Og Maciel's Blog, page 3
October 3, 2025
Week in Review ��� Week 40 of 2025
This was a pretty intense week at work, but I managed to balance it out with intentional time at home with my family. I maintained my gym routine every morning and continued my reading streak, now at 2,134 days.
Monday was packed with meetings, including a scheduling mishap where two meetings with the same invite list were double-booked. “We joined one for 15 minutes, then dropped into the other while everyone else waited for us.”
October 2, 2025
Do They Need Advice ��� or Just a Hug?
A few days ago, I encountered a note with a simple message: “Don’t give a lecture to someone who needs a hug.”
This simple phrase resonated deeply with me and sparked reflection on how I communicate with the people I care about most.
The Power of ListeningOften, people don’t want solutions when they’re upset; they want to be heard. I’ve learned this lesson the hard way through experiences with my daughters and in my marriage. When someone is struggling, my instinct is to jump in with advice, to fix the problem. But I’ve discovered that rushing to give advice often backfires.
October 1, 2025
Nods, Lightbulbs, and Why I Still Love Being a Builder
Over the last month and a half, I’ve spent considerable time giving presentations at work on how AI tools can help people in their day-to-day activities. Most of these sessions focus on software engineering tasks like writing code, automated testing, setting standards, and using tools like Jira more effectively.
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The Art of PresentingWhenever I’m asked to present, I try to imagine what I’d want as an audience member. My core principle is simple: “if someone asks me to sit through a presentation, they’d better capture my attention quickly and show me what’s in it for me.”
