Its A Banana Sterling.

The "book a demo" problem has variations of layers to this nonsense. There's: - "Talk to Sales" - "Get a Custom Quote" - "See Pricing (just kidding, enter your work email)" - "Start Your Journey" (a journey? I…

Your Technical Interviews Still Suck

Stepping into hiring, I'm building a strategic hiring plan and I'm reminded that your technical interviews still suck. So time for part 3 of this book. I'm putting Utah engineering leaders on blast. Part 1: Your Technical Interviews Suck Part 2: Engineering Leaders, Stop…

Stop Celebrating Burnout

My first startup, EVALS, took everything from me. If you're celebrating 80-hour weeks as a flex, I was you. I missed everything and got nothing in return besides regret. Sure, our exit was great, but the hours missed, wouldn't have changed the outcome, nor can I…

Do Everything and Nothing Well

Your SAAS has a pocket knife problem. The Swiss Army knife works because it does a few things incredibly well. The blade cuts. The screwdriver turns. 🤯 For some reason, though, some of y'all looked at this and said "what if we added 32 toothpicks, a magnifying glass,…

The Bad Guy

You need me this silhouette against your clean white walls, this convenient darkness where you hang your fears like coats. I am the name you whisper when your own hands tremble with want you won't confess. Point your finger. I wear the black you're too afraid…

I've been in AI since 1998

I've been in AI since 1998. Back then, we called it T9 predictive text. I learned which numbers produced which letters. I got fast at it. Really fast. Oh, and learning what number combination from pagers meant: "143", "411", and "07734". Beep…

AI Thought Leader Starter Pack

I knew this existed!!!!!!!!!!! Wonder if they sell these at the AI Conferences? AI Conferences: A Costume Party for People Who Can’t Spell GradientAI conferences seem to be nothing but costume parties where speakers dress up as data scientists but couldn’t tell you what a gradient is. They’…

Stop It: Notes From Nearly 20 Years of Engineering Leadership

Stop scheduling "quick syncs" at 4:45pm to see who's still at their desk. Stop measuring productivity by commits or by butts in seats. Stop calling surveillance "collaboration culture." Stop running standups where everyone recites what they already said in Slack. Stop designing process…