In our 35th episode, Lopp is listening to country and no one is clear why. Eric Church and Mira Goto feature. Also, the Star Wars Rewatch Grade... and more country. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes. https://traffic.libs … | Continue reading
In our 34th episode, we discuss the value created by Executive Assistants, explain what a Chief of Staff does, how to build teams, why calendars are hard, and why Lopp keeps rewriting the book. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or … | Continue reading
Write a thing. Briefly celebrate that you brought this thing into the universe. Don’t celebrate by hitting publish. This done thing is only 50% done. Walk away from it. Get it completely out of your head. Your goal is to forget that you wrote this thing. Days later. Print it out … | Continue reading
In our 33rd episode, we're talking names. Domain names, nick names, and... inheritances. Wait, what? That can't be right. Aren't we talking about names? Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes. https://traffic.libsyn.com/rands … | Continue reading
In our 32nd episode, Lyle and Lopp go tactical on 1:1s. A bevy of small tips and tricks are discussed along with deep religion on the value of continuous feedback and the practice of finding joy in meetings. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a handy feed or subscribe vi … | Continue reading
In our 31st episode, Lyle and Lopp discuss who does what in a well-run meeting. Roles and responsibilities, the value of feedback, and remember that meetings aren't punishment, but a useful tool in the hands of responsible humans. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a han … | Continue reading
30 episodes! Whoa. We're still talking about management. In this third part, we talk about what managers do all day, which probably more than you think. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes. https://traffic.libsyn.com/rands … | Continue reading
In our 29th episode, we walk through the perils and challenges of starting a new gig, how to change a culture, and formative stories. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes. https://traffic.libsyn.com/rands/theimportantthing0 … | Continue reading
In our 28th episode, Lyle's Lopp visit continues and we learn about various judgment errors in our lives and the resulting lessons. Happy New Year. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes. https://traffic.libsyn.com/rands/thei … | Continue reading
Much has been written about employee motivation and retention. It's written by folks who actively use words like motivation and retention and generally don't have a clue about the daily necessity of keeping your team professionally content because they've either never done the wo … | Continue reading
In our 27th episode, Lyle visits Lopp's house and we talk mountain living, dowsing, and various Christmas updates. Happy Merry. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes. https://traffic.libsyn.com/rands/theimportantthing0027.mp … | Continue reading
25 episodes in. In this episode, we briefly talk about Lopp's founding of the Pro Leisure Circuit and how stress is hard to measure and different than worrying. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes. https://traffic.libsyn.c … | Continue reading
As a leader who primarily values team health, I place great value on the weekly 1:1 because it’s where I assess health. It’s my highest bandwidth meeting, and historically the slight to significant lag omnipresent in video conferencing impeded that bandwidth. It stilted the conve … | Continue reading
I’m currently on the Pro Leisure Circuit, and with a lot of time on my hands, so I have been playing a lot of video games. Strike that. I’ve been one single game, Destiny 2. Yes, I am still playing Destiny, but there’s a twist. I bought a PC. No one is more surprised than I. B … | Continue reading
We remodeled the downstairs of the house several years ago. Two rooms had walls moved to make way for additional rooms. Deep construction. Months of noise, plastic taps, dust, and decisions. When they start applying the drywall, it starts to look like your house again, and you b … | Continue reading
In our 24th episode, we talk Disney. The new Star Wars Experience, flying the Millenium Falcon, Disney+, the Mandalorian, space blacksmithing, and those jerk Stormtroopers. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes. https://traf … | Continue reading
23rd episode. A short one about the joys of chainsaws, poison oak problems, why madrones are weird, and how there is always a system. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes. https://traffic.libsyn.com/rands/theimportantthing0 … | Continue reading
In our 22nd episode, we update you on all the things: Lyle's job status, superheroes, books, iPads, avocados, and beets. It's a bit of a beautiful yard sale. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes. https://traffic.libsyn.com/ … | Continue reading
Hi, welcome to the team. I’m so glad you are here at $COMPANY. It’s going to take a solid quarter to figure this place out. I understand the importance of first impressions, and I know you want to get a check in the win column, but this is a complex place full of equally complex … | Continue reading
The long-awaited 21st episode. Lyle is still thinking about becoming a manager. Lopp (still) has thoughts. We discuss what kind of leader you might be, how not to be overwhelmed, the sounds of modems, and why anger shouldn't feel like progress Enjoy it now or download for later. … | Continue reading
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID1KR37bqnQ (Ok, first hit play on the above video. This article has a soundtrack.) In World of Warcraft, Darkshore is the first major city outside of the Night Elf starting area and stands in dark contrast to the mystical and deeply saturated pi … | Continue reading
Resignations happen in a moment, and it’s not when you declare, “I’m resigning.” The moment happened a long time ago when you received a random email from a good friend who asked, “I know you’re really happy with your current gig because you’ve been raving about it for a year, bu … | Continue reading
You see James on the 8th-floor cafeteria. You haven’t seen him in weeks which is fine because while you’ve worked together for years, your paths are currently not intersecting. “Hey, James.” “Hey! Long-time, I was just thinking about you.” “Really, why?” “Randy just called yo … | Continue reading
The mighty 20th episode. Lyle's thinking about becoming a manager and Lopp has thoughts. It's a job with infinite variables, strange feedback loops, and endless decisions. Also, it'll take three years minimum to become competent. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a hand … | Continue reading
I have a deep respect for huge buildings. When Slack moved to our current headquarters in-between the Financial District and Rincon Hill, I was elated. Skyscrapers everywhere. Fortunately, I’m also visiting New York City, and that’s, in my opinion, the home of many of the world’ … | Continue reading
Nineteen episodes people! Lyle and Lopp walk through their thoughts on 2019's WWDC. We also take a trip down memory lane to discuss the Apple II+, BBSes, and spinning cursors. Trippy. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes. h … | Continue reading
In our eighteenth episode, I can't stop giggling about my problems with sugar. Lyle deftly navigates us through all the sugar vectors, proper movie candy protocol, the perils of cinnamon, and why candy corns... are the best. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a handy fee … | Continue reading
In our seventeenth episode, we walk through the process of Rands writing his third book. We cover all aspects, familiar and strange, of the writing process, including editing, design covers, and figuring out who'll write the forward. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a … | Continue reading
In our sixteenth episode, we nerd it up on Avengers: Endgame. Topics include Rands not shutting up during the movie, the best moment, the trials of time travel, and why Captain America is just... the best. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a handy feed or subscribe via … | Continue reading
In our fifteenth episode, we go deep on feedback. We learn where Rands' feedback religion came from, we walk through a couple of specific feedback scenarios, and we discuss why you should be investing in a feedback culture - right now.Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a … | Continue reading
It would appear there are not a lot of written words here recently. Appearances are deceiving. There are lots of words and they look like this:I’m winding up a three-week vacation which has been focused on getting the next book in shape. My definition of “in shape” is “I can kind … | Continue reading
Lyle returns from and talks about Japan in our fourteenth episode. Subways, signage, robots, and great food are among our topics. Back in the states, we talk about the Rands Biking Protocol and Rands Eating Protocol.Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a handy feed or subsc … | Continue reading
Lucky 13th episode! Lyle and I talk Flow and Flow's companion Anti-Flow. Also covered, writing, breaking Flow, a bit about Bear the App, and trying to understand from where Flow flows. Bikes, too!Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or … | Continue reading
In our 12th episode, we start talking feedback. Using feedback on our podcast as a jumping off point, we consider the topics of giving proper attribution, the art of arguing about empty boxes, and the fact the Rands is a control freak.Enjoy it now or download for later. Here's a … | Continue reading
In our eleventh episode, we dissect “You Only Live Once”, we talk about paying for BETA software, and the value of building things with your hands. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here’s a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes. http://traffic.libsyn.com/rands/theimpo … | Continue reading
We’re double digits! 10 episodes. Nailed it. In this episode, we talk about the perils of travel as an introvert, we examine each other’s travel bags, and we learn that Rands is a control freak. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here’s a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or … | Continue reading
One of the challenges with writing a blog for a long time is it possible to repeat yourself. I’m not talking repetitious themes; I’m talking word for word writing pretty much the same article. Again. Meetings are on the brain again, so I quickly checked the Rands archives to make … | Continue reading
Hi. I’m moving servers today so things are likely going to be broken for a bit. Once things are moved, I’ll welcome you all to our new shiny home. But for now, broken. | Continue reading
By my count, we’ve got 14 candidates for the Democratic nomination in the United States. There will be more. 1 This morning I went to all the websites of each of the candidate and grabbed their primary logo. Fascinating to see the different moods conveyed by the different marks. … | Continue reading
In our ninth episode, we discuss the idea of Manager READMEs, vulnerability in the workspace, how Toyota empower its humans, and how much Rands detests drama. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here’s a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes. http://traffic.libsyn.com/ra … | Continue reading
In this episode, we talk about process being documented culture. How do we keep all the plates spinning? Who are good plate spinners? Why are there plates in the first place? This and more is answered in this episode of The Important Thing. Enjoy it now or download for later. Her … | Continue reading
In this episode, we introduce you to my co-host Lyle – pre-eminent listener, longtime radio host, and fellow mountain resident. We also spend time talking logos and introversion… and then we finish with a strong Spider-Man chaser. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here’s a hand … | Continue reading
In our latest and greatest episode, we talk about the craft of communication. After a brief introduction, we talking about Werewolf, lying, death in D&D, and the art of yolo’ing it. Enjoy it now or download for later. Here’s a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes. http … | Continue reading
Don’t tell anyone. We’re still producing episodes. In this brief episode, Lyle and Lopp talk pens and typography and how they help us say what we need to say… Enjoy it now or download for later. Here’s a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes. http://traffic.libsyn.com/ra … | Continue reading
Two years almost to the day, we’re back with The Important Thing. In our surprisingly quick to arrive fourth episode, we briefly giggle about the clickity-clack of a mechanical keyboard and then talk about a time at Apple where it was critical to understand the why. Enjoy it now … | Continue reading
Two years almost to the day, we’re back with The Important Thing. In the third episode, Lyle and I talk Information Consumption. Notification purges, marking all as read, and figuring out how to catch the most important information are just a few of the tips and tricks we discuss … | Continue reading
I do a lot of work in Slack. It’s been almost three years since I started working there and can’t remember a world where I needed to wait anywhere from two minutes to two days for someone to get through their inbox and respond to that urgent email. I take it for granted that ever … | Continue reading
Two-week holiday. Walk into my home office with big plans that start with a thorough cleaning of the space. A clean space is a healthy and productive space. A place where proper work can happen. But first, let’s play Destiny… for two days. Day three. Ok, just clean the desk. This … | Continue reading