Wednesday Wisdom

Wednesday Wisdom is a reflective Substack focusing on work-related themes, emphasizing personal development, the critique of office culture, and the intersection of technology and work life. It addresses job satisfaction, management interactions, the value of experience, career advice, and the impact of automation and AI, advocating for balance, continuous learning, and kindness.

Workplace Culture Personal Development Career Advice Technology and Work Management and Leadership Software Engineering Mental Health in the Workplace Work-life Balance Automation and AI

The hottest Substack posts of Wednesday Wisdom

And their main takeaways

Velocity is an attitude

56 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
  1. Velocity is more than just speed, it's speed with direction.
  2. Low velocity in projects is caused by complexities, ambitions, and difficulties in planning.
  3. To overcome low velocity, simplify, set modest goals, and invest energy in countering problems.

Culture is what you do

56 implied HN points • 27 Sep 23
  1. Culture is defined by actions, not words.
  2. Behaviors within a system are shaped by the system itself.
  3. Calls for cultural change must be accompanied by changes in the existing system.

Noblesse oblige

56 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
  1. Measuring programmer productivity is complex and challenging.
  2. Non-techies struggle to understand the complexity of software engineering tasks.
  3. Effective communication in technical projects is crucial for bridging the gap between techies and non-techies.

Move the needle!

47 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
  1. Focus on activities that add value to the business.
  2. Consider the correlation between costs and value brought to the organization.
  3. Make decisions by comparing everything to a single unit, typically money, for better clarity and effectiveness.

On Raising Flagpoles

75 implied HN points • 31 May 23
  1. Know when to care about details and which details to care about.
  2. It's important to get crucial details right, like API specifications.
  3. Don't get lost in unimportant details; focus on what truly matters.
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The unloved relational database

66 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
  1. Relational databases allow for decoupling of data modeling and querying, providing flexibility for new features.
  2. Distributed key/value stores became popular for scalability but lack features like joins and transactions, leading to workarounds.
  3. Using a distributed key/value store without upfront schema planning can lead to inefficiencies and challenges in data management.

Why Python is terrible...

58 HN points • 02 Aug 23
  1. Python is criticized for being unsuitable for professional purposes
  2. Python's dynamic and duck typing can lead to difficulties in controlling code execution
  3. Performance issues and lack of strict typing contribute to Python's drawbacks

Do not forget to have fun with computers!

75 implied HN points • 03 May 23
  1. Playing with computers was a hobby before it became a profession.
  2. Having fun was the primary goal as a hobbyist.
  3. It's important to stay connected to the fun side of computers to avoid losing a hobby.

Normalization of deviance

37 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
  1. Normalization of deviance is dangerous - don't ignore recurring problems in systems.
  2. Addressing deviant situations is important to prevent serious consequences.
  3. Letting bad situations persist leads to them becoming the new normal - tackle them to avoid normalization of deviance.

If you do something, say something!

75 implied HN points • 19 Apr 23
  1. If you accomplish something, make sure to talk about it so others are aware of your achievements.
  2. Self-promotion is important in showcasing your skills and capabilities, especially in competitive environments.
  3. Communication about your accomplishments should be timely, impactful, and consistent to maintain visibility and recognition.

About losers, clueless, and sociopaths

37 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
  1. Companies often lose focus on customers when they 'go corporate.'
  2. Internal processes in corporate environments can become disconnected from their original goals.
  3. There is a hierarchy in corporations: losers give more than they get, clueless believe in the company, and sociopaths benefit the most.

Wait! What now?

37 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
  1. Focus on preventing classes of problems, not just specific incidents.
  2. Good postmortem lessons should reveal things you truly did not know.
  3. Lessons should prompt hard questions and lead to actual improvements.

Software engineering in the time of AI

56 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
  1. Expect AI to impact job roles in software engineering
  2. AI coding tools will improve over time, affecting how software engineers work
  3. Successful software engineers will be those who know how to effectively use AI tools

An Action of Punctuality

66 implied HN points • 12 Apr 23
  1. Industrial actions like stiptheidsactie involve following rules strictly to disrupt operations.
  2. Breaking rules can be necessary to get work done efficiently, especially when rules are overly restrictive or don't make sense.
  3. Rules should be sensible and followed diligently to ensure optimal functioning, and unnecessary rules can lead to counterproductive outcomes.

It's the community, stupid!

75 implied HN points • 15 Feb 23
  1. When choosing a programming language, consider the community surrounding it.
  2. The community plays a significant role in the success and support of a programming language ecosystem.
  3. The community can compensate for the shortcomings of a language by providing support and resources.

Small blessings

28 implied HN points • 08 Nov 23
  1. Small decisions in code can impact robustness and effectiveness.
  2. Design data structures carefully to minimize errors and edge cases.
  3. Attention to detail in coding like date formats can prevent bugs and improve code quality.

Be in the business!

37 implied HN points • 16 Aug 23
  1. Having unnecessary expenses during good times can be risky when times get tough, both personally and in business.
  2. Working on frivolous projects or luxuries in a company can put you at risk of layoffs during economic downturns.
  3. It is important to balance working on interesting projects with ones that have clear value and align with the company's goals.

Senior engineers who don’t code

24 HN points • 06 Dec 23
  1. Senior engineers should practice coding for interviews even if they have years of experience.
  2. Maintaining coding skills is essential for senior engineers to understand and contribute effectively in the workplace.
  3. Senior engineers should code because it is fun and helps them stay engaged and effective in their roles.

Fixing backward

56 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
  1. Fixing forward may not always be the best strategy for resolving errors on a site.
  2. Fixing forward does not scale well as a site grows bigger and more complex.
  3. Rolling back to a stable version can be the right choice to ensure an error-free site for users.

Trouble starting an SRE team?

37 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
  1. Starting an SRE team might fail if the organization does not prioritize reliability.
  2. SRE work should be done by dedicated professionals for efficient results.
  3. Reliability becomes crucial when features alone can't retain customers.

A Tale of Two Knowledges

47 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
  1. Having a broad and deep technical knowledge can be valuable, but the ability to apply that knowledge effectively is crucial.
  2. As your career progresses, other types of knowledge beyond technical expertise become more important and valuable.
  3. Keep up with tech trends, but don't worry about being the most knowledgeable person in the room for every detail - other types of knowledge can be just as valuable.

The complexity of abundance

37 implied HN points • 24 May 23
  1. In a world of abundance, people are the scarce resource.
  2. Abundance leads to more complex choices and decision-making.
  3. Abundance can create clutter and confusion, while scarcity brings clarity.

Quality is fitness for use

37 implied HN points • 05 Apr 23
  1. Quality is fitness for use
  2. Good enough is good enough
  3. Make conscious decisions on the level of quality needed

The growth curve

37 implied HN points • 29 Mar 23
  1. Years of experience do not always translate to expertise; what matters is the quality of experience and growth.
  2. Personal growth is driven by facing and overcoming challenges.
  3. Choosing challenging environments with opportunities for growth early in your career can lead to a significant difference in your growth curve.

It's not just cat videos!

37 implied HN points • 22 Mar 23
  1. How you talk about something influences how you think about it.
  2. Don't underestimate the importance of your work.
  3. Reframe the way you view your service to maintain high standards.

Whatever happened to, all the heroes 🎶🎶

37 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
  1. Teams often engage in repetitive manual work, complaining about it but still doing it.
  2. Reducing toil requires actual work and making improvements to existing processes.
  3. Relying on heroes for dramatic fixes can hinder progress, so focus on meaningful projects to eliminate toil.

I never approve of anything (except of you)

28 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
  1. Approval processes can be slow and cumbersome, hindering efficiency.
  2. Approvals should involve knowledgeable individuals for effectiveness.
  3. Overly bureaucratic approval systems can lead to unnecessary delays and hurdles.

It's the principle of the thing

28 implied HN points • 22 Feb 23
  1. Understand your entire tech stack thoroughly for better outcomes
  2. Reasoning from first principles is a valuable skill in problem-solving
  3. Growing up with simpler technologies can provide a deeper understanding of complex systems

Seven habits for effective OKR management

18 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
  1. Formulate Objectives as imperatives and Key Results in past tense.
  2. Ensure Key Results are measurable and specific.
  3. Do not change OKRs mid-quarter and prioritize effectively.

Don't kick a dead whale across the beach!

18 implied HN points • 18 May 23
  1. Don't waste time on difficult tasks no one else cares about
  2. Make sure important people actively support your projects, not just say they care
  3. Consider switching projects if you're not making progress, instead of kicking a dead whale

Why Python is amazing...

5 HN points • 09 Aug 23
  1. Python is a versatile and popular language in various fields like machine learning and data science.
  2. Python's simple syntax and flexibility make it easy for beginners to learn and use.
  3. Python's power and elegance make it suitable for a wide range of applications, making it a valuable language for software engineers.

All hail to the almighty spreadsheet!

2 HN points • 28 Jun 23
  1. Spreadsheets are incredibly useful tools for organizing information and doing calculations.
  2. Spreadsheets are at the core of corporate existence and widely used in various projects.
  3. Although not perfect, spreadsheets are versatile and applicable to a wide range of problems, making them indispensable.