Tell me you've done this before:
1. Get an amazing idea
2. Buy a sweet new domain
3. Tweet about your awesome new project
4. `git init`
5. Um...uh...do some planning?
6. You know what, I'm really busy right now.
7. (Secretly abandons dreams)
Why do we do this!?
The simple answer is that having ideas is way more fun than seeing them through. That would be adequate if it wasn't so discouraging to repeat this cycle all the time. It starts to creep from "I have a bunch of unfinished projects" to "I'm just not the kind of person who finishes things" and that can be really disheartening.
It would be so nice to start turning some of this projects into reality, though. Maybe you're trying to get a side income going, find your first remote job, or move into developer advocacy. You can picture yourself getting to break free from an office, having more flexibility in your schedule, or speaking at conferences.
But how do you get from here to there? It can feel really overwhelming.
Productivity gurus might tell you to hustle more: work more hours and just GET IT DONE. They might make promises to you of fame and fortune if only you'd just put in the work. You might only have a couple of hours a week to put towards your dream. Does that mean you're out of luck?
It turns out that the number of hours you work is less important than the effectiveness of how you spend your time. The Developer Microskills Guide to Tiny Experiments is here to help you increase your throughput (the amount you get done over time) and get you racking up wins quickly. You'll learn:
- Mindsets that blocks us from finishing what we start
- A simple framework you can use to start crossing things off your list today
- How to prioritize projects
- How to scope projects so that you can see results fast
- How to measure your progress and improve
- How to effectively ask for feedback
- How to say no to things
This book is actionable and practical. It includes real-life examples and a worksheet you can use to implement the Tiny Experiments framework yourself.
I wrote this book because, honestly, I kind of hate most self-help and career advice. It’s often too fluffy, too “business bro,” or just oblivious to the fact that not everyone can become an instant millionaire in 5 easy steps. I’m passionate about helping you where you’re at. It doesn’t necessarily take a miraculous rise to fame and fortune to dramatically improve your quality of life. Maybe for you it’s making enough money so all of your bills are paid, getting to speak at one or two events, or getting an article published somewhere. I’ve experienced all of those things and they felt great! Honestly, many of the things that followed those early successes were really just icing on the cake. In the end, outcomes are relative, but growth is what keeps us going.
The book I’ve written is meant to give you a short-cut. You’ll still have to work through these lessons to internalize them, but at least you won’t have to wander around the desert trying to piece them together.
See you on the other side!