The Managers' Guide #111

From what tech workers are telling me, AI has been automating the role of "CEO's annoying nephew who needs to be included in your project or you get fired" The deadline doom loop * 🔄 The Vicious Cycle — The core idea is the “Deadline Doom Loop,” a cycle

The Managers' Guide #110

Moore’s Law states that every two years, we double the amount of time we waste on computers. The Software Engineer Spectrum: Speed vs. Accuracy * 📊 Challenging the traditional “junior-mid-senior” career ladder — arguing it’s too linear and fails to capture the different ways an engineer can be valuable beyond just

The Managers' Guide #109

hacker: I am spying on you through your webcam linux user: omg you got it working? Eyes light up (ELU) This is the moment when your audience is viscerally, undeniably excited about what you’re talking about. Aim for ELU. * 🔥 Growth comes from recognizing patterns — Understanding common patterns in successful

The Managers' Guide #108

Why do we say 'slept like a baby'? Babies wake up every two hours crying. I want to sleep like my cat. 14 hours, no responsibilities, zero regrets. 5 things I learned from 5 years at Vercel “When I joined in 2020, we were 30 people and had

The Managers' Guide #107

Boss: wow this web portal is really fast, light and responsive Me: of course it was 100% developed on Train WiFi it had to be light 😂 Maartje Leading with Integrity: Why the Best Leaders Are Models of Values * 🎯 Integrity isn’t just about honesty — it’s about a deep congruence

The Managers' Guide #106

It's a common misconception that types exist on computers. In reality everything is just integers, except for floating point which are integers but fancy Eniko Fox Expert Generalists * 🧠 The core idea is the “T-shaped” individual — someone who combines deep, expert knowledge in one area (the vertical bar of

The Managers' Guide #105

The hardest problem in computer science is getting someone to clearly describe a problem Tying yourself to the mast How to keep commitments * ⛵️ The Ulysses Pact — The central idea is the “Ulysses Pact” or commitment device — a strategy where your present self makes a choice that intentionally limits the options

The Managers' Guide #104

The 3 kinds of queues are: - FIFO - LIFO - FAFO Matthew Martin The hidden time bomb in the tax code that's fueling mass tech layoffs * 💸 A tax rule change — part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — is the primary issue. Since 2022, companies can

The Managers' Guide #103

When standing as a group of people, always leave room for 1 person to join your group. The Pac-Man Rule of Conferences Ephemeral taskforce * 🚀 Core Idea — Ephemeral taskforces are temporary, focused units bringing together diverse skills to solve a specific, critical problem, then disbanding — offering agility without permanent restructuring. * 🎯 Key

The Managers' Guide #102

I don’t hold on to anything, don’t reject anything; nowhere an obstacle or conflict. Layman Pang How to make architecture decisions * ⚖️ Embrace Trade-offs — Architectural decisions are rarely about finding a “perfect” solution, but rather understanding and choosing the best set of compromises — or the “least bad” option — for

The Managers' Guide #101

Your mind is a mad monkey trying to understand life which is unfair and crazy. Get used to it. Maxime Lagacé Complain & Propose * 😠 The Problem with Unadorned Complaints * Simply complaining without offering a way forward can be unproductive — it often fosters negativity, drains collective energy, and implicitly places the

The Managers' Guide #100

Have the fearless attitude of a hero and the loving heart of a child. Soyen Shaku Lessons learned in 35 years of making software * 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Human Element is Central — Software development is fundamentally about people — users, stakeholders, and the team. Effective communication, empathy, and understanding motivations are often more critical than