Hands-on → Strategic

Today, I’ll tell you about my journey so far. But first, I’m grateful that you’re sticking around. It means a lot.

I’ve been on my own for almost two years now. I keep circling a couple of themes, and this is how I sum them up:

  • The relationship between business and tech
  • The importance of strategic tech leadership
  • Value pricing and negotiation tactics
  • How to be agile without doing Agile
  • CI/CD practices (I love deployment scripts, ya know)
  • Motivation, vision, culture

Plus, some random bits and bobs I’ve learned from a career spent in software.

I’ve worked on various projects during this time, but the most rewarding has been helping technical leaders transition from hands-on problem-solving (fixing bugs, coding, managing) to strategic tech leadership.

And that transition is not easy.

When you’re in that spot, you’re likely the most senior engineer.

You know the system better than anyone.

But as the most senior technical person, all the problems that can’t be solved bubble up to you.

You’re constantly dealing with the most annoying crap that no one else wanted or could fix (yet).

The trouble is that you probably like to solve those problems. It feels good to be needed.

But it doesn’t scale beyond a few engineers.

Ultimately, the team and the company need you to stop trying to fire-fight your way to victory.

The problem is that once you let go of the tools you know so well (code and infrastructure), you’re a beginner again.

I’ve been in that spot. I don’t have all the answers.

But I’ve had a good run working on the box in the past 9 years now.

I want to share more of that knowledge and help engineering leaders who are stuck in that hard place make the switch from hands-on → strategic.

One part of that is also educating founders that while code is important, strategic technical leadership is worth more than a 10x engineer.

So I’m doubling down on that route, and you’ll start seeing more tailored hands-on advice now.

That’s all I got for today, I wish you a fantastic week!

P.S. Keep your eyes open for more good stuff soon. :)

Yours,

Taj

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