How to Say No

You will be asked to do the impossible.⚠ Proceed with caution. ⚠Saying “Yes” to everything is a great way to let others down while alsoburning yourself out. 👍On the other hand, simply saying “No...
Published on January 29, 2023 | 3 min read

The Words We Use - Sprint

This post is part of The Words We Use series.Sprint is commonly used in software engineering to describe a period of plannedwork, and frankly, it annoys me a bit. Let me explain.I live in beautiful Boise, ID surroun...
Published on January 02, 2023 | 1 min read

The Words We Use - Deadline

This post is part of The Words We Use series.During an interview this morning I was asked about how I approach deadlines. Myanswer began with something like: “I’m not sure of deadline’s etymology, but ...
Published on December 19, 2022 | 2 min read

The Words We Use - Series Introduction

Words are the tools by which we exchange thoughts. Whether we do so withintention, or not, they convey not only facts but also feelings. These buildingblocks of communication can add a subtle color.The old barn in the picture didn’t fall into this state of disrepair overnight.Rain ...
Published on December 18, 2022 | 0 min read

The CTO will need to fix that

“The CTO will need to fix that.” This phrase should reflexively cause areaction.I’m not saying it will always be a red flag if the CTO* isthe only person who can fix something, but I think it should at least prompt amoment of reflection.* While I’m usi...
Published on October 27, 2022 | 3 min read

Why are you rescheduling 1on1s?

Sometimes 1on1s will need to be rescheduled. I’m sure you can relate to having multiple things competing for our time and attention that don’t always neatly fit into calendared time slots.That’s a reality of being a manager.When needing to reschedule a 1on1, I find it helpful to ask...
Published on June 09, 2022 | 1 min read