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How to become indistractable in order to focus on what is truly important!

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    https://www.nirandfar.com/Indistractable/ I quite enjoyed “Indistractable” by Nir Eyal.  It was an insightful analysis on determining and spending time on what is important, theories around how to do so, and practical tips on how to accomplish your goals. Favorite quote Most people don’t want to acknowledge the uncomfortable truth that distraction is always an unhealthy escape from reality. How we deal with uncomfortable internal triggers determines whether we pursue healthful acts of traction or self-defeating distractions.   Quick summary It is essential not only to focus on the right things but also to determine triggers and take actions to stop doing the wrong things.  Often doing the wrong things is driven by the need to lower discomfort rather than intentionally choosing them.  It can also significantly help to label yourself as having and being able to have a high amount of self-control (avoiding the self-fulfilling prophecy).  Our time is often unguarded.  Protect it from u
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The psychology of influence and hacking growth

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 I finished two books recently on the related topics of hacking growth and the psychology of influence.   My notes and excerpts are below.  They surely do not do the books justice as the books include essential details and great stories about these concepts in action. They also discuss how to influence others (with good intentions or bad intentions).  The influence book also includes recognizing when someone is attempting to influence you and how to react accordingly. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion I highly recommend this book for everyone who wants to influence others or detect when someone is attempting to manipulate them. Influence patterns The primary influencing patterns are:     •    Reciprocation
     •    Commitment & consistency
     •    Social proof
     •    Liking
     •    Authority
     •    Scarcity
 Reciprocation The reciprocation rule says that we should try to repay, in kind, what another person has provided us. Moocher and welsher are unsavory labels to
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Recommended Books for Engineering Leaders

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Someone I mentor asked me for a list of books I would recommend for an engineering leader. The list is below.  They are all quick and entertaining reads with great return on your time investment. How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age - Dale Carnegie A classic that is a must-read.  It covers: Six ways to make a lasting impression How to maintain others' trust How to lead change without the resistance of resentment Even if you have read earlier versions, I would recommend reading this one as it has been updated to cover more modern forms of communication.  The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable - Patrick M Lencioni This covers the dysfunctions via a fable, then covers each dysfunction in detail. The five dysfunctions: Inattention to results Avoidance of accountability Lack of commitment Fear of conflict Absence of trust The Phoenix Project: A Novel about IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win - Gene Kim,
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Hiring best practices for engineering managers

I added a number of ideas to GitLab's hiring best practices:  Hiring best practices for engineering managers.

GitLab engineering recruiting video, featuring yours truly.


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Popular posts from this blog

How to become indistractable in order to focus on what is truly important!

Image
    https://www.nirandfar.com/Indistractable/ I quite enjoyed “Indistractable” by Nir Eyal.  It was an insightful analysis on determining and spending time on what is important, theories around how to do so, and practical tips on how to accomplish your goals. Favorite quote Most people don’t want to acknowledge the uncomfortable truth that distraction is always an unhealthy escape from reality. How we deal with uncomfortable internal triggers determines whether we pursue healthful acts of traction or self-defeating distractions.   Quick summary It is essential not only to focus on the right things but also to determine triggers and take actions to stop doing the wrong things.  Often doing the wrong things is driven by the need to lower discomfort rather than intentionally choosing them.  It can also significantly help to label yourself as having and being able to have a high amount of self-control (avoiding the self-fulfilling prophecy).  Our time is often unguarded.  Protect it from u
Read more

The psychology of influence and hacking growth

Image
 I finished two books recently on the related topics of hacking growth and the psychology of influence.   My notes and excerpts are below.  They surely do not do the books justice as the books include essential details and great stories about these concepts in action. They also discuss how to influence others (with good intentions or bad intentions).  The influence book also includes recognizing when someone is attempting to influence you and how to react accordingly. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion I highly recommend this book for everyone who wants to influence others or detect when someone is attempting to manipulate them. Influence patterns The primary influencing patterns are:     •    Reciprocation
     •    Commitment & consistency
     •    Social proof
     •    Liking
     •    Authority
     •    Scarcity
 Reciprocation The reciprocation rule says that we should try to repay, in kind, what another person has provided us. Moocher and welsher are unsavory labels to
Read more

Notes and takeaways from Software Engineering at Google

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    I really enjoyed and learned a lot from this book.  I noted that, as is the case with many O'Reilly books about best practices at Google, different people will find various chapters more/less interesting and pertinent to them. Below are the excerpts that I found most pertinent.   Leadership Contrary to some people’s instincts, leaders who admit mistakes are more respected, not less.
 If you perform a root-cause analysis on almost any social conflict, you can ultimately trace it back to a lack of humility, respect, and/or trust.
 Your organization needs a culture of learning, which requires creating psychological safety that permits people to admit to a lack of knowledge.
 If you try to achieve an impossible goal, there’s a good chance you’ll fail, but if you fail to try to achieve the impossible, you’ll most likely accomplish far more than you would have accomplished had you merely attempted something you knew you could complete.
 “Sometimes you get to be the tooth fairy, other
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