What to do? Well, work harder! Does it work? Of course not. Unless your problem is that people aren’t trying hard, the “work harder” mantra only breeds hero programmers whose heroic ways make it difficult for nonheroes to contribute meaningfully. Later, as your new heroes finish martyring themselves on burnout, you’re left with three exceptionally challenging problems: You’ve bred a cadre of dissatisfied and burned-out heroes. You and your heroes have alienated everyone else. Your project is still totally screwed. This is a recurring pattern that many growing companies fall into, and it also
...more
