Yusuf Aytas's Blog, page 6

Perception vs Perspective

Have you ever found yourself questioning someone’s decision, only to realize later that you didn’t have the full picture? You know it’s really easy to get caught up in our own way of thinking. And then we expect others to see things just as we do. It shouldn’t be surprising that most people do the same. Everyone gets stuck with their perception, we can’t really overcome misunderstandings and make…

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Setting Goals

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that humans naturally don’t have a long-term mindset. Without clear goals, it’s easy to lose track of what we want to achieve. Defining goals helps us stay focused and committed. It also often feels easier to follow steps rather than blindly trying to achieve our aspirations. On that note, a personal anecdote comes to mind. Last two years…

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From Engineer to Manager

I often get asked whether someone should transition into management. In the past, this might have been the only viable growth path. However, in most large organizations today, this is no longer true, as you can be a leader without managing people. It really comes down to a fundamental question: do you genuinely want to, and would you enjoy it? Additionally, there are a few pros and cons to…

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Getting Delegation Right

In software business, leaders often need to delegate the work. Yet, I have seen leaders struggle with it, often saying, “I try to delegate, but it never quite works.” The truth is, delegation requires attention to detail and understanding of your team’s capabilities and needs. Let’s look at a practical scenario: You need to create a project plan for a new feature and decide to delegate part…

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Interviewing Your Future Boss

I’m sure you have been asked if you have any questions during interviews. A few things come to mind. Often, we think we need to impress the other party. Nevertheless, tough questions are the ones you want to ask, especially to your future boss. We all know that switching teams or starting a new job is a significant decision. You need to understand your future manager’s leadership style and…

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Celebrating Our Book in Iceland

To celebrate the release of our new book, Software Engineering Handbook, Ender and I took a nice trip to Iceland. Here’s a relaxed recap of our five-day journey. We kicked off our trip with the iconic Golden Circle. Our second day was packed with stunning sights along the South Coast. Day three took us to some of Iceland’s most scenic and serene spots.

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Operational Skills Needed

Over the years, I’ve interviewed many candidates. One crucial skill that often gets overlooked is operational reflexes during oncalls. Surprisingly, few companies test for this, yet it’s a capability that greatly distinguishes engineers. There is a gap in interviewing. Some of the candidates excel in code interviews and system design but not on the operational side of things. Sometimes…

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On Writing Software Engineering Handbook

I’m thrilled to share the story behind our newly published book with you. This project has been a labor of friendship and collaboration, and I hope our journey resonates with you. Ender and I have been friends since our school days. We attended classes together, worked on projects, and eventually graduated. Life took us in different directions—he moved to the United States…

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Charlie Munger Quotes

I got to know more about Charlie Munger in the last 10 years. His name came up with Berkshire. I knew he had been in the industry, but I wasn’t really into investing. I appreciated his no bullshit approach to investing, personal growth, decision-making, and even life. The other interesting bit is about how sharp he was even at the age of 99. It tells about how well he lived to a certain…

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