Oct 23, 2020Oddly Specific Tech Interview Advice: Leave Kubernetes off your CVUnless you can really answer the following questions I interview a lot of potential tech-hires. I have to admit; I’m starting to get really irritated when I see Kubernetes as a listed skill set. The reason for that is simple: most of the people I interview can not answer some…Interview Preparation2 min read
Oct 19, 2020Scaling your Builders Org ArchitectureThis simple trick will make your friends love you! Not really. In the Builders Org equation, there exist 3 components. The raw ability to write code, knowing what and what not to build, and the architectural scaffolding that either supports or detracts from that. …Architecture8 min read
Oct 19, 2020A Formula for Scaling Product Engineering TeamsThe Fundamental Equation of Product Engineering I like formulas. They simplify complexity in systems. They, of course, oversimplify, but like the Fundamental Equation of SaaS, they crisply convey the core problem you need to solve. BuildersOrg Scalability= engineering(x) • productManagement(y) • architecture(z) Another way of putting that is… Your Performance= How you build • What your…Engineering5 min read
Oct 14, 2020Real Estate Brokers: Let them know how important you areThe problem. Told in a story… Last month, I had the pleasure (or displeasure) of being in a round table discussion with some investment bankers. The conversation drifted towards their general complaint that it was hard to get mandates to sell companies in these COVID times. Trying to be helpful, I shared some strategies that real…Flowfact4 min read
Jun 19, 2020Super Short Truism: Interviews are worthless except to measure storytelling abilitySuper short truism with an unwieldy long title! Back to the point…Interviews generally suck. Thus there’s a trendy-trend happening right now calling that out. The refrain goes something like this: a) Impossible to measure somebody’s character, ability, talents, culture in such a short time frame. …Narrative1 min read
Jun 19, 2020Open letter to my first friendYo Ken! This letter might come across as really weird. Whutevs. You were my first friend. You also happened to be the only black kid in the neighborhood. I was also the only asian kid in the neighborhood. We hung out at your place a lot because you had a…Black1 min read
Feb 7, 2020Habits for Success: Frontload the hard thingsAssertion: Things that matter are hard. Having the courage to try the hard things are hard. We have an infinite supply of things to do. Some are easy and some are hard. Thus: Build a Habit of identifying the Hard parts. Do those first. If you rationalize doing the easy…1 min read
Feb 7, 2020Habits for Success: Narrative Driven CommunicationTaking the time to formulate a narrative when communicating is a Habit that forms the foundation for communication. Try not to close the page in frustration when reading the below: Star War: A New Hope was a cool movie. The surrogate father figure had a fight with the baddie. There…2 min read
Feb 6, 2020Short Truism: One benefit is better than more benefits (when it comes to communicating)A fork is a wonderful thing. You can use them to eat things like pasta. You can also use it to brush your hair. You can also use it to make a potato battery. Once you’ve done these things, the real strategic importance of forks unfolds. Combining multiple forks by…1 min read
Feb 6, 2020Super Short Truism: WhyAssertion: The difference between repetitive action in a video game that you enjoy (if you do) and repetitive action in a chore you hate (if you do) is the context and the why. Thus: The Why matters. If you find yourself dissatisfied with something you consider a repetitive chore, reexamine your Why. Ultimately, the Why will matter to you or it won’t. If it doesn’t, stop playing the game.1 min read
