Working Assumptions

Working Assumptions explores the evolving landscape of work, focusing on the intersection of work and identity, the role of technology, and organizational dynamics. It includes insights on hiring practices, personal development, leadership, the cultural significance of work, and future trends with AI and remote work, emphasizing growth, creativity, and community.

Future of Work Leadership and Management Technology and Innovation Career Development Organizational Culture Personal Growth and Productivity Creativity and Ideas Work-Life Balance Reading and Learning Community Building

The hottest Substack posts of Working Assumptions

And their main takeaways

Make something beautiful

216 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
  1. Your work reflects your taste at the time.
  2. Putting effort into your work is worth it.
  3. Aim to do something deliberately and rigorously well.

note to (past)self

176 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
💼 Business Career Personal Growth Workplace dynamics Self-development
  1. Starting a job at a startup can be thrilling with its fast-paced environment and growing community.
  2. Becoming a manager can bring new challenges and self-doubt, impacting personal life decisions.
  3. Stepping away from a successful career to pursue new beginnings can be scary, but empowering with the right mindset.

10 things I consumed this week

98 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
  1. California's record rain isn't solving the water crisis as expected, with water running into the ocean instead of being stored.
  2. Open source AI models may have potential in reversing the trend of ineffective value capture in companies.
  3. Developing agency can be a key factor in achieving remarkable accomplishments, as highlighted by Cate Hall's diverse achievements.

10 books that changed my mind...

117 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
  1. Reading helps in grounding and challenging oneself intellectually.
  2. Curate your information diet by exploring a wide range of topics and authors.
  3. Utilizing audiobooks, discussing what you read, and reflecting on the content aids in retaining information.
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10 things I consumed this week...

98 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
  1. Transition from one phase to another may require a big change in approach.
  2. Popularity doesn't always equate to quality or good taste.
  3. Experts in specific fields can provide valuable insights and analysis.

10 things for your Friday

78 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
  1. Journalism now requires personal branding and distribution channels.
  2. The launch of the Arc browser was a well-done victory in tech marketing.
  3. Meta ads like Intercom's provide a behind-the-scenes look and discard conventions.

Pursuing growth

117 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
  1. The story is primarily about growth and transformation, not just improvement or achievement.
  2. Genuine growth involves asserting individuality and living your own life, rather than simply meeting goals.
  3. To feed growth over goals, focus on routines that allow flexibility, prioritize what makes you happy, and invest in relationships.

Career Longevity

157 implied HN points • 10 Dec 23
  1. Endurance in a career requires managing emotions and staying optimistic.
  2. Balance between exploring new ideas and focusing on execution is crucial for career longevity.
  3. Maintaining a steady velocity in your career path and making thoughtful decisions is more important than rushing.

When I'm feeling lucky

78 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
  1. Feeling lucky can give you momentum and make success feel inevitable.
  2. Feeling burnt out can come from having no agency over your outcomes.
  3. Believing in luck can be empowering and help make sense of life's random events.

Corporate Writing

117 implied HN points • 03 Dec 23
  1. Writing corporate memos is a delight and can aid in truth discovery.
  2. Consider writing primarily for yourself when engaging in corporate writing.
  3. Separate the act of persuasion from your writing process.

What I learned from my first three years as an executive

157 implied HN points • 03 Nov 23
  1. As an executive, you need to balance being a generalist and a specialist to provide value to the company.
  2. Startups can fail by focusing on the wrong things at different stages, so leaders need to align tactics with the company's growth phase.
  3. Building strong relationships and cohesion within the executive team is crucial for effective decision-making and overall company success.

Software Localism, or the Law of Two Peters

117 implied HN points • 25 Nov 23
  1. Build for your community to maximize social connection with the product and minimize competition.
  2. Local software can have unique benefits like better user engagement and handling real-world issues.
  3. For more local software innovation, cost of development needs to decrease, imagination needs to be encouraged, and new funding models for smaller software shops are essential.

10 things I consumed this week...

58 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
  1. The author shared 10 things they consumed this week.
  2. They recommend a specific planner for organizing tasks.
  3. The author is participating in a slow read of War and Peace, reading 1 chapter per day.

Are you a vocateur or a citizen?

157 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
  1. In the Star Trek universe, work is a central part of identity without toxic aspects
  2. Current societal frustrations with work stem from economic and fulfillment aspects
  3. The concepts of 'Citizen' and 'Vocateur' illustrate different meaningful relationships to work

10 things I consumed this week...

78 implied HN points • 26 Nov 23
  1. Learned about the inside story of PayPal's founding and the challenges they faced.
  2. Showrunners and product CEOs share similarities in terms of creating vision and managing a diverse team.
  3. Explored the reasons behind the decline of Friendster and reflected on lessons for modern social platforms.

OpenAI and containers for work

78 implied HN points • 18 Nov 23
  1. The structure of an organization impacts its incentives and operations.
  2. The dominant work structure in Silicon Valley is the corporation, with a focus on commercialization.
  3. Balancing incentives between commercial organizations, academia, and nonprofits is crucial for the future of work.

How to have better ideas

78 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
  1. Having better ideas can be a challenging process of seeking insight and affirmation.
  2. There are two patterns of creativity: experimental and conceptual, each with its own approach to innovation.
  3. Allowing yourself to go through a 'squiggle period' or experimental phase can lead to transformative outcomes.

Universal Basic Meaning

78 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
  1. Advancements in AI are bringing us closer to a future with reduced necessary labor.
  2. Rethinking the value of work and finding meaning in a world where labor is scarce is crucial.
  3. Finding purpose and meaning beyond work, like in community engagement, is seen as important for the future.

10 things I consumed this week...

58 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
  1. The post discusses 10 things consumed during the week
  2. Twitter was mentioned as an incredible platform
  3. The post includes links to various articles and tweets

10 things I consumed this week...

58 implied HN points • 12 Nov 23
  1. Attended a retreat to discuss AI with diverse experts from different fields
  2. Explored the concept of 'artificial intuition' in relation to language models
  3. Discovered innovative ideas like neuromorphic chips and rural resurgence in an AI-centric world

10 things I consumed this week...

58 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
  1. The post discusses 10 things the author consumed during the week
  2. The author shared various articles and resources related to work and personal interests
  3. There is a mention of a Spotify afrobeats playlist the author enjoys

10 things I’ve consumed recently

19 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
  1. A woman stood up for herself during a tough conversation at work and gained job offers as a result.
  2. AI-generated song covers like 'Biggie in Paris' and Kanye's 'Hey There Delilah' are intriguing.
  3. AI art, debates at MoMa, and articles exploring AI's impact on creativity and human imagination are thought-provoking.

10 things I consumed this week...

58 implied HN points • 08 Oct 23
  1. Enjoyed reading about someone's experiences working at Amazon
  2. Found Twitter post 'The Lament of a New Grad Engineer' moving
  3. Interesting insights on future of remote work and AI from various sources

Meeting Norms

19 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
  1. Meetings should be used cautiously and thoughtfully, considering if the task could be resolved differently.
  2. Preparation for meetings is essential; participation should involve doing the prep work and only attending if necessary.
  3. Constantly evaluate and iterate on meetings, ensuring they have the right attendees and lead to clear decisions or actions.

Introducing "Working Assumptions"

58 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
  1. The writer explores the current relationship between work and identity.
  2. They investigate how organizations and structures impact this relationship over time.
  3. They aim to envision how work and identity will evolve in the future with the rise of AI and remote work.

Game design and your job

39 implied HN points • 11 Nov 23
  1. Games create immersive worlds with unique rules, similar to workplaces.
  2. CRAMP framework highlights the importance of Community, Recognition, Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose in a job.
  3. Recognition in work is essential for sustaining motivation and shaping behavior.

10 things I consumed this week...

39 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
  1. Big software products often end up becoming subpar due to catering to a marginal user
  2. Following the SBF trial can be addicting, especially the story of YouTube influencer Tiffany
  3. Tech bro weddings and future plans for YC are topics of interest

Community at Work

39 implied HN points • 13 Oct 23
  1. Isolation of excellent people makes a company less than the sum of its parts.
  2. Community is essential for improving happiness, idea quality, longevity, and productivity of excellent workers.
  3. Investing in creating a community of excellent people through complementarity, density, and norms is more valuable than rapidly scaling headcount.

10 things I consumed this week…

19 implied HN points • 05 Nov 23
  1. Discovered legendary cheesecake made by an 85-year-old baker blending European and Japanese styles.
  2. Found insightful articles on work & purpose by Jordan Hamel and Paul Graham.
  3. Explored interesting perspectives on technology, economy, and parenting from various authors.

10 things I consumed this week...

19 implied HN points • 29 Oct 23
  1. The Acquired Podcast Nvidia episode series is an excellent listen for novel market insights.
  2. Consider the Hedgehog and the Fox concept by Isaiah Berlin in business and leadership.
  3. Friction by design is an interesting concept to explore.

Coming soon

0 implied HN points • 27 Sep 23
  1. Stay tuned for updates on worktopia.substack.com
  2. Subscribe for more information from Tara Seshan
  3. Sharing is caring, spread the word!