5 Things: Family Stories, the Wind, and the W
Here’s what grabbed my attention this week. A little perspective on work, a very cool uncle, a Nobel Prize, and two moments from the W that I can’t stop thinking about. Friday at Five.
-
The senior engineer death spiral, by Sunil Pai. This post is about senior engineering, but it could easily be about product or any number of other roles. You feel the need to prove yourself, take on something ambitious, disappear into the work, and then try to work even harder when things aren’t going well. His advice is to start rebuilding momentum through small, useful contributions, sharing your work, and being a good teammate. There’s a lot here for anyone who’s ever felt they needed to earn their place by doing something enormous all on their own.
-
Double-Crossing America: 1866–1867, by Dennis Hicks. My 84-year-old uncle published his third novel! It’s historical fiction, inspired by one of our ancestors who wrote a book in 1912. It’s sent me down a long path of family history. I can only hope I’m as cool as my uncle and still writing and publishing books in my 80s. And if that’s not cool enough for you, his paintings are hanging in my home office. Author, painter, retired therapist. He’s a rad uncle.
-
The Valkyries taking a breath together. The Valkyries gathering on court in a tight circle and taking a collective inhale and exhale might be my favorite moment of the WNBA season. In the middle of all that intensity, a moment to breathe together. I love this so much. Go GSV!
-
Anne Carson wins the Nobel Prize in Literature. This may be my favorite thing on the internet this week. According to the Swedish Academy, Carson was in Iceland “listening to the wind” when they called to tell her she’d won. I just love that. The Nobel Prize can find you while you’re listening to the wind.
-
A’ja Wilson listening to the love. Five MVPs! A’ja has now won more WNBA MVP awards than anyone else, and this is her third in a row. But it’s this video of her listening to recorded messages from her coaches, teammates, and Bam that has really captured me. I just love seeing her hear how much she means to the people cheering her on. What a player. What a moment.