Scarlet Ink

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Career Growth

The 150 Point Rule of Thumb. How to Strategically Approach Career Pivots.
We don't always begin our careers where we'd like them to end up. We're not stuck with jobs where we began them. I walk through paths to move your…
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Dave Anderson
2
Fake It Till You Make It — To Become a Leader, Act Like One
I found, rather than waiting for my promotions at Amazon, I was more fulfilled and grew myself as a leader by pretending I had already been promoted.
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Dave Anderson
9
No More Excuses: Trading Blame for Action. Practical Steps Towards Ownership Instead of Whining.
I'll admit a lack of patience for people who prefer to make excuses when they're given advice. It's easier to make excuses rather than do the hard work.
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Dave Anderson
1
Six Reader Questions About Meetings, Feedback, Communication, and Ideas
I regularly receive questions over email and in comments on my newsletter. I decided to answer a few of them in detail.
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Dave Anderson
5
Stories of Three Employees Requesting Raises. Lessons on Increasing Your Income.
Asking for a raise is not as simple as phrasing it politely. There are costs involved.
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Dave Anderson
5
You're Poisoning Yourself in that Toxic Work Environment
I believe in working through challenges, communicating clearly with those we don't get along with, and taking control of our careers. And yet, some…
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Dave Anderson
6
On the cusp of senior management - will she make it?
Career growth is a tricky thing. We have ups and downs, two steps forward and one step back. How will she fare?
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Dave Anderson
12
A Detailed Account of a Failed Principal Promotion
Not everything we do will be successful. We learn a ton from failure. Unfortunately for managers, our failures sometimes impact our teams as well.
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Dave Anderson
9
Leveraging the Three Phases of Career Growth for Outsized Rewards
Many employees tend to let their careers drift from opportunity to opportunity. That can lead to excellence, or not. Purposefully driving your career…
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Dave Anderson
A Day in the Life of a Tech Director Being Promoted to General Manager
Growing isn't as simple as learning new skills. It frequently means moving into areas of discomfort. This is a set of anecdotes from my move to GM.
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Dave Anderson
2
Are You Getting the Performance Ratings You Deserve?
Our performance ratings influence our ability to get raises, promotions, and our long term career success. They're not a simple meritocracy, but are a…
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Dave Anderson
The State of the Tech Market in 2023 - The Pragmatic Engineer Guest Post
A Guest Post on the State of the Tech Market in 2023 by Gergely Orosz, author of The Pragmatic Engineer.
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Dave Anderson
My Missed Career Opportunities, Or Why I'm Not an SVP
We've all had missed opportunities. What have you learned from yours?
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Dave Anderson
Why Some Careers Thrive and Others Don't—Not Necessarily Skill
Technical or functional skills only partially explain why some employees are more successful than others. There are other aspects of leadership which…
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Dave Anderson
10 Traits of Successful Junior Software Engineers
It's a huge win to get your first position as a software engineer. Here's how to excel in your new job.
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Dave Anderson
Navigating Career Bottlenecks in Management aka How to Progress to Middle Management
Many people don't successfully navigate the various hurdles in place between a successful IC career, and a high-flying middle management career. A few…
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Dave Anderson
Are You Behaving Like a Senior Engineer? Tips to Level Up.
Senior engineers distinguish themselves from junior engineers in larger ways than simply technical skills.
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Dave Anderson
1
10 Actions to Prepare Yourself for Layoffs
You can't stop your company from conducting layoffs, but you can prepare yourself to reduce the negative impact to you and your family.
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Dave Anderson
A Guide to Creating Your Personal Brand, and Why It Matters
Your personal brand is how others see you. It can be created accidentally, or you can be purpose-driven in making your own brand.
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Dave Anderson
Boring Tenure versus Exciting Job Hopping
Growing your career and skills takes tenure and experience at a company. This runs counter to the oft repeated suggestion to job hop for improved…
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Dave Anderson
2
Navigating Pivotal Moments in Your Career
There are times when slow and steady wins the race. At other times, it's important to put in 110%.
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Dave Anderson
How to Handle Negative Performance Feedback
Receiving negative feedback about your performance can be painful and dangerous to your career. Know what your next steps should be.
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Dave Anderson
Become a Top Performer in Your Own Niche
Senior positions require niche skills. What is your niche?
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Dave Anderson
No One Will Give You a Promotion - You Need to Take It.
Being given an opportunity is nice, but it's crucial that you develop the skills to make your own opportunities.
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Dave Anderson
2
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