Collaborate, set coding standards, and more — As a programmer, something you need to learn — and isn’t taught at a bootcamp or college — is a good habit that helps you become a better programmer. …

Every person’s career is unique. There is no traditional path — Every person’s career is unique. There is no traditional path. People come from different educational backgrounds and different industries. There are themes, however, and skillsets and frameworks that anyone can apply at the right time in their career. That’s what my podcast Work In Programming is all about. …

Workload transparency leads to high performers, not just workaholics. — In 1899, economist and sociologist, Thorstein Veblen wrote: “Conspicuous abstention from labor…becomes the conventional mark of superior pecuniary achievement.” In other words, the less you work, the wealthier you must be. It makes sense. The poor can’t afford the luxury of leisure time; they need to work to make money. …

I’m a risk-taker, always was, and always will be. I’m not your usual 9–5 employee. I usually perform well with my own rules. I’m a… — I’m a risk-taker, always was, and always will be. I’m not your usual 9–5 employee. I usually perform well with my own rules. I’m a freelancer; a good one. If you’re human, then you’re constantly looking for change; possibly an upgrade. …

As a software engineer, sometimes it feels like your worth is tied to the amount of work that you can get done. Logically, this mindset… — As a software engineer, sometimes it feels like your worth is tied to the amount of work that you can get done. Logically, this mindset makes sense. …

My vacation taught me what was missing all along. — “You have work ethic. But do you have rest ethic?” — Nicolas Cole My answer was — yes! I have a 4-hour workday; I exercise and meditate each day, and I write a gratitude journal every morning. I have work-life balance, and I’m totally on a journey into what I…

The Best Programming Advice from the Man Behind Microsoft. — The Best Programming Advice from the Man Behind Microsoft. A programmer’s journey is a fascinating one. It is a long and arduous one, full of trials and tribulations. When you’re just starting, you’re bound to run into a few obstacles along the way. Learning your first programming language can be…

What tang ping and hikikomori reveal about what’s wrong with how we approach hard work — “Lying flat is my wise movement,” It’s a quote from a user on the since-deleted post on the Chinese discussion forum Tieba, on how instead of participating in a capitalist society, they were going to live it out by ‘lying flat’. The words for lying flat in Chinese are tang…

How I learned it through years of hard work — Conflicts suck! They drain your energy and ruin your mood, immediately or with a delay. My conflict-evading mindset stoked self-pity, shame, and depression. But I overcame my demons. Nowadays, I am a project manager, fighting and resolving conflicts almost daily. I want to share my insights into what drives us…

Even if your work feels mundane, there’s a way to find meaning in it — In Japan, phenomenal customer service is not limited to just high-end luxury shops and hotels. If you walk into any regular store, you will likely be greeted by an employee who will politely welcome you in, bow to you, and rush to help you as soon as they realize you…

Motivate yourself to work hard — Nothing comes easy. Every single project is seemingly ripping your nerves apart. Why couldn’t you just be more talented and have all the answers to all your job-related questions up your sleeves? When you decided to take the job, you dreamt of promotions, becoming an expert or a leader. You…

The more preparation you have to do to start work, the less deep work you will do. — Deep work is the holy grail of productivity. NakedPoppy CEO Jaleh Bisharat describes deep work perfectly. You know that feeling of being in flow where your mind is alert, you’re deeply focused on a difficult problem, when time stands still and work stops feeling like work? That productive state where…

Mindfully implement these ideas to become a developer that consistently shows results — What separates successful tech founders and revered development gurus from failed entrepreneurs and your average, run-of-the-mill developer? One thing I know for sure. Focus. Believing otherwise can be easy, though. You might just chalk their accomplishments up as the fruits of gifted geniuses whose skill sets are far out of…

The reality is far different than what I expected — I studied computer science and have been working as a web (frontend) developer since 2015. During my career, I slowly started to realize that the reality of being a software developer is far different than what I expected. So if you’re interested in becoming a software developer, in this post…

Feel free to steal them too if you’d like. — There’s this feeling that I crave. It’s the feeling of learning something. Something insightful. Something life-altering. I love it. I search it out. In conversations with others, in the books I read, in the podcasts I listen to, I’m constantly searching for more. It’s exciting. It’s rewarding. I can almost…

Avoid the wilderness — “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” — Abraham Lincoln Your career uses a plan you create, or a plan created by someone else. The more you can use your plan, the faster your career will progress. You don’t need to do extraordinary things to progress…