Your career

Productivity and keeping a job

My Golden Rule:

If you're not in over your head, you're not challenging yourself enough.

Always choose potential for growth over compensation.

(You can never be paid enough to work a crappy job.)

Productivity

Not all hours are created equal

Productivity for Developers

Minimize distractions

Maximize focus

Minimize: distractions

• Manage your email habits wisely (ideally once or twice per day)
• Maintain good expectations for meetings
• Turn off push notifications when needed

Maximize: Focus

• Use tools like Asana, RescueTime, Pomodoro, and WiredIn 
• Find your music groove
• Remember: task switching is very expensive
• Don't go chasing rabbit holes

Keeping  a job

Employee-focused mindset

vs

Employer-Focused Mindset

Employee-focused

Interviewing for "what I did" or "who I am"

Employer-focused

Interviewing for "what I can do"

Focused on benefits, PTO, compensation

Focused on productivity, completion of assignments

Blames others, know-it-all

Takes responsibility

Does the minimum required

Waits to be told what to do

Pushes beyond what's expected

Proactively seeks projects 

If you care about what your employer cares about, you become indispensible and have a TON of leverage.

Your Next Gig

Always!

• Network (build relationships)
• Learn new things (even if your company doesn't)
• Be informed: watch trends and where the industry is moving