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Minis
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Zero Experience, No Resume": CEO shares hiring approach, urges employers to give people a chance
- Tasleem Ahmed, CEO of a ghostwriting agency, recently shared a unique hiring success story. He hired Laiba Fateh, who had zero experience and no resume, through a creative video application on LinkedIn.
- Six months later, she was promoted to equity partner and now manages all operations. Ahmed emphasized that most skills can be taught and urged employers to prioritize willingness to learn over traditional resumes.
- His post has sparked discussions, with many praising his approach for valuing potential and growth over experience. Ahmed’s story highlights the importance of giving opportunities to those eager to learn.
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The Beautiful Mess
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TBM 315: The Self-Sealing Argument Trap
- Self-sealing arguments are common in conversations and are often used to trap people into a Catch-22 situation, where they can’t refute any evidence due to rigid ideological beliefs or cognitive biases.
- Self-sealing arguments can limit valid critiques and lockout opposing perspectives and ideas.
- Recognizing the trap and carefully considering our response options is crucial to avoiding these situations and achieving better outcomes.
- When faced with self-sealing arguments, we might try to reframe the conversation, ask questions to gain clarity, or slow down and reschedule the discussion.
- Before falling into the traps, we can explore different perspectives and beliefs to broaden our understanding of the situation and avoid self-sealing arguments.
- It's essential to remember that beliefs aren't a law of physics or nature, and there are other valid belief systems out there.
- There is no one-size-fits-all solution to self-sealing arguments or rigid ideologies, but being more mindful and intentional about our responses can help us navigate these traps and achieve better outcomes.
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Minis
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The No. 1 tip for landing a job offer in today’s tough job market, says HR expert of 20 years
- To land a job offer in today’s challenging market, it's crucial to be crystal clear on your value proposition, says Tessa White, a career coach with 20 years of HR experience.
- Many job-seekers make the mistake of focusing on past tasks instead of demonstrating the outcomes they've achieved. White emphasizes that “the language of business is numbers,” advising candidates to highlight how they’ve solved problems in previous roles using specific data and results.
- For instance, if you successfully expanded a company into new markets or improved retention rates, quantify those achievements. By clearly explaining the impact you’ve made and the skills you bring, you can stand out from the competition and negotiate for much higher pay.
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The FishmanAF Newsletter
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Leveraging Opinionated Defaults to Power Growth
- Opinionated defaults are predefined choices made for the user and a way to guide user behaviour by providing a starting point that the user is more likely to adopt.
- Opinionated defaults have been used across different industries like Location, Payment Methods, Pricing, Templates and Login to provide guidance to users.
- Choice architects can use opinionated defaults to make the consumption of healthy foods more likely or more immediate by rearranging cafeteria's or offerings.
- Patreon changed the grayed out text of a tier to $0 to provide recommendations via tooltips. This may be an optimization based on a new default.
- Opinionated defaults can transform site experiences, shape behavior, and drastically improve metrics to lead to engaged, retained users.
- Identifying critical decisions that users have to make in a product can guide the use of opinionated defaults.
- Leveraging data is important in defining defaults that maximize earnings, patron retention, user engagement or any other established objective.
- An Opinionated default should balance flexibility to maintain functionality and reduce the number of choices provided to users.
- Iterating with user feedback and data review on user behaviour can optimize default use.
- Opinionated defaults may provide value in reducing friction for first-time users to make the experience intuitive and help first-time users adopt product features.
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Lenny's Newsletter
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Why cash is king
- When evaluating a job offer, the most common priority for tech and other professionals is clear: salary.
- Salary offers the reliability needed, particularly in an uncertain economic environment, where equity may be less likely to materialize into tangible benefits.
- The need to cover daily expenses often outweighs the potential future gains of equity.
- Equity, once considered the golden ticket to long-term wealth in tech, is now viewed more cautiously.
- Respondents noted that they have had experiences where equity did not yield the expected returns.
- Gender has the strongest statistically significant impact on the likelihood of selecting equity over salary, with men 2.3 times as likely to prefer equity compared with women.
- Beyond salary and equity, some respondents prioritized work-life balance and workplace culture.
- Respondents also showed a preference for benefits like health insurance and retirement savings plans.
- For those living in high-cost-of-living areas, the importance of salary becomes even more pronounced.
- The immediate cash flow provided by a solid salary is crucial for professionals as they navigate the high costs associated with tech hubs.
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Minis
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The job interview question that ‘stumped’ this HR expert—now it’s her favorite to ask
- Holly Taylor, head of people at Public Digital, loves asking candidates one particular interview question: "What is the most valuable piece of feedback you've received in your career?".
- Taylor explains that this question reveals how humble and vulnerable candidates are willing to be, offering insights into their ability to accept and learn from criticism. Candidates often share examples of technical or interpersonal feedback they've used to improve.
- Whether discussing a weakness they’ve overcome or feedback highlighting their strengths, Taylor finds the responses equally revealing, helping her assess their growth mindset and adaptability.
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Lenny's Newsletter
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Thinking like a gardener not a builder, organizing teams like slime mold, the adjacent possible, and other unconventional product advice | Alex Komoroske (Stripe, Google)
- Alex Komoroske is a strategic leader who merges the practice, theory, and mindset necessary to tackle complex problems.
- Alex champions gardening philosophy, which emphasizes planting seeds—representing ideas and projects—and nurturing them as they grow organically.
- Reflection is crucial for deep thinking and insight generation. Create a dedicated space (like a Google Doc) to capture notes from meetings, articles, and spontaneous insights.
- Instead of trying to force everyone into a rigid structure, adopt a “slime mold” approach by embracing the organic, flexible nature of your organization.
- Encourage radical transparency, create safe spaces for honest feedback, and gather real data rather than relying on optimistic reports.
- “Strategy salons” or “nerd clubs” can be powerful tools for generating ideas and fostering innovation.
- Instead of chasing grand, untested ideas, focus on the adjacent possible—the small, actionable steps within your reach.
- Treat AI tools as your brainstorming buddy. When you’re wrestling with a concept, dump your thoughts into the tool.
- Alex Komoroske has created the popular “Slime Molds” deck, which offers fresh insights into organizational dynamics.
- Alex is also the author of the widely read “Bits and Bobs,” a collection of thought-provoking reflections.
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Minis
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This job interview question can help you find a 'green flag' boss
- When interviewing for a job, finding a "green flag" boss is just as important as securing a good salary.
- According to a recent Owl Labs survey, employees prioritize supportive managers who lead with empathy, flexibility, and transparency. Deepali Vyas, a recruitment expert at Korn Ferry, suggests asking, "How would your current team describe you?" during interviews to assess a manager's emotional intelligence.
- Look for leaders who encourage innovation and personal growth by trusting their team and avoiding micromanagement. In contrast, a controlling leadership style is a red flag for low transparency and lack of accountability.
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Leah’s ProducTea
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How to handle a valuable client as a solopreneur
- When you're a solopreneur, knowing how to secure valuable clients is key to your financial success.
- The author advises that the best way to secure a valuable prospect is by offering a first simple meeting where you actively listen and take high-level notes.
- Following that first meeting, the author suggests focusing on a process to build alignment and trust, which could include connecting via asynchronous communication like Slack and Notion to help create a digital sales room with all necessary information.
- Once the relationship is established, it's important to stay top of mind, asking how prospects are doing, reassessing fit regularly, and building trust even if the timing isn't right initially.
- When it comes to logistics, it's important to keep things simple, offering straightforward legal agreements and avoiding complex back-and-forth negotiations.
- Finally, the author cautions about the need for caution when charging for advising, and recommends sticking to your prices and only offering flexibility with payment structure rather than compromising on price itself.
- Ultimately, the key to securing valuable clients is about communication, trust, and delivering valuable advice and recommendations that establish you as a valuable asset and contributor to your clients’ success.
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Minis
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Tech CEO claims he trains his managers to fire workers: 'I am really good at firing'
- In a controversial LinkedIn post, Journi CEO Andreas Roettl claimed that training managers to effectively fire employees is crucial for maintaining a happy and strong team.
- He emphasized that firing is just as important as hiring and should not be avoided. Roettl stated that team leaders at his tech company, which uses AI to print photos, practice firing during training and are equipped with early warning systems to assess employee performance.
- While acknowledging the discomfort of firing someone, he argued that it ultimately benefits team morale. However, his post drew criticism, with many perceiving it as tone-deaf, prompting Roettl to apologize for any misunderstandings.
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Minis
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Applying to a Startup? Here’s What to Include in Your Resume!
- Skills that Solve Problems: Highlight skills that directly address the startup’s challenges.
- Entrepreneurial Mindset: Showcase any experience with innovative projects or ventures.
- Adaptability: Emphasize your ability to thrive in fast-paced, changing environments.
- Relevant Experience: Tailor your experience to the startup’s industry and specific role.
- Cultural Fit: Include examples of teamwork, initiative, and passion that align with the company’s culture.
- Quantifiable Achievements: Use metrics to demonstrate your impact in previous roles.
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Minis
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Use these 3 exercises to stay on top of your work and life priorities, says Google’s productivity expert
- Laura Mae Martin, Google's executive productivity advisor, suggests limiting your focus to three key priorities to enhance productivity. She recommends three exercises to help align your time with what truly matters.
- First, review your calendar by highlighting tasks to ensure your schedule reflects your priorities. This helps identify areas where you might be spending too much time on less important activities.
- Second, imagine a day without commitments and experiment with different times of day for tasks to find when you're most productive.
- Lastly, prepare for tasks in advance. For example, if you need to start a presentation, open and name the file beforehand to create a ready-to-work environment.
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Minis
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HCL to start new campus in Hyderabad, create employment for 5,000 people
- HCL Technologies, led by chairperson Roshni Nadar Malhotra, is set to open a new office in Hyderabad’s HITEC City, creating 5,000 engineering jobs.
- Malhotra met Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, extending a personal invitation to the office's opening ceremony. Discussions also focused on potential partnerships between HCL's GUVI platform and Telangana's Skill University to enhance training programs.
- The Chief Minister praised HCL's contributions to local employment and reaffirmed the importance of their strategic partnership in boosting the state's economy and technological growth, positioning Telangana for further innovation.
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Minis
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'We Are Humans, Not Resources': Young Employees Slam India's Toxic Work Culture
- Young professionals in India are voicing their concerns about toxic work culture following the tragic death of EY employee Anna Sebastian Perayil, allegedly due to overwhelming work pressure.
- Many, like 25-year-old Maria, report grueling 10-hour workdays, late-night meetings, and minimal work-life balance, often feeling treated as mere "resources."
- A recent ILO report highlights that Indian employees are among the most overworked globally, averaging 46.7 hours per week. Employees call for a shift in culture, emphasizing the need for empathy and prioritizing well-being in the workplace to prevent further tragedies.
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The Beautiful Mess
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TBM 312: Comparing Areas of Friction and Drag
- Teams often overlook the impact of blockers and source of drag and frustration in their workflow.
- Many issues are raised but the conversation tapers off quickly. Team doesn’t dig deeper into the assumptions around the impact and effects of these problems.
- The product management team is busy determining the latest customer-facing features.
- A simple tool is created to encourage more fruitful conversations regarding impediments raised by a team to make a business case for reducing friction.
- The tool focuses on dimensions like severity, the number of people impacted, frequency, predictability, ease of mitigations, impact over time, second-order impact, clarity of cause, level of effort to resolve, and complexity to address.
- Two issues are explored in the tool by rating them based on different dimensions - Red Triangle and Green Circle.
- The tool helps identify the real issues, their impact on the system and develop a plan to reduce that impact.
- Keeping track of these issues is difficult and teams often get resigned to venting their frustration.
- The approach is to stay positive and work on resolving these issues in the same manner as you would treat product opportunities.
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