First, credit to Mark Twain for the title. I have been thinking about the past a lot lately. We’re going through a significant upheaval in tech (specifically the hard shift towards AI, but other changes as well). Politically, we’re seeing a President come back after losing a re-election bid, something not seen in 100 years, which has multiple echoes. And tech hiring continues to be messy at best, with plenty of companies still in downsizing mode.

I have counseled several engineers (and others) that we have never seen a market in the US where there was enough software engineering labor relative to the demand for software creation. Things are certainly swinging closer to that point, and it will not be self-evident if/when we hit it, but what is clear is that the role of engineering teams has shifted. Teams that focus on demonstrating the value delivered will find it far more manageable than those with more abstract value. Simplified solutions maintained by fewer, lower-cost, or no engineers will win over more significant, more powerful, complex systems.

Mistake #62 – Rest, Recharge, and Reboot

A few weeks ago, I spent a long weekend in NYC with no kids, and it was a great chance to reset a few rhythms in my life. Getting some good sleep, multiple conversations with my wife without interruption, and a new scene were incredibly refreshing. I came back with a new perspective on my kids, work, and our life. This trip was (too) long overdue. I’ve often advocated for people to take vacations, even when you’re laid off, if your budget allows. 

This trip was long delayed due to kids getting sick, finding someone to watch our kids (even more difficult with school drop-off and pickup), and the hectic pace of startup life (we’re continually testing or launching something.) The rest from a four-day weekend was incredible, but what may be even more valuable is the reminder that if there are easy ways to simplify our lives (as we did for the kids’ aunt who visited), we should take advantage of those ourselves. Stepping out of our routine and looking at it from the outside, writing it all down, and sharing it with someone else helped us gain a new perspective on all the activities we’re doing each day.

Take a day. Look at what you’re doing. Make changes. And, above all, take care of yourself.