLDR; Read how I cope with working remote.

As it is en-vogue nowadays to talk about remote working and one’s

experiences, I thought I am gonna join the flock.

This does not mean that this resembles anyone else’s experiences, but I

still think there are some tidbits worth sharing in here.

I joined Elastic five years ago without any prior

experience in remote working.

Flew ATH:YUL:ORD:DEN

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 02:20:00 -0600

Flew ATH:YUL:ORD:DEN

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 02:20:00 -0600

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 16:57:00 -0600

Checked in at Wyndham Grand Athens.

Cheers to a great meetup. Home tomorrow!

37.985000823.7210938

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 13:38:41 -0600

Checked in at StreetWok.

37.97690723.7276759

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 10:53:05 -0600

Checked in at Γιάντες.

37.985487423.7359827

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 10:19:00 -0600

Checked in at Mastermind.

37.977465523.7274292

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 03:58:41 -0600

Checked in at Naanwich Indian Street Food.

37.977069523.7232301

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 02:42:12 -0600

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 02:29:26 -0600

Checked in at The Underdog.

Love this place.

37.97488923.719219

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 00:03:28 -0600

Checked in at 2 γουλιές & 2 μπουκιές.

37.979393123.7300978

Fri, 04 Oct 2019 04:09:05 -0600

Checked in at ο γύρος που γυρεύεις.

37.968683523.7296874

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 23:48:36 -0700

Checked in at 2 γουλιές & 2 μπουκιές.

37.979393123.7300978

Howard Gardner on Influence

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 14:43:01 -0600

Howard Gardner on Influence

As I continue to think further about influence and power, Howard Gardner’s Changing Minds offers an extremely helpful conceptual framework, one that I see as a counterpart to Robert Cialdini’s “Weapons of Influence” (discussed at length in Cialdini’s Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion.) From Gardner’s 2006 edition:

[W]hat…factors might cause an individual to shift his or her perspective[?]… I have identified seven factors–sometimes I’ll call them levers–that could be at work in these and all cases of a change of mind…

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 14:10:55 -0600

Checked in at Wyndham Grand Athens.

37.985000823.7210938

Long-term Building in Japan

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 00:13:20 -0600

Long-term Building in Japan

Japan’s Ise Shrine and Hōryū-ji Temple offer lessons in how to make a building, or an institution, last through millennia

Alexander Rose Sep 12 · 15 min read

The Ise Shrine in Japan, which has been rebuilt every 20 years for over 1,400 years.

When I started working with Stewart Brand over two decades ago, he told me about the ideas behind Long Now, and how we might build the seed for a very long-lived institution. One of the first examples he mentioned to me was Ise Shrine in Japan, which has been rebuilt every 20 years in adjacent sites for over 1,400 years. This shrine is made of ephemeral materials like wood and thatch, but its symbiotic relationship with the Shinto belief and craftsmen has kept a version of the temple standing since 692 CE. Over these past decades many of us at Long Now have conjured these temples as an example of long-term thinking, but it had not occurred to me that I might one day visit them.

ARPA: A Framework Alternative to the RACI Model

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 23:54:35 -0600

ARPA: A Framework Alternative to the RACI Model

One thing high-performance teams do well is distribute authority — they have a clear system that specifies how decisions are made, and it enables the team to move quickly.

Does making a small copy change require approval from five people? Or do processes exist that empower a single person to make a change and ship it? While it seems clear that a single person should make such a change, it’s tougher than you’d think to design a company that operates this way at scale. Why is that?

Spiders Can Fly Hundreds of Miles Using Electricity

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 21:15:44 -0600

Spiders Can Fly Hundreds of Miles Using Electricity

A ballooning spiderMichael Hutchinson

On October 31, 1832, a young naturalist named Charles Darwin walked onto the deck of the HMS Beagle and realized that the ship had been boarded by thousands of intruders. Tiny red spiders, each a millimeter wide, were everywhere. The ship was 60 miles offshore, so the creatures must have floated over from the Argentinian mainland. “All the ropes were coated and fringed with gossamer web,” Darwin wrote.

A good onboarding experience for new hires requires two key things

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 21:10:04 -0600

A good onboarding experience for new hires requires two key things

In my time as a manger, I’ve encountered quite a few people who were badly onboarded. As a rule it takes as long a time or longer to fix it as it took to poorly onboard them. Sometimes we’re able to re-onboard people and make them successful… and sometimes it’s too late.

It’s always baffling to me when companies do all the work to hire someone and then don’t set them up to be successful. Hiring is so time consuming. Managing people who are not delivering in their role is time consuming, too, not to mention emotionally draining. Onboarding people and helping them to be effective is—by far—the easiest option.

Leadership, Decision-Making and Emotion Management

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 21:01:40 -0600

Leadership, Decision-Making and Emotion Management

Jurgen Appelo is an innovative management thinker whose work I admire, and his 7 Levels of Delegation is a framework that I often recommend to clients to help them determine how to allocate authority and decision-making power between themselves and their team. As useful as this conceptual model can be, its effective implementation by a leader also requires skillful emotion management at multiple levels: internally, interpersonally, and across the organization as a whole.

Essential Meetings to Have With Your People as a Manager

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 20:51:16 -0600

Essential Meetings to Have With Your People as a Manager

When I first started managing, I had no idea what meetings I was supposed to conduct with my staff to help them grow. In part because I was at a smaller organization and we were inventing processes on the fly and also because I did not have a manager who conducted or introduced me to these meetings. I learned about these meetings through years of experience, peers in other organizations, networking, mentors, and reading. A lot of reading!

The Tell Tale Signs of Burnout … Do You Have Them?

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 20:34:19 -0600

The Tell Tale Signs of Burnout … Do You Have Them?

Running out of gas? Recognizing the signs of burnout before it’s too late

Posted Nov 26, 2013

Burnout is one of those road hazards in life that high-achievers really should keep a close eye out for, but sadly—often because of their “I can do everything” personalities—they rarely see it coming. Because high-achievers are often so passionate about what they do, they tend to ignore the fact that they’re working exceptionally long hours, taking on exceedingly heavy workloads, and putting enormous pressure on themselves to excel—all of which make them ripe for burnout.

Opinion | The Whistle-Blower Knows How to Write

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 20:26:16 -0600

Opinion | The Whistle-Blower Knows How to Write

The Whistle-Blower’s Guide to Writing

His complaint offers lessons on how to make a point.

Ms. Rosenzweig is the director of the Writing Center at Harvard.

Representative John Ratcliffe, Republican of Texas, holding a marked-up copy of the whistle-blower complaint.CreditJim Lo Scalzo/EPA, via Shutterstock

I can’t tell you what’s going to happen to his blockbuster complaint about the president’s behavior, but I can tell you that the whistle-blower’s college writing instructor would be very proud of him.

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 14:38:07 -0600

Checked in at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

You’re the worst Newark. The worst.

40.6929715-74.1779923

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 10:46:47 -0700

Flew DEN:EWR:ATH

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 11:00:00 -0600

Flew DEN:EWR:ATH

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 11:00:00 -0600

Flew DEN:EWR:ATH

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 11:00:00 -0600

A Mental Model For Prioritizing Your Startup’s Energies

Sat, 28 Sep 2019 22:22:57 -0600

A Mental Model For Prioritizing Your Startup’s Energies

I’ve playing with a new mental model for early-stage startups: a pendulum. This pendulum oscillates between the limiting factors of the business at different stages. There only two limiting factors in this mental model: product and go to market.

At the moment a startup is founded, the business is product limited. You can’t do much without a product. After the company establishes product market fit, the pendulum swings to go-to-market.

#2: Open Core —Definition, Examples & Tradeoffs

Sat, 28 Sep 2019 22:20:55 -0600

#2: Open Core —Definition, Examples & Tradeoffs

Joseph Jacks Jul 5, 2018 · 7 min read

In this post, we will explore the following:

What is open core?
How is it implemented?
Where are examples?
When should it be used?

Visual representation of the open core business model 😅

Data overwhelmingly shows that open core (OC) is the dominant business model used by the most successful COSS companies.

OC is the most misunderstood and polarizing business model implemented by COSS companies.

How I Build Learning Projects — Part I

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 13:47:03 -0600

How I Build Learning Projects — Part I

A Little Bit of Slope Makes Up For A Lot of Y-Intercept

Robert Chang Jul 20 · 14 min read

Image credit: When was the last time that you built a learning project?

Motivation

Recently, I came across a blog post written by Simon Hørup Eskildsen on how he approaches reading. It was an inspiring read because I did not know anyone this deliberate about the pursuit of reading. This kind of meticulous, thoughtful, system-level design thinking reminds me of Ray Dalio’s Principle:

Thu, 26 Sep 2019 17:24:08 -0600

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

Do you even remember how to gym, bro? Narrator: he doesn’t.

39.7676715-104.9738261

Thu, 26 Sep 2019 09:12:48 -0600

What Makes For a Good Product Manager?

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 23:02:21 -0600

What Makes For a Good Product Manager?

Andy Johns Sep 10 · 12 min read

Over the course of my career, I’ve worked on product at Facebook, Twitter, Quora, and Wealthfront, and have advised dozens of other companies on the role of growth and product. Now, as an investor at Unusual Ventures, I get exposure to an even broader collection of companies, and the product cultures within them. Despite that exposure, there is a lot about the role of product that I still don’t understand. But what I can say for sure is that there are as many philosophies on the role of a product manager (PM) as there are letters in the alphabet. And we’re nowhere near getting to a point of agreement on the basic question of, “What makes for a great product manager?”

The Product-Minded Software Engineer

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 22:44:13 -0600

The Product-Minded Software Engineer

Product-minded engineers are developers with lots of interest in the product itself. They want to understand why decisions are made, how people use the product, and love to be involved in making product decisions. They’re someone who would likely make a good product manager if they ever decide to give up the joy of engineering. I’ve worked with many great product-minded engineers and consider myself to be this kind of developer. At companies building world-class products, product-minded engineers take teams to a new level of impact.

From inbox-zero to todo-list-zero (for managers)

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 12:53:07 -0600

From inbox-zero to todo-list-zero (for managers)

Joe Goldberg Sep 6 · 4 min read

The most Type-A calendar you’ll ever see

[Preamble to software engineers or anyone else on maker-time: you keep doing you, the following might sound absurdly overengineered. I wrote this article with managers in mind]

Inbox-Zero

I have a confession to make: I’m the type of person who gets to inbox-zero daily. I sheepishly admit this, because in a world where busy equals productive, it almost seems like a…

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 22:24:19 -0600

Epic 4 days in Crested Butte this weekend. Amazing riding, incredible views, and caught a fish. Can’t ask for too much more.

38.8697222-106.9877778

Posted on Instagram 10:24 pm, September 24, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m0c5bd0a7d321390ac744e25e805d24b4 = { positions : { 682 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘38.8697222’, ‘-106.9877778’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m0c5bd0a7d321390ac744e25e805d24b4’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m0c5bd0a7d321390ac744e25e805d24b4.positions ) { gmap_m0c5bd0a7d321390ac744e25e805d24b4.bounds.extend( gmap_m0c5bd0a7d321390ac744e25e805d24b4.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m0c5bd0a7d321390ac744e25e805d24b4.positions ) { gmap_m0c5bd0a7d321390ac744e25e805d24b4.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m0c5bd0a7d321390ac744e25e805d24b4.map, position : gmap_m0c5bd0a7d321390ac744e25e805d24b4.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m0c5bd0a7d321390ac744e25e805d24b4.map.setCenter( gmap_m0c5bd0a7d321390ac744e25e805d24b4.positions[682] ); });

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 14:14:40 -0600

Checked in at Monarch Pass.

38.5125547-106.3325108

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 10:11:41 -0600

Checked in at Slate Rock Gulch.

38.9083533-107.0254522

Thu, 19 Sep 2019 08:19:23 -0600

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 21:59:47 -0600

Open-fire cooked Korean ribs on a weeknight because we’re that extra.

Posted on Instagram 9:59 pm, September 18, 2019

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 17:23:45 -0600

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

Sea level is most likely about to kick my ass.

39.7676715-104.9738261

Grafiti

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 16:43:10 -0600

The Home for Visual Information & Inspiration
Search, Discover & Share charts from top publishers!

Grafiti

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 14:00:23 -0600

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Made it home. All I want is sleep — with Kelly, Michael

39.8497327-104.6739819

Flew MCO:DEN

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 10:40:00 -0600

Flew MCO:DEN

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 10:40:00 -0600

Flew MCO:DEN

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 10:40:00 -0600

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 08:55:50 -0600

28.4308832-81.3075614

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 18:11:10 -0600

Checked in at Letterpress.

28.3765797-81.5140908

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 23:34:20 -0600

Checked in at Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace Disney Springs Area.

Still here #a8cgm.

28.3761893-81.5151537

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 16:04:19 -0600

Checked in at Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace Disney Springs Area.

28.3761893-81.5151537

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 07:11:02 -0600

Checked in at Buena Vista Palace Conference Center.

28.3773575-81.5153401

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 15:51:34 -0600

Checked in at Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace Disney Springs Area.

28.3761893-81.5151537

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 14:33:40 -0600

Stripe’s remote engineering hub shows how distributed workforces can thrive

Next stop; #a8cgm hotel

28.4308832-81.3075614

Stripe’s remote engineering hub shows how distributed workforces can thrive

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 13:24:48 -0600

Above: Remote working: Man on sofa… working.

Image Credit: Getty

More than two-thirds of the global workforce operate remotely at least one day a week, according to a study carried out last year by Switzerland-based serviced office provider IWG, while around half of the U.S. workforce specifically could be remote by 2020 — up from 39% in 2012.

There are a number of benefits to operating a so-called “distributed workforce.” It gives the worker more flexibility over where they work, improves work-life balance, reduces the carbon footprint (less travel), and saves money — less overhead for the business, and fewer dollars spent on transport and Starbucks for the employee.

Climate change: ‘Invest $1.8 trillion to adapt’

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 13:16:00 -0600

Climate change: ‘Invest $1.8 trillion to adapt’

Ollivier Girard/CIFOR

Investments – like the purchase of a water pump for irrigation – can provide a sustainable farming income for farmers like Sanfo Karim in Burkina Faso

Investing $1.8 trillion over the next decade – in measures to adapt to climate change – could produce net benefits worth more than $7 trillion.

This is according to a global cost-benefit analysis setting out five adaptation strategies.

Flew DEN:MCO

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 10:50:00 -0600

Flew DEN:MCO

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 10:50:00 -0600

Flew DEN:MCO

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 10:50:00 -0600

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 09:48:49 -0600

Checked in at Lounge 5280.

A toast, to the GM — with Kelly

39.8586616-104.67371

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 09:47:20 -0600

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Fall travel season has begun with the #a8cgm. DEN:MCO. — with Kelly

39.8497327-104.6739819

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 09:46:34 -0600

Checked in at Concourse B Train Station.

39.8587463-104.6737119

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 09:35:12 -0600

Checked in at TSA Pre-Check.

39.849308-104.6737945

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 07:42:58 -0600

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 22:26:35 -0600

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 17:19:11 -0600

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

Last one for a week plus. Will hurt when I get back…

39.7676715-104.9738261

17 Reasons NOT To Be A Manager

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 16:46:15 -0600

17 Reasons NOT To Be A Manager

Yesterday we had a super fun meetup here at Intercom in Dublin. We split up into small discussion groups and talked about things related to managing teams and being a senior individual contributor (IC), and going back and forth throughout your career.

One interesting question that came up repeatedly was: “what are some reasons that someone might not want to be a manager?”

Scaling In Lower Cost Locations – AVC

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 14:37:48 -0600

Scaling In Lower Cost Locations – AVC

This is a topic I’ve written about a bunch over the years. I feel like it is becoming more urgent every day.

Last week I heard some shocking numbers about salary levels for certain kinds of engineers in the bay area. I checked them out with a few of our bay area portfolio companies and they were more or less corroborated.

The tight technical labor markets in the bay area, NYC, and a number of other regions in the US are making it hard to scale software businesses without burning massive amounts of cash.

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 08:41:04 -0600

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 08:16:44 -0600

Sun, 08 Sep 2019 13:55:29 -0600

Checked in at Smashburger.

Post-ride noms

39.718607-105.1320987

Sun, 08 Sep 2019 11:26:20 -0600

Checked in at GREEN MOUNTAIN PARK.

39.6904016-105.1522934

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 16:39:44 -0600

Went on a #rinocoffeecrawl today and bought a bunch of bags. #rino #denver #coffee

Posted on Instagram 4:39 pm, September 7, 2019

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 16:21:22 -0600

A couple of cool murals going up at Crema for #crushwalls #keyringprivate

39.7611297-104.9817828

#crushwalls

Posted on Instagram 4:21 pm, September 7, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_md742811064b9e577331e4ce63882f1ac = { positions : { 214 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7611297’, ‘-104.9817828’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_md742811064b9e577331e4ce63882f1ac’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_md742811064b9e577331e4ce63882f1ac.positions ) { gmap_md742811064b9e577331e4ce63882f1ac.bounds.extend( gmap_md742811064b9e577331e4ce63882f1ac.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_md742811064b9e577331e4ce63882f1ac.positions ) { gmap_md742811064b9e577331e4ce63882f1ac.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_md742811064b9e577331e4ce63882f1ac.map, position : gmap_md742811064b9e577331e4ce63882f1ac.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_md742811064b9e577331e4ce63882f1ac.map.setCenter( gmap_md742811064b9e577331e4ce63882f1ac.positions[214] ); });

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 13:59:25 -0600

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 13:47:46 -0600

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 13:14:40 -0600

Checked in at Port Side.

Last stop on my #rinocoffeecrawl. #freecoffee (bought 2 bags)

39.7577848-104.9862502

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 12:59:13 -0600

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 12:45:43 -0600

Checked in at Crema.

Fifth #rinocoffeecrawl stop. #crushwalls in full force outside. #freecoffee

39.7611319-104.9817672

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 12:38:08 -0600

Checked in at Blue Sparrow Coffee.

Fourth #rinocoffeecrawl stop. Ummm super expensive CBD-infused coffee

39.7643333-104.981187

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 12:22:55 -0600

Checked in at Hotbox Roasters.

Third stop on #rinocoffeecrawl

39.7666288-104.9748015

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 11:55:19 -0600

Checked in at Dandy Lion Coffee Co..

Second stop on the #rinocoffeecrawl — with erika

39.769241-104.977189

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 11:21:52 -0600

Checked in at Rivers And Roads Coffee.

First stop on #rinocoffeecrawl — with erika

39.7647012-104.9565211

Fri, 06 Sep 2019 20:45:12 -0600

Every manager needs the magic of a work BFF

Fri, 06 Sep 2019 17:36:57 -0600

Every manager needs the magic of a work BFF

One of the few pieces of advice I feel good about giving to everyone is this: When your job gets harder, the best thing you can do is make a friend.

This is also backed by the data. Gallup research has consistently shown that having a best friend at work leads to better performance—perhaps related to the findings that people who have a best friend at work are more likely to be engaged in their job, more likely to take risks that spark innovation, and less likely to be actively looking for job opportunities elsewhere.

What I Learned After Becoming an Engineering Manager

Fri, 06 Sep 2019 17:29:56 -0600

What I Learned After Becoming an Engineering Manager

This post will help engineers get the best results out of their work with managers, and achieve career goals in a predictable way.

After many years of being an individual contributor and Tech Lead, I decided to transition to the Engineering Manager role. My main expertise is in mobile app development, but notes below are relevant for any software engineering team.

Own your success

Please don’t wait for your manager to tell you exactly what to do and how to do it. If you’re part of the big team in the big org — your manager is not expected to have all context on all the details of your projects. Please come up with your own roadmap to ship the next feature, and ask feedback. Drive the development of your project.

Product Team FAQ | Silicon Valley Product Group

Fri, 06 Sep 2019 17:24:06 -0600

Product Team FAQ | Silicon Valley Product Group

Every so often one of my articles seems to strike a chord, and this latest one on the difference between Product Teams and Feature Teams certainly seemed to do that. I am grateful for the very positive response. This morning I woke up to well over a hundred people who took the time to e-mail me a personal note of thanks, and often with follow-up questions.

Product vs. Feature Teams

Fri, 06 Sep 2019 17:17:25 -0600

Product vs. Feature Teams

This article is certain to upset many people.

I’m sorry for that, but the degree of ongoing noise and confusion surrounding the role of product at tech companies is only getting worse. Moreover, I see the issues and problematic behaviors getting institutionalized in conference talks, training programs and so-called certification programs for product people.

I have talked about this issue several times in the past, most specifically in the article and keynote on Empowered Product Teams. However, so many people hear only what they want to in that, and it has become clear to me that I need to be more explicit.

Small Wins

Fri, 06 Sep 2019 16:57:55 -0600

Small Wins

It’s easy to put up a facade of success.

Social media has trained us to only show the best parts of our lives.

The pressure is on to announce and celebrate the big wins.

To curate the narrative in the biggest and most glorious manner possible.

The bigger the better.

And it’s really easy to keep silent when you’re unknown,

when you’re only making small progress,

and when everyone else seems to be doing much better.

Fri, 06 Sep 2019 15:04:44 -0600

Fri, 06 Sep 2019 08:05:50 -0600

Thu, 05 Sep 2019 15:35:50 -0600

Management Communication: Priority Exceptions

Thu, 05 Sep 2019 15:35:45 -0600

Constantly-changing priorities and surprise projects erode team morale and leave everyone unsure of if they’re working on the most important thing, or if they’ll ever get to finish anything. While being adaptable and flexible is critical for most teams, it’s always important to have some kind of roadmap and approach to prioritization and planning work. There are many different ways to plan and prioritize your work; what’s important is that when priorities change — and they will change — you acknowledge that change and adapt quickly.

Modern applications at AWS – All Things Distributed

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 22:06:37 -0600

Modern applications at AWS – All Things Distributed

Innovation has always been part of the Amazon DNA, but about 20 years ago, we went through a radical transformation with the goal of making our iterative process—”invent, launch, reinvent, relaunch, start over, rinse, repeat, again and again“—even faster. The changes we made affected both how we built applications and how we organized our company.

Back then, we had only a small fraction of the number of customers that Amazon serves today. Still, we knew that if we wanted to expand the products and services we offered, we had to change the way we approached application architecture.

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 17:25:40 -0600

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

39.7676715-104.9738261

How to Discover Your Unknown Knowns

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 15:53:31 -0600

How to Discover Your Unknown Knowns

Known knowns, unknown knowns and unknown unknowns

It’s been almost twenty years since Donald Rumsfeld, the then US Secretary of State of Defense, said:

“There are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say there are things that we now know we don’t know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we do not know we don’t know. “

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 08:48:17 -0600

You Might Not Be Checking In on Foursquare, But Foursquare Is Checking In on You

Mon, 02 Sep 2019 22:38:38 -0600

You Might Not Be Checking In on Foursquare, But Foursquare Is Checking In on You

Foursquare check-ins in New York City.

Photo: Courtesy of Foursquare

Way back in 2009, when Barack Obama was president and Little Nas X was 10 years old, one of the most talked-about start-ups in the tech industry was an app called Foursquare. The digital compass that pointed your Uncle Tony to the mayorship of your local Boston Market was the most prominent check-in app at a moment when everyone in Silicon Valley was betting on location-based social networks like Foursquare’s biggest competitor, Gowalla. Foursquare was also the best-known of a generation of cutesy local start-ups — think Tumblr and Gilt — poised to transform New York City into the next Silicon Valley.

I tried videoing from my bike’s phone mount on the downhill. Pretty bumpy, but — wheeeeee! #mtb #colorado #enduro #downhill #video #singletrack

Mon, 02 Sep 2019 16:33:36 -0600

https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t50.2886-16/70062041_376896642956518_8456465293877072941_n.mp4?_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&oe=5D70483E&oh=852797f0f0db0e97f60dd36215dc4ce4

I tried videoing from my bike’s phone mount on the downhill. Pretty bumpy, but — wheeeeee! #mtb #colorado #enduro #downhill #video #singletrack

39.4078-105.171 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m17c033b47358098c7edc1e1bd117eb30 = { positions : { 826 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.4078’, ‘-105.171’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m17c033b47358098c7edc1e1bd117eb30’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m17c033b47358098c7edc1e1bd117eb30.positions ) { gmap_m17c033b47358098c7edc1e1bd117eb30.bounds.extend( gmap_m17c033b47358098c7edc1e1bd117eb30.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m17c033b47358098c7edc1e1bd117eb30.positions ) { gmap_m17c033b47358098c7edc1e1bd117eb30.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m17c033b47358098c7edc1e1bd117eb30.map, position : gmap_m17c033b47358098c7edc1e1bd117eb30.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m17c033b47358098c7edc1e1bd117eb30.map.setCenter( gmap_m17c033b47358098c7edc1e1bd117eb30.positions[826] ); });

Mon, 02 Sep 2019 16:28:12 -0600

EXTREEEME @jetboil — making some lunch without a lot of riverbank to play with.

39.4078-105.171

Posted on Instagram 4:28 pm, September 2, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_mecd88ebd594a5fa0b6653def4a8ab0d1 = { positions : { 266 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.4078’, ‘-105.171’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_mecd88ebd594a5fa0b6653def4a8ab0d1’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_mecd88ebd594a5fa0b6653def4a8ab0d1.positions ) { gmap_mecd88ebd594a5fa0b6653def4a8ab0d1.bounds.extend( gmap_mecd88ebd594a5fa0b6653def4a8ab0d1.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_mecd88ebd594a5fa0b6653def4a8ab0d1.positions ) { gmap_mecd88ebd594a5fa0b6653def4a8ab0d1.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_mecd88ebd594a5fa0b6653def4a8ab0d1.map, position : gmap_mecd88ebd594a5fa0b6653def4a8ab0d1.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_mecd88ebd594a5fa0b6653def4a8ab0d1.map.setCenter( gmap_mecd88ebd594a5fa0b6653def4a8ab0d1.positions[266] ); });

How to build social connection in a remote team – Know Your Team | Blog

Fri, 30 Aug 2019 18:06:39 -0600

How to build social connection in a remote team – Know Your Team | Blog

I’ll be shocked if you’re shocked: Building social connection in a remote team is the hardest part of managing a remote team. According to a survey we ran this past fall with 297 remote managers and employees, “fostering a sense of connection without a shared location” was seen as the #1 most difficult part of being a remote manager – and the #1 most difficult part of working remotely, in general.

Storybook

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 10:47:26 -0600

Storybook is an open source tool for developing UI components in isolation for React, Vue, and Angular. It makes building stunning UIs organized and efficient.

https://storybook.js.org/

Wed, 28 Aug 2019 11:46:05 -0600

Tue, 27 Aug 2019 18:45:36 -0600

Tue, 27 Aug 2019 14:08:13 -0600

Sun, 25 Aug 2019 15:47:02 -0600

Glorious day on the river. @akires and I both got skunked, but still had a great time. #fishing #tenkara

40.41617-105.3732

#fishing
#Tenkara

Posted on Instagram 3:47 pm, August 25, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_ma882980de5c4305d3a2ab1a3c1ecc66a = { positions : { 69 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘40.41617’, ‘-105.3732’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_ma882980de5c4305d3a2ab1a3c1ecc66a’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_ma882980de5c4305d3a2ab1a3c1ecc66a.positions ) { gmap_ma882980de5c4305d3a2ab1a3c1ecc66a.bounds.extend( gmap_ma882980de5c4305d3a2ab1a3c1ecc66a.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_ma882980de5c4305d3a2ab1a3c1ecc66a.positions ) { gmap_ma882980de5c4305d3a2ab1a3c1ecc66a.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_ma882980de5c4305d3a2ab1a3c1ecc66a.map, position : gmap_ma882980de5c4305d3a2ab1a3c1ecc66a.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_ma882980de5c4305d3a2ab1a3c1ecc66a.map.setCenter( gmap_ma882980de5c4305d3a2ab1a3c1ecc66a.positions[69] ); });

Sat, 24 Aug 2019 20:21:45 -0600

Checked in at Julep.

Date night ish — with erika

39.7647528-104.9769972

Sat, 24 Aug 2019 20:01:56 -0600

Denver Nights

Posted on Instagram 8:01 pm, August 24, 2019

The 10x Engineer – making a whole team 10x better

Sat, 24 Aug 2019 18:19:27 -0600

The 10x Engineer – making a whole team 10x better

Lately there was a lot of talk on twitter about the 10x engineer which started a big debate about what makes a good engineer. Some really stupid things were mentioned such as “10x engineers hate meetings” and “10x engineers come late to the office” and “10x engineers laptop background is usually black”. In general, it seems that some people think that if you are smart enough, it is okay to be an asshole.

Fri, 23 Aug 2019 20:08:28 -0600

Checked in at The Welton Room.

Next stop, fancier cocktails — with erika

39.753569-104.97949

Fri, 23 Aug 2019 19:26:56 -0600

Solar powered USB ports on a patio umbrella 🤯🤯🤯

39.75034-104.98401

Posted on Instagram 7:26 pm, August 23, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m54ef7ff5b2253d6883236ef85c424f24 = { positions : { 940 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.75034’, ‘-104.98401’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m54ef7ff5b2253d6883236ef85c424f24’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m54ef7ff5b2253d6883236ef85c424f24.positions ) { gmap_m54ef7ff5b2253d6883236ef85c424f24.bounds.extend( gmap_m54ef7ff5b2253d6883236ef85c424f24.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m54ef7ff5b2253d6883236ef85c424f24.positions ) { gmap_m54ef7ff5b2253d6883236ef85c424f24.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m54ef7ff5b2253d6883236ef85c424f24.map, position : gmap_m54ef7ff5b2253d6883236ef85c424f24.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m54ef7ff5b2253d6883236ef85c424f24.map.setCenter( gmap_m54ef7ff5b2253d6883236ef85c424f24.positions[940] ); });

Fri, 23 Aug 2019 19:10:20 -0600

Checked in at Rita’s Law.

Checking out a friend of a friend’s new place. Pretty slick! — with erika

39.750316-104.984027

Fri, 23 Aug 2019 16:09:40 -0600

There are much worse places to make a fresh cup of coffee. (from a few weeks ago, wishing I was there now)

39.4091364-105.5007863

Posted on Instagram 4:09 pm, August 23, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_mf476f9b82b770f10fc8d19253598f79f = { positions : { 119 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.4091364’, ‘-105.5007863’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_mf476f9b82b770f10fc8d19253598f79f’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_mf476f9b82b770f10fc8d19253598f79f.positions ) { gmap_mf476f9b82b770f10fc8d19253598f79f.bounds.extend( gmap_mf476f9b82b770f10fc8d19253598f79f.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_mf476f9b82b770f10fc8d19253598f79f.positions ) { gmap_mf476f9b82b770f10fc8d19253598f79f.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_mf476f9b82b770f10fc8d19253598f79f.map, position : gmap_mf476f9b82b770f10fc8d19253598f79f.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_mf476f9b82b770f10fc8d19253598f79f.map.setCenter( gmap_mf476f9b82b770f10fc8d19253598f79f.positions[119] ); });

Fri, 23 Aug 2019 12:48:58 -0600

Checked in at Enterprise 5280.

Last day here. I’m a free agent for #cafeworking from now on.

39.761625-104.97923

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 17:26:49 -0600

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

This might be a mistake

39.7676715-104.9738261

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 14:11:13 -0600

Checked in at Dunbar Kitchen & Taphouse.

39.7562063-104.9758082

Arc’teryx Norvan SL Hoody Review

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 11:46:37 -0600

Before we get into any details, let me just get this out of the way — I absolutely love this thing, and giggle every time I get to use it. It makes no sense, I know, but here we are.

OK — now that you know how biased I am, let’s jump into some details.

I have the black and red, size Large. I’m 6’4″ and have bizarrely long arms, but the Norvan SL Hoody fits as well (if not better) than most standard long-sleeve items I get my hands on, and isn’t too baggy around the body. When I first pull it out of the pouch it might be a little short (because the fabric is all crumpled up), but then it smoothes out to full length pretty quickly. The semi-rigid hood rim and extended and reflective cuffs are really nice touches, and help make this jacket feel like more than just a super-expensive poncho.

Thu, 15 Aug 2019 13:55:10 -0600

Checked in at Pangea Coffee Roasters.

#cafeworking with pretty terrible wifi. Good coffee and interesting space though.

39.7542177-105.2232687

Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 20:33:00 -0600

Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time

Steve Wanner is a highly respected 37-year-old partner at Ernst & Young, married with four young children. When we met him a year ago, he was working 12- to 14-hour days, felt perpetually exhausted, and found it difficult to fully engage with his family in the evenings, which left him feeling guilty and dissatisfied. He slept poorly, made no time to exercise, and seldom ate healthy meals, instead grabbing a bite to eat on the run or while working at his desk.

Disasterpiece Theater: Slack’s process for approachable Chaos Engineering

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 19:58:20 -0600

Disasterpiece Theater: Slack’s process for approachable Chaos Engineering

Richard Crowley Aug 1 · 8 min read

Slack is a large and complex piece of software that’s been added to and changed many times over the last five years. We added features, grew to 10,000,000 DAUs, and made major architectural changes. We made assumptions and tested them with processes that often resembled science.

Whenever we launch features or make changes, we test the fault tolerance of that new code. Unfortunately, we seldom get to repeat these tests as the environment continues to change around that no-longer-new code. As the sands shift, those initial test results lose value. We remain confident in the resilience and robustness of our most critical systems but that confidence is less well-founded as time progresses. And luck is not an availability strategy, so something must be done.

The workplace is a lonely place, but it doesn’t have to be

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 19:45:24 -0600

The workplace is a lonely place, but it doesn’t have to be

In early 2017, Shelly Schneider accepted a new job at a large insurance company. With a desk surrounded by hundreds of coworkers, she expected to have a robust social experience at work.

Filed under

Work Culture

But after two years, Schneider found herself isolated, unhappy, and unproductive.

Schneider excelled in her role as an underwriter, working across all of the company’s service lines and receiving consistently positive feedback from her director. But her role required very little contact with her colleagues, and she found herself falling out of touch with her office neighbors and team members.

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 18:26:12 -0600

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

It’s been a while. This will hurt.

39.7676715-104.9738261

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 17:27:02 -0600

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

It’s been a while. This will hurt.

39.7676715-104.9738261

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 13:53:07 -0600

Checked in at Enterprise 5280.

My time is almost up here.

39.761625-104.97923

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 12:04:12 -0600

Checked in at Shake Shack.

39.7622771-104.9807526

The Bullseye Framework for Getting Traction

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 22:51:41 -0600

The Bullseye Framework for Getting Traction

With nineteen traction channels to consider, figuring out which one to focus on is tough. That’s why we’ve created a simple framework called Bullseye that will help you find the channel that will get you traction. As billionaire PayPal founder and early Facebook investor Peter Thiel put it:

[You] probably won’t have a bunch of equally good distribution strategies. Engineers frequently fall victim to this because they do not understand distribution. Since they don’t know what works, and haven’t thought about it, they try some sales, BD, advertising, and viral marketing — everything but the kitchen sink.

All the best engineering advice I stole from non-technical people

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 22:43:52 -0600

All the best engineering advice I stole from non-technical people

Marianne Bellotti Aug 5 · 13 min read

Vector created by rawpixel

As I focus on becoming a better manager of engineers, I have been reflecting more and more on the advice that produced a 10X boost in my abilities at that same stage. More often than not the best advice, the things that stuck with me, came from people who had no background at all in software.

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 22:25:58 -0600

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 19:38:46 -0600

Checked in at Bar Fausto.

39.7636116-104.9786607

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 17:52:28 -0600

Checked in at Hop Alley.

39.7669586-104.9742803

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 16:38:28 -0600

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 14:50:27 -0600

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 07:37:17 -0600

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 21:35:18 -0600

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 18:04:12 -0600

Engineering Management Lessons From Mountain Biking

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 18:02:29 -0600

Since moving to Colorado, I’ve been lucky enough to get out mountain biking pretty frequently. I love it. On some rides you’re just trying to get up or down the mountain in one piece, but on some rides you get good time to think quite deeply. On a recent ride I was rolling around (pun intended, you’re welcome) some ideas about engineering management, and realized there are some good parallels between mountain biking and leading teams of engineers.

The Complete Guide to Deep Work

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 16:23:52 -0600

The Complete Guide to Deep Work

Illustration by @margaridamouta

Let’s get right to the point: bouncing between your inbox, pointless meetings, and group chat notifications is no way to get ahead in today’s information economy.

These are markers of busyness not productivity. They won’t help you to deepen your writing practice, master a programming language, or grow your business. In fact, these activities won’t aid you in any number of the ambitious goals you’ve set for yourself.

AARRR Framework- Metrics That Let Your StartUp Sound Like A Pirate Ship

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 15:25:59 -0600

AARRR Framework- Metrics That Let Your StartUp Sound Like A Pirate Ship

Nov 25, 2017 · 11 min read

AARRR Metric Framework- Pirate Metrics for Startups

Today, September 19th, is International Talk Like A Pirate Day, and thus, the perfect excuse to chat about one of the most important metric frameworks to live by as a startup marketer or Growth Hacker: The AARRR framework.

10 years ago… wow, that’s a long time ago.

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 15:10:26 -0600

“Portable” speaker. Will play for about 30 hours apparently. @goalzero @sonos

Posted on Instagram 3:10 pm, August 11, 2019

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 15:09:20 -0600

Got carried away and now we have unlimited free power FROM THE SKY. Thanks @goalzero

39.7391-104.9836

Posted on Instagram 3:09 pm, August 11, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m3c7472e64f0abfaf8b0cddd8927f6623 = { positions : { 565 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7391’, ‘-104.9836’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m3c7472e64f0abfaf8b0cddd8927f6623’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m3c7472e64f0abfaf8b0cddd8927f6623.positions ) { gmap_m3c7472e64f0abfaf8b0cddd8927f6623.bounds.extend( gmap_m3c7472e64f0abfaf8b0cddd8927f6623.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m3c7472e64f0abfaf8b0cddd8927f6623.positions ) { gmap_m3c7472e64f0abfaf8b0cddd8927f6623.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m3c7472e64f0abfaf8b0cddd8927f6623.map, position : gmap_m3c7472e64f0abfaf8b0cddd8927f6623.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m3c7472e64f0abfaf8b0cddd8927f6623.map.setCenter( gmap_m3c7472e64f0abfaf8b0cddd8927f6623.positions[565] ); });

Getting Real About Managing Up

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 13:34:36 -0600

Getting Real About Managing Up

From QCon NYC, 2019

Follow @kellan

Hi!

Most engineers, as hyper rationale beings above the fray of emotional persuasion are kind of “Ugh, do we have to” when the topic of managing up comes up, so thank you for coming!

My name is Kellan Elliott-McCrea. Cards on the table. I’m the person you manage up to. (experience: Etsy, Flickr, various startups)
But I also advise and coach. (30+ companies)
This talk is drawn from all of that experience.
When Jean asked me…

Speed matters: Why working quickly is more important than it seems « the jsomers.net blog

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 12:55:48 -0600

Speed matters: Why working quickly is more important than it seems « the jsomers.net blog

The obvious benefit to working quickly is that you’ll finish more stuff per unit time. But there’s more to it than that. If you work quickly, the cost of doing something new will seem lower in your mind. So you’ll be inclined to do more.

The converse is true, too. If every time you write a blog post it takes you six months, and you’re sitting around your apartment on a Sunday afternoon thinking of stuff to do, you’re probably not going to think of starting a blog post, because it’ll feel too expensive.

Book Summary – The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 12:50:13 -0600

Book Summary – The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter

The first 90 days of any career transition—be it a promotion, a new job or a lateral transfer—are critical and can determine if you succeed or fail in the new role. In this book, Michael Watkins presents critical success strategies for new leaders at all levels. In this summary, we’ll give an overview of the proven strategies to shorten your learning curve and build momentum within the first 90 days of any new management role. The impact is multiplied when the approach is applied organization-wide. For the full details, examples and tips, do or get a detailed overview with our complete book summary bundle.

Google’s HEART Framework for Measuring UX

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 12:41:00 -0600

Google’s HEART Framework for Measuring UX

If you’ve been struggling to adopt useful metrics in your user experience team – you might want to consider the HEART framework designed by Kerry Rodden, Hilary Hutchinson and Xin Fu, from Google’s research team.

The idea is a simple one; to deliver a series of user-centred metrics that allow you to measure the user experience on a large scale. These metrics can then be used for decision making in the product development process.

Sat, 10 Aug 2019 19:55:04 -0600

Checked in at Beckon.

with erika

39.76112-104.98229

Sat, 10 Aug 2019 19:35:40 -0600

Sat, 10 Aug 2019 19:28:54 -0600

Sat, 10 Aug 2019 18:20:54 -0600

Sat, 10 Aug 2019 14:08:56 -0600

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 21:00:01 -0600

Checked in at Milk Market.

Photographer’s show and then dinner. Is that a date? — with erika

39.7531976-104.9971416

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 20:06:00 -0600

Checked in at Blanchard Family Wines.

39.7533251-104.9963574

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 19:40:34 -0600

Posted on Instagram 7:40 pm, August 8, 2019

John Wayne!

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 17:49:47 -0600

https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t50.2886-16/68826435_2090959341199899_5959889929884951687_n.mp4?_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&oe=5D4EBAC1&oh=f9f3b1cc3f12f1c797b1e34d41c3ed60

John Wayne!

38.4547-107.327 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m9e58ad5f9486794c95bb98ee5464cd25 = { positions : { 169 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘38.4547’, ‘-107.327’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m9e58ad5f9486794c95bb98ee5464cd25’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m9e58ad5f9486794c95bb98ee5464cd25.positions ) { gmap_m9e58ad5f9486794c95bb98ee5464cd25.bounds.extend( gmap_m9e58ad5f9486794c95bb98ee5464cd25.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m9e58ad5f9486794c95bb98ee5464cd25.positions ) { gmap_m9e58ad5f9486794c95bb98ee5464cd25.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m9e58ad5f9486794c95bb98ee5464cd25.map, position : gmap_m9e58ad5f9486794c95bb98ee5464cd25.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m9e58ad5f9486794c95bb98ee5464cd25.map.setCenter( gmap_m9e58ad5f9486794c95bb98ee5464cd25.positions[169] ); });

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 17:47:07 -0600

Trouble on the horizon.

38.4547-107.327

Posted on Instagram 5:47 pm, August 8, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m347ef00f839bdc723179cdcd4a0c762c = { positions : { 793 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘38.4547’, ‘-107.327’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m347ef00f839bdc723179cdcd4a0c762c’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m347ef00f839bdc723179cdcd4a0c762c.positions ) { gmap_m347ef00f839bdc723179cdcd4a0c762c.bounds.extend( gmap_m347ef00f839bdc723179cdcd4a0c762c.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m347ef00f839bdc723179cdcd4a0c762c.positions ) { gmap_m347ef00f839bdc723179cdcd4a0c762c.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m347ef00f839bdc723179cdcd4a0c762c.map, position : gmap_m347ef00f839bdc723179cdcd4a0c762c.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m347ef00f839bdc723179cdcd4a0c762c.map.setCenter( gmap_m347ef00f839bdc723179cdcd4a0c762c.positions[793] ); });

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 17:43:57 -0600

Not sponsored, but happy to rave about the @bigagnes_ Copper Spur UL 2. Freaking love this tent; best one I’ve ever owned.

38.4547-107.327

Posted on Instagram 5:43 pm, August 8, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m9309d5b6c47741d21e9db49c4d553ddb = { positions : { 444 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘38.4547’, ‘-107.327’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m9309d5b6c47741d21e9db49c4d553ddb’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m9309d5b6c47741d21e9db49c4d553ddb.positions ) { gmap_m9309d5b6c47741d21e9db49c4d553ddb.bounds.extend( gmap_m9309d5b6c47741d21e9db49c4d553ddb.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m9309d5b6c47741d21e9db49c4d553ddb.positions ) { gmap_m9309d5b6c47741d21e9db49c4d553ddb.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m9309d5b6c47741d21e9db49c4d553ddb.map, position : gmap_m9309d5b6c47741d21e9db49c4d553ddb.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m9309d5b6c47741d21e9db49c4d553ddb.map.setCenter( gmap_m9309d5b6c47741d21e9db49c4d553ddb.positions[444] ); });

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 17:37:17 -0600

More crazy views a 5 minute stroll from our campsite.

38.4547-107.327

Posted on Instagram 5:37 pm, August 8, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m213219871378940aceede8a0daf0bc29 = { positions : { 746 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘38.4547’, ‘-107.327’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m213219871378940aceede8a0daf0bc29’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m213219871378940aceede8a0daf0bc29.positions ) { gmap_m213219871378940aceede8a0daf0bc29.bounds.extend( gmap_m213219871378940aceede8a0daf0bc29.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m213219871378940aceede8a0daf0bc29.positions ) { gmap_m213219871378940aceede8a0daf0bc29.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m213219871378940aceede8a0daf0bc29.map, position : gmap_m213219871378940aceede8a0daf0bc29.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m213219871378940aceede8a0daf0bc29.map.setCenter( gmap_m213219871378940aceede8a0daf0bc29.positions[746] ); });

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 17:35:34 -0600

Epic views from our campsite this week.

38.4669609-107.1662674

Posted on Instagram 5:35 pm, August 8, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_mf364e2bf9633c0ff560378bf051dd465 = { positions : { 534 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘38.4669609’, ‘-107.1662674’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_mf364e2bf9633c0ff560378bf051dd465’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_mf364e2bf9633c0ff560378bf051dd465.positions ) { gmap_mf364e2bf9633c0ff560378bf051dd465.bounds.extend( gmap_mf364e2bf9633c0ff560378bf051dd465.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_mf364e2bf9633c0ff560378bf051dd465.positions ) { gmap_mf364e2bf9633c0ff560378bf051dd465.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_mf364e2bf9633c0ff560378bf051dd465.map, position : gmap_mf364e2bf9633c0ff560378bf051dd465.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_mf364e2bf9633c0ff560378bf051dd465.map.setCenter( gmap_mf364e2bf9633c0ff560378bf051dd465.positions[534] ); });

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 17:29:19 -0600

Thoroughly delightful wedding over the weekend. So much fun seeing everyone from NYC and so happy for @brandonlotti and @axaedwards

40.67364-73.99176

Posted on Instagram 5:29 pm, August 8, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m0e28be9bde9f1feafbde65d14ed6d4d2 = { positions : { 841 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘40.67364’, ‘-73.99176’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m0e28be9bde9f1feafbde65d14ed6d4d2’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m0e28be9bde9f1feafbde65d14ed6d4d2.positions ) { gmap_m0e28be9bde9f1feafbde65d14ed6d4d2.bounds.extend( gmap_m0e28be9bde9f1feafbde65d14ed6d4d2.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m0e28be9bde9f1feafbde65d14ed6d4d2.positions ) { gmap_m0e28be9bde9f1feafbde65d14ed6d4d2.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m0e28be9bde9f1feafbde65d14ed6d4d2.map, position : gmap_m0e28be9bde9f1feafbde65d14ed6d4d2.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m0e28be9bde9f1feafbde65d14ed6d4d2.map.setCenter( gmap_m0e28be9bde9f1feafbde65d14ed6d4d2.positions[841] ); });

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 17:25:31 -0600

#tallpeoplebathroomproblems

40.6556702-74.0069427

#tallpeoplebathroomproblems

Posted on Instagram 5:25 pm, August 8, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_mc434a07136becbc55f29b4591bdf8338 = { positions : { 912 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘40.6556702’, ‘-74.0069427’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_mc434a07136becbc55f29b4591bdf8338’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_mc434a07136becbc55f29b4591bdf8338.positions ) { gmap_mc434a07136becbc55f29b4591bdf8338.bounds.extend( gmap_mc434a07136becbc55f29b4591bdf8338.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_mc434a07136becbc55f29b4591bdf8338.positions ) { gmap_mc434a07136becbc55f29b4591bdf8338.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_mc434a07136becbc55f29b4591bdf8338.map, position : gmap_mc434a07136becbc55f29b4591bdf8338.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_mc434a07136becbc55f29b4591bdf8338.map.setCenter( gmap_mc434a07136becbc55f29b4591bdf8338.positions[912] ); });

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 11:02:41 -0600

Checked in at Tributary Roasters.

with erika

38.54479-106.92657

Developing a management philosophy

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 21:01:50 -0600

Developing a management philosophy

June 21 2019

A management philosophy is not something I thought I needed, but once I finally landed on it, it felt like a puzzle had been completed. My philosophy—Take care of your people—is the truth for me. I meditate on it and tell the story to anyone who will listen.

Developing my management philosophy was a long process and was sparked by my management coach, Lara Hogan. 1 She said this philosophy was going to become my North Star, so I felt a lot of pressure to get it right. Two months and 11 versions later “Take care of your people” came into focus and for the last 18 months it has guided everything I do.

Currents Research on DigitalOcean

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 20:54:08 -0600

Currents Research on DigitalOcean

Compute
- Droplets
- Kubernetes
Storage
- Spaces Object Storage
- Volumes Block Storage
Databases
- Managed Databases
Networking
- Cloud Firewalls
- Load Balancers
- Floating IPs
- Domain Name System
Developer Tools
- API
- CLI
- Monitoring
- Teams
See all products
Marketplace
Customers
Partners
Get Involved
- Write for DOnations
- Meetups
- Hatch Startup Program
- Open Source Sponsorships
- Hacktoberfest
Pricing

Expert Program Management

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 20:41:57 -0600

Expert Program Management

report this ad

Buy the Book

http://pinterest.com/https://www.pinterest.co.uk/expertpm/

RAPID Decision Making Model

The RAPID Decision Making Model is a framework that can help organizations make better decisions. Making high-quality decisions is critical to organizational success.

Every success an organization achieves. Every failure. Every missed opportunity. They can all be traced back to a decision or series of decisions made by the organization.

When an organization’s decision-making process is poor or nonexistent it can lead to wasted time, confusion and frustration. Let’s take a look two examples of a poor decision process:

Career narratives.

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 20:18:13 -0600

Career narratives.

A peculiar challenge of management is trying to invest in someone’s career development when they themselves are uncertain about their goals. As a manager, you may have more experience and more access to opportunities within the company, but that represents a small slice of someone’s career possibilities. Our schooling often rewards us for being methodical, linear thinkers, but that approach is less effective outside the intentionally constrained possibility spaces.

Flew SFO:DEN

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 19:45:00 -0600

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 19:19:54 -0600

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 18:12:33 -0600

Checked in at Terminal 3.

Back home I go. For a few days.

37.6182172-122.3863542

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 17:33:43 -0600

Checked in at Taqueria Cancun.

One before I go — with erika

37.7454316-122.4199967

Fri, 26 Jul 2019 16:35:51 -0600

Checked in at Blue Bottle Coffee.

37.8720756-122.2677925

Fri, 26 Jul 2019 08:29:00 -0600

Checked in at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Arrived. Quick weekend trip. — with erika

37.616713-122.3870945

Flew DEN:SFO

Fri, 26 Jul 2019 06:00:00 -0600

An introduction to Wardley ‘Value Chain’ Mapping

Fri, 26 Jul 2019 05:53:27 -0600

An introduction to Wardley ‘Value Chain’ Mapping

This is about my journey, from a newly-minted yet confused CEO caught like a rabbit staring helpless into the oncoming headlights of change – to being voted one of the most influential people in IT within the UK. It took me a decade to first develop the techniques that I’m going to describe and a further 10 years to gain confidence with them through practice.

A Tale Of Two WordPress Hosts

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 18:14:45 -0600

A Tale Of Two WordPress Hosts

The WordPress hosting space may just simultaneously be one of the most lucrative, yet underfunded, industries out there.

There’s no question that the use of WordPress, the open source content management system (CMS) that enables the publishing of blogs and e-books (among other things), is growing exponentially. The WordPress CMS has grown to 30 percent of the Internet, up from 13 percent in 2010, according to W3Techs.

How to Size and Assess Teams From an Eng Lead at Stripe, Uber and Digg

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 22:25:07 -0600

How to Size and Assess Teams From an Eng Lead at Stripe, Uber and Digg

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 21:27:05 -0600

Beets n’ Carrots. Garden hauling. #vegetablegarden #beets #carrots #vegetables #garden

Posted on Instagram 9:27 pm, July 23, 2019

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 20:20:34 -0600

Mon, 22 Jul 2019 17:24:57 -0600

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

39.7676715-104.9738261

Going Indie. Step 2: Reclaiming Content · Matthias Ott – User Experience Designer

Thu, 18 Jul 2019 09:03:13 -0600

Going Indie. Step 2: Reclaiming Content · Matthias Ott – User Experience Designer

We have lost control over our content. To change this, we need to reconsider the way we create and consume content online. We need to create a new set of tools that enable an independent, open web for everyone.

This is the second article of a two-part series on digital citizenship. Part one was all about online privacy and how to protect it, this second part focuses on how we can build and promote tools that enable an open, independent, and resilient web.

Humans First: Strategies for Leading Remote Design Teams

Sat, 13 Jul 2019 13:51:18 -0600

Humans First: Strategies for Leading Remote Design Teams

Cassie McDaniel in The Startup Jul 1 · 12 min read

Earlier this week Alexis Lloyd, Head of Design Innovation at Automattic (she’s moving on to Medium, congrats!), shared on Twitter some insightful best practices for leading design teams remotely and she asked others to chime in. As in a community, sharing ideas. Not just complaining! Be still my heart. I don’t know Alexis personally but her receptiveness inspires me.

Resilience Assessment Grid

Sat, 13 Jul 2019 13:32:38 -0600

Resilience Assessment Grid

Ph.D., Professor, Professor Emeritus

Resilience Assessment Grid (RAG)

(This page provides a brief overview of the RAG. A more detailed description can be found here.)

Introduction

A system is said to perform in a manner that is resilient when it can sustain required operations under both expected and unexpected conditions by adjusting its functioning prior to, during, or following events (changes, disturbances, and opportunities). Whereas current safety management (Safety-I) focuses on reducing the number of adverse outcomes by preventing adverse events, Resilience Engineering (RE) looks for ways to enhance the ability of systems to succeed under varying conditions (Safety-II). It is therefore necessary to understand what this ability really means, since it clearly is not satisfactory just to call it ‘resilience’.

Fri, 12 Jul 2019 10:01:26 -0600

The Paradox of Ambition

Thu, 11 Jul 2019 22:45:21 -0600

The Paradox of Ambition

In Silicon Valley, ambition matters more than financial success.

The interestingness of your ideas matters more than the size of your bank account. The culture is built to support companies and entrepreneurs who want to pursue moonshot ideas.

Silicon Valley culture is a perspective shift. In school, it helps to fit in. In the Valley, it helps to stand out. The sooner you can stand out, the better. Where school teaches you to pursue guaranteed success, the Valley teaches you to pursue projects with exponential upside; where school teaches you to follow the rules, the Valley teaches you to ignore them carefully; and where school teaches you to pursue well-defined targets, the Valley teaches you to pursue lucrative goals that others can’t see.

‘Oldest remains’ outside Africa reset human migration clock

Thu, 11 Jul 2019 22:36:45 -0600

‘Oldest remains’ outside Africa reset human migration clock

July 10, 2019

The Apidima 2 cranium (right) and its reconstruction (left). Apidima 2 shows a suite of features characteristic of Neanderthals, indicating that it belongs to the Neanderthal lineage. Credit: Copyright Katerina Harvati, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen.

A 210,000-year-old skull has been identified as the earliest modern human remains found outside Africa, putting the clock back on mankind’s arrival in Europe by more than 150,000 years, researchers said Wednesday.

No Kings: How Do You Make Good Decisions Efficiently in a Flat Organization?

Thu, 11 Jul 2019 22:33:12 -0600

No Kings: How Do You Make Good Decisions Efficiently in a Flat Organization?

Illustration by Yin Weihung

This article started out as an internal conversation on a thread around how our team could learn to ask and give feedback more mindfully. It explores how we can balance making decisions quickly while maintaining our openness to feedback to ensure our decisions are good ones.

At Doist we believe that open and sincere communication improves our decision-making process. That’s why we’ve built a culture that encourages feedback at all levels of decision-making: from purely technical solutions to team and product management. We built our team communication app, Twist, around public threads to make that level of transparency and engagement possible for both ourselves and other remote workplaces.

Thu, 11 Jul 2019 17:18:58 -0600

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

And now we sweat.

39.7676715-104.9738261

Thu, 11 Jul 2019 12:14:26 -0600

Checked in at Improper City.

39.7650997-104.9789681

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 23:10:23 -0600

Resilience Engineering

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 22:24:01 -0600

Resilience Engineering

Origins

‘Resilience’ is a term that has been used for a long time and in several different ways. It was first used in to describe a property of timber, and to explain why some types of wood were able to accommodate sudden and severe loads without breaking. Almost four decades later, a report to the Admiralty referred to a measure called the modulus of resilience as a means of assessing the ability of materials to withstand severe conditions.

Rethinking the Triple Constraint: Five Project Dimensions

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 22:09:20 -0600

Rethinking the Triple Constraint: Five Project Dimensions

Karl Wiegers in The Startup Jun 14 · 11 min read

Perhaps you’ve seen a sign at an auto repair shop that asked, “What do you want: good, fast, or cheap? Pick two.” While humorous, the sign is also wise: it acknowledges the reality of trade-offs. You generally cannot optimize every desired outcome of a given situation.

The notion of such a “triple constraint” or “iron triangle” appears throughout project management. The problem is that I have seen numerous representations of the triangle with various parameters on the triangle’s vertices — size, cost, time, or scope — and various assumptions made about what is being held constant, such as quality or functionality. I’ve also seen diagrams that show four project dimensions. So, in my view, the traditional “triple constraint” is wrong, although the concept of constraints and trade-offs is certainly valid.

Squad Health Check model – visualizing what to improve

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 13:19:06 -0600

Squad Health Check model – visualizing what to improve

*(Download the cards & instructions as PDF or PPTX)

(Translations of this article: Chinese, French)*

What is a squad health check model?

A lot of companies experiment with ways of measuring and visualizing how their teams are doing. They’re usually called “maturity models”, and involve some sort of progression through different levels.

The intent of these types of models is usually benign – for example managers or coaches in larger organizations who want to get a sense of where they should focus their improvement efforts, spot systemic problems, and help teams become more self-aware so they can focus their improvement efforts too.

Seven to Ten Years – AVC

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 11:49:41 -0600

Seven to Ten Years – AVC

I have worked in three venture capital firms over the last thirty-three years and am intimately familiar with the performance of the fifteen (ish) venture funds raised and invested by these three firms. Much of what I have written about fund management and investment performance here at AVC over the last sixteen years comes from my observations of these funds and firms.

Starting in the mid-00s, The Gotham Gal and I started investing in other venture capital funds, always limiting these investments to firms where we knew the partners well and had sat on boards with them.

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 17:21:20 -0600

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

Keep it rolling!

39.7676715-104.9738261

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 11:51:15 -0600

Checked in at Improper City.

#cafeworking today — with Sonja

39.7650997-104.9789681

How to invest in technical infrastructure

Sun, 07 Jul 2019 23:02:49 -0600

How to invest in technical infrastructure

4 Reasons Good Employees Lose Their Motivation

Sun, 07 Jul 2019 22:34:42 -0600

4 Reasons Good Employees Lose Their Motivation

Paul Taylor/Getty Images

Motivation — the willingness to get the job done by starting rather than procrastinating, persisting in the face of distractions, and investing enough mental effort to succeed — accounts for 40% of the success of team projects. Yet managers are often at a loss as to how to effectively motivate uninspired employees. Our review of research on motivation indicates that the key is for managers to first accurately identify the reason for an employee’s lack of motivation and then apply a targeted strategy.

Sun, 07 Jul 2019 19:05:27 -0600

Lamb. It’s what’s for dinner.

Posted on Instagram 7:05 pm, July 7, 2019

Sun, 07 Jul 2019 18:36:33 -0600

Surprise weekend project. Yay homeownership!

Posted on Instagram 6:36 pm, July 7, 2019

Sun, 07 Jul 2019 12:51:25 -0600

Checked in at Waterton Canyon.

39.491323-105.0936893

The Difference Between Open-Minded and Closed-Minded People

Sat, 06 Jul 2019 23:02:30 -0600

The Difference Between Open-Minded and Closed-Minded People

Why is it that some people seem to make constant progress in their professional and personal lives, while others appear to be doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over?

While the answer isn’t cut and dry, I’ve noticed an interesting mindset difference between these two groups: they approach obstacles and challenges very differently. It comes down to mindset.

Successful people tend to approach life with an open mindset — an eagerness to learn and a willingness to be wrong. The other group digs their heels in at the first sign of disagreement and would rather die than be wrong.

What does a VP of Engineering do, again? – Raffi Krikorian – Medium

Sat, 06 Jul 2019 22:52:57 -0600

What does a VP of Engineering do, again? – Raffi Krikorian – Medium

Photo by Oleg Sidorenko

Raffi Krikorian Jul 27, 2015

Co-authored by Raffi Krikorian & Dave Loftesness

“You mean he’s like an engineer-whisperer?”

Sorta.

Who is asking?

This question shows up over and over. And from all sides:

the CEO who thinks her company is at the size that she should be “thinking” about hiring a VPE — the company is getting too big, and all of engineering still reports to her;
the CTO who doesn’t want to manage people directly and is trying to figure out whether he needs a VPE to pair with — he feels that the best use of his time is to be the “chief architect”, “lead developer”, or “head prototyper”. The CTO often complains that he isn’t good at managing people, he isn’t scaling as a people manager as the team grows, that he finds people management is stressful, or he has no interest in doing it, and it’s a distraction;
the first time VPE that is trying to figure out what she should be doing with her time — one-on-ones have already been scheduled, the current sprint has been planned, but what else should she be doing?; and, finally
engineers who are concerned that the company wants to bring in “another level of management” — what does this do to their day to day? They often wonder what they’ve done wrong, or, whether they should be concerned that the company is getting “too large”.

Let’s pull this apart.

Undervalued Software Engineering Skills: Writing Well

Sat, 06 Jul 2019 22:08:07 -0600

Undervalued Software Engineering Skills: Writing Well

I have been coaching several experienced software engineers to further grow professionally, since transitioning to being an engineering manager. I have noticed a few skills that people often underestimate the importance of developing. Skills that add a significant boost to the impact of any developer. One of these is writing.

Most software engineers primarily focus on becoming great at writing code. And this makes perfect sense. This is an essential step to become a great engineer within a reasonably sized team.

How to Hold Your Team Accountable – The Founder Coach

Sat, 06 Jul 2019 22:01:18 -0600

How to Hold Your Team Accountable – The Founder Coach

Dave Bailey Apr 9

Do you wish your team took more ownership? Here’s how to get your team to the point where you trust them to get the job done without you.

As a CEO coach I’ve heard statements like these many times:

“My VP just isn’t pulling his/her weight”

“I don’t trust him/her to do the work properly”

“My team don’t act like owners”

Sat, 06 Jul 2019 14:31:31 -0600

Checked in at Joyride Brewing Company.

Happy birthday Joyride! — with erika

39.753086-105.0535794

Sat, 06 Jul 2019 12:58:29 -0600

Checked in at Alderfer/Three Sisters Park.

39.6233801-105.3464171

Sat, 06 Jul 2019 11:47:15 -0600

Checked in at Dedisse Park.

39.6346713-105.3309815

We’re Optimizing Ourselves to Death – Buy Yourself – Medium

Sat, 06 Jul 2019 09:06:44 -0600

We’re Optimizing Ourselves to Death – Buy Yourself – Medium

Top highlight

pro·cel·er·a·tion

/prōˌseləˈrāSH(ə)n/
noun 1. The acceleration of acceleration

—excerpt from The Age of Earthquakes by Shannon Basar, Douglas Coupland, and Hans Ulrich Obrist

There’s a famous thought experiment in economics known as the “prisoner’s dilemma.” In it, two men have been caught committing a crime. Each of them is placed in a separate interrogation room and effectively has two options: confess or lie. There are three possible outcomes (the payoffs of which are illustrated in the payoff matrix below):

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 19:33:17 -0600

Checked in at The Populist.

with erika

39.764159-104.9783455

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 15:27:04 -0600

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 13:14:37 -0600

Checked in at New Terrain Brewing Co.

Traditional post-ride beverage

39.7794665-105.1860322

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 10:12:03 -0600

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 10:08:42 -0600

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 16:43:18 -0600

Mon, 01 Jul 2019 13:43:47 -0600

Fri, 28 Jun 2019 20:47:30 -0600

Pretty epic sunset tonight, Denver.

Posted on Instagram 8:47 pm, June 28, 2019

Product Management at Gatsby

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 22:31:17 -0600

Product Management at Gatsby

Our goal with product management at Gatsby is to create an ongoing and iterative product discovery and development process that allows us to ship customer value quickly and with confidence in our product–market fit. There are a lot of ways to break down product development and management.

The first is “waterfall” development where information is generated at the “top” of the company and then slowly (or quickly) trickles down to the rest of the organization for execution.

How Remote Work Impacts Employees With Disabilities

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 16:33:24 -0600

How Remote Work Impacts Employees With Disabilities

Jun 27, 2019

Remote work does more than save money.

Table of Contents

How commuting impedes employees with disabilities
How remote jobs helps people with disabilities work
Remote work makes tech more accessible

“Just getting off of a bus, I stepped out into a pothole because I wasn’t able to navigate the whole walking thing well, and I ended up breaking my ankle.”

Working the Weekly 1:1

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 15:30:13 -0600

Working the Weekly 1:1

A better approach for the most important meeting of the week

There are a lot of work “rituals” that suck so badly you want to hunt down and interrogate who ever invented them. The dreaded weekly status email is one of them. The weekly 1:1 between a boss and a direct report can be another. What should be a chance to get on the same page with the person critical to your success is often awkward, overly chummy or even skipped.

Gatsby Core Philosophy

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 15:08:44 -0600

Gatsby Core Philosophy

Gatsby’s core philosophy can be divided into three parts.

First, our vision. Our vision is to construct higher-level web building blocks, and create a cohesive content mesh system, in order to make building websites fun and build a better web.

Second, our tooling philosophy. In order to make website building fun, Gatsby’s tooling must embody certain qualities. These include:

bundling the modern JavaScript ecosystem
progressive disclosure of complexity

Third, our community philosophy. We can’t do this alone, so we’re striving to build the most inclusive community on the web. For that reason, we work in the open. At all times, we believe, and strive to communicate, that you belong here.

SameSite cookies explained | web.dev

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 14:57:21 -0600

SameSite cookies explained | web.dev

Secure your site by learning how to explicitly mark your cross-site cookies.

May 7, 2019

Rowan Merewood

Cookies are one of the methods available for adding persistent state to web

sites. Each cookie is a key=value pair along with a number of attributes that

control when and where that cookie is used. You’ve probably already used these

attributes to set things like expiry dates or indicating the cookie should only

Why a good boss likes it when people complain

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 14:17:37 -0600

Why a good boss likes it when people complain

I know some managers say “don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions,” but personally I don’t subscribe to it.

I love when people complain to me. Of course, complaining is a national past time for the British, and we don’t just limit ourselves to complaining about the weather, or the poor availability of good tea when traveling. Brexit has provided some strong fodder for complaining (where do we begin?) but really your average British can complain about anything.

‘Nothing Kept Me Up At Night the Way the Gorgon Stare Did.’

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 14:13:42 -0600

‘Nothing Kept Me Up At Night the Way the Gorgon Stare Did.’

Arthur Holland Michel | Longreads | June 2019 | 15 minutes (3,946 words)

Drones have come to define the United States’ forever war, the so-called war on terror. The expansion of drone systems developed by the military into new territories — including the continental United States — embodies this era’s hyper-paranoid ethos: new threats are ever imminent, conflict is always without resolution. At the same time, non-militarized drones have entered civilian life in a number of ways, from breathtaking cinematography to flight control at Heathrow airport. There are many avid documenters of this new technology, but no one seems to understand its many facets quite like Arthur Holland Michel, founder and co-director of the Bard Center for the Study of the Drone, which catalogs the growing use of drones around the world. Now, Holland Michel has written Eyes in the Sky: The Secret Rise of Gorgon Stare and How It Will Watch Us All, a book of startling revelations about drone surveillance in the United States.

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 13:55:14 -0600

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 22:02:22 -0600

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 19:13:05 -0600

Fancy new coffee gadgets. @munieq.jp #tetradrip

#tetradrip

Posted on Instagram 7:13 pm, June 25, 2019

The Art of Aeropress

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 12:18:57 -0600

Over 50 variations on how to use the Aeropress coffee press.

Review: Google Chrome has become surveillance software. It’s time to switch.

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 22:44:44 -0600

Review: Google Chrome has become surveillance software. It’s time to switch.

By Geoffrey A. Fowler | The Washington Post Columnist

You open your browser to look at the web. Do you know who is looking back at you?

Over a recent week of web surfing, I peered under the hood of Google Chrome and found it brought along a few thousand friends. Shopping, news and even government sites quietly tagged my browser to let ad and data companies ride shotgun while I clicked around the web.

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 15:50:06 -0600

Sun, 23 Jun 2019 19:01:17 -0600

Garden loot. #peas #urbangarden #vegetablegarden

Posted on Instagram 7:01 pm, June 23, 2019

Sun, 23 Jun 2019 16:12:32 -0600

Sun, 16 Jun 2019 19:27:00 -0600

Keyring 2.0 and Keyring Social Importers 2.0

Sun, 16 Jun 2019 19:26:56 -0600

Yesterday I released new versions of both Keyring and the Keyring Social Importers packages, containing a bunch of updates and new additions. If you’re already using them, you should have update notices in wp-admin. If you’re not yet, then download them at the links above, or search for “keyring” in wp-admin under Plugins > Add New.

What’s changed? It’s been a while since the last official release of Keyring, so there’s a bunch to catch up on:

Journey to the Content Mesh Conclusion: Creating Compelling Content Experiences

Sun, 16 Jun 2019 18:52:56 -0600

Journey to the Content Mesh Conclusion: Creating Compelling Content Experiences

This is Part 5, the conclusion of a series. Part 1 is The Journey to a Content Mesh*; Part 2 is* Unbundling of the CMS*; Part 3 is* The Rise of Modern Web Development; Part 4 is Why Mobile Performance is Crucial.

In the last three sections, we’ve described the different facets of how to create modern, compelling content experiences. We’ve covered trends in content management, web development, and website performance.

Journey to the Content Mesh Part 4: Why Mobile Performance Is Crucial

Sun, 16 Jun 2019 18:44:42 -0600

Journey to the Content Mesh Part 4: Why Mobile Performance Is Crucial

This is Part 4 of a series. Part 1 is The Journey to a Content Mesh*; Part 2 is* Unbundling of the CMS*; Part 3 is* The Rise of Modern Web Development.

Mobile traffic now makes up over half of all site visits, and more than half of mobile site visits are abandoned if a page takes over 3 seconds to load.

Sat, 15 Jun 2019 13:05:23 -0600

What does a VP of Engineering do? – Dan DeMeyere – Medium

Sat, 15 Jun 2019 00:47:14 -0600

What does a VP of Engineering do? – Dan DeMeyere – Medium

Photo by Todd Diemer

Dan DeMeyere Mar 22, 2018

When people ask me what a VP of Engineering does, I like to reference the analogy Mark Suster used in a blog post clarifying the difference between a CTO and VPE:

VP’s of Engineering are essential to making sure the trains run on time.

Having been in this role for a while now, I’d expand that by saying:

7 absolute truths I unlearned as junior developer

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 17:59:03 -0600

7 absolute truths I unlearned as junior developer

Next year, I’ll be entering my 10th year of being formally employed to write code.

Ten years! And besides actual employment, for nearly 2⁄3 of my life, I’ve been

building things on the web. I can barely remember a time in my life where I

didn’t know HTML, which is kind of weird when you think about it. Some kids

learn to play an instrument or dance ballet, but instead I was creating

Rugged Software

Wed, 12 Jun 2019 08:26:54 -0600

Rugged Software

The Rugged Manifesto

I am rugged and, more importantly, my code is rugged.

I recognize that software has become a foundation of our modern world.

I recognize the awesome responsibility that comes with this foundational role.

I recognize that my code will be used in ways I cannot anticipate, in ways it was not designed, and for longer than it was ever intended.

I recognize that my code will be attacked by talented and persistent adversaries who threaten our physical, economic, and national security.

I recognize these things – and I choose to be rugged.

I am rugged because I refuse to be a source of vulnerability or weakness.

I am rugged because I assure my code will support its mission.

I am rugged because my code can face these challenges and persist in spite of them.

I am rugged, not because it is easy, but because it is necessary and I am up for the challenge.

Tue, 11 Jun 2019 17:25:30 -0600

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

Back to the grind.

39.7676715-104.9738261

Tue, 11 Jun 2019 09:58:20 -0600

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 10:43:20 -0600

Checked in at Hildebrand Ranch Park.

39.5525064-105.1104407

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 19:13:37 -0600

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Hooooooome.

39.8497327-104.6739819

Conscious Leadership

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 17:54:19 -0600

Conscious Leadership

January 29, 2019

Conscious Leadership

Conscious Leadership is about being more interested in learning than being right. When our egos make us afraid to be wrong, that fear leads us to defend our ideas at all costs, and to work too hard to convince others that we are right—often with anger.

Conscious Leadership is about recognizing when these emotions (fear, anger, sadness) have gripped our thought processes, releasing these emotions, and shifting back to a state of curiosity where we are receptive to all ideas and creativity, even if they seem to contradict our own.

Becoming a bad-ass engineering leader: 5 tried and true lessons from a woman of color – Abstract

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 15:49:02 -0600

Becoming a bad-ass engineering leader: 5 tried and true lessons from a woman of color – Abstract

Becoming a bad-ass engineering leader: 5 tried and true lessons from a woman of color

Our VP of Engineering, Rukmini Reddy, shares the pivotal events that helped shape her path and underpin her leadership philosophy.

Company

Yes, I said bad-ass. I went from being just another Indian school girl being taught in a convent, to being a VP of Engineering for three incredible companies in Silicon Valley. While having twin boys who are now 5. So, yeah. I lean into my badassery, because I have worked very hard for it.

Into the Personal-Website-Verse · Matthias Ott – User Experience Designer

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 15:32:35 -0600

Into the Personal-Website-Verse · Matthias Ott – User Experience Designer

What started out as the most promising development in the history of the Web – the participation of users in the creation of content and online dialogue at scale – has turned into a swamp of sensation, lies, hate speech, harassment, and noise.

Your Unfriendly Neighborhood

Craving for attention and engagement, our timelines have changed. Algorithms now prioritize content from people with a huge following and everything that is loud and outrageous. It’s all about what the masses and the bots “want”, what they will like, share, and click. This strategy might be driving sales of ads because traditional online marketers are obsessed with quantity and it is – besides selling user data – the only answer they found for venture capital constantly demanding a bang for the buck. Yet it leads to an experience that is so often just more of the same and at the same time much less predictable, less organic, and less adjustable to your own preferences. As Craig Mod writes, “social networks seem more and more to say: You don’t know what you want, but we do.”

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 14:33:09 -0600

Checked in at Gate D26.

Second delay through IAD on the same round-trip.

38.9455878-77.4532578

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 13:59:03 -0600

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 12:55:05 -0600

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 12:49:32 -0600

Checked in at United Club.

Another delay through Dulles…

38.9454016-77.4496294

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 12:11:05 -0600

Checked in at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).

Getting there…

38.9524083-77.4472075

Flew MAD:IAD:DEN

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 03:15:00 -0600

Flew MAD:IAD:DEN

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 03:15:00 -0600

Flew MAD:IAD:DEN

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 03:15:00 -0600

Sat, 08 Jun 2019 23:45:14 -0600

Checked in at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) (Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas).

40.4816545-3.5780239

Sat, 08 Jun 2019 23:18:25 -0600

Checked in at Terminal 1.

Home time

40.4647939-3.5705362

Sat, 08 Jun 2019 15:01:21 -0600

Capped off a pretty epic trip today with riding, eating, drinking; with friends in a beautiful Madrid.

Posted on Instagram 3:01 pm, June 8, 2019

Sat, 08 Jun 2019 14:59:10 -0600

Checked in at Hotel Atlántico.

Last night before home.

40.4203721-3.7047635

Sat, 08 Jun 2019 13:17:29 -0600

Checked in at Circo de las Tapas.

40.4223165-3.7040188

Sat, 08 Jun 2019 02:48:56 -0600

Checked in at Casa de Campo.

40.4223831-3.7406731

Thu, 06 Jun 2019 00:55:09 -0600

Checked in at Misión Café.

40.4243119-3.7087247

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 16:17:13 -0600

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 14:22:46 -0600

Checked in at Fábrica Maravillas.

40.4226632-3.7016416

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 03:06:42 -0600

Checked in at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) (Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas).

The trip continues. Insane delay coming out of IAD.

40.4816545-3.5780239

Friday wins and a case study in ritual design

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 02:25:34 -0600

Friday wins and a case study in ritual design

Culture is what you celebrate. Rituals are the tools you use to shape culture.

Yet very few of us think much about ritual design.

A standard piece of software development practice that many teams let lapse, or merely let lapse into being sub-optimal is “Friday wins”, sometimes called sprint demos or sprint reviews. But you can take what can be a flaccid and repetitive meeting and make it a valuable ritual by grounding it in values.

Four Magic Numbers for Measuring Software Delivery

Sun, 02 Jun 2019 23:06:14 -0600

Four Magic Numbers for Measuring Software Delivery

David Lush Mar 26

If you’ve read my previous post around ONZO’s engineering manifesto you will get a sense that we are proud of both our team culture and the way we deliver software. Late last year we started having conversations around “how do we elevate what we do to the next level as the team grows?”. Namely increasing our speed to market with new products while keeping a good grip on quality. We were using velocity as a planning tool, tracking quality through escaped bugs, had a handle on platform SLOs and working around a well formed roadmap. It felt like we were at risk of stagnating though.

Introducing Example Mapping

Sun, 02 Jun 2019 22:54:19 -0600

Introducing Example Mapping

Before you pull a user story into development, it’s crucial to have a conversation to clarify and confirm the acceptance criteria.

Some people do this during their backlog refinement or planning poker sessions. Other teams have a specific three amigos meeting, specification workshop or discovery workshop.

Whatever you call this conversation, many teams find it hard; it’s unstructured, it takes too long and gets boring. The result is they don’t do it regularly or consistently, or maybe they just give up on it entirely.

Taste For Makers

Sun, 02 Jun 2019 15:36:15 -0600

Taste For Makers

February 2002

“…Copernicus’

aesthetic objections to [equants] provided one essential

motive for his rejection of the Ptolemaic system….”

– Thomas Kuhn, The Copernican Revolution

“All of us had been trained by Kelly Johnson and believed

fanatically in his insistence that an airplane that looked

beautiful would fly the same way.”

– Ben Rich, Skunk Works

“Beauty is the first test: there is no permanent place in this

Sun, 02 Jun 2019 14:09:42 -0600

Checked in at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).

Too much travel. IAD:MAD

38.952333-77.4478182

Flew PDX:IAD:MAD

Sun, 02 Jun 2019 09:15:00 -0600

Flew PDX:IAD:MAD

Sun, 02 Jun 2019 09:15:00 -0600

Flew PDX:IAD:MAD

Sun, 02 Jun 2019 09:15:00 -0600

Sun, 02 Jun 2019 08:10:06 -0600

Thu, 30 May 2019 18:49:11 -0600

Checked in at Starbucks Reserve Roastery.

Starbucks, The Bar.

47.6140438-122.328289

Dear map people – macwright.org

Thu, 30 May 2019 17:58:39 -0600

Dear map people – macwright.org

Dear map people,

Routing is the most powerful tool we have to reduce the environmental impact of driving, make cities quieter, safer, and more livable, and fight congestion. And you are blowing it.

This might be because HERE, the number two provider of map technologies, was bought by a bunch of car companies. Or because Google is headquartered in the suburbs. Or that the financial world is fixated on opening the pandora’s box of self-driving cars.

Wed, 29 May 2019 17:55:12 -0600

Checked in at Junebaby.

Expecting delicious things.

47.6758292-122.3040588

Wed, 29 May 2019 15:17:18 -0600

Wed, 29 May 2019 14:13:09 -0600

Checked in at Kimpton Palladian.

47.6120509-122.3416927

Tue, 28 May 2019 10:45:28 -0600

Checked in at Biscuit Bitch.

47.6105735-122.3415917

Mon, 27 May 2019 23:21:23 -0600

Mon, 27 May 2019 22:53:48 -0600

Checked in at Kimpton Palladian.

47.6120509-122.3416927

Mon, 27 May 2019 18:19:03 -0600

Solid afternoon paddle. Nice work Seattle! #kayak #lake #river #seattle #memorialday

47.65161-122.31441

Posted on Instagram 6:19 pm, May 27, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m0c8aadc2c38bca5a255b36f901bd27f9 = { positions : { 556 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘47.65161’, ‘-122.31441’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m0c8aadc2c38bca5a255b36f901bd27f9’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m0c8aadc2c38bca5a255b36f901bd27f9.positions ) { gmap_m0c8aadc2c38bca5a255b36f901bd27f9.bounds.extend( gmap_m0c8aadc2c38bca5a255b36f901bd27f9.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m0c8aadc2c38bca5a255b36f901bd27f9.positions ) { gmap_m0c8aadc2c38bca5a255b36f901bd27f9.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m0c8aadc2c38bca5a255b36f901bd27f9.map, position : gmap_m0c8aadc2c38bca5a255b36f901bd27f9.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m0c8aadc2c38bca5a255b36f901bd27f9.map.setCenter( gmap_m0c8aadc2c38bca5a255b36f901bd27f9.positions[556] ); });

Mon, 27 May 2019 12:04:36 -0600

Checked in at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

Hi SEA! 👋🏼

47.4435885-122.3025084

Flew DEN:SEA

Mon, 27 May 2019 09:25:00 -0600

Flew DEN:SEA

Mon, 27 May 2019 09:25:00 -0600

Flew DEN:SEA

Mon, 27 May 2019 09:25:00 -0600

Mon, 27 May 2019 08:43:22 -0600

Checked in at Gate B46.

39.8586273-104.6703756

Sun, 26 May 2019 12:40:15 -0600

Checked in at New Terrain Brewing Co.

Riding beers — with erika

39.7794665-105.1860322

Sun, 26 May 2019 09:59:22 -0600

Productivity Isn’t About Time Management. It’s About Attention Management.

Sat, 25 May 2019 23:08:27 -0600

Productivity Isn’t About Time Management. It’s About Attention Management.

“Time management” is not a solution — it’s actually part of the problem.

Erik Winkowski

A few years ago during a break in a leadership class I was teaching, a manager named Michael walked up looking unsettled. His boss had told him he needed to be more productive, so he had spent a few hours analyzing how he spent his time. He had already cut his nonessential meetings. He couldn’t find any tasks to drop from his calendar. He didn’t see an obvious way to do them more efficiently.

Sat, 25 May 2019 12:47:23 -0600

Checked in at Costco Gasoline.

39.78785-105.0831161

Sat, 25 May 2019 12:43:29 -0600

Intel inside

39.6905332-105.1521218

Posted on Instagram 12:43 pm, May 25, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m3b6e85966dc10da4b49048cae9c17c45 = { positions : { 756 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.6905332’, ‘-105.1521218’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m3b6e85966dc10da4b49048cae9c17c45’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m3b6e85966dc10da4b49048cae9c17c45.positions ) { gmap_m3b6e85966dc10da4b49048cae9c17c45.bounds.extend( gmap_m3b6e85966dc10da4b49048cae9c17c45.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m3b6e85966dc10da4b49048cae9c17c45.positions ) { gmap_m3b6e85966dc10da4b49048cae9c17c45.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m3b6e85966dc10da4b49048cae9c17c45.map, position : gmap_m3b6e85966dc10da4b49048cae9c17c45.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m3b6e85966dc10da4b49048cae9c17c45.map.setCenter( gmap_m3b6e85966dc10da4b49048cae9c17c45.positions[756] ); });

Sat, 25 May 2019 12:13:29 -0600

Checked in at GREEN MOUNTAIN PARK.

39.6904016-105.1522934

bliki: TechnicalDebt

Fri, 24 May 2019 16:06:25 -0600

bliki: TechnicalDebt

Martin Fowler

Software systems are prone to the build up of cruft – deficiencies in

internal quality that make it harder than it would ideally be to modify and

extend the system further. Technical Debt is a metaphor, coined by Ward

Cunningham, that frames how to think about dealing with this cruft, thinking

of it like a financial debt. The extra effort that it takes to add new

How San Francisco broke America’s heart

Thu, 23 May 2019 23:16:24 -0600

How San Francisco broke America’s heart

(Ric Carrasquillo/for The Washington Post)

SAN FRANCISCO — A Tuesday afternoon in the Mission District of America’s tech wonderland.

Michael Feno stands outside Lucca Ravioli, his beloved pasta emporium on Valencia, a vestige of old San Francisco, puffing on a cigar while posing for pictures, his customers in tears.

Living in this city’s radically shifting landscape, veterinarian Gina Henriksen found comfort by telling herself, “Thank God, Lucca is still here. If Lucca goes, I’m going to have to leave San Francisco. What do we have left?”

Perspective | I was chief of disguise at CIA. ‘The Americans’ got a lot right.

Thu, 23 May 2019 22:59:00 -0600

Perspective | I was chief of disguise at CIA. ‘The Americans’ got a lot right.

Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell as spies in disguise in “The Americans.” (Eric Liebowitz/FX)

After 27 years in the CIA working on operational assignments around the world, I am somewhat numbed to the fictional espionage that engulfs us — the books and movies and TV shows that always get it wrong. That’s why I have largely shunned the genre, barely noting the reviews of the latest creations that celebrate the life of an intelligence officer. “Homeland”? No. The Bourne movies? No. “Alias”? God, no! It’s the main reason I work as an adviser and speaker at the Spy Museum in Washington: to present an informed but still entertaining picture of the work of a spy.

Thu, 23 May 2019 12:17:25 -0600

Stripe CTO David Singleton on what makes an effective developer team

Wed, 22 May 2019 22:28:38 -0600

Stripe CTO David Singleton on what makes an effective developer team

One of the most common and cardinal mistakes startups often make when building a product is not conducting adequate market research.

There many instances of companies rolling out product or software updates that they believe to be innovative or competent, only to be met with indifference or displeasure by the public or users because they find the product unintuitive, cumbersome or simply of little utility — if at all.

Coffee Shops, Office Space, and… the Future of Remote Work

Wed, 22 May 2019 08:31:07 -0600

Coffee Shops, Office Space, and… the Future of Remote Work

Natalie Sandman May 20

As a VC at Shasta Ventures, I look into technologies related to the “future of work” — automation/machine intelligence, collaboration/productivity, and much more. In this post, I’ll share thoughts on remote and distributed working.

I’ve always loved working in coffee shops. Maybe it’s the allure of being surrounded by people without having to talk to them. Maybe it’s the opportunity to strike up conversations with like-minded strangers. Maybe it’s just growing up in the Bay Area where people are on their laptops in public locations. More recently, I’ve been using time at coffee shops as a serendipitous way to learn more about remote work.

Strong Opinions Loosely Held Might be the Worst Idea in Tech – The Glowforge Blog

Wed, 22 May 2019 08:22:23 -0600

Strong Opinions Loosely Held Might be the Worst Idea in Tech – The Glowforge Blog

“Both/And” Leadership

Wed, 22 May 2019 08:13:39 -0600

“Both/And” Leadership

Idea in Brief

The Problem

We look to leaders to make consistent decisions, keep a steady course, and align an organization’s culture. But leaders typically face multiple demands that conflict with one another, and it’s a mistake to assume there are cut-and-dried choices.

Why It Happens

Strategic paradoxes are essentially dilemmas that cannot be resolved. Tensions continually arise between today’s needs and tomorrow’s (innovation paradoxes), between global integration and local interests (globalization paradoxes), and between social missions and financial pressures (obligation paradoxes).

Flew PHL:DEN

Wed, 22 May 2019 04:31:00 -0600

Flew PHL:DEN

Wed, 22 May 2019 04:31:00 -0600

Flew DEN:PHL

Sun, 19 May 2019 17:22:00 -0600

Sun, 19 May 2019 09:00:28 -0600

Why we implemented an Urgent Task Parachute Protocol

Fri, 17 May 2019 20:12:57 -0600

Why we implemented an Urgent Task Parachute Protocol

Ben Dalziel May 10

As a remote-first company, we put a lot of weight in good, clear, respectful communication, but it’s often hard to articulate why something that feels off may be more corrosive. That presents the risk of missing or not addressing the root cause. That perhaps explains why this post by Cate Huston has stuck with me:

The five types of communication problems that destroy company morale
*There’s a saying in software that all bugs are eventually user interface bugs, because someone has to see them to…*qz.com

Fri, 17 May 2019 19:29:21 -0600

Is Slack ruining our jobs — and lives?

Fri, 17 May 2019 19:17:39 -0600

Is Slack ruining our jobs — and lives?

Several people are typing.

If you’ve spent any time with Slack, you’ve likely seen this message float below the text field of your company’s communications software.

It can mean a few things: A vibrant discussion is taking place in which you and your colleagues are excitedly collaborating around a central topic. Important news is breaking and everyone wants to know. Or, more often, a nonlinear argument is unfurling as everyone tries to get the last word in first, and chaos envelops the very system meant to keep you organized.

Fri, 17 May 2019 14:59:11 -0600

Checked in at Dunbar Kitchen & Taphouse.

Super late lunch. Making it worth it.

39.7562063-104.9758082

Fri, 17 May 2019 13:21:44 -0600

Thu, 16 May 2019 22:21:26 -0600

Checked in at Whittier.

39.7563773-104.9659436

Book Review: Accelerate – slashdeploy – Medium

Thu, 16 May 2019 14:02:07 -0600

Book Review: Accelerate – slashdeploy – Medium

Adam Hawkins Apr 29, 2018

I was excited when Gene Kim, Jez Humble, and Nicole Forsgren published Accelerate: The Science of Lean Software and DevOps: Building and Scaling High Performing Technology Organizations. Their last book, The DevOps Handbook, laid out a repeatable path for moving towards the DevOps value stream.

I didn’t know what expect from Accelerate, but I hoped the authors would delight me again. This review includes my thoughts, highlights, and lastly a recommendation on who it’s best for. Skip to the end if you’re just interested in the recommendation.

Thu, 16 May 2019 11:37:02 -0600

Finding the point of human leverage

Wed, 15 May 2019 23:04:57 -0600

Finding the point of human leverage

One of the paradoxes of today’s internet platforms is they are vastly automated, and have no human control or interaction over what any given person sees, and yet they are also totally dependent on human behavior, because what they’re really doing is observing, extracting and inferring things from what hundreds of millions or billions of people do.

The genesis of this was PageRank. Instead of relying on hand-crafted rules to understand what each page might be about, or indexing the raw text, PageRank looks at what people have done or have said about that page. Who linked to it, what text did they use, and who linked to the people who linked to it? And at the other end of the pipe, Google gets every user to curate every set of search results by hand: it gives you 10 blue links and you tell Google which one was right. The same thing for Facebook: Facebook doesn’t know really know who you are, or what you’re interested in, or what that piece of content is. It knows who you follow, what you press ‘like’ on, who else liked that and what else they liked and followed. Facebook is PageRank for people. The same applies, by extension, to YouTube: it never knew what the video was, only what people typed next to it and what else they watched and liked.

Carta 101: How We Work

Wed, 15 May 2019 22:29:47 -0600

Carta 101: How We Work

Note: Since this was published in 2015, some of our ideas have evolved, our revenue and burn rate have both increased, and our orientation has changed. But, as you’ll read later in the post, we still hope that people stay at Carta for a decade or more.

All Carta employees (new and old) take a full-day course called Carta 101. It is an introduction to our company, our values, and our execution strategy. The class size is kept small (8–10 people) so everyone can participate in the group discussions. I give this class on Fridays once a month.

The platform play: How to operate like a tech company

Wed, 15 May 2019 22:17:45 -0600

The platform play: How to operate like a tech company

“The question is not how fast tech companies will become car companies, but how fast we will become a tech company.” This is how the board member of a global car company recently articulated the central issue facing most incumbents today: how to operate and innovate like a tech company.

The tech giants of today have been some of the most innovative companies in the past generation. A handful of industry leaders, such as Ping An and BMW, are fast joining their ranks by reinventing their core business around data and digital. What distinguishes these tech companies is that their technology allows them to move faster, more flexibly, and at greater scale than their competitors. IT is not a cumbersome estate “that gets in the way,” but an enabler and driver of continuous innovation and adaptation.

Coach Bill Campbell

Wed, 15 May 2019 20:17:13 -0600

Coach Bill Campbell

I never met Bill Campbell. To be honest, I had never even heard about him until I heard Eric Schmidt speak his praises on the the Tim Ferris Podcast.

I picked up a copy of Trillion Dollar Coach and I’m so very glad I did. This book is easily in the top 5 books I’ve ever read. It’s right up there with Creativity Inc.

I don’t share book reports very often. Probably only 1 out of every 100-150 books I read. But this is one book that I felt compelled to share.

Wed, 15 May 2019 20:01:06 -0600

Wed, 15 May 2019 17:06:55 -0600

Does your team need to rebrand?

Tue, 14 May 2019 22:58:05 -0600

Does your team need to rebrand?

Some leaders are fantastic at “team branding”—communicating about their group in ways that give the rest of the organization a good understanding of what the team is all about. Others are squarely focused on “team public relations”—telling a great story about a team that, if we looked more closely, we might find is not delivering or functioning very well (it always comes out in the end).

Tue, 14 May 2019 17:27:11 -0600

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

No pain, no gain.

39.7676715-104.9738261

Sun, 12 May 2019 13:56:27 -0600

Checked in at morrison holiday bar.

39.6542719-105.1916252

Sun, 12 May 2019 12:39:06 -0600

Checked in at Lair O’ the Bear.

Killer ride. Legs are jello.

39.6678664-105.2578704

75% of staff at this successful IT company are on the autism spectrum

Sun, 12 May 2019 00:03:34 -0600

75% of staff at this successful IT company are on the autism spectrum

Things started to click into place for Jamie Davila after she discovered she was on the autism spectrum five years ago this summer.

She had already worked in accounting for more than a decade before starting her own website development business but struggled in traditional workplace settings. Davila had long felt a disconnect with more emotionally driven clients and colleagues and had always preferred working in more isolated, quiet, and dimly lit settings.

Negative Splits

Sat, 11 May 2019 23:58:13 -0600

Negative Splits

“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. Say you’re running and you think, ‘Man, this hurts, I can’t take it anymore. The ‘hurt’ part is an unavoidable reality, but whether or not you can stand anymore is up to the runner himself.”

– Haruki Murakami (What I Talk About When I Talk About Running)

At the start of your journey, you have passion, excitement and adrenaline. But can it last?

The CTO Role

Sat, 11 May 2019 23:54:45 -0600

The CTO Role

Defining the role of CTO can be tricky. Each company has a different

experience with their CTO, and so the role can be murky at times.

The CTO is often viewed as at least the spiritual leader for the technology

organization. That person defines technical strategy and direction, and

delivers the the tools and products the organization needs to be successful.

But how?

Some industry CTOs are the most technical person in the organization. Some are

Why Are Companies Ending Remote Work?

Sat, 11 May 2019 20:16:17 -0600

Why Are Companies Ending Remote Work?

With research suggesting that companies can save money, boost morale and attract top candidates by offering work-at-home options, why are some employers calling their telecommuters back into the main office?

The Bank of New York Mellon Corp. was the latest organization to make headlines when it told staff in November that it might reduce their ability to work from home. After the bank’s employees expressed outrage, however, the company hit pause on its plan.

The rise of fear-based social media like Nextdoor, Citizen, and now Amazon’s Neighbors

Sat, 11 May 2019 20:06:34 -0600

The rise of fear-based social media like Nextdoor, Citizen, and now Amazon’s Neighbors

Violent crime in the US is at its lowest rate in decades. But you wouldn’t know that from a crop of increasingly popular social media apps that are forming around crime.

Apps like Nextdoor, Citizen, and Amazon Ring’s Neighbors — all of which allow users to view local crime in real time and discuss it with people nearby — are some of the most downloaded social and news apps in the US, according to rankings from the App Store and Google Play.

Sat, 11 May 2019 18:18:29 -0600

Checked in at Echter’s Nursery and Garden Center.

Stocking up — with erika

39.7897415-105.0998002

Sat, 11 May 2019 17:40:38 -0600

Checked in at Costco Wholesale.

with erika

39.7898409-105.0825361

Sat, 11 May 2019 17:09:15 -0600

Checked in at Costco Gasoline.

39.78785-105.0831161

Sat, 11 May 2019 14:25:34 -0600

Checked in at Rosenberg’s Bagels & Delicatessen.

39.7548357-104.9775313

Sat, 11 May 2019 13:47:13 -0600

Checked in at Denver Botanic Garden Sculpture Garden.

39.7322222-104.9608208

Sat, 11 May 2019 12:41:59 -0600

Checked in at Downpours Coffee.

39.7352624-104.9547928

Sat, 11 May 2019 10:31:52 -0600

Checked in at OneFold.

39.7447637-104.9692521

Fri, 10 May 2019 17:51:17 -0600

Checked in at The Way Back.

39.7693325-105.0413212

Fri, 10 May 2019 11:41:13 -0600

Thu, 09 May 2019 20:28:29 -0600

Checked in at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre.

39.6653804-105.2058613

Thu, 09 May 2019 17:52:51 -0600

Checked in at Safta.

39.7687266-104.980401

Wed, 08 May 2019 12:15:52 -0600

Wed, 08 May 2019 12:14:54 -0600

Daniel Pink: The New ABCs of Selling

Tue, 07 May 2019 21:57:16 -0600

Daniel Pink: The New ABCs of Selling

“To sell well is to convince someone else to part with resources—not to deprive that person, but to leave him better off in the end. That is also what, say, a good algebra teacher does.”

“The only thing you got in this world is what you can sell. And the funny thing is, you’re a salesman, and you don’t know that.” — Arthur Miller, Death of a Salesman

Tue, 07 May 2019 20:03:33 -0600

Checked in at Coors Field, for San Francisco Giants vs Colorado Rockies.

Gigantes — with erika

39.7559665-104.9941707

Stripe’s fifth engineering hub is Remote

Mon, 06 May 2019 22:03:36 -0600

Stripe’s fifth engineering hub is Remote

Stripe has engineering hubs in San Francisco, Seattle, Dublin, and Singapore. We are establishing a fifth hub that is less traditional but no less important: Remote. We are doing this to situate product development closer to our customers, improve our ability to tap the 99.74% of talented engineers living outside the metro areas of our first four hubs, and further our mission of increasing the GDP of the internet.

Resilience engineering: Where do I start?

Mon, 06 May 2019 21:55:35 -0600

Resilience engineering: Where do I start?

This an introductory guide to readings in resilience engineering, aimed at software engineers. Key

papers are organized into themes:

What is resilience?
Changing perspectives on accidents and safety
Complex systems
Coordination
Automation
Boundary as a model (Rasmussen)
David Woods

The papers linked here should all be accessible to casual readers.

What is resilience?

A resilient organization adapts effectively to surprise.

Here I’m using the definition proposed by David Woods.

Working remotely, 4 years in

Mon, 06 May 2019 20:35:17 -0600

Working remotely, 4 years in

I live in Montreal. 4 years ago, I decided to take a job working remotely for a company based in San

Francisco. At the time, I was worried that it wouldn’t work out – I’d never worked remotely before,

so it was a pretty big unknown for me. You can see me struggling with it on this blog after 3 months and 8 months. But

Avi (one of the people who interviewed me, who works remotely)

The 5 Whys of Organizational Design

Mon, 06 May 2019 20:23:23 -0600

The 5 Whys of Organizational Design

Recently I wrote about sizing engineering organizations, and how you can think about it as an exercise in managing concurrency. In understanding org size I talk about the mental exercise of thinking about how the number of concurrent work streams you’re taking on as a team applies upward pressure on the needs of your organization (e.g. you need more managers, who need more directors, who need a more senior CTO, etc) The inverse exercise is also useful.

Mon, 06 May 2019 08:41:47 -0600

Sat, 04 May 2019 16:19:26 -0600

Fri, 03 May 2019 23:24:28 -0600

Fri, 03 May 2019 16:43:05 -0600

Checked in at Joyride Brewing Company.

Rooftop Happy Hour with the teachers.

39.753086-105.0535794

Thu, 02 May 2019 15:59:44 -0600

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Home.

39.8497327-104.6739819

Creative tools in the post-”deep fakes” world – Facet.ai – Medium

Thu, 02 May 2019 15:40:59 -0600

Creative tools in the post-”deep fakes” world – Facet.ai – Medium

“Vertical Change”, Bjorn Copeland.

joseph reisinger Feb 18

Even if all research progress on AI stalled tomorrow, we would still have more than enough kinetic energy locked up in existing models, approaches and data to power a second renaissance in the visual arts. The power of visual creation for humans assisted by AI will be vast, porous and accessible.

How to evolve an engineering organization

Thu, 02 May 2019 14:32:22 -0600

How to evolve an engineering organization

Recently, I had the opportunity to present to a group of early-stage

founders about evolving their engineering organizations.

While preparing, I realized that despite my excitement for this topic,

I’ve only written about it indirectly.

The most comprehensive, related piece I’ve written is about running reorganizations.

Reorgs do involve quite a bit of organizational design, but

they’re a difficult environment to demonstrate best practice.

Mission command – Wikipedia

Thu, 02 May 2019 11:18:10 -0600

Mission command – Wikipedia

Mission command, also referred to as mission-type tactics, is a style of military command, derived from the Prussian-pioneered mission-type tactics doctrine, which combines centralized intent with decentralized execution subsidiarity and promotes freedom and speed of action, and initiative, within defined constraints. Subordinates, understanding the commander’s intentions, their own missions and the context of those missions, are told what effect they are to achieve and the reason why it needs to be achieved. They then decide within their delegated freedom of action how best to achieve their missions. Orders focus on providing intent, control measures, and objectives, allowing for greater freedom of action by subordinate commanders.[1] Mission command is closely related to civilian management concept of workplace empowerment and its use in business has been explored by writers such as Bungay (2011) and Tozer (1995, 2012). It is advocated, but not always used,[2] by the militaries of the United States,[3][4] Canada,[5] Netherlands, Australia and the United Kingdom.[6] Mission command is compatible with modern military net-centric concepts,[7] and less centralized approaches to command and control (C2) in general.[8]

Introducing Boosts: an all-new way to show your support in Basecamp

Thu, 02 May 2019 11:14:24 -0600

Introducing Boosts: an all-new way to show your support in Basecamp

We gave up on Likes and invented a totally new form of tiny communication.

If there’s one thing you can’t avoid on the Internet, it’s Likes. They’re in nearly every software platform where people post photos or write text messages.

Sometimes Likes are called Faves, Hearts, Reactions, Claps, or something else, but the basic idea is the same: they’re a small, quick way to express your feelings about something, usually accompanied by a count of other people who had that same feeling.

Flew IAD:DEN

Thu, 02 May 2019 10:45:00 -0600

Flew IAD:DEN

Thu, 02 May 2019 10:45:00 -0600

Flew IAD:DEN

Thu, 02 May 2019 10:45:00 -0600

Thu, 02 May 2019 09:07:23 -0600

Checked in at United Airlines (UA) Check-in Area.

Later, Dulles.

38.9529302-77.4465069

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 22:41:24 -0600

Checked in at Intown Uptown Inn.

Home base for a couple days.

38.9502002-77.0331845

Flew SFO:DEN

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 20:30:00 -0600

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 19:54:10 -0600

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 19:53:31 -0600

The Anatomy of a Great Decision

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 19:22:32 -0600

The Anatomy of a Great Decision

Making better decisions is one of the best skills we can develop. Good decisions save time, money, and stress. Here, we break down what makes a good decision and what we can do to improve our decision-making processes.

***

Improving our decision-making abilities is a central goal at Farnam Street. Better decisions save time, money, and stress. While it’s an investment now, in the long run, learning principles and developing a multidisciplinary lens that we can apply throughout life is a worthy investment.

Manage Uncertainty with Commander’s Intent

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 14:22:19 -0600

Manage Uncertainty with Commander’s Intent

This post is part of an HBR Spotlight examining leadership lessons from the military.

How does your team respond when a plan changes? Does everyone seem to know what to do or is there confusion, a lack of meaningful activity, or people standing around waiting to be told what to do next? Planning is difficult whether in business or the military. Military planners use Commander’s Intent, a key element to help a plan maintain relevancy and applicability in a chaotic, dynamic, and resource-constrained environment.

My Billion Dollar Mistake

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 14:12:41 -0600

My Billion Dollar Mistake

Back in 2008, I co-founded KISSmetrics, an analytics company.

There were so many times when I thought about giving up during the early days. Over and over again, I felt like we were doing it all wrong. Making guesses about the problems people had. Building to solve problems we had imagined.

We were searching in the dark to solve painful problems. We had a clear vision, but our execution was flawed.

Flew SFO:IAD

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 14:00:00 -0600

Flew SFO:IAD

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 14:00:00 -0600

Flew SFO:IAD

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 14:00:00 -0600

The Huawei controversy: Everything you need to know – CNET

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 13:54:03 -0600

The Huawei controversy: Everything you need to know – CNET

Huawei’s been a fixture in the news cycle for a while now. Here’s why.

Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Huawei is one of the biggest mysteries in the wireless industry right now.

It’s the world’s No. 1 telecom supplier and No. 2 smartphone maker. Yet it’s a pariah in several countries, including the US, to the point that the FBI reportedly set up a sting at CES 2019.

Sat, 27 Apr 2019 10:09:15 -0600

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 21:20:51 -0600

Checked in at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

SFYoooooo — with erika

37.616713-122.3870945

Flew DEN:SFO

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 18:55:00 -0600

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 18:48:43 -0600

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

39.8497327-104.6739819

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 16:27:11 -0600

Checked in at Enterprise 5280.

Working from “the office” today. #officetoday

39.761625-104.97923

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 19:53:45 -0600

Green Mountain Weekday Ride Vibes

39.7008-105.178

Posted on Instagram 7:53 pm, April 24, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m96a65feb5008399ffc9a02509513bd1b = { positions : { 915 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7008’, ‘-105.178’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m96a65feb5008399ffc9a02509513bd1b’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m96a65feb5008399ffc9a02509513bd1b.positions ) { gmap_m96a65feb5008399ffc9a02509513bd1b.bounds.extend( gmap_m96a65feb5008399ffc9a02509513bd1b.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m96a65feb5008399ffc9a02509513bd1b.positions ) { gmap_m96a65feb5008399ffc9a02509513bd1b.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m96a65feb5008399ffc9a02509513bd1b.map, position : gmap_m96a65feb5008399ffc9a02509513bd1b.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m96a65feb5008399ffc9a02509513bd1b.map.setCenter( gmap_m96a65feb5008399ffc9a02509513bd1b.positions[915] ); });

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 16:04:05 -0600

DJI Mavic Air Review

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 16:04:00 -0600

After drooling over it for months at Costco, I picked up a bundle package with a DJI Mavic Air back in November. I’ve now flown it a fair bit, and wanted to write up some observations on it.

First of all — this thing is amazing. It’s so much fun to fly, and honestly feels a bit like magic, especially when compared with cheaper, fully-manual quadcopters. Probably the coolest feature of this thing (for me, a n00b) is that if you let go of the control sticks, it’ll automatically just hover in place. Brilliant.

On Going Feral

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 14:25:31 -0600

On Going Feral

Yesterday, a colleague looked at me and deadpanned, “aren’t you supposed to have a long beard?” When you remote-work for an extended period (it’s been six months since my last visit to the mother ship), you can expect to hear your share of jokes and odd remarks when you do show up. Once you become a true cloudworker, a ghost in the corporate machine who only exists as a tinny voice on conference calls, perceptions change. So when you do show up, you find that people react to you with some confusion. You’re not a visitor or guest, but you don’t seem to truly belong either.

Sat, 13 Apr 2019 14:37:32 -0600

Checked in at The Home Depot.

Back at my crib

39.7703054-104.901155

Sat, 13 Apr 2019 12:03:26 -0600

Checked in at REI.

OMG it’s a madhouse here — with erika

39.755622-105.009853

NASA Twins Study results show how a year in space affects an astronaut’s DNA

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 23:06:45 -0600

NASA Twins Study results show how a year in space affects an astronaut’s DNA

For almost one year, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly circled the planet on the International Space Station, completing three spacewalks, conducting experiments on plants and playing ping-pong with a ball of water. His earthbound twin, Mark, lobbied for stronger gun laws, played golf and drank an occasional beer. Together, the genetically identical subjects constituted the starkest nature-versus-nurture study in history.

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 17:17:26 -0600

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 15:27:44 -0600

Checked in at Enterprise 5280.

Werking.

39.761625-104.97923

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 12:12:41 -0600

Checked in at Shake Shack.

#ForTheThrone

39.7622771-104.9807526

Complexity Bias: Why We Prefer Complicated to Simple

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 22:09:03 -0600

Complexity Bias: Why We Prefer Complicated to Simple

Complexity bias is a logical fallacy that leads us to give undue credence to complex concepts.

Faced with two competing hypotheses, we are likely to choose the most complex one. That’s usually the option with the most assumptions and regressions. As a result, when we need to solve a problem, we may ignore simple solutions — thinking “that will never work” — and instead favor complex ones.

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 13:22:51 -0600

Checked in at Conoco.

39.7664034-104.973098

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 11:49:42 -0600

Checked in at Panorama Orthopedics.

🤞🏼 my knee is about to get fixed

39.7279685-105.2059158

Ecosystem Plugins: The Next Big Opportunities in WordPress

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 22:12:46 -0600

Ecosystem Plugins: The Next Big Opportunities in WordPress

The Next Big Opportunities in WordPress

Summary

WordPress is the Operating System of the Open Web. At 33% of the web and growing, organizations choose WordPress because it’s free, ubiquitous, focused on the end user, and it’s theirs.
WordPress faces three key obstacles to reaching the next 20%: limited resources, too many decisions, and missing integrations.
I introduce a new concept that I’m calling an Ecosystem Plugin. Ecosystem Plugins, like WooCommerce, offer a suite of functionality for a specific audience that simplifies decision making and streamlines integrations with the products and services that audience uses.
There are big opportunities for those who build Ecosystem Plugins, the tech products that integrate with them, and site owners that use them. Specific examples I recommend include CRM, Ecommerce, ERP, Insights, and Automation.

Report Overview

At the end of February, 2019 I left my employer and began working independently. One of my first initiatives was a research project.

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 19:43:34 -0600

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 12:10:55 -0600

Checked in at Lou’s Italian Specialties.

39.764149-104.973537

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 12:47:15 -0600

Checked in at Dunbar Kitchen & Taphouse.

Nice day to venture out for lunch.

39.7562063-104.9758082

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 14:38:36 -0600

Checked in at Which Wich? Superior Sandwiches.

Sammies — with erika

39.630334-106.0712476

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 13:13:27 -0600

Checked in at Snake River Village.

39.6084763-105.9480967

Exclusive: Google asked 5,600 employees about remote work. This is what they learned

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 22:52:07 -0600

Exclusive: Google asked 5,600 employees about remote work. This is what they learned

Working remotely can be really tough. To get some insight into how to do it better, Google conducted a two-year study involving data from 5,600 employees across the US, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Approximately 30% of the company’s meetings involve staff in more than two time zones, and 39% involve more than two cities. Veronica Gilrane, manager of Google’s People Innovation Lab, oversaw the study and has written a guide for how to make the most of distributed teams. Today, she is releasing a report of her findings.

How to Feel Less Overwhelmed as a Developer

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 17:33:22 -0600

How to Feel Less Overwhelmed as a Developer

Everything’s ok.

Julia Haigh Jan 30

There’s a lot going on in the developer world. No matter whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned expert, it just never seems to stop. Here are some ideas on how to handle it all.

I’ve done my best to make this article concise & skimmable, in the hope that it may be helpful without adding too much to the chaos. It’s divided up into 4 sections: Mindset, Learning, Social Pressure, and Toolset. Let’s go.

The one-salary experiment, ten years in

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 16:52:51 -0600

The one-salary experiment, ten years in

Five years ago, Lenz (one of our co-founders) wrote:

At iwantmyname everyone earns the same. This sounds strange to many and I get asked a lot of questions how this may work once we grow bigger and the honest answer is: “I don’t know, but so far it works” and I give that same answer since we started 5 years ago.

The underlying idea has two main roots. First, we really think that everyone is as important to the success of our team as anyone else in the team. We don’t believe in a hierarchy or in more important people. If we hire you, we think you are valuable and want you to be part of our team as a level peer, not an underlying that does the stuff no one else wants to do.

Designing a Usable Dashboard – /rg/

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 16:20:06 -0600

Designing a Usable Dashboard – /rg/

Rahul Gulati Nov 5, 2016

A Product Manager’s Guide to Quick and Effective Design.

Bootstrap Dashboard

A dashboard, in many ways, is like the screen of a digital device — there are numerous activities that happen underneath the surface, but as users we are unaware of such activities and simply believe what we see.

Who knows or even cares how many system calls does it take to show the battery status on a screen? But the moment battery sign turns red, we quickly understand that if ignored for too long, the device will soon be unusable. Over time we start relying on system design.

Flew YYZ:DEN

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 13:45:00 -0600

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 13:12:21 -0600

Checked in at Gate F65.

43.6790086-79.6116548

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 11:56:36 -0600

Checked in at Terminal 1.

Bye Canadia.

43.6813328-79.6116316

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 17:45:20 -0600

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Another week, another trip. DEN:YYZ

39.8497327-104.6739819

Flew DEN:YYZ

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 17:35:00 -0600

Name It, and They Will Come

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 15:00:16 -0600

Name It, and They Will Come

You’ve discovered something new.

You haven’t seen solutions quite like this before. You try to keep your ego in check and be skeptical. But the butterflies in your stomach won’t listen.

You don’t want to get carried away, but deep down you already know it:

You’re onto something.

This idea turns into a project. The first commit is just 500 lines. But in a few days, you build it up just enough to start using it in real code. A few like-minded people join you in improving it. You learn something new about it every day.

Sat, 23 Mar 2019 11:49:07 -0600

First day on the rooftop at @joyridebrewing!

39.7532-105.05363

Posted on Instagram 11:49 am, March 23, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_mc17a204fa82745771d2959e7d20104a6 = { positions : { 773 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7532’, ‘-105.05363’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_mc17a204fa82745771d2959e7d20104a6’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_mc17a204fa82745771d2959e7d20104a6.positions ) { gmap_mc17a204fa82745771d2959e7d20104a6.bounds.extend( gmap_mc17a204fa82745771d2959e7d20104a6.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_mc17a204fa82745771d2959e7d20104a6.positions ) { gmap_mc17a204fa82745771d2959e7d20104a6.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_mc17a204fa82745771d2959e7d20104a6.map, position : gmap_mc17a204fa82745771d2959e7d20104a6.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_mc17a204fa82745771d2959e7d20104a6.map.setCenter( gmap_mc17a204fa82745771d2959e7d20104a6.positions[773] ); });

Thu, 21 Mar 2019 15:57:16 -0600

Just hanging out here with @howard.schultz during @techstars. Hearing about the background of @starbucks and what makes a successful company.

40.01654-105.28198

Posted on Instagram 3:57 pm, March 21, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m3686ba0e550423dea5cc43aaed4db178 = { positions : { 780 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘40.01654’, ‘-105.28198’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m3686ba0e550423dea5cc43aaed4db178’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m3686ba0e550423dea5cc43aaed4db178.positions ) { gmap_m3686ba0e550423dea5cc43aaed4db178.bounds.extend( gmap_m3686ba0e550423dea5cc43aaed4db178.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m3686ba0e550423dea5cc43aaed4db178.positions ) { gmap_m3686ba0e550423dea5cc43aaed4db178.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m3686ba0e550423dea5cc43aaed4db178.map, position : gmap_m3686ba0e550423dea5cc43aaed4db178.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m3686ba0e550423dea5cc43aaed4db178.map.setCenter( gmap_m3686ba0e550423dea5cc43aaed4db178.positions[780] ); });

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 15:51:41 -0600

Rad pint glass from @spangalangbrewery. 💖

39.7551834-104.9770549

Posted on Instagram 3:51 pm, March 20, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m40fd49c39d87818083b3aa14f4253eec = { positions : { 738 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7551834’, ‘-104.9770549’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m40fd49c39d87818083b3aa14f4253eec’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m40fd49c39d87818083b3aa14f4253eec.positions ) { gmap_m40fd49c39d87818083b3aa14f4253eec.bounds.extend( gmap_m40fd49c39d87818083b3aa14f4253eec.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m40fd49c39d87818083b3aa14f4253eec.positions ) { gmap_m40fd49c39d87818083b3aa14f4253eec.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m40fd49c39d87818083b3aa14f4253eec.map, position : gmap_m40fd49c39d87818083b3aa14f4253eec.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m40fd49c39d87818083b3aa14f4253eec.map.setCenter( gmap_m40fd49c39d87818083b3aa14f4253eec.positions[738] ); });

Sat, 16 Mar 2019 21:22:39 -0600

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 18:05:03 -0600

Checked in at New Terrain Brewing Co.

Celebrating the end of Kelly’s sabbatical — with erika, Kelly, Emily

39.7794665-105.1860322

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 22:26:28 -0600

Thanks for the welcome home sunset, Denver. #nofilter

39.7391-104.9836

#nofilter

Posted on Instagram 10:26 pm, March 14, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m8e1231bab7bc685930758b4c8e7b73a0 = { positions : { 977 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7391’, ‘-104.9836’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m8e1231bab7bc685930758b4c8e7b73a0’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m8e1231bab7bc685930758b4c8e7b73a0.positions ) { gmap_m8e1231bab7bc685930758b4c8e7b73a0.bounds.extend( gmap_m8e1231bab7bc685930758b4c8e7b73a0.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m8e1231bab7bc685930758b4c8e7b73a0.positions ) { gmap_m8e1231bab7bc685930758b4c8e7b73a0.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m8e1231bab7bc685930758b4c8e7b73a0.map, position : gmap_m8e1231bab7bc685930758b4c8e7b73a0.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m8e1231bab7bc685930758b4c8e7b73a0.map.setCenter( gmap_m8e1231bab7bc685930758b4c8e7b73a0.positions[977] ); });

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 17:00:04 -0600

Checked in at Smök.

with erika

39.76866-104.97965

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 16:59:55 -0600

Checked in at The Woods.

with erika

39.768709-104.9806716

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 14:16:25 -0600

Checked in at RTD – Denver Airport Station.

39.8476367-104.6739359

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 14:05:17 -0600

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 14:04:50 -0600

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 13:51:07 -0600

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Back for a couple weeks.

39.8497327-104.6739819

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 09:58:33 -0600

Checked in at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY).

Later, New Orleans.

29.9863296-90.2566522

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 09:51:44 -0600

Flew MSY:DEN

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 09:25:00 -0600

Kung Fu (Startup strategy)

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 12:09:04 -0600

Kung Fu (Startup strategy)

Startup strategy is like Kung Fu. There are many styles that work. But in a bar fight, you’re going to get punched in the face regardless.

I can only teach you my style. Others can only teach you theirs.

This is my style.

“MVPs” are too M to be V. They’re a selfish ploy, tricking people who thought they were customers into being alpha testers. Build SLCs instead.

The 7 Step Onboarding Process to Get Employees Fully Ramped In 2 Weeks

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 11:46:45 -0600

The 7 Step Onboarding Process to Get Employees Fully Ramped In 2 Weeks

When most new employees join a company, they’re left to fend for themselves. Which means they spend their first few months tentatively stumbling around with their first few projects.

Then the new employee isn’t productive for at least several months.

That’s a huge opportunity cost.

With my teams, I follow four basic principles in order to get new employees fully onboarded within 2 weeks:

Why we re-designed our engineering career paths at CircleCI

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 11:30:01 -0600

Why we re-designed our engineering career paths at CircleCI

Note from the author: this post was written in collaboration with Justin Cowperthwaite, engineering manager, with additional input from Jeff Palmer, VP Engineering.

We want CircleCI to be a place that all engineers can learn and grow, and be supported no matter what level they join us at, or how they want to shape their careers. To support this, we use an engineering competency matrix, a framework that outlines expectations and growth paths for engineers. This matrix is a tremendously useful tool for us: it informs the structure of our job descriptions and our interview processes. It helps us set expectations together with our engineers, is a basis for goal setting as well as conversations about learning and development. It helps us have more objective performance conversations which are less susceptible to the biases and skills of an engineer’s manager. Overall, it clarifies the vision of our organization and helps us maintain consistency throughout all stages of hiring and professional development.

Authors Answer: What are your top tips for working remotely?

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 11:14:15 -0600

Authors Answer: What are your top tips for working remotely?

Like many of us these days, lots of our authors work remotely—whether from a home office or on-the-go as they travel. So we asked them how they make smart work of working remotely. Here’s what they said:

Jason Grigsby, author of Progressive Web Apps, is a pro at working from a hotel room:

He always packs a Roost laptop stand, a keyboard, and a trackpad when he travels to survive the bad ergonomics of hotel room desks.
He also travels with a portable electric water kettle for “coffee-free water” for his tea, plus a supply of Yorkie Gold.

Erika Hall, author of Conversational Design and Just Enough Research, works in San Francisco, but does a lot of traveling and has to work on-the-go. Her top two tips for making it work:

Flew DEN:MSY

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 10:51:00 -0600

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 11:44:31 -0600

SF Ocean Beach breakwaters

37.7717185-122.4438929

Posted on Instagram 11:44 am, March 9, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m8be0e9c371f751b36fd4883ad4fce5e3 = { positions : { 542 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘37.7717185’, ‘-122.4438929’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m8be0e9c371f751b36fd4883ad4fce5e3’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m8be0e9c371f751b36fd4883ad4fce5e3.positions ) { gmap_m8be0e9c371f751b36fd4883ad4fce5e3.bounds.extend( gmap_m8be0e9c371f751b36fd4883ad4fce5e3.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m8be0e9c371f751b36fd4883ad4fce5e3.positions ) { gmap_m8be0e9c371f751b36fd4883ad4fce5e3.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m8be0e9c371f751b36fd4883ad4fce5e3.map, position : gmap_m8be0e9c371f751b36fd4883ad4fce5e3.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m8be0e9c371f751b36fd4883ad4fce5e3.map.setCenter( gmap_m8be0e9c371f751b36fd4883ad4fce5e3.positions[542] ); });

AR Will Spark the Next Big Tech Platform—Call It Mirrorworld

Mon, 04 Mar 2019 00:22:11 -0700

AR Will Spark the Next Big Tech Platform—Call It Mirrorworld

Every December, Adam Savage—star of the TV show MythBusters—releases a video reviewing his “favorite things” from the previous year. In 2018, one of his highlights was a set of Magic Leap augmented reality goggles. After duly noting the hype and backlash that have dogged the product, Savage describes an epiphany he had while trying on the headset at home, upstairs in his office. “I turned it on and I could hear a whale,” he says, “but I couldn’t see it. I’m looking around my office for it. And then it swims by my windows—on the outside of my building! So the glasses scanned my room and it knew that my windows were portals and it rendered the whale as if it were swimming down my street. I actually got choked up.” What Savage encountered on the other side of the glasses was a glimpse of the mirrorworld.

Flew SFO:DEN

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 18:50:00 -0600

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 17:14:09 -0700

Checked in at SFO AirTrain Station – Rental Car Center.

37.6281276-122.4010757

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 16:31:55 -0700

Checked in at Taqueria Cancún.

One for the road — with erika

37.7604143-122.4192438

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 15:52:14 -0700

Checked in at b8ta.

with erika

37.7765471-122.4261061

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 13:02:46 -0700

Checked in at Hải Ký Mì Gia.

Brunch noodles — with erika

37.7842068-122.4179108

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 11:49:19 -0600

Checked in at JT Laundry Wash and Fold.

37.7375357-122.4289489

Sat, 02 Mar 2019 16:11:55 -0700

Checked in at Triple Aught Design.

Dangerous — with erika

37.7581134-122.3881657

Sat, 02 Mar 2019 12:32:47 -0600

Checked in at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Koltcha — with erika

37.7858942-122.4008965

Sat, 02 Mar 2019 10:53:44 -0600

Checked in at Outerlands.

Love this place — with erika

37.7603585-122.5050223

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 22:50:01 -0600

Checked in at Teeth.

with erika

37.7599137-122.4191027

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 22:16:47 -0600

Checked in at Boba Guys.

Bobs — with erika

37.760044-122.421103

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 20:08:21 -0600

Checked in at Hawker Fare.

37.7620178-122.4217515

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 18:12:58 -0600

Checked in at Anchor Public Taps.

More drinks — with erika, Chelsea, Daryl

37.764007-122.4012562

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 17:06:26 -0600

Checked in at Standard Deviant Brewing.

Super cool brewery — with erika

37.768361-122.419516

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 16:29:21 -0600

Checked in at Taqueria Cancún.

True love. Weak TTFB this time; 6 hrs. First time he since the renovations — with erika

37.7604143-122.4192438

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 15:53:45 -0600

Checked in at Four Barrel Coffee.

with erika

37.7670125-122.4220103

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 14:56:49 -0600

Checked in at Glen canyon Hiking Trails.

37.7352654-122.4379736

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 12:06:10 -0600

Checked in at Devil’s Teeth Baking Company.

37.7530449-122.5050252

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 11:19:28 -0600

Checked in at Canyon Market.

37.7340361-122.4338853

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 10:17:26 -0600

Checked in at Terminal 3.

37.61808-122.3864084

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 10:16:40 -0600

Checked in at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Oh hai, SFO.

37.616713-122.3870945

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 09:04:22 -0700

Flew LAX:SFO

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 09:00:00 -0700

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 08:51:34 -0700

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 07:49:49 -0600

Checked in at United Club.

33.9426365-118.399611

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 07:32:53 -0600

Checked in at United Airlines.

33.943175-118.3995801

Fri, 01 Mar 2019 07:32:36 -0600

Checked in at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Credit where credit is due. LAX is not as much of a hellscape as it usually is this morning.

33.9433243-118.405602

Thu, 28 Feb 2019 23:33:55 -0600

Checked in at THE KINNEY.

33.9874349-118.4538711

Flew DEN:SFO

Thu, 28 Feb 2019 22:25:00 -0700

Thu, 28 Feb 2019 20:37:54 -0600

Checked in at C & O Cucina.

33.9892377-118.4503426

Thu, 28 Feb 2019 19:23:23 -0600

Checked in at Firestone Walker Brewing Company – The Propagator.

33.9898554-118.4486805

Thu, 28 Feb 2019 18:56:34 -0600

Checked in at THE KINNEY.

33.9874349-118.4538711

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 21:52:36 -0700

Checked in at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

On to the next one

33.9433243-118.405602

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 22:18:22 -0600

Checked in at United Airlines.

33.943175-118.3995801

Flew DEN:LAX

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 18:55:00 -0700

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 18:00:50 -0600

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Why am I here again already??😭 DEN:LAX

39.8497327-104.6739819

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 12:47:49 -0700

Checked in at Birdcall.

39.7545251-104.9767796

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 18:50:21 -0700

Pretty amazing view back towards Reykjavík this morning, from Mt. Esja. #hiking #winter #windy #iceland

64.2093275-21.7120314

Posted on Instagram 6:50 pm, February 24, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m8a3c96210e5c13b869415aaee2511976 = { positions : { 468 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘64.2093275’, ‘-21.7120314’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m8a3c96210e5c13b869415aaee2511976’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m8a3c96210e5c13b869415aaee2511976.positions ) { gmap_m8a3c96210e5c13b869415aaee2511976.bounds.extend( gmap_m8a3c96210e5c13b869415aaee2511976.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m8a3c96210e5c13b869415aaee2511976.positions ) { gmap_m8a3c96210e5c13b869415aaee2511976.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m8a3c96210e5c13b869415aaee2511976.map, position : gmap_m8a3c96210e5c13b869415aaee2511976.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m8a3c96210e5c13b869415aaee2511976.map.setCenter( gmap_m8a3c96210e5c13b869415aaee2511976.positions[468] ); });

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 18:29:18 -0700

Checked in at Terminal West.

39.8492892-104.6741299

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 18:00:34 -0700

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Home, ever so briefly.

39.8497327-104.6739819

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 18:21:18 -0600

Checked in at Immigration & Customs.

39.8499725-104.6737199

Flew KEF:DEN

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 10:10:00 -0700

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 09:17:54 -0700

Checked in at Gate D33.

63.9933347-22.6232958

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 09:17:19 -0600

Checked in at Keflavik International Airport (KEF) (Keflavíkurflugvöllur).

Home time!

63.9953387-22.6238537

Sat, 23 Feb 2019 04:32:58 -0600

Checked in at Reykjavík Roasters.

This place is excellent — with Rocco

64.1436141-21.9264236

Fri, 22 Feb 2019 13:24:53 -0700

Checked in at Tryggvaskáli.

It was so good, we came back again — with Rocco

63.9378362-21.003481

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 17:17:49 -0700

It’s hard to appreciate the immense scale of Gullfoss. Truly epic. #iceland #djimavicair #dronephotography #dronestagram

64.3259666-20.1223183

Posted on Instagram 5:17 pm, February 21, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m0a05462dbdb20b8adf8267e3c66f0568 = { positions : { 438 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘64.3259666’, ‘-20.1223183’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m0a05462dbdb20b8adf8267e3c66f0568’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m0a05462dbdb20b8adf8267e3c66f0568.positions ) { gmap_m0a05462dbdb20b8adf8267e3c66f0568.bounds.extend( gmap_m0a05462dbdb20b8adf8267e3c66f0568.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m0a05462dbdb20b8adf8267e3c66f0568.positions ) { gmap_m0a05462dbdb20b8adf8267e3c66f0568.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m0a05462dbdb20b8adf8267e3c66f0568.map, position : gmap_m0a05462dbdb20b8adf8267e3c66f0568.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m0a05462dbdb20b8adf8267e3c66f0568.map.setCenter( gmap_m0a05462dbdb20b8adf8267e3c66f0568.positions[438] ); });

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 17:15:41 -0700

Geysir from above. #iceland #drone #dronephotography #dronestagram #djimavicair

64.3142117-20.3009283

Posted on Instagram 5:15 pm, February 21, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m54e8f5ec8dbc2c402804fb13cbe6e654 = { positions : { 310 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘64.3142117’, ‘-20.3009283’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m54e8f5ec8dbc2c402804fb13cbe6e654’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m54e8f5ec8dbc2c402804fb13cbe6e654.positions ) { gmap_m54e8f5ec8dbc2c402804fb13cbe6e654.bounds.extend( gmap_m54e8f5ec8dbc2c402804fb13cbe6e654.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m54e8f5ec8dbc2c402804fb13cbe6e654.positions ) { gmap_m54e8f5ec8dbc2c402804fb13cbe6e654.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m54e8f5ec8dbc2c402804fb13cbe6e654.map, position : gmap_m54e8f5ec8dbc2c402804fb13cbe6e654.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m54e8f5ec8dbc2c402804fb13cbe6e654.map.setCenter( gmap_m54e8f5ec8dbc2c402804fb13cbe6e654.positions[310] ); });

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 17:13:13 -0700

G’Day Geysir! #iceland

64.3142117-20.3009283

#iceland

Posted on Instagram 5:13 pm, February 21, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m4a56c9e8fd151777145d2a7f41a93407 = { positions : { 961 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘64.3142117’, ‘-20.3009283’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m4a56c9e8fd151777145d2a7f41a93407’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m4a56c9e8fd151777145d2a7f41a93407.positions ) { gmap_m4a56c9e8fd151777145d2a7f41a93407.bounds.extend( gmap_m4a56c9e8fd151777145d2a7f41a93407.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m4a56c9e8fd151777145d2a7f41a93407.positions ) { gmap_m4a56c9e8fd151777145d2a7f41a93407.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m4a56c9e8fd151777145d2a7f41a93407.map, position : gmap_m4a56c9e8fd151777145d2a7f41a93407.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m4a56c9e8fd151777145d2a7f41a93407.map.setCenter( gmap_m4a56c9e8fd151777145d2a7f41a93407.positions[961] ); });

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 17:10:13 -0700

#iceland

64.2156056-21.0756892

#iceland

Posted on Instagram 5:10 pm, February 21, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m6de081ea74deefd429d3c8a286384bc5 = { positions : { 117 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘64.2156056’, ‘-21.0756892’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m6de081ea74deefd429d3c8a286384bc5’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m6de081ea74deefd429d3c8a286384bc5.positions ) { gmap_m6de081ea74deefd429d3c8a286384bc5.bounds.extend( gmap_m6de081ea74deefd429d3c8a286384bc5.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m6de081ea74deefd429d3c8a286384bc5.positions ) { gmap_m6de081ea74deefd429d3c8a286384bc5.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m6de081ea74deefd429d3c8a286384bc5.map, position : gmap_m6de081ea74deefd429d3c8a286384bc5.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m6de081ea74deefd429d3c8a286384bc5.map.setCenter( gmap_m6de081ea74deefd429d3c8a286384bc5.positions[117] ); });

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 17:08:14 -0700

Taking photos at the edge of the world. #iceland

64.8305556-17.9866667

#iceland

Posted on Instagram 5:08 pm, February 21, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m4df0c55d01deb57acb2e2625e8b76028 = { positions : { 948 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘64.8305556’, ‘-17.9866667’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m4df0c55d01deb57acb2e2625e8b76028’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m4df0c55d01deb57acb2e2625e8b76028.positions ) { gmap_m4df0c55d01deb57acb2e2625e8b76028.bounds.extend( gmap_m4df0c55d01deb57acb2e2625e8b76028.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m4df0c55d01deb57acb2e2625e8b76028.positions ) { gmap_m4df0c55d01deb57acb2e2625e8b76028.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m4df0c55d01deb57acb2e2625e8b76028.map, position : gmap_m4df0c55d01deb57acb2e2625e8b76028.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m4df0c55d01deb57acb2e2625e8b76028.map.setCenter( gmap_m4df0c55d01deb57acb2e2625e8b76028.positions[948] ); });

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 17:05:18 -0700

Classic Reykjavík view. #iceland

64.14246-21.9289

#iceland

Posted on Instagram 5:05 pm, February 21, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_mb4d9906a24765fb8e784fb0ffadd2e98 = { positions : { 233 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘64.14246’, ‘-21.9289’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_mb4d9906a24765fb8e784fb0ffadd2e98’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_mb4d9906a24765fb8e784fb0ffadd2e98.positions ) { gmap_mb4d9906a24765fb8e784fb0ffadd2e98.bounds.extend( gmap_mb4d9906a24765fb8e784fb0ffadd2e98.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_mb4d9906a24765fb8e784fb0ffadd2e98.positions ) { gmap_mb4d9906a24765fb8e784fb0ffadd2e98.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_mb4d9906a24765fb8e784fb0ffadd2e98.map, position : gmap_mb4d9906a24765fb8e784fb0ffadd2e98.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_mb4d9906a24765fb8e784fb0ffadd2e98.map.setCenter( gmap_mb4d9906a24765fb8e784fb0ffadd2e98.positions[233] ); });

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 17:02:31 -0700

Church in Reykjavík. #iceland

64.14246-21.9289

#iceland

Posted on Instagram 5:02 pm, February 21, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m1a9e0e9b5c08098043f4ebb0e4fff601 = { positions : { 907 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘64.14246’, ‘-21.9289’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m1a9e0e9b5c08098043f4ebb0e4fff601’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m1a9e0e9b5c08098043f4ebb0e4fff601.positions ) { gmap_m1a9e0e9b5c08098043f4ebb0e4fff601.bounds.extend( gmap_m1a9e0e9b5c08098043f4ebb0e4fff601.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m1a9e0e9b5c08098043f4ebb0e4fff601.positions ) { gmap_m1a9e0e9b5c08098043f4ebb0e4fff601.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m1a9e0e9b5c08098043f4ebb0e4fff601.map, position : gmap_m1a9e0e9b5c08098043f4ebb0e4fff601.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m1a9e0e9b5c08098043f4ebb0e4fff601.map.setCenter( gmap_m1a9e0e9b5c08098043f4ebb0e4fff601.positions[907] ); });

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 12:41:49 -0700

Checked in at Secret Lagoon (Gamla Laugin).

64.13739-20.3095876

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 11:02:43 -0600

Checked in at Syðra Langholt.

64.0870656-20.42162

Mon, 18 Feb 2019 01:31:30 -0700

Checked in at Pallett Kaffikompaní.

Kicking off the day.

64.063013-21.9575715

Sat, 16 Feb 2019 08:19:03 -0600

Checked in at Reykjavík Roasters.

Cute little spot on the way to Hallgrimskirkja. Excellent soundtrack.

64.1436141-21.9264236

Sat, 16 Feb 2019 02:59:19 -0700

Good morning, Reykjavík. #dronestagram #djimavicair

64.1333-21.9333

Posted on Instagram 2:59 am, February 16, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m7c5f9593d11813d797ebcc17ca998680 = { positions : { 608 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘64.1333’, ‘-21.9333’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m7c5f9593d11813d797ebcc17ca998680’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m7c5f9593d11813d797ebcc17ca998680.positions ) { gmap_m7c5f9593d11813d797ebcc17ca998680.bounds.extend( gmap_m7c5f9593d11813d797ebcc17ca998680.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m7c5f9593d11813d797ebcc17ca998680.positions ) { gmap_m7c5f9593d11813d797ebcc17ca998680.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m7c5f9593d11813d797ebcc17ca998680.map, position : gmap_m7c5f9593d11813d797ebcc17ca998680.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m7c5f9593d11813d797ebcc17ca998680.map.setCenter( gmap_m7c5f9593d11813d797ebcc17ca998680.positions[608] ); });

Sat, 16 Feb 2019 02:45:09 -0600

Checked in at Geiri Smart.

In honor of Derek Smart.

64.1464931-21.9295065

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 23:29:17 -0600

Checked in at Keflavik International Airport (KEF) (Keflavíkurflugvöllur).

I’m in Iceland!

63.9953387-22.6238537

Flew DEN:KEF

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 15:35:00 -0700

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 12:52:42 -0700

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 13:16:50 -0600

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Coming for you, Iceland.

39.8497327-104.6739819

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 23:18:25 -0700

You’re Just Not That Strategic: Seven Objections You’ll Have to Overcome to Get to the Top

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 23:10:27 -0700

You’re Just Not That Strategic: Seven Objections You’ll Have to Overcome to Get to the Top

Bridget Frey Sep 20, 2016

In my early 30s, a group of executives decided to overhaul the strategic direction of my team, and I wasn’t even in the room. One day, my team was working on a certain project, and the next, we were working on something else.

I was a trusted manager and engineer. I’d built a great team that had shipped a bunch of hits. And I had plenty of ideas. So why wasn’t I at that meeting? It stung. But now I know one reason I wasn’t included is that I just wasn’t providing the type of strategic thinking that the execs needed to make a decision.

Thoughts to Ponder

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 14:09:26 -0700

Loved these thoughts from the outgoing Chief Data Scientist of the White House:

The card I’ve carried in my notebook#YesWeCan pic.twitter.com/0XsDwdRWQw

— DJ Patil (NARA) (@DJ44) January 11, 2017

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Dream in years
Plan in months
Evaluate in weeks
Ship daily
Prototype for 1x
Builder for 10x
Engineer for 100x
What’s required to cut the timeline in 1/2?
What’s required to double the impact?

h/t ma.tt

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 14:08:58 -0700

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 07:27:26 -0600

Checked in at Atlas Physical Therapy.

39.740028-104.955447

Why Managers Should Take Notes

Mon, 11 Feb 2019 23:31:06 -0700

Why Managers Should Take Notes

“I have a very specific management style. I put my team in charge of it all.” He said as he put his feet on the table, leaning back with his hands crossed behind his head, elbows out to either side.

He didn’t believe he should take notes, and believed his hands-off approach allowed, “a very specific kind of person to thrive.” The rest, as he put it, “weren’t a fit to my management style.”

Here Come the Frogs (Fully Remote Organizations) – Greg Caplan – Medium

Mon, 11 Feb 2019 22:57:08 -0700

Here Come the Frogs (Fully Remote Organizations) – Greg Caplan – Medium

Greg Caplan Feb 11

Fully remote organizations, or Frogs, are quickly emerging across all categories of knowledge work. From software to social impact and fashion to financial services and everything in between, these Frogs are popping up and winning the talent war against the incumbents. With that advantage alone, they are growing much more rapidly and will soon dominate the marketplace.

The Never-Ending Now

Mon, 11 Feb 2019 22:42:39 -0700

The Never-Ending Now

Instagram. Snapchat. Twitter. Facebook. You name it. We live in a “Never-Ending Now.”

A story for you: Earlier this year, I attended a comedy show at The Stand with a handful of digital natives (my term for the post-millennial generation). The comedy club was across town so we split an Uber SUV. I sat in the back. You know… all the way in the back of the SUV, where the seats are so narrow that you have to do gymnastics just to fit back there.

How to begin the invisible work of change management

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 23:09:32 -0600

How to begin the invisible work of change management

Someone once said to me “you’re good at change management” and I was like, what?

I sat with the idea for a couple of weeks and eventually realized: Oh! That is what I do! I take teams that are struggling and help them focus, align, and start delivering at their potential, i.e. change management.

The thing about change management is that it involves a lot of invisible work that’s hard to follow from the outside. The two things that people see in change management are the change (toward the end, if they are paying attention) and when it goes (sometimes horribly) wrong. Here are some lessons I’ve learned from the change-management trenches, whether as the manager or the changee.

The 50–500–5000 Principle – DEV.BIZ.OPS – Medium

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 22:59:15 -0600

The 50–500–5000 Principle – DEV.BIZ.OPS – Medium

DEV.BIZ.OPS Feb 5

I was greeted today by headlines that Facebook turned 15 years old on this date. I feel old just saying that, especially when I remember also having Friendster and MySpace accounts.

Before Facebook became the enemy of the people undermining democracy and selling out their users, they were a company to marvel and admire. I remember distinctly the moment when I knew Facebook was going to take the world by storm.

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 19:03:46 -0600

Checked in at Modera River North.

39.762259-104.983806

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 12:47:22 -0600

Checked in at Mestizo-Curtis Park.

39.7605118-104.9771538

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 22:14:44 -0600

Checked in at Meetfresh.

Aaaand dessert — with erika

39.691713-104.93993

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 21:50:23 -0600

Checked in at Funny Plus Korean Bar.

Korean BBQ! — with erika

39.6658075-104.8623443

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 18:47:29 -0600

Checked in at H Mart.

with erika

39.6661138-104.8632133

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 17:19:11 -0600

Checked in at Nordstrom Rack.

39.688784-104.9423662

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 16:59:00 -0600

Checked in at BMW of Denver Downtown.

39.6976853-104.9400398

Fri, 08 Feb 2019 13:08:33 -0600

Checked in at Rivers And Roads Coffee.

39.7647012-104.9565211

Fri, 08 Feb 2019 10:27:30 -0600

Checked in at Turing School: Guaranty Bank Campus.

39.7509173-104.9967927

Thu, 07 Feb 2019 12:05:57 -0600

Checked in at Birdcall.

39.7545251-104.9767796

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 18:24:35 -0600

Denver 2049. Clearing up after a snowy day today. #djimavicair #drone #dronestagram #dronephotography

39.7391-104.9836

Posted on Instagram 6:24 pm, February 6, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m54ebb0e01a7dd6adc140ef024dc70b7e = { positions : { 769 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7391’, ‘-104.9836’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m54ebb0e01a7dd6adc140ef024dc70b7e’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m54ebb0e01a7dd6adc140ef024dc70b7e.positions ) { gmap_m54ebb0e01a7dd6adc140ef024dc70b7e.bounds.extend( gmap_m54ebb0e01a7dd6adc140ef024dc70b7e.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m54ebb0e01a7dd6adc140ef024dc70b7e.positions ) { gmap_m54ebb0e01a7dd6adc140ef024dc70b7e.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m54ebb0e01a7dd6adc140ef024dc70b7e.map, position : gmap_m54ebb0e01a7dd6adc140ef024dc70b7e.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m54ebb0e01a7dd6adc140ef024dc70b7e.map.setCenter( gmap_m54ebb0e01a7dd6adc140ef024dc70b7e.positions[769] ); });

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 15:58:38 -0600

Checked in at Mollner Dentistry.

39.7318382-104.986682

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 07:25:39 -0600

Checked in at Atlas Physical Therapy.

39.740028-104.955447

To Improve Your Team, First Work on Yourself

Mon, 04 Feb 2019 22:25:47 -0600

To Improve Your Team, First Work on Yourself

Howard George/Getty Images

A colleague and I were recently meeting with a CEO and his leadership team, observing them as they discussed how to improve their annual planning process. As the team of ten explored their current process, the conversation got heated. The team had been talking for 45 minutes, but it wasn’t clear who was leading the discussion or what their objectives were. Many comments were off-topic, and they were not getting closer to answers.

Mon, 04 Feb 2019 08:38:17 -0600

How to make effective decisions by comparing alternatives

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 20:50:10 -0600

How to make effective decisions by comparing alternatives

Alon Kiriati Jan 19

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

Not better, not worse… just different

“React.js is so much better than Angular”, “Java sucks, no one uses it anymore… we should use Golang”, “Pineapple is the worst pizza topping”. You’ve probably heard one of these very straight opinions — one option is the best, the other is the worst, X is better than Y and so on. But Java is still one of the most popular languages in the world, Angular gives a decent fight to React.js, and pizza with pineapple… well, that’s ewwww.

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 13:03:14 -0600

Los Angeles Is the Face of Climate Change – 2069 – Medium

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 10:36:33 -0600

Los Angeles Is the Face of Climate Change – 2069 – Medium

In July 2018, the air temperature in Woodland Hills, a Los Angeles neighborhood some 20 miles north of the Pacific Ocean, peaked at 117 degrees Fahrenheit. For 63-year old U.S. Post Office carrier Peggy Frank, that Friday marked her first day back at work after recovering from a broken ankle. At 3:35 p.m., Frank was pronounced dead after paramedics found her unresponsive in her non-air-conditioned truck. In September, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office confirmed what seemed a forgone conclusion: Frank died of hyperthermia — she overheated.

The infrastructural humiliation of America – TechCrunch

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 10:18:40 -0600

The infrastructural humiliation of America – TechCrunch

The infrastructural humiliation of America

@rezendi /

2 hours ago

I’m flying back to the USA today, and as an infrastructure aficionado, it’s nice to be going home, but I’m dreading the disappointment. I just spent two weeks in Singapore and Thailand; last year I spent time in Hong Kong and Shenzhen; and compared to modern Asia, so much American infrastructure is now so contemptible that it’s hard not to wince when I see it.

Kyle Zeppelin Wants to Build a City of the Future. Is It All a Pipe Dream?

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 10:13:49 -0600

Kyle Zeppelin Wants to Build a City of the Future. Is It All a Pipe Dream?

On a brisk afternoon, Denver’s self-proclaimed “punk-rock urban real estate developer” visits the latest stud in his leather jacket. The Source Hotel is all wooden planks and polished concrete, a nod to the industrial roots of its home in River North, a former warehouse district and grimy artist enclave that’s now a playground for Denver’s twenty- and thirty-somethings.

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 08:54:59 -0600

Sat, 02 Feb 2019 17:07:27 -0600

Sat, 02 Feb 2019 12:07:20 -0600

Checked in at Colorado Mills.

I’m not even supposed to be here today — with erika

39.7321119-105.1583783

Sat, 02 Feb 2019 10:09:33 -0600

Checked in at The Blue Cow.

39.6538274-105.1914272

My Leadership Philosophy

Fri, 01 Feb 2019 09:54:25 -0600

My Leadership Philosophy

For no fewer than three years, my twitter bio has included the statement “I’m bad at writing recipes, great at cooking the food.” When I set out to define my leadership philosophy, I didn’t realize how true that statement would be.

I’ve been guiding and advising future leaders for many years, as a mentor and overall advocate, and my advice hasn’t changed much in that time. My concept of good leadership is informed by being a woman in a male-dominated field, a person of color in a primarily white-dominated world, and a general faith in the power of a good-hearted group of people.

Fri, 01 Feb 2019 08:01:40 -0700

Checked in at Charleston International Airport (CHS).

Ciao, Charleston.

32.8854267-80.0374

Flew CHS:ORD:DEN

Fri, 01 Feb 2019 08:30:00 -0600

Thu, 31 Jan 2019 19:20:50 -0700

Checked in at Lewis BBQ.

32.8087475-79.9466412

Thu, 31 Jan 2019 19:24:06 -0600

Hi Charleston! #dronestagram #djimavicair #dronephotography

32.81253-79.95128

Posted on Instagram 7:24 pm, January 31, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m5e0b837b51b5dd401eb684ee0bfc0e85 = { positions : { 882 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘32.81253’, ‘-79.95128’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m5e0b837b51b5dd401eb684ee0bfc0e85’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m5e0b837b51b5dd401eb684ee0bfc0e85.positions ) { gmap_m5e0b837b51b5dd401eb684ee0bfc0e85.bounds.extend( gmap_m5e0b837b51b5dd401eb684ee0bfc0e85.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m5e0b837b51b5dd401eb684ee0bfc0e85.positions ) { gmap_m5e0b837b51b5dd401eb684ee0bfc0e85.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m5e0b837b51b5dd401eb684ee0bfc0e85.map, position : gmap_m5e0b837b51b5dd401eb684ee0bfc0e85.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m5e0b837b51b5dd401eb684ee0bfc0e85.map.setCenter( gmap_m5e0b837b51b5dd401eb684ee0bfc0e85.positions[882] ); });

Thu, 31 Jan 2019 15:13:30 -0700

Checked in at The Battery.

32.7700119-79.9294604

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 17:20:26 -0600

Checked in at Nico.

32.791454-79.87974

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 16:06:33 -0600

Checked in at Hyatt House Charleston/Historic District.

32.792845-79.9405407

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 21:51:50 -0600

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 21:18:55 -0600

Checked in at Hyatt House Charleston/Historic District.

32.792845-79.9405407

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 20:16:32 -0600

Checked in at Vintage Lounge.

32.7912152-79.940096

How To Be Successful

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 16:55:38 -0700

How To Be Successful

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 17:20:13 -0600

Checked in at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).

DEN:IAH:CHS

29.9872-95.34774

Flew DEN:IAH:CHS

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 15:15:00 -0600

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 14:21:35 -0600

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Off we go again!

39.8497327-104.6739819

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 12:09:18 -0600

Checked in at Bonchon.

Korean Fried Chicken. KFC. — with erika

39.78081-104.891136

Sat, 26 Jan 2019 17:35:04 -0700

Nice sunset Denver! #dronestagram #sunset #skyline #cityscape #djimavicair #nofilter

39.7391-104.9836

Posted on Instagram 5:35 pm, January 26, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m37fde60f3501632d67b049b531d34d46 = { positions : { 416 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7391’, ‘-104.9836’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m37fde60f3501632d67b049b531d34d46’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m37fde60f3501632d67b049b531d34d46.positions ) { gmap_m37fde60f3501632d67b049b531d34d46.bounds.extend( gmap_m37fde60f3501632d67b049b531d34d46.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m37fde60f3501632d67b049b531d34d46.positions ) { gmap_m37fde60f3501632d67b049b531d34d46.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m37fde60f3501632d67b049b531d34d46.map, position : gmap_m37fde60f3501632d67b049b531d34d46.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m37fde60f3501632d67b049b531d34d46.map.setCenter( gmap_m37fde60f3501632d67b049b531d34d46.positions[416] ); });

Sat, 26 Jan 2019 18:03:35 -0600

Sat, 26 Jan 2019 15:53:42 -0600

Checked in at Sherlock Hound.

39.7493538-104.9700853

Introduction to systems thinking.

Sat, 26 Jan 2019 14:48:28 -0600

Introduction to systems thinking.

Many effective leaders I’ve worked with have the uncanny knack for working on leveraged problems. In some problem domains, the product management skillset is extraordinarily effective for identifying useful problems, but systems thinking is the most universally useful toolkit I’ve found.

If you really want a solid grasp on systems thinking fundamentals, you should read Thinking in Systems: A Primer by Donella Meadows, but I’ll do my best to describe some of the basics and work through a recent scenario where I found the systems thinking approach to be exceptionally useful.

Metrics for the unmeasurable

Sat, 26 Jan 2019 14:10:37 -0600

Metrics for the unmeasurable

As organizations grow complex, they’re managed through incorporeal abstractions that drift increasingly from the reality they represent.

On the smallest teams, decision-makers might be deep in the code on a daily basis. A bit larger, and you’re talking about tasks in sprints. More growth, and you’re talking about collections of tasks, and adopting fancy words like “epics.” At a hundred-plus engineers, you’re likely talking primarily in themes of work with focus on a couple key initiatives. At thousands, you might be talking about your investment framework for resourcing decisions.

Jack Dorsey Has No Clue What He Wants

Sat, 26 Jan 2019 14:02:24 -0600

Jack Dorsey Has No Clue What He Wants

A conversation with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey can be incredibly disorienting. Not because he’s particularly clever or thought-provoking, but because he sounds like he should be. He takes long pauses before he speaks. He furrows his brow, setting you up for a considered response from the man many have called a genius. The words themselves sound like they should probably mean something, too. Dorsey is just hard enough to follow that it’s easy to assume that any confusion is your own fault, and that if you just listen a little more or think a little harder, whatever he’s saying will finally start to make sense.

Sat, 26 Jan 2019 12:10:44 -0600

Checked in at Mestizo-Curtis Park.

39.7605118-104.9771538

On Sizing Your Engineering Organizations

Sat, 26 Jan 2019 11:56:25 -0600

On Sizing Your Engineering Organizations

One of the most frequent conversations I have with teams is how to think about organization size. Or rather we have a conversation that goes something like, “We need to double/triple/quadruple our engineering team next year, and now we need to hire a leader who has done it before.” And to have that conversation well you need a theory of organization size.

In the abstract it seems obvious that you don’t grow a team to grow a team. Rather growth is a tool to solve some other pressing issues. In practice, across conversations with hundreds of engineering leaders and CEOs, facing a variety of challenges, the conslusion, “We don’t have enough engineers (and we don’t have the right engineers)” has nearly universal coverage. And while I’m on record saying that most teams don’t spend enough time on hiring, this model of growing the team as a percentage (or multiplier) of headcount is fatally flawed.

“The Linux of social media”—How LiveJournal pioneered (then lost) blogging

Sat, 26 Jan 2019 11:43:39 -0600

“The Linux of social media”—How LiveJournal pioneered (then lost) blogging

Enlarge / No spoilers, but with the departure of a certain high profile fantasy writer, LiveJournal seems to have been left like Jon Snow here.

Last April, famed writer and hero-murderer George R.R. Martin announced that he was hoisting his ancient blog from his moldering LiveJournal onto his personal website. For casual Game of Thrones fans, it was a minor hiccup at best—most clicked the new link and never looked back. For a certain strata of enthusiasts, however, this was a far more momentous move. Described as “the last holdout” by longtime LiveJournal volunteer-turned-employee Janine Costanzo, Martin’s blog was perhaps the once-blogging-giant’s last bond to the world of great pop culture. So while the author may never finish his most beloved literary series, his simple act of Web hosting logistics truly marks the end of an era.

Fri, 25 Jan 2019 21:27:10 -0600

Through the looking glass.

39.75696-104.98545

Posted on Instagram 9:27 pm, January 25, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m2ac40a3c4f6596d2f49333142988beb4 = { positions : { 880 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.75696’, ‘-104.98545’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m2ac40a3c4f6596d2f49333142988beb4’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m2ac40a3c4f6596d2f49333142988beb4.positions ) { gmap_m2ac40a3c4f6596d2f49333142988beb4.bounds.extend( gmap_m2ac40a3c4f6596d2f49333142988beb4.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m2ac40a3c4f6596d2f49333142988beb4.positions ) { gmap_m2ac40a3c4f6596d2f49333142988beb4.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m2ac40a3c4f6596d2f49333142988beb4.map, position : gmap_m2ac40a3c4f6596d2f49333142988beb4.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m2ac40a3c4f6596d2f49333142988beb4.map.setCenter( gmap_m2ac40a3c4f6596d2f49333142988beb4.positions[880] ); });

Tue, 22 Jan 2019 22:09:29 -0600

Sun, 20 Jan 2019 21:46:51 -0600

I promise, that’s the moon. #lunareclipse

#lunareclipse

Posted on Instagram 9:46 pm, January 20, 2019

Sun, 20 Jan 2019 21:27:16 -0600

Why Open Source Failed – John Mark – Medium

Sun, 20 Jan 2019 10:36:34 -0600

Why Open Source Failed – John Mark – Medium

John Mark Jul 30, 2018

(If you like this essay, you may be interested in my follow-up, “Save Open Source, Save the World”)

2018 is the 20th anniversary of the term “open source”, and a good number of articles have been written and conference talks given about this landmark year, the vast majority of which have been of the self-congratulatory, navel gazing type. Unfortunately, open source proponents seem unable or unwilling to tread into reflective contemplation about the actual impact open source has had on society at large, resulting in a rather large blind spot. I’m afraid, dear reader, that the world has left it to me, the guy who brought you such hits as “There is no Open Source Community” and “It Was Never About Innovation”, to tell you about the gross failure of open source as a mechanism to unlock a more equitable society and why we all need to be better. We may not be entirely responsible for either the problem or the solution, but we’re certainly complicit and, thus, responsible for helping to resolve the issues.

Sat, 19 Jan 2019 18:09:43 -0600

Checked in at Bamboo Sushi.

Dinner time — with erika

39.7615146-105.0105134

Sat, 19 Jan 2019 12:27:32 -0600

Sat, 19 Jan 2019 12:22:45 -0600

Checked in at Riverside Baptist Church.

39.7521239-105.0173091

Sat, 19 Jan 2019 09:12:44 -0600

Sat, 19 Jan 2019 09:00:39 -0600

Fri, 18 Jan 2019 19:26:44 -0600

Fri, 18 Jan 2019 13:37:37 -0600

Checked in at The District.

Lunch. This place has changed to a bit of a market style setup?

39.743148-104.9701738

Thu, 17 Jan 2019 21:10:27 -0600

Thu, 17 Jan 2019 20:26:54 -0600

Checked in at Fairfield Inn & Suites Denver Downtown.

39.7567007-105.0148438

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 13:00:45 -0600

Checked in at Phoenician Kabob.

39.7402468-104.920668

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 08:45:02 -0600

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 08:22:14 -0600

Mon, 14 Jan 2019 13:40:05 -0600

Checked in at Dunbar Kitchen & Taphouse.

39.7562063-104.9758082

Sun, 13 Jan 2019 19:05:47 -0600

Don’t know what happened here, but I like it.

39.6042-105.948

Posted on Instagram 7:05 pm, January 13, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_mada6a3d163f958839af1dbd4c70de581 = { positions : { 681 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.6042’, ‘-105.948’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_mada6a3d163f958839af1dbd4c70de581’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_mada6a3d163f958839af1dbd4c70de581.positions ) { gmap_mada6a3d163f958839af1dbd4c70de581.bounds.extend( gmap_mada6a3d163f958839af1dbd4c70de581.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_mada6a3d163f958839af1dbd4c70de581.positions ) { gmap_mada6a3d163f958839af1dbd4c70de581.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_mada6a3d163f958839af1dbd4c70de581.map, position : gmap_mada6a3d163f958839af1dbd4c70de581.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_mada6a3d163f958839af1dbd4c70de581.map.setCenter( gmap_mada6a3d163f958839af1dbd4c70de581.positions[681] ); });

How I Know Your Product Messaging Isn’t Working: A Framework — Nandini Jammi

Sun, 13 Jan 2019 12:31:59 -0600

How I Know Your Product Messaging Isn’t Working: A Framework — Nandini Jammi

I’m a copywriter and contrary to what you may believe, my most significant responsibility is not to write. It’s to delete. Mercilessly.

It can be a deeply disconcerting experience to watch a copywriter delete your words and sometimes your ideas, but it’s a very necessary step to clearing the way for an effective product message.

I don’t do this because “less is more” (although this is often true) and I don’t do this to hurt anyone’s feelings (although I have).

7 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was a Younger Product Manager

Sun, 13 Jan 2019 11:38:44 -0600

7 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was a Younger Product Manager

Yulia Semenova Jan 9

(Smart on Unsplash)

“Who is that stranger?” Do you ask this question remembering yourself a few years ago? I think you do. To me, it happens all the time and I like to consider it as a proof of continuous growth.

Just recently I‘ve been remembering the start of my PM way. Oh God, how many things I did wrong! So in order of learning, I sat and wrote down my thoughts about that time. In the end, I got 7 pieces of advice for a younger version of myself. She’ll never be able to read this, but maybe my experience helps you.

Gov. Jared Polis unveils ambitious, expensive plans in first State of the State. Here’s the speech, annotated.

Sun, 13 Jan 2019 10:32:25 -0600

Gov. Jared Polis unveils ambitious, expensive plans in first State of the State. Here’s the speech, annotated.

Gov. Jared Polis outlined an ambitious — and equally expensive — agenda Thursday in his first State of the State address.

The tenor of the 55-minute speech, interrupted dozens of times for applause, left the Democratic majority hopeful, but also anxious about how to deliver on all the policy priorities. Republicans, too, wanted more specifics on Polis’ plans, which included tax reform and leaps into renewable energy.

Sat, 12 Jan 2019 16:37:00 -0700

Checked in at Outer Range Brewing.

We made it up to the mountains — with erika

39.5892086-106.0989465

How to rein in Big Tech

Sat, 12 Jan 2019 09:35:48 -0700

How to rein in Big Tech

January 11, 2019 at 12:00 pm
Categories:

Opinion, Opinion Columnists, Perspective

Cardboard cutouts of Facebook founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg were placed outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on April 10, the day Zuckerberg testified before Congress.

Every month, new controversies emerge regarding Facebook, Google, Twitter and other Internet-based companies. Self-regulation clearly has not worked, and this slow-dawning reality has led to a number of proposals to rein them in.

Fri, 11 Jan 2019 19:02:02 -0600

Checked in at Oriental Theater.

Beerfest!

39.7768948-105.0435477

Fri, 11 Jan 2019 15:34:11 -0700

Thu, 10 Jan 2019 10:58:54 -0600

Checked in at Chipotle Mexican Grill.

This place is a circus with school kids.

39.7400103-104.9570634

Tue, 08 Jan 2019 14:58:12 -0600

Remote Habits

Tue, 08 Jan 2019 10:49:26 -0600

a website all about working remotely. Working remotely is a new thing, and it can be kind of tricky. RemoteHabits helps by interviewing remote workers on things like What’s your typical work routine? and What do you not like about remote work?

— https://remotehabits.com/

Mon, 07 Jan 2019 10:19:40 -0600

Sun, 06 Jan 2019 14:08:12 -0600

Open Source Business Models Considered Harmful – John Mark – Medium

Sun, 06 Jan 2019 11:55:21 -0600

Open Source Business Models Considered Harmful – John Mark – Medium

John Mark Jan 4

Don’t Let the Tail Wag the Dog

Free Software! Get your Free Software! Super cheap!

In recent months, the debate on so-called “open source business models” has begun to rage once again, thanks to recent moves from Mongo, Redis Labs, and Confluent. Taken individually, each situation presents unique characteristics that warrant further analysis without jumping to conclusions about each entity. Taken together, however, the sum total of their individual acts presents a clear trend: movement by companies that build products on open source software towards a more proprietary approach. While each case is different, they have in essence declared that an open source approach is inadequate for generating enough revenue to yield return on investment sought by their investors. I believe that this is because the emergence of the open source business model as a distinct class pushes companies that adopt it into a narrow-banded decision matrix that presents limited options for future changes if the need to pivot arises.

How I try to organise my life to make me happy – Paul Adams – Medium

Sun, 06 Jan 2019 11:39:34 -0600

How I try to organise my life to make me happy – Paul Adams – Medium

Paul Adams Dec 29, 2018

How I try to organise my life to make me happy

I’ve Matthew McConaughey to thank for this. More on that in a bit.

First though, as I write it’s the 29th December. We’re closing 2018 and about to turn the corner into 2019. I tend to use these moments to reflect on the past and plan for the future. I deeply believe that reflection helps us learn, which helps us plan better, and live happier lives.

Sat, 05 Jan 2019 09:12:12 -0600

Thu, 03 Jan 2019 08:10:28 -0600

Three Important Things

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 23:36:06 -0700

Three Important Things

Congratulations! You are in a new management role. Now what?

Remember these three things: don’t fall into the safety of your old job, listen, and provide useful feedback.

These are the three most important insights I gained from working as an Engineering Team Lead at Automattic.

Don’t Fall into the Safety of your Old Job

Stepping into a new role, like managing people or projects, requires different skills than the ones that made you shine as an individual contributor. Recognizing that can be difficult.

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 10:25:41 -0600

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 16:34:02 -0600

Checked in at The Bronze Empire.

Hot potting — with erika

39.6877022-104.9418961

Childhood’s End | Edge.org

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 11:31:55 -0700

Childhood’s End | Edge.org

Conversation : CULTURE The digital revolution isn’t over but has turned into something else

Nations, alliances of nations, and national institutions are in decline, while a state perhaps best described as Oligarchia is on the ascent. GeorgeDyson explains in this, the first Edge New Year’s Essay.

George Dyson is the author of Turing’s Cathedral and Darwin Among the Machines (George Dyson’s Edge Bio Page).

All revolutions come to an end, whether they succeed or fail.

35 years ago, Isaac Asimov was asked by the Star to predict the world of 2019. Here is what he wrote | The Star

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 10:40:54 -0700

35 years ago, Isaac Asimov was asked by the Star to predict the world of 2019. Here is what he wrote | The Star

Originally published Dec. 31, 1983

lf we look into the world as it may be at the end of another generation, let’s say 2019 — that’s 35 years from now, the same number of years since 1949 when George Orwell’s 1984 was first published — three considerations must dominate our thoughts:

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 02:15:32 -0600

New Year’s Eve fireworks in the distance. Snow on the ground. #dronephotography #djimavicair #dronestagram

39.7391-104.9836

Posted on Instagram 2:15 am, January 1, 2019 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m6fce2ab06094df377ea846ae568d826e = { positions : { 523 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7391’, ‘-104.9836’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m6fce2ab06094df377ea846ae568d826e’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m6fce2ab06094df377ea846ae568d826e.positions ) { gmap_m6fce2ab06094df377ea846ae568d826e.bounds.extend( gmap_m6fce2ab06094df377ea846ae568d826e.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m6fce2ab06094df377ea846ae568d826e.positions ) { gmap_m6fce2ab06094df377ea846ae568d826e.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m6fce2ab06094df377ea846ae568d826e.map, position : gmap_m6fce2ab06094df377ea846ae568d826e.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m6fce2ab06094df377ea846ae568d826e.map.setCenter( gmap_m6fce2ab06094df377ea846ae568d826e.positions[523] ); });

Droning inside for new year’s. Seems like a good idea. #dronephotography #djimavicair

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:24:41 -0600

https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/vp/2adc89cf370a7dc223c65cddf432a0cf/5C2DE589/t50.2886-16/49548580_2206310036253594_5089281214896930816_n.mp4?_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com

Droning inside for new year’s. Seems like a good idea. #dronephotography #djimavicair

39.7572-104.967 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m1a293357e62c53ba8a787a140e61a778 = { positions : { 885 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7572’, ‘-104.967’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m1a293357e62c53ba8a787a140e61a778’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m1a293357e62c53ba8a787a140e61a778.positions ) { gmap_m1a293357e62c53ba8a787a140e61a778.bounds.extend( gmap_m1a293357e62c53ba8a787a140e61a778.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m1a293357e62c53ba8a787a140e61a778.positions ) { gmap_m1a293357e62c53ba8a787a140e61a778.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m1a293357e62c53ba8a787a140e61a778.map, position : gmap_m1a293357e62c53ba8a787a140e61a778.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m1a293357e62c53ba8a787a140e61a778.map.setCenter( gmap_m1a293357e62c53ba8a787a140e61a778.positions[885] ); });

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:19:12 -0600

New Year’s crew! (dronie) #dronephotography #djimavicair

Posted on Instagram 12:19 am, January 1, 2019

Fake-porn videos are being weaponized to harass and humiliate women: ‘Everybody is a potential target’

Mon, 31 Dec 2018 20:22:13 -0600

Fake-porn videos are being weaponized to harass and humiliate women: ‘Everybody is a potential target’

It was her face. But it had been seamlessly grafted, without her knowledge or consent, onto someone else’s body: a young pornography actress, just beginning to disrobe for the start of a graphic sex scene. A crowd of unknown users had been passing it around online.

She felt nauseated and mortified: What if her co-workers saw it? Her family, her friends? Would it change how they thought of her? Would they believe it was a fake?

Mon, 31 Dec 2018 18:16:44 -0700

New Year, New Theme

Mon, 31 Dec 2018 18:16:39 -0700

To ring in 2019, I’m changing this blog’s theme to Twenty Nineteen, the new default WordPress theme, designed and primarily created by my excellent colleague, Allan Cole (check out his music, published as The Stuyvesants, they’re groovy).

Apart from being pretty similar to, but a nice upgrade from the previous theme here, Twenty Nineteen also harnesses the full power of Gutenberg, the new WordPress Block Editor. I’m going to convert some posts to blocks so that I can use some of the better gallery options and whatnot, and will be using Gutenberg for everything going forward. It also reminds me a bit of the styling used throughout Instapaper, which I’ve spent a lot of time in lately 🙂

Mon, 31 Dec 2018 16:15:50 -0700

Checked in at Safeway.

Supplies — with erika

39.7489883-104.9775195

Mon, 31 Dec 2018 15:20:49 -0600

Fri, 28 Dec 2018 19:19:39 -0600

Chihuly at @denverbotanic

39.731606-104.95978

Posted on Instagram 7:19 pm, December 28, 2018 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_mba347579cb63b8edc4c9677674312d74 = { positions : { 995 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.731606’, ‘-104.95978’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_mba347579cb63b8edc4c9677674312d74’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_mba347579cb63b8edc4c9677674312d74.positions ) { gmap_mba347579cb63b8edc4c9677674312d74.bounds.extend( gmap_mba347579cb63b8edc4c9677674312d74.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_mba347579cb63b8edc4c9677674312d74.positions ) { gmap_mba347579cb63b8edc4c9677674312d74.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_mba347579cb63b8edc4c9677674312d74.map, position : gmap_mba347579cb63b8edc4c9677674312d74.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_mba347579cb63b8edc4c9677674312d74.map.setCenter( gmap_mba347579cb63b8edc4c9677674312d74.positions[995] ); });

How Superhuman Built an Engine to Find Product/Market Fit

Fri, 28 Dec 2018 17:22:11 -0700

How Superhuman Built an Engine to Find Product/Market Fit

This article is by Rahul Vohra, the founder and CEO of Superhuman — a startup building the fastest email experience in the world.

We’ve all heard that product/market fit drives startup success — and that the lack thereof is what’s lurking behind almost every failure.

For founders, achieving product/market fit is an obsession from day one. It’s both the hefty hurdle we’re racing to clear and the festering fear keeping us up at night, worried that we’ll never make it. But when it comes to understanding what product/market fit really is and how to get there, most of us quickly realize that there isn’t a battle-tested approach.

Murder on a Mountain Bike

Fri, 28 Dec 2018 10:45:32 -0700

Murder on a Mountain Bike

Around 10 A.M. on Friday, September 15, 2017, Ginger Chase-Watkins called the Old Town Bike Shop in Colorado Springs looking for her husband, Tim Watkins. She hadn’t heard from him in more than 24 hours.

A bike mechanic and lifelong outdoorsman, Watkins was known to spend nights in the wild, something he had done since he was a boy in Palmer Lake, Colorado, the town where he and Ginger grew up and still lived. But lately he’d been sleeping in his car, often parked at a local trailhead, to escape the turmoil in his personal life.

The Pitchforks Are Coming… For Us Plutocrats

Fri, 28 Dec 2018 10:10:11 -0700

The Pitchforks Are Coming… For Us Plutocrats

Robbie McClaran

Memo: From Nick Hanauer
To: My Fellow Zillionaires

You probably don’t know me, but like you I am one of those .01%ers, a proud and unapologetic capitalist. I have founded, co-founded and funded more than 30 companies across a range of industries—from itsy-bitsy ones like the night club I started in my 20s to giant ones like Amazon.com, for which I was the first nonfamily investor. Then I founded aQuantive, an Internet advertising company that was sold to Microsoft in 2007 for $6.4 billion. In cash. My friends and I own a bank. I tell you all this to demonstrate that in many ways I’m no different from you. Like you, I have a broad perspective on business and capitalism. And also like you, I have been rewarded obscenely for my success, with a life that the other 99.99 percent of Americans can’t even imagine. Multiple homes, my own plane, etc., etc. You know what I’m talking about. In 1992, I was selling pillows made by my family’s business, Pacific Coast Feather Co., to retail stores across the country, and the Internet was a clunky novelty to which one hooked up with a loud squawk at 300 baud. But I saw pretty quickly, even back then, that many of my customers, the big department store chains, were already doomed. I knew that as soon as the Internet became fast and trustworthy enough—and that time wasn’t far off—people were going to shop online like crazy. Goodbye, Caldor. And Filene’s. And Borders. And on and on.

Thu, 27 Dec 2018 23:35:31 -0600

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Home. Get me to sleep ASAP — with erika

39.8497327-104.6739819

Flew IAD:DEN

Thu, 27 Dec 2018 20:00:00 -0600

How Much of the Internet Is Fake?

Thu, 27 Dec 2018 19:16:14 -0600

How Much of the Internet Is Fake?

Photo: Artwork by Ayatgali Tuleubek

In late November, the Justice Department unsealed indictments against eight people accused of fleecing advertisers of $36 million in two of the largest digital ad-fraud operations ever uncovered. Digital advertisers tend to want two things: people to look at their ads and “premium” websites — i.e., established and legitimate publications — on which to host them.
The two schemes at issue in the case, dubbed Methbot and 3ve by the security researchers who found them, faked both. Hucksters infected 1.7 million computers with malware that remotely directed traffic to “spoofed” websites — “empty websites designed for bot traffic” that served up a video ad purchased from one of the internet’s vast programmatic ad-exchanges, but that were designed, according to the indictments, “to fool advertisers into thinking that an impression of their ad was served on a premium publisher site,” like that of Vogue or The Economist. Views, meanwhile, were faked by malware-infected computers with marvelously sophisticated techniques to imitate humans: bots “faked clicks, mouse movements, and social network login information to masquerade as engaged human consumers.” Some were sent to browse the internet to gather tracking cookies from other websites, just as a human visitor would have done through regular behavior. Fake people with fake cookies and fake social-media accounts, fake-moving their fake cursors, fake-clicking on fake websites — the fraudsters had essentially created a simulacrum of the internet, where the only real things were the ads.

Mon, 24 Dec 2018 18:44:00 -0600

Niece.

Posted on Instagram 6:44 pm, December 24, 2018

PewDiePie’s Battle for the Soul of the Internet – Quillette

Sun, 23 Dec 2018 08:58:53 -0600

PewDiePie’s Battle for the Soul of the Internet – Quillette

This is a story about the question of who holds power over what we can say, hear, watch and read on the internet—an increasingly urgent issue that many ordinary people have cause to think about every day. And yet the protagonist in this story, the man whose fate symbolizes the future of social media and the corporate web that controls it, is unknown to the vast majority of educated readers.

Flew DEN:IAD

Sun, 23 Dec 2018 08:39:00 -0600

Sun, 23 Dec 2018 07:06:40 -0600

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Off we go. DEN:IAD — with erika

39.8497327-104.6739819

Facebook Is a Problem. The System It Feeds Is a Bigger One.

Thu, 20 Dec 2018 19:05:53 -0600

Facebook Is a Problem. The System It Feeds Is a Bigger One.

It’s easy, at this point, to see any Facebook scandal as more white noise; a few million people betrayed by the social network, an egregious overreach into a user’s personal data — another day online. But you shouldn’t sleep on a fresh New York Times report about the company’s dealings with other tech behemoths, like Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Spotify, Microsoft, Russia’s Yandex, and even, curiously, the Royal Bank of Canada. It follows similar reporting from the Wall Street Journal earlier this year and a related document dump from U.K. parliament just this month, but adds significantly more context to the well-established narrative that Facebook has repeatedly violated the trust of its 2.27 billion monthly users in pursuit of growth and profit.

Thu, 20 Dec 2018 18:57:52 -0600

Denver skyline by night #drone #dronephotography

39.7604294-104.9768295

#drone
#dronephotography

Posted on Instagram 6:57 pm, December 20, 2018 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m179475942a08029d89d94a34dc96e0e9 = { positions : { 136 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7604294’, ‘-104.9768295’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m179475942a08029d89d94a34dc96e0e9’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m179475942a08029d89d94a34dc96e0e9.positions ) { gmap_m179475942a08029d89d94a34dc96e0e9.bounds.extend( gmap_m179475942a08029d89d94a34dc96e0e9.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m179475942a08029d89d94a34dc96e0e9.positions ) { gmap_m179475942a08029d89d94a34dc96e0e9.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m179475942a08029d89d94a34dc96e0e9.map, position : gmap_m179475942a08029d89d94a34dc96e0e9.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m179475942a08029d89d94a34dc96e0e9.map.setCenter( gmap_m179475942a08029d89d94a34dc96e0e9.positions[136] ); });

Thu, 20 Dec 2018 12:40:37 -0600

Checked in at Enterprise 5280.

39.761625-104.97923

Why you can’t manage humans like they’re software

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 19:27:32 -0700

Why you can’t manage humans like they’re software

Early on at Amazon, CEO Jeff Bezos famously issued a memo about how software was to be built at the company. Teams would share their data through service interfaces, or APIs, the same way that they would share it with an outside customer. That meant that a developer on one team didn’t need to know anything about how another team operated in order to integrate the product it made—he or she could follow the documentation and use that product as though it were an external service. Ultimately, this ease of cooperation became extremely efficient and is what paved the way for Amazon Web Services—a $6.7 billion business that powers huge parts of the web (including Netflix).

Digital Psychology

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 10:10:08 -0700

a free library of psychological principles and examples for inspiration to enhance the customer experience and connect with your users.

— https://digitalpsychology.io/

The Purpose Of Life Is Not Happiness: It’s Usefulness

Mon, 17 Dec 2018 23:45:34 -0700

The Purpose Of Life Is Not Happiness: It’s Usefulness

Darius Foroux Oct 3, 2016

For the longest time, I believed that there’s only purpose of life: And that is to be happy.

Right? Why else go through all the pain and hardship? It’s to achieve happiness in some way.

And I’m not the only person who believed that. In fact, if you look around you, most people are pursuing happiness in their lives.

Bad Managers Talk, Good Managers Write

Sun, 16 Dec 2018 22:38:13 -0700

Bad Managers Talk, Good Managers Write

The exemplary manager is often shown as the outgoing guy that gives his team pep talks and high fives. In truth, though, that stereotype couldn’t be farther from the truth.

To three highly effective, seasoned, and successful executives, being a good talker isn’t just overvalued, it can actually be detrimental. Rather, there’s a subtle, often-overlooked ability that’s one of the most vital skills you can have as a manager — the ability to write.

How many reports should a manager have?

Sun, 16 Dec 2018 23:04:30 -0600

How many reports should a manager have?

A few months back I was running down the San Francisco Bay, looking out over the dry docks and concrete factories, pondering organization structures… as you do.

I was wrestling with two pieces of seemingly contradictory management advice:

In order to optimize communication structures, particularly in fast paced environments, organizations should remain as flat as possible.
Managers shouldn’t have too many reports, if you want them to be able to adequately support their team.

Having worked in a range of different sized organizations the first piece of advice intuitively resonated. As you add layers of hierarchy, coordination becomes more complex and information gaps start to emerge. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as the “Iceberg of Ignorance”, where executives only see 4% of the problems experienced by front-line staff. So, aiming to reduce hierarchy where possible made sense.

How to 10x Your Own Productivity as a Manager through Writing

Sun, 16 Dec 2018 22:30:18 -0600

How to 10x Your Own Productivity as a Manager through Writing

Managing a team is all about communication.

Contrary to popular belief, that doesn’t just mean holding meetings or updating Kanban boards. It means mobilizing others, transferring important concepts, and inspiring your team to do great things using the tools you have.

The problem of communication is also a “one-degree” problem. Get it off by just a little bit, and your team can end up in the completely wrong destination.

Sat, 15 Dec 2018 15:54:29 -0600

Checked in at New Terrain Brewing Co.

Post ride drinks. I earned it.

39.7794665-105.1860322

Sat, 15 Dec 2018 15:53:57 -0600

Checked in at North Table Mountain Park.

🚵🏼‍♂️🚵🏼‍♂️🚵🏼‍♂️

39.7815012-105.2245574

Sat, 15 Dec 2018 09:34:13 -0600

Denver Sunset. #djimavicair #drone

39.7604294-104.9768295

#djimavicair
#drone

Posted on Instagram 9:34 am, December 15, 2018 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m1cb3dae05c5a01a50d222185175afe39 = { positions : { 881 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7604294’, ‘-104.9768295’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m1cb3dae05c5a01a50d222185175afe39’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m1cb3dae05c5a01a50d222185175afe39.positions ) { gmap_m1cb3dae05c5a01a50d222185175afe39.bounds.extend( gmap_m1cb3dae05c5a01a50d222185175afe39.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m1cb3dae05c5a01a50d222185175afe39.positions ) { gmap_m1cb3dae05c5a01a50d222185175afe39.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m1cb3dae05c5a01a50d222185175afe39.map, position : gmap_m1cb3dae05c5a01a50d222185175afe39.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m1cb3dae05c5a01a50d222185175afe39.map.setCenter( gmap_m1cb3dae05c5a01a50d222185175afe39.positions[881] ); });

Fri, 14 Dec 2018 22:08:28 -0600

Checked in at Three Dogs Tavern.

North Holiday party after party — with erika

39.7620221-105.0323082

The Seductive Diversion of ‘Solving’ Bias in Artificial Intelligence

Sun, 09 Dec 2018 17:20:13 -0600

The Seductive Diversion of ‘Solving’ Bias in Artificial Intelligence

Co-authored with Helen Nissenbaum

The rise of Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Facebook as the world’s most valuable companies has been accompanied by two linked narratives about technology. One is about artificial intelligence — the golden promise and hard sell of these companies. A.I. is presented as a potent, pervasive, unstoppable force to solve our biggest problems, even though it’s essentially just about finding patterns in vast quantities of data. The second story is that A.I. has a problem: bias.

Flew BNA:DEN

Sun, 09 Dec 2018 16:05:00 -0600

Sun, 09 Dec 2018 13:28:48 -0600

Checked in at Nashville International Airport (BNA).

Ciao Nashville. BNA:DEN

36.1311627-86.6698169

Sat, 08 Dec 2018 18:32:45 -0700

Checked in at Ole Red.

#woocommerce party!

36.1616753-86.7760804

Fri, 07 Dec 2018 08:36:12 -0700

Checked in at WordCamp US.

Here with a few folks I know for #wcus — with Alx, Aaron, Cami, Drew

36.157274-86.776402

Thu, 06 Dec 2018 16:26:17 -0700

Checked in at JW Marriott Nashville.

Home for #wcus.

36.156544-86.780733

Building Distributed Engineering Teams

Thu, 06 Dec 2018 10:35:26 -0700

Building Distributed Engineering Teams

Bruno Miranda Nov 26

If you are only willing to look at candidates within San Francisco you are making your job 1,000 times harder from day one.With 860 thousand people in San Francisco, 326 million people in the United States, and over 1 billion people on the western hemisphere, there are massive upsides to having a distributed team.

In the next few paragraphs, I hope to share some lessons I’ve learned over the past twelve years building distributed engineering teams.

Scaling Engineering Teams via Writing Things Down and Sharing – aka RFCs

Thu, 06 Dec 2018 10:23:51 -0700

Scaling Engineering Teams via Writing Things Down and Sharing – aka RFCs

I have recently been talking at small and mid-size companies, sharing engineering best practices I see us use at Uber, which I would recommend any tech company adopt as they are growing. The one topic that gets both the most raised eyebrows, as well the most “aha!” moments is the one on how the planning process for engineering has worked since the early years of Uber.

Why Employee Onboarding is Holding Back Your Team, and How to Get it Right

Thu, 06 Dec 2018 10:13:50 -0700

Why Employee Onboarding is Holding Back Your Team, and How to Get it Right

Eric Jorgenson Apr 6, 2015

Evergreen is a weekly collection of links to the best learning resources in business, collected by a group of managers, founders, and investors. We contribute resources about one topic each week, which are synthesized and shared in this Weekly Edition. The aim is to learn more efficiently through increased context and focus. Join here to receive the next Edition of Evergreen Business Weekly.

Thu, 06 Dec 2018 09:07:48 -0700

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Pretty quiet today. DEN:BNA. Here I come #wcus

39.8497327-104.6739819

Flew DEN:BNA

Thu, 06 Dec 2018 10:05:00 -0600

The new word processor wars: A fresh crop of productivity apps are trying to reinvent our workday

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 23:42:08 -0600

The new word processor wars: A fresh crop of productivity apps are trying to reinvent our workday

Microsoft’s vision for work is alive and well. An advertisement for Word for Windows 2.0 from 1991. (Microsoft Image)

Microsoft, more than any other institution on earth, has shaped how we work and how we think about it. If you spend your days in an office (and often if you don’t) everything you do is structured around a model that Microsoft popularized: E-mails in Outlook. Documents in Word. Numbers and project management in Excel. And presentations in PowerPoint. Like it or not, you live and breathe Microsoft’s vision of work.

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 18:39:20 -0600

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

OMG so many wall balls.

39.7676715-104.9738261

Design process for the messy in-between » cog & sprocket

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 23:01:44 -0600

Design process for the messy in-between » cog & sprocket

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 09:21:49 -0600

Stripe’s Will Larson on Designing a Performance Management System from Scratch

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 08:04:44 -0600

Stripe’s Will Larson on Designing a Performance Management System from Scratch

“In Engineering, we tend to hold this idea that these people systems—career ladders, performance reviews, calibration—are these evil things that aren’t very valuable. They’re thought of as bureaucracy. But it’s a shame. These are really powerful systems, and I’m actually excited to personally spend a lot of time with them.”

Will Larso n, who was previously an engineering leader at Digg and then Uber, now leads Foundation Engineering at Stripe. His organization partners with Infrastructure, Data, and Developer Productivity teams to build the tools that support every Stripe engineer and keep Stripe reliable and performant.

Climate change clobbers Colorado and the West, unfurling fire, drought, insects and heat

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 22:28:02 -0600

Climate change clobbers Colorado and the West, unfurling fire, drought, insects and heat

December 1, 2018 at 6:00 am
Categories:

Colorado News, Environment, Latest News, News

The devastation from the Fourmile Canyon Fire, years after in Sunshine Canyon west of Boulder, are still visible on Nov. 28, 2018 in Boulder. A recent climate change study shows that wildfires will be worse and more frequent because of climate change. Urban areas in Colorado continue to grow, and more of the population is moving into areas at high risk for wildfires.

The Digital Maginot Line

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 14:19:02 -0600

The Digital Maginot Line

There is a war happening. We are immersed in an evolving, ongoing conflict: an Information World War in which state actors, terrorists, and ideological extremists leverage the social infrastructure underpinning everyday life to sow discord and erode shared reality. The conflict is still being processed as a series of individual skirmishes – a collection of disparate, localized, truth-in-narrative problems – but these battles are connected. The campaigns are often perceived as organic online chaos driven by emergent, bottom-up amateur actions when a substantial amount is, in fact, helped along or instigated by systematic, top-down institutional and state actions. This is a kind of warm war; not the active, declared, open conflict of a hot war, but beyond the shadowboxing of a cold one.

Takeaways from High Output Management book

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 11:43:55 -0600

Takeaways from High Output Management book

High output management

05 November 2018

Earlier this year I read High Output Management. This is one of the best books I’ve read on leadership, and I really recommend you read it. Some of the things I took from it are here.

It’s really excellent on what the important things are when running a large team or business. Andy Grove was co-founder and CEO of Intel, so it’s written by someone who was actually doing the work at the time, unlike lots of other management books.

The Tools Every Product Manager Needs To Be Successful

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 10:03:37 -0600

The Tools Every Product Manager Needs To Be Successful

A successful product manager can’t rely on their mind alone.

It’s essential you have the right tools to navigate the various complexities of the job and stay connected with your team.

As a PM, your duties encompass quite a few different elements such as coming up with ideas, selling them, ensuring they’re executed, and monitoring their success. You can’t manage that execution with a three-ring binder and hand-drawn frameworks. So use the variety of tools available today to make your work easier.

Thinking in Triplicate – Mule Design Studio – Medium

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 09:58:23 -0600

Thinking in Triplicate – Mule Design Studio – Medium

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 09:00:54 -0600

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 21:10:51 -0700

Honeymoon in Japan

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 21:10:44 -0700

After our wedding, and cleaning everything up, we had just another day or two at home before heading off on our honeymoon. We decided to go to Japan, since neither of us had ever been there, and we both really wanted to go. It was a really amazing trip, even though it was brutally hot and humid at the time of year we went. We managed to do most of it on award points/miles as well, so that made it all even sweeter 🙂

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 19:26:27 -0700

Married

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 19:26:22 -0700

Erika and I finally made it official and got married this year. We were legally married on July 5th (at the courthouse), and then we celebrated with friends and family properly on July 7th. Here are some pics from the week.

Thursday Courtroom Wedding + Photos

Friday BBQ

We invited people from out of town over to our house for a casual BBQ on Friday the 6th. Since a huge portion of the people attending the wedding were from out of town, it ended up being a pretty big affair, but it was fun. I was running around like a madman, so I mostly forgot to take photos. Here are a couple though.

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 18:25:46 -0700

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 16:41:31 -0600

Downtown Denver Sunset. Taken from Five Points with a @djiglobal Mavic Air #drone #mavicair #denver #sunset #skyline

39.7391-104.9836

Posted on Instagram 4:41 pm, December 1, 2018 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m2b4e0f6dfbb0b6e0763d78d6dacf141b = { positions : { 411 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7391’, ‘-104.9836’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m2b4e0f6dfbb0b6e0763d78d6dacf141b’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m2b4e0f6dfbb0b6e0763d78d6dacf141b.positions ) { gmap_m2b4e0f6dfbb0b6e0763d78d6dacf141b.bounds.extend( gmap_m2b4e0f6dfbb0b6e0763d78d6dacf141b.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m2b4e0f6dfbb0b6e0763d78d6dacf141b.positions ) { gmap_m2b4e0f6dfbb0b6e0763d78d6dacf141b.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m2b4e0f6dfbb0b6e0763d78d6dacf141b.map, position : gmap_m2b4e0f6dfbb0b6e0763d78d6dacf141b.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m2b4e0f6dfbb0b6e0763d78d6dacf141b.map.setCenter( gmap_m2b4e0f6dfbb0b6e0763d78d6dacf141b.positions[411] ); });

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 14:02:40 -0600

It me. Taken on a @dji_mavic_air_photography #dji #drone #mavicair

39.7604294-104.9768295

Posted on Instagram 2:02 pm, December 1, 2018 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_mc13314c9c8761852abe3d0b26cfdbe07 = { positions : { 512 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7604294’, ‘-104.9768295’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_mc13314c9c8761852abe3d0b26cfdbe07’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_mc13314c9c8761852abe3d0b26cfdbe07.positions ) { gmap_mc13314c9c8761852abe3d0b26cfdbe07.bounds.extend( gmap_mc13314c9c8761852abe3d0b26cfdbe07.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_mc13314c9c8761852abe3d0b26cfdbe07.positions ) { gmap_mc13314c9c8761852abe3d0b26cfdbe07.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_mc13314c9c8761852abe3d0b26cfdbe07.map, position : gmap_mc13314c9c8761852abe3d0b26cfdbe07.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_mc13314c9c8761852abe3d0b26cfdbe07.map.setCenter( gmap_mc13314c9c8761852abe3d0b26cfdbe07.positions[512] ); });

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 13:45:17 -0600

Checked in at Hayati.

Getting a chai and checking out this newish place. Will come back for food next week.

39.759242-104.973233

Busy and Bored: Two Sides of the Same Coin | Conscious Leadership Group Blog

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 12:20:44 -0700

Busy and Bored: Two Sides of the Same Coin | Conscious Leadership Group Blog

When I ask leaders how they’re doing, the number one response I get is some version of “I’m busy.” I might hear: “I’m swamped,” or “I’m overwhelmed,” or “I’m stressed.” They might sigh with visibly tight or slumping shoulders, or say “great, move on, let’s get to coaching. I’ve got a lot to do.”

Whenever I hear this response, or feel this energy, regardless of the words spoken, I have a pretty good hunch the leader is below the line. Specifically, they’re experiencing a scarcity of time (Commitment #12) and a sense of a loss of control (Commitment #11). I imagine that most of you can relate to believing you don’t have enough time. This is why we say that most people (and leaders) spend most of their time below the line.

What are your career goals? What to do when you don’t know

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 23:13:45 -0700

What are your career goals? What to do when you don’t know

You: “So what are your career goals?” “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” “What job would you love to grow into?” Them: * Blank Stare *

What’s a manager to do?!?

In my hundreds of conversations with managers in building Lighthouse, one of the common questions I’ve heard is that you don’t know what to do when your team member doesn’t have a clear answer in mind on their goals. (Ed. Note: If someone is ready for the conversation, this post on having a great goals discussion will help.)

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 17:28:30 -0700

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

Squeezing in another.

39.7676715-104.9738261

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 08:11:49 -0600

New in Basecamp: See where projects really stand with the Hill Chart

Wed, 28 Nov 2018 22:37:55 -0700

New in Basecamp: See where projects really stand with the Hill Chart

For years we’ve used Basecamp To-Dos to track all of our design and programming work here at Basecamp. They help us make sure that nothing slips through the cracks.

However, for some projects, tracking to-dos isn’t enough. When you have dozens or hundreds of tasks, you need a way to see the bigger picture. Is the project going to be done on time? Are we making progress on the right tasks? Which things need to be solved now and what can be deferred until later?

Wed, 28 Nov 2018 17:23:50 -0700

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

39.7676715-104.9738261

Superintelligence: The Idea That Eats Smart People

Wed, 28 Nov 2018 07:45:51 -0700

Superintelligence: The Idea That Eats Smart People

Superintelligence

The Idea That Eats Smart People

In 1945, as American physicists were preparing to test the atomic bomb, it occurred to someone to ask if such a test could set the atmosphere on fire.

This was a legitimate concern. Nitrogen, which makes up most of the atmosphere, is not energetically stable. Smush two nitrogen atoms together hard enough and they will combine into an atom of magnesium, an alpha particle, and release a whole lot of energy:

Roadmap Course Lesson 5 –

Wed, 28 Nov 2018 07:52:29 -0600

Roadmap Course Lesson 5 –

When you move to a theme-based roadmap, you shift from a feature-driven mindset (“What feature should we build next?”) to a problem-solving mindset (“What is the best way to solve this problem?”).

So how do you get a feature-driven company (or a feature-driven boss) onboard with your new, flexible framework? Show up to meetings with two documents: your roadmap and your release plan.

This prepares you for two separate conversations: a tactical one around your release plan and a strategic one around the product roadmap.

Roadmap Course Lesson 4 –

Wed, 28 Nov 2018 07:48:16 -0600

Roadmap Course Lesson 4 –

Today’s lesson is pretty short. So far we’ve been talking about the importance of communicating themes and ideas – but when do you finally plug them into a release plan?

The answer is: Just a few weeks ahead of the release itself.

Remember that the benefit of working with a theme-based roadmap is that you don’t have to plan features ahead of time. You don’t have to be stuck with dependencies. You don’t have to set a plan months in advance.

Tue, 27 Nov 2018 20:30:33 -0700

Checked in at Boulder Theater, for Chris Isaak.

Midweek outings. Outrageous. — with erika

40.0192018-105.2773906

Sun, 25 Nov 2018 13:19:23 -0700

Checked in at GQue BBQ.

Awwww yeah

39.9121791-105.0513042

Fri, 23 Nov 2018 20:11:25 -0600

#optoutside with friends, even if there are gusts of wind 60mph and it’s around freezing!

39.6353549-105.2792674

#optoutside

Posted on Instagram 8:11 pm, November 23, 2018 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m66bc6bbd297ecf3319d1cbd79f50784c = { positions : { 28 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.6353549’, ‘-105.2792674’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m66bc6bbd297ecf3319d1cbd79f50784c’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m66bc6bbd297ecf3319d1cbd79f50784c.positions ) { gmap_m66bc6bbd297ecf3319d1cbd79f50784c.bounds.extend( gmap_m66bc6bbd297ecf3319d1cbd79f50784c.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m66bc6bbd297ecf3319d1cbd79f50784c.positions ) { gmap_m66bc6bbd297ecf3319d1cbd79f50784c.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m66bc6bbd297ecf3319d1cbd79f50784c.map, position : gmap_m66bc6bbd297ecf3319d1cbd79f50784c.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m66bc6bbd297ecf3319d1cbd79f50784c.map.setCenter( gmap_m66bc6bbd297ecf3319d1cbd79f50784c.positions[28] ); });

Fri, 23 Nov 2018 18:54:21 -0700

Checked in at Costco Wholesale.

Cannot escape — with erika

39.7897752-105.0826406

Fri, 23 Nov 2018 16:14:43 -0700

Checked in at Evergreen Brewery and Tap House.

New brewery with friends! — with erika

39.6605732-105.3522193

I hate manager READMEs – Camille Fournier – Medium

Fri, 23 Nov 2018 12:26:13 -0700

I hate manager READMEs – Camille Fournier – Medium

I got feisty on twitter today and wrote up some tweets on manager READMEs, a recent hot trend in management. Let’s break them down:

Dropping f-bombs is one of my “quirks”

Well, what can I say, I’m sick of this trend. I’ve been a skeptic from day one, but what pushed me over the edge was watching one of my senior engineer friends react to this article on the concept. It mirrored the loathing I’ve heard from several senior engineers as well as the general negative reaction most managers in my trusted circle have about the concept. But we’ve got a lot of people trying to popularize the idea, so enough’s enough, and today I’m willing to be the critic to this well-intended exercise.

The ‘Geno-Economists’ Say DNA Can Predict Our Chances of Success

Fri, 23 Nov 2018 12:18:05 -0700

The ‘Geno-Economists’ Say DNA Can Predict Our Chances of Success

NOV. 16, 2018

Critics counter that their methods are naïve, offensive or both, but all agree: Either way, multigene testing will lead to a social upheaval.

The Tech And Design Issue

Critics counter that their methods are naïve, offensive or both, but all agree: Either way, multigene testing will lead to a social upheaval.

By JACOB WARDNOV. 16, 2018

How much money are you wired for?

Thu, 22 Nov 2018 15:01:54 -0700

Roadmap Course Lesson 3 –

Thu, 22 Nov 2018 14:59:29 -0700

Roadmap Course Lesson 3 –

The “trust me on this” attitude is no way to communicate the future of your product, and yet this is how a lot of companies still declare product decisions.

What you should be communicating – and what your teams would really like to know – is “WHY?”

Why are we working on this? What’s coming up next? Why are we doing this thing first and not the other thing? What should we tell the customers?

Roadmap Course Lesson 2 –

Thu, 22 Nov 2018 09:43:39 -0700

Roadmap Course Lesson 2 –

Today, we’re looking into what themes are for and how to use them for your roadmap.

Leading product consultant Jared Spool calls themes, “a promise to solve problems, not build features.” As Spool suggests, themes are a way for you to set high-level initiatives you plan to address on your roadmap without committing to a solution ahead of time. It gives you time and flexibility to consider a problem from different angles and discover what is really required to solve it.

Why 536 was ‘the worst year to be alive’

Thu, 22 Nov 2018 09:38:33 -0700

Why 536 was ‘the worst year to be alive’

An 72-meter ice core drilled in the Colle Gnifetti Glacier in the Swiss Alps entombs more than 2000 years of fallout from volcanoes, storms, and human pollution.

NICOLE SPAULDING/CCI FROM C. P. LOVELUCK ET AL., ANTIQUITY 10.15184, 4, 2018

Ask medieval historian Michael McCormick what year was the worst to be alive, and he’s got an answer: “536.” Not 1349, when the Black Death wiped out half of Europe. Not 1918, when the flu killed 50 million to 100 million people, mostly young adults. But 536. In Europe, “It was the beginning of one of the worst periods to be alive, if not the worst year,” says McCormick, a historian and archaeologist who chairs the Harvard University Initiative for the Science of the Human Past.

The four layers of communication in a functional team

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 23:28:14 -0700

The four layers of communication in a functional team

Functional teams have four layers of communication:

A mission (also known as a vision)
Strategy (made up of proximate objectives)
Tactics and process
Execution

This list might seem like it includes categories of action—it does. But it’s not just doing these things, but also communicating them that ties teams together. Communicating the items on this list plays a major role in scaling teams and leaders. With these things in place and communicated, it’s much easier to add people to a team, and then entire teams to an organization.

Tue, 20 Nov 2018 18:24:31 -0700

Empowered Product Teams

Sun, 18 Nov 2018 22:55:27 -0700

Empowered Product Teams

Note: This is the narrative article version of a talk I’ve started giving recently at conferences, product meetups and corporate leadership teams. It is a long read, but I believe it’s a critically important topic, and it lays out for people many of the topics I will be writing more about in the coming months.

Introduction

The main topic of my work, and the central topic in my book INSPIRED, is product discovery.

Sun, 18 Nov 2018 17:22:56 -0600

Denver sunset skyline. Taken with new @djiglobal Mavic Air #drone #dronephotography #denver #dronestagram

39.7391-104.9836

Posted on Instagram 5:22 pm, November 18, 2018 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_mc1483186d3eb2f353a34e80d726c2148 = { positions : { 917 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7391’, ‘-104.9836’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_mc1483186d3eb2f353a34e80d726c2148’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_mc1483186d3eb2f353a34e80d726c2148.positions ) { gmap_mc1483186d3eb2f353a34e80d726c2148.bounds.extend( gmap_mc1483186d3eb2f353a34e80d726c2148.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_mc1483186d3eb2f353a34e80d726c2148.positions ) { gmap_mc1483186d3eb2f353a34e80d726c2148.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_mc1483186d3eb2f353a34e80d726c2148.map, position : gmap_mc1483186d3eb2f353a34e80d726c2148.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_mc1483186d3eb2f353a34e80d726c2148.map.setCenter( gmap_mc1483186d3eb2f353a34e80d726c2148.positions[917] ); });

A silent meeting is worth a thousand words

Sat, 17 Nov 2018 15:24:13 -0700

A silent meeting is worth a thousand words

Picture this: a room full of senior Square leads, gathered for an important review meeting. Everyone is looking at their computer, in complete silence, interrupted by bursts of clickety clack. 30 minutes later, the conversation starts.

What is going on? Is everyone waiting for the meeting to start? Are they practicing some form of silent retreat microdosing?

It turns out, this is simply how we work. Alyssa Henry, our VP of Seller, popularized at Square a modified version of this practice from Amazon. In a nutshell: the group in the meeting reviews a Google Doc in silence, asking and answering questions via Google Doc comments. After 30 minutes of this, we’ve identified key points that need to be discussed in person, and can then have a short, focused conversation. More importantly, we’ve given everyone a chance to be heard. As she says below, we’re building a culture where thoughts can be voiced (or written as the case may be) without worrying about someone talking over you.

Nondeterministic Software for the Rest of Us (Slides)

Sat, 17 Nov 2018 15:20:34 -0700

Nondeterministic Software for the Rest of Us (Slides)

A talk given at BuildStuff 2018 in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Classically-trained (if you can call it that) software engineers are used to clear problem statements and clear success and acceptance criteria. Need a mobile front-end for your blog? Sure! Support instant messaging for a million concurrent users? No problem! Store and serve 50TB of JSON blobs? Presto!

Unfortunately, it turns out modern software often includes challenges that we have a hard time with: those without clear criteria for correctness, no easy way to measure performance and success is about more than green dashboards. Your blog platform better have a spam filter, your instant messaging service has to have search, and your blobs will inevitably be fed into some data scientist’s crazy contraption.

Flew AUS:DEN

Wed, 14 Nov 2018 18:50:00 -0600

The Storm. The Mountain. Every Parent’s Worst Nightmare.

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 11:11:03 -0700

The Storm. The Mountain. Every Parent’s Worst Nightmare.

“The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning.”

—Ecclesiastes 7:4

It’s the second Wednesday of May in 2018, and more than 1,000 students, alumni, parents, and faculty affiliated with Oregon Episcopal School—a small private academy on a beautiful hilly campus in southwest Portland—have gathered at the base of a bell tower. Today is the 32nd annual Mount Hood Climb Service Day, and Melissa Robinson, the middle school chaplain, is offering a benediction.

Continuous Alignment of Product Management – Ross Mayfield – Medium

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 10:16:52 -0700

Continuous Alignment of Product Management – Ross Mayfield – Medium

There’s a startup product metaphor that bugs me. Your product is a rocket, and if your targeting at launch is 1% off — you miss the moon by 4,000 miles! The thing is products, rockets and targeting don’t work that way. I have resorted to a cartoon to explain:

In Products are Conversations I explained that great products come from conversations with customers and internal stakeholders. In this post, I’ll suggest how you can improve the Product Management process of Continuous Alignment with internal stakeholders towards envisioned outcomes.

Orange Skin, Thick Bones, and All the Other Ways the Human Body Could Change on Mars

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 09:55:38 -0700

Orange Skin, Thick Bones, and All the Other Ways the Human Body Could Change on Mars

Going to Mars will change us — and not just in a touchy-feely, metaphysical way.

Over time, we should expect a fair bit of evolutionary divergence between Mars settlers and the human population on Earth, according to Rice University biologist Scott Solomon, who examined this possibility in his 2016 book Future Humans: Inside the Science of Our Continuing Evolution. That divergence will start unspooling at the outset, thanks to something called “the founder effect.” No matter how or when it happens, the Red Planet will be settled by a relatively small group of people who are not perfectly representative of the entire human population. For example, it’s a pretty safe bet that Mars pioneers will be atypically adventurous and risk-tolerant. That means, Muskton — the odds are decent that the first Red Planet burg will be named after SpaceX’s CEO — will likely feature more rock-climbing gyms and bordellos per capita than cities here on Earth.

Flew DEN:AUS

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 09:52:00 -0600

Flew PDX:DEN

Fri, 09 Nov 2018 18:45:00 -0600

Fri, 09 Nov 2018 18:20:06 -0600

Checked in at United Club.

Office for the afternoon.

45.5899383-122.5921357

Fri, 09 Nov 2018 16:31:56 -0700

Remote work. #officetoday #a8c #automattic

45.5888698-122.5962222

Posted on Instagram 4:31 pm, November 9, 2018 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m5dd92be0f305503dd6670783e4042907 = { positions : { 287 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘45.5888698’, ‘-122.5962222’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m5dd92be0f305503dd6670783e4042907’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m5dd92be0f305503dd6670783e4042907.positions ) { gmap_m5dd92be0f305503dd6670783e4042907.bounds.extend( gmap_m5dd92be0f305503dd6670783e4042907.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m5dd92be0f305503dd6670783e4042907.positions ) { gmap_m5dd92be0f305503dd6670783e4042907.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m5dd92be0f305503dd6670783e4042907.map, position : gmap_m5dd92be0f305503dd6670783e4042907.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m5dd92be0f305503dd6670783e4042907.map.setCenter( gmap_m5dd92be0f305503dd6670783e4042907.positions[287] ); });

Fri, 09 Nov 2018 14:24:08 -0600

Checked in at Portland International Airport (PDX).

Ciao PDX!

45.5890545-122.5929369

A weird but cool combination of Jeff Bezos and aging studies that will make you think differently about (learning and) aging.

Wed, 07 Nov 2018 08:47:17 -0700

A weird but cool combination of Jeff Bezos and aging studies that will make you think differently about (learning and) aging.

A Netflix Web Performance Case Study – Dev Channel – Medium

Wed, 07 Nov 2018 08:32:56 -0600

A Netflix Web Performance Case Study – Dev Channel – Medium

Improving Time-To-Interactive for Netflix.com on Desktop

tl;dr: There are no silver bullets to web performance. Simple static pages benefit from being server-rendered with minimal JavaScript. Libraries can provide great value for complex pages when used with care.

Netflix is one of the most popular video streaming services. Since launching globally in 2016, the company has found that many new users are not only signing up on mobile devices but are also using less-than-ideal connections to do so.

You’re Not Managing a Team of Software Engineers, You’re Managing a Team of Writers

Wed, 07 Nov 2018 08:23:52 -0600

You’re Not Managing a Team of Software Engineers, You’re Managing a Team of Writers

I once asked an engineer who I greatly admired, how he started building the system that he (successfully) submitted for his PhD. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but probably something about careful structural design, some deep thinking about architecture, maybe some blinding insight.

Instead, he said, “I started pulling on threads”, which really took me by surprise. It was such a casual admission that he had been finding the system rather than building from a detailed plan. But I also felt a recognition: it just sounded right. It matched how I had been building my own systems up to then, but not really admitting it. I made plans, sketched some architecture, and then started pulling on threads of ideas to begin to find out what the system wanted to be.

Flew DEN:PDX

Wed, 07 Nov 2018 08:08:00 -0600

Wed, 07 Nov 2018 07:18:26 -0600

Checked in at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Off again. DEN:PDX.

39.8497327-104.6739819

Tue, 06 Nov 2018 17:28:24 -0700

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

39.7676715-104.9738261

Tue, 30 Oct 2018 12:13:59 -0600

I Know the Salaries of Thousands of Tech Employees – Power Trip – Medium

Mon, 29 Oct 2018 07:18:16 -0600

I Know the Salaries of Thousands of Tech Employees – Power Trip – Medium

I’m a software engineer with three years of experience, working at Square, a public tech company in San Francisco. I make $130,000, plus $47,500 in stock, for a total of $177,500 a year.

I didn’t negotiate my base salary. I did, however, negotiate my four-year initial stock grant from $150,000 to $190,000. I started my job on February 5. The current value of that grant, which fluctuates by the day, is $412,390.02. If this stock price stays the same until I vest my first year of stock, my “real” annual compensation will be $233,097.51.

Upscale Food and Gear Bring Campsite Cooking Out of the Wild

Sun, 28 Oct 2018 22:58:46 -0600

Upscale Food and Gear Bring Campsite Cooking Out of the Wild

The chefs John Griffiths and Leslie Peng, who are married, like to car-camp and backpack. They recently put out a spread on a fire at a campsite near Wrights Lake in the Sierras.CreditJim Wilson/The New York Times

Barbara Hodgin, who was once president of the Pacific Crest Trail Association, is old enough to remember a time when, if you asked a backpacker what was for dinner, the standard answer was either “brown in a cup” or “green in a cup.” A clever hack for trail pad thai was an envelope of unsweetened lime Kool-Aid.

Taking the Mystery out of Scaling a Company

Sun, 28 Oct 2018 22:35:02 -0600

Taking the Mystery out of Scaling a Company

“What you got a dollar in your pocket

A twenty in your wallet?

See me I’m stacking money

Matter of fact, I’ll let you watch it

Get big

Get big

Get big

Get big”

—Dorrough, Get Big

If you want to build an important company, then at some point you have to scale. People in startup land often talk about the magic of how few people built the original Google or the original Facebook, but today’s Google employs 20,000 people and today’s Facebook employs over 1,500 people. So, if you want to do something that matters, then you are going to have to learn the black art of scaling a human organization.

How Doist Makes Remote Work Happen – Ambition & Balance

Sat, 27 Oct 2018 21:46:25 -0600

How Doist Makes Remote Work Happen – Ambition & Balance

When I first started at Doist, we were 3 people working from 2 countries. Today, we’re 51 people working from 20 countries and counting. The idea of building a remote company wasn’t something we explicitly discussed at the start — it simply grew out of necessity.

One of the challenges when you start out as a bootstrapped company with an unknown brand and little cash on hand is access to talent. Amir and I were working from Santiago, Chile, and at that time we hadn’t come to understand the ins and outs of the country well enough to find the right people locally. When Amir decided it was finally time to hire someone to help answer support tickets, he struck gold with Doist’s first employee, David, on the global freelance platform Elance (now Upwork).

Sat, 27 Oct 2018 15:34:41 -0600

Halloweenies. The butternut is a reject from our garden.

39.7572-104.967

Posted on Instagram 3:34 pm, October 27, 2018 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_mc53658ab7cdb013bafb3018d5d5c6b75 = { positions : { 126 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.7572’, ‘-104.967’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_mc53658ab7cdb013bafb3018d5d5c6b75’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_mc53658ab7cdb013bafb3018d5d5c6b75.positions ) { gmap_mc53658ab7cdb013bafb3018d5d5c6b75.bounds.extend( gmap_mc53658ab7cdb013bafb3018d5d5c6b75.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_mc53658ab7cdb013bafb3018d5d5c6b75.positions ) { gmap_mc53658ab7cdb013bafb3018d5d5c6b75.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_mc53658ab7cdb013bafb3018d5d5c6b75.map, position : gmap_mc53658ab7cdb013bafb3018d5d5c6b75.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_mc53658ab7cdb013bafb3018d5d5c6b75.map.setCenter( gmap_mc53658ab7cdb013bafb3018d5d5c6b75.positions[126] ); });

The Canonical Startup Org Structure

Sat, 27 Oct 2018 10:23:35 -0600

The Canonical Startup Org Structure

When startups are just getting started, no organization is necessary for the most part. The team is so small and everyone is so connected. But, as they grow the question of how to organize quickly becomes important. Once that happens, there is a right way for almost all startups to organize: a functional organization with cross-functional teams focused on particular areas. This doesn’t mean that absolutely every startup needs to be organized this way but it should be the starting point and organizations should have good reasons for going with a different approach.

Team choreography

Fri, 26 Oct 2018 22:09:03 -0600

Team choreography

Fri, 26 Oct 2018 20:38:35 -0600

Fri, 26 Oct 2018 17:26:09 -0600

Sat, 20 Oct 2018 18:39:49 -0600

Rode Little Scraggy Loop today and it was definitely one of, if not my favorite ride in CO.

39.3867-105.27

Posted on Instagram 6:39 pm, October 20, 2018 jQuery(document).ready(function(){ var gmap_m0679642a484232146ad39f4ea75bc02a = { positions : { 509 : new google.maps.LatLng( ‘39.3867’, ‘-105.27’ ) }, bounds : new google.maps.LatLngBounds(), // empty for now, we’ll dynamically extend it later map : new google.maps.Map( document.getElementById( ‘gmap_m0679642a484232146ad39f4ea75bc02a’ ), { mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, center: new google.maps.LatLng( 0, 0 ), zoom: 16 // Seems to be a good zoom for a single point } ), markers : {}, }; // end of gmap // Extend the bounds of interest based on our positions for ( var m in gmap_m0679642a484232146ad39f4ea75bc02a.positions ) { gmap_m0679642a484232146ad39f4ea75bc02a.bounds.extend( gmap_m0679642a484232146ad39f4ea75bc02a.positions[m] ); } // Render markers for ( var m in gmap_m0679642a484232146ad39f4ea75bc02a.positions ) { gmap_m0679642a484232146ad39f4ea75bc02a.markers[m] = new google.maps.Marker( { clickable: true, map : gmap_m0679642a484232146ad39f4ea75bc02a.map, position : gmap_m0679642a484232146ad39f4ea75bc02a.positions[m] } ); } // Redraw map to fit our new marker-based bounds gmap_m0679642a484232146ad39f4ea75bc02a.map.setCenter( gmap_m0679642a484232146ad39f4ea75bc02a.positions[509] ); });

Fri, 12 Oct 2018 18:31:54 -0600

Checked in at The Block Distilling Co.

39.7622114-104.9806488

Fri, 12 Oct 2018 18:31:04 -0600

Checked in at Enterprise 5280.

39.761625-104.97923

Fri, 12 Oct 2018 14:17:48 -0600

Product Management Mental Models for Everyone

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 08:33:00 -0600

Product Management Mental Models for Everyone

Mental models are simple expressions of complex processes or relationships. These models are accumulated over time by an individual and used to make faster and better decisions.

Here’s an example: the Pareto Principle states that roughly 80% of all outputs comes from 20% of the effort.

In the context of product management, the model suggests that instead of trying to create 100% of the customer opportunity, you may want to look for how to do 20% of the effort and solve 80% of the opportunity. Product teams make this trade off all the time, and the results often looks like feature launches where 20% of customers with more complicated use cases aren’t supported.

Mon, 08 Oct 2018 21:42:09 -0600

Mon, 08 Oct 2018 17:19:59 -0600

Checked in at CrossFit Verve.

This will hurt.

39.7676715-104.9738261

The Lies We Tell Ourselves

Sun, 07 Oct 2018 22:03:11 -0600

The Lies We Tell Ourselves

A couple of years ago I had an opportunity to be promoted. I evaluated the role. I had a plan for how I would implement in that role. I talked to the hiring manager (my manager at the time). I talked to my network inside the company. I knew the competition and, in my estimation, I was a better fit for the role and for the direction the organization should take. I was certain I had the position in the bag.

Sun, 07 Oct 2018 11:52:46 -0600

Checked in at Cherry Creek Shopping Center.

Looking for some shoes — with erika

39.7164298-104.9531385

Flew MCO:DEN

Sat, 06 Oct 2018 10:45:00 -0600

Sat, 06 Oct 2018 10:16:23 -0600

Time to go home. So exhausted, but #a8cgm had been great.

28.4311906-81.3074715

Sun, 30 Sep 2018 05:38:52 -0600

Checked in at Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista – Disney Springs Area.

#a8cgm first full day; here we go

28.3726305-81.5107951

Sat, 29 Sep 2018 16:46:42 -0600

Sat, 29 Sep 2018 14:52:57 -0600

Checked in at Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista – Disney Springs Area.

#a8cgm HQ

28.3726305-81.5107951

Sat, 29 Sep 2018 13:01:50 -0600