May 2, 2023 • #
In product development, you can orient a team toward process or practice. Process is about repeatability, scalability, efficiency, execution. Practice is about creativity, inventiveness, searching for solutions.
Choosing between them isn’t purely zero-sum (like more practice = worse process), but there’s a natural tension between the two. And as with most ideas, the right approach varies depending on your product, your stage, your team, your timing. In general, you’re looking for a balance.
I heard about this concept on a recent episode of the Circuit...
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June 16, 2020 • #
Recently Nat Eliason started a thread on the subject of audiobooks, and how much lower comprehension and retention is when listening versus reading:
I know where he’s coming from here. I probably consume half my books in audio form, and on certain dimensions here I would agree. My general pattern is very selective in what I’ll choose to listen to instead of read...
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June 13, 2020 • #
Jeff Atwood on Robert X. Cringely’s descriptions of three groups of people you need to “attack a market”:
Whether invading countries or markets, the first wave of troops to see battle are the commandos. Woz and Jobs were the commandos of the Apple II. Don Estridge and his twelve disciples were the commandos of the IBM PC. Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston were the commandos of VisiCalc.
Grouping offshore as the commandos do their work is the second wave of soldiers, the infantry. These are the people who...
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April 28, 2020 • #
With the lockdown, the kids always at home, and no transitions between personal life and work, I’ve been thinking about how to harness the morning time for thinking more effectively.
My most productive hours are early. I usually get the most bang for my buck first thing when I get started, even if it’s just thinking and not building or writing. In a normal day, I even get a lot out of the commute time, the door-to-door 30 minutes or so between home and work — the transition space lets me clear my head before I dig in. With no...
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February 24, 2020 • #
Tyler Cowen is one of the most prolific people out there. His batting average on producing high-quality content is unreal. Just following his blog, podcast, and Twitter makes one wonder how he also has time for so much reading, teaching, and any other life activity.
A few good ones from the list:
Much of my writing time is devoted to laying out points of view which are not my own. I recommend this for most of you.
I do serious reading every day.
Every day I ask myself “what did I learn today?”, a question I picked up from...
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