tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6950833531562942289.post5459551505822130965..comments2024-03-25T03:36:48.099-07:00Comments on C0DE517E: What makes "10x" engineers. A complete hypothesis.DEADC0DEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01477408942876127202noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6950833531562942289.post-39309998817229855992019-08-08T03:19:29.035-07:002019-08-08T03:19:29.035-07:00I think what is missing that different people have...I think what is missing that different people have different abilities, and some can solve more complex problems, and difficult problems. It's the attitude, and the ability to be focused under pressure. The more senior, the more likely to be able to think on a larger scale. This combination is what makes 10x => be able to see the system, and now how to deal with the problems, what compromises are survivable (not perfect, but does not cause cascading errors) and be able to communicate this to other people. The swiss army knife people.<br /> Management loves these rare kind people, and they "kill" them very quickly. The reason they are so rare, that by the time to learn how to do this, they learn that its not good for their health - and learn to delegate, or burn out, Because that "10x" is just another human being, and they hopefully know their limits. <br /> TomKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6950833531562942289.post-90529622138225776452019-07-19T09:53:10.538-07:002019-07-19T09:53:10.538-07:00PhilipOakley: that's not what I (tried to) say...PhilipOakley: that's not what I (tried to) say. Allocation is not commitment, Effort is. And Effort is also related to "job fit" which managers can help with, I do agree and mentioned that.<br /><br />WH: this cuts both ways, lots of people do not understand the economics of programming, that's true, including the fact that code debt is debt, which is not always bad. If well managed, debt is a great way to push for growth. Badly managed debt is toxic...<br /><br />Anonymous: totallyc0de517enoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6950833531562942289.post-33525852665500568392019-07-19T05:50:27.420-07:002019-07-19T05:50:27.420-07:00I've experienced both modes myself.
Having som...I've experienced both modes myself.<br />Having some 20 years of experience as engineer I have been a 10x engineer and a lesser one. <br />I have always been very motivated and never list interest in tech and have been constantly keeping myself up to date.<br />Still, the environment matters so much in how you perform. Working with like-minded, driven people, boosts your performance. But when I worked at a company where they had a fairly complex financial product, but without any clarity or comments in code, nor any other documentation about functional or technical matters or decisions. The colleagues also didn't have time to explain stuff, nor did they care, I felt extremely bad at this company and was not able to really be productive, so I got the lousier and dumb jobs to do like deploying stuff and all, the jobs that the existing employees didn't like doing.<br />Needless to say I eventually left. For a company where they take time to bring you up to speed, and in no time I'm really performing at 10x....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6950833531562942289.post-48719620702001627812019-07-19T05:45:27.478-07:002019-07-19T05:45:27.478-07:00I also see that very, very, very few programmers a...I also see that very, very, very few programmers and managers understand economical aspect of programming... that the farther the bug is from the programmer the cost of fixing gets exponential.<br /><br />So most think only of speed of development, but nobody understand the stability and status of the code programmers write. Well luckily for me I'm one of those obsessed with stability, cleanliness and commenting of the code and get lots of work to clean and more or less fully redesign the old an crappy code (i.e. fast written code that nobody wants to touch as it's normally a spaghetti western).<br /><br />So instead of searching for 10x, 100x guys, maybe they should start searching for those that at least know what they are doing.<br /><br />at least in my view...<br />WHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02864104571152377099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6950833531562942289.post-59567387407891043482019-07-19T02:28:54.394-07:002019-07-19T02:28:54.394-07:00I'd agree that the multiplier effect of multip...I'd agree that the multiplier effect of multiple contributory factors makes for the various "x10" (or x20, x100, whatever) factors, I'm not 100% behind the explanation for the 'allocation' factor being personal commitment and focus. <br /><br />I'd suggest that much of the allocation factor is a by-product of 'good' (though sometimes accidental) management that has the right engineer in the right place. Opportunity to bloom is important, especially given the hinderances that otherwise reduce focus. <br /><br />Some of it is just standing on the shoulders of giants, or being surrounded by a supportive environment. And once that initial bit of luck has pushed the x2-4 engineer forward they gain momentum and opportunity to reach xN, and then later other realities strike and many fall back a little.<br /><br />Luck, opportunity, focus, on-going commitment, and others doing all the ancilliary admin!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com