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