Elordium Newsletter #2 | A brief introduction
Hi All,
Thank you for all the feedback you sent after the first issue. As an intro for this issue, I wanted to introduce myself and give you a summary of my journey so far:
My name is David Szell, and I have been a software engineer for about seven years. For my first job, I was hired as a Junior Java Developer, however, I was mainly working with Ruby. After some time, I started picking up frontend-related tasks and quickly became the person with the patience to work with CSS and JavaScript. Later, at my next workplace, I was again hired as a Java developer, but I was now working with React. Sometime later, after another job change, my job description said “Full-Stack Engineer”. Was this the point when I finally settled and did what my job title was? Of course not! I got a chance and became the Scrum Master of the team. This was a great opportunity to better understand the “people side” of the projects, and that was when I set my goal to become an Engineering Manager. I started reading books and articles and watching talks on management and leadership to better grasp what I would need for this role. I also began talking with people already in this position to learn about their experiences. What happens after I reach my goal? It is a difficult question to answer, but I know that it will involve a journey with lots of significant challenges and learning opportunities.
Here are my best findings for this week:
Video - What EVE Online's Tax Havens Teach Us About New York's Future - How Money Works
Watch time: 10 minutes
How can a game give insight into the economic future of New York? Because of the high income taxes and housing costs, more and more people leave big cities like New York. Similarly, in EVE Online, a massive multiplayer spaceship game, the largest trading hub is abandoned for smaller trading posts offering lower sales taxes. As things move faster in the game, we can glimpse what the future holds for downtown Manhattan.
Book - The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever
by Michael Bungay Stanier
Length: 117 pages (~2 hours)
Coaching should be a regular occurrence between managers and their teams, but it can be counterproductive if not done correctly. Michael guides you through various scenarios in this book and gives you the seven key questions that can make communication more accessible and impactful.
Book - Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In
by Roger Fisher and William Ury
Length: 240 pages (~4 hours)
Whether it’s applying for a position, striking a good deal, or even deciding what to have for dinner, negotiation is an integral part of our lives. Getting to Yes gives an excellent framework on how to conclude these discussions objectively and how to get to an agreement that is beneficial for all parties.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s newsletter.
See you next week,
David
Cover image @lemonvlad