I chose to study Computer Science in college because of the dot com boom. It was 1998, tech was the next big thing (comparable to crypto today, except more people understood and accepted it), and so I went to Carnegie Mellon to study it.
I wanted to get on a rocketship and my ticket (or so I thought) was a CS degree from a good university.
Then 2001, the bubble burst, and all rocketships and jetpacks were grounded.
So my first job out of college was at a large defense contractor. It was neither a rocket ship or a jet pack but a nice locomotive that would put a roof over my head and food on the table. It wasn’t until years later, basically by accident, I had built a little jetpack in my proverbial garage (blogging) and took off. Funny how the world works.
Stepping off a Rocketship. Strapping on a Jetpack. [The Jungle Gym] – “As it turns out, working for Guild was even better than I imagined. The company has strong product/market fit, fast growth, amazing leaders, and a business model that incentivizes doing good. While no employer is perfect, Guild has been as close to an ideal place to work as one can find. I couldn’t be prouder of everything our team has accomplished and the economic opportunity we’ve created for America’s frontline workers. This begs the obvious question– why am I leaving?”
From the Department of “Internal Competition Sounds Good!”… as it tore Sears apart:
Failing to Plan: How Ayn Rand Destroyed Sears [Verso] – “It is no small irony then, that one of Walmart’s main competitors, the venerable, 120-plus-year-old Sears, Roebuck & Company, destroyed itself by embracing the exact opposite of Walmart ’s galloping socialization of production and distribution: by instituting an internal market.” The internal workings of Sears were horrible!
50 First Levers (How to start building Leverage) [Eric Jorgenson] – “Leverage is everywhere. You felt it as a kid shooting peas across the room with a spoon. Or when you first used a calculator, and wondered why your teachers made you do long division by hand for 3 years. At some point it clicks — “oh shit, I just accomplished something surprisingly big for the effort it took!”” Some good ideas in this one, maybe will give you a few clever automations.