Tech Productivity Issue #357 (Is Collaboration Overrated?)

Issue #357 (Is Collaboration Overrated?) 12/15/25

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One of the most basic questions you could ask about productivity was asked a few months back on Hacker News: Do you still bookmark websites?

I share lots of unique bookmarking services in this newsletter and there are probably bookmarking apps I've never come across that some of you use all the time. But it was interesting to read a few common replies in this thread.

The top comment says:

"I reflexively share to Instapaper not to read it later, but to absolve guilt for not reading it at all."

Another user says:

"I currently am in the bad habit of bookmarking websites and never, ever viewing my bookmarks."

Another doesn't admit not reading them, but says:

"I bookmark them using bookmarks in my browser. I have about 15k bookmarks now."

I would imagine that person is also not reading that much material, or anything close to it.

The rest of the thread has quite a few technical suggestions, including apps you may want to check out. But I think one of the most common habits is exactly what the three quotes above imply: that we save a lot but don't really get back to them in any form.

Now on to this week's hand-picked productivity links!

Tools & Apps

tokie — A Mac app that turns your folders into a document, a database, and a browser, for a more adaptable workspace, so you can manage files like a DB, edit notes without opening them, preview websites, and more.

Tailored — A personal recruitment assistant (with Chrome extension) that lets you effortlessly analyze job offers, tailor your documents, and boost your chances of getting hired.

Shift — A fully customizable browser for Windows and Mac that lets you build your perfect setup. Organize apps, tools, and tabs into spaces for work, personal, and side hustles. sponsor

AltSendme — A file transfer service that lets you do direct, encrypted file transfers from your computer to anyone, anywhere, with no signup and no cloud storage in between.

Supamail — An AI-powered email assistant for Mac that saves you hours each day by shrinking hundreds of emails into clear summaries, smart categories, and easy replies.

Nuvio — An AI-powered finance management platform that handles your income, expenses, and cash flow, working as your personal CFO, delivering insights and predictions to keep you ahead.

Pieces — A cross-platform knowledge base app that remembers everything you've done in every app you work in, allowing you to search through 9 months of data using time-based queries, done locally by default and privacy-friendly.

Articles & Resources

Collaboration Sucks — The team at PostHog recently made this their topic of the week at an all-hands meeting, to help the team understand the controversial opinion that collaboration is overrated.

How To Run Exceptional 1:1s For Engineers — "The turning point came when I realized something fundamental: we’d been treating 1:1s like project management meetings when they’re actually relationship and career accelerators."

Your Daily Steps, Now 100x More Fun. — Meet the #1 gamified treadmill that makes workouts feel like play. The Victory Treadmill blends immersive gameplay with top-tier hardware, so every session feels fresh, fun, and effective. Explore scenic trails, conquer quests, or race friends – all while hitting your goals. sponsor

Be Careful Responding to Unexpected Job Interviews — A common occurrence nowadays, so this reminder from a recent real-world example might help you avoid getting phished by what looks like a real job opportunity.

How Do I Delegate When I Can Do It Faster Myself? — From an engineering manager who still codes, this reminder to stop coding and let others focus on that work might benefit others in a similar situation with their team.

How Your Brain Creates ‘Aha’ Moments and Why They Stick — A research team recently uncovered how the brain produces 'aha moments', which suggests why these kinds of insightful ideas tend to stick in our memory.

Walmart Exec: ‘I’ve Never Believed in the Term Work-Life Balance’ — The exec in question believes instead in using the term 'work-life integration', which means either your life or your work may require a little more attention than usual.

Suggestions?

Have a suggestion for a productivity-related tool, article, or other resource? Send me a direct message via X or chat via Bluesky and I’ll consider including it in a future issue.

Stay productive!

Louis
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