These days, my morning routine involves journaling. My version of morning pages. That’s not new. But how I’m choosing to express myself is.
It’s evolved from “I felt like this” reflections into something more directive—what I now call “If this, do that” principles. Practical advice. For myself, and sometimes, for others.
Looking back, I think the first time I really did this—truly turned feelings into guidance—was October 2023.
We had just launched a mega (mega) project. One that I led. A super ambitious, near-impossible thing with intense deadlines, high stakes, and no room for error. It was the hardest thing I’d ever done—at least up to that point.
And when it went live, I didn’t feel much at first. Not because I was emotionless. But because I was completely overwhelmed. There was disbelief. There was relief. And above all else, there was gratitude.
A few days later, I (must’ve?) decided to write it all down. But what came out wasn’t just a reflection. It was a list of lessons. A map of insights. Advice that I (and others) could use again, and again.
That note—written from a place of deep emotion and clear hindsight—ended up becoming a guide for my future self.
A guide I leaned on heavily for the next super ambitious near-impossible project in 2024/2025.
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Here’s an organized transcript of that note from October 9, 2023:
Outside your box
- Just because you're an engineer, it doesn't mean that you can only solve or think about engineering problems.
Be resourceful
- Do the best with the resources you have.
- Do not wish/hope for new/alternative tooling to solve your problems.
- Look for the strength and the creativity to solve problems with existing resources.
Always be closing
- Always be closing.
- (Closing refers to completing a task).
- Be prepared to respond to anything that comes your way.
- Address it immediately.
Make decisions quickly
- Make decisions quickly.
- Trust in yourself and others that this decision was made with the best of intentions and the most up to date knowledge you have.
10,000 ft View
- Always try to get the clearest 10,000 foot view that you can of the project.
- Zoom in and out often.
Unorthodox techniques
- Using unorthodox techniques to solve problems isn't bad.
- It merely indicates the wider organization gap for workflows and processes.
Numbers are essential
- Numbers are essential.
- Get them. Know them. Share them.
- Numbers provide a lot of context very quickly - often used to indicate the status of things and the things needed to be done.
Summarize & share
- Summarize and share as often as you can.
- Having information isn't good enough. People need to be able to find it.
- Having all your documents isn't good enough. People need to take time to read and understand it.
- Important information should be clearly and concisely communicated.
Clarify & confirm
- Clarify & confirm.
- Make it clear when important documents and messages are read and reviewed.
- Reply or "Reactji".
- If you're unsure, ask specifically for confirmation. Follow up until you get it.
- Set deadlines for pending requests. Follow up again.
Live by the calendar
- Live by the calendar.
- Be aware of not just your own schedule, but your team's and partner's.
- Think and plan at least one week ahead in detail.
Follow up
- Follow up with work done by team mates - especially if something is taking longer than it should.
- Trust them to do it, but also re-allocate work if necessary.
Cost of context switching
- Be aware of the cost of context switching - a cost that is unique to your team.
- Balance work and response to optimize concentration, flow, and output for each person.
- Be prepared to take on unexpected incoming new work to ensure that other work streaks stay focused.
Document as much as possible
- Document as much as possible.
- Log decisions and important updates.
- Write about strategies and implementation details.
- Create maps and indexes for abstract information.
- The objective is to reduce the time and frequency of question to answer - from uncertain idling to affirmative action.
Establish routine
- Establish routine - especially to upkeep certain workflows or practices.
- Do a lot of little things everyday.
- This prevents overwhelming snowballing of work (debt).
Figure it out
- If you don't know, figure it out - fast.
- Ask around, investigate, approximate, run simulations, etc...
- Do what you can to create the clearest idea for yourself of what you need to do and the work that's being done.
Excellence over perfection
- Chasing perfection is a long term goal.
- In doing so, settle for excellence.
- Never dismiss, block, or delay work because it isn't technically or aesthetically perfect.
Hope is not a strategy
- Hope is not a strategy.
- Always have a back up plan, especially if you're betting on something/someone where success doesn't feel likely.
The alternative solution
- Create the alternative solution. Especially if it's unorthodox and if it can be done quickly.
Doing it yourself
- Don't ask others to do something you aren't willing to do yourself.
- You should be, at least to start, an example of this behavior.
- You should be able to fill in these gaps if they somehow appear.
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