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Tech Productivity

Issue #375  (A Guide to Career Architecting) 04/20/26


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If you're thinking of going solo in your tech career, or maybe you've recently gone solo, you might like this Hacker News discussion where a user asks How did you land your first projects as a solo engineer/consultant?

Venturing out on your own, especially if you've worked in mid- to large-size companies for some time, can be intimidating. And even if you're taken the leap, there might be temptation to go back to the company thing.
 
Keyboard with Backspace

The thread is pretty new (posted the day before this newsletter went out) but here are some of the suggestions:
  • Be nice on the internet (e.g. to improve networking)
  • Become an expert in one thing, so you're not competing with overseas undercutters that are usually more general
  • Hand out physical business cards in person
  • Write proposals that are essentially mini-consultations, to prove your abilities
  • Give something valuable up front without asking for a return
Hopefully some of those tips can help you out if you're considering going solo or trying to kickstart an existing solo career as a consultant.

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

 
 

Tools & Apps

AutoPrintEmail β€” A standalone desktop app for Windows, Mac, and Linux that connects directly to Gmail, Outlook, and IMAP, that lets you automatically print emails and attachments, no plugin required.

RocketShare β€” A private, secure file sharing platform, based in the EU, that uses enterprise-grade security and only recipients can decrypt the data.

Your Essential Cybersecurity Intelligence Briefing β€” Discover the latest breaches, emerging vulnerabilities, real-world examples from security leaders, and trends and regulatory changes shaping the cybersecurity landscape. Get critical insights and intel to protect your organization.     sponsor  

HaloVoice β€” A real-time voice translation app for streaming and meetings, to translate your voice instantly to a broader audience, with support for OBS, Discord, Zoom, and more.

Consent-O-Matic β€” An open source browser extension that automatically fills out cookie popups based on your preferences, so you don't have to waste time on every new website you visit.

Decks β€” An all-in-one workspace for Mac and Windows that can replace about a dozen external apps, with features for notes, files, tasks, tables, AI chats, and more, so you can avoid app switching and not lose any context.

Debut β€” A screen recording app for Mac that can transform raw screen captures into polished, professional demos, with features like smart zoom, click highlights, and beautiful backgrounds.
 

Articles & Resources

Career Architecting β€” A framework for guidance on how to progress in your career, consisting of five steps that can work regardless of whether you're in a small or large company, or working for yourself.

Don’t Let Your Boss Do Your Job β€” "Leaders often lose credibility not by inaction, but by failing to clearly signal that they are taking ownership of a problem."

You’re Gonna Need This Now More Than Ever β€” A fresh look at what AI can help us with, coming from someone who constantly works and researches deliberately on physical paper and paper books.

Master Visual Studio Code β€” 150+ tips with 450+ screenshots on learning to use and customize VS Code, the world's most popular code editor. Available in EPUB or PDF formats.    sponsor  

Done Is Better Than Perfect: Why Shipping Beats Polishing Every Time β€” Great advice for those who are perpetually at 90% when building stuff, trying harder to get things right, even though it could have been shipped long ago.

How To Use Time-Blocking To Get More Work Done β€” A good introduction to the concept of 'time-blocking', which is basically setting aside time for yourself for specific tasks or projects.

The Small Details That Make Virtual Sessions Work β€” A summary of highlights from an interview with virtual training expert Gwyn Wansbrough (the one-hour video is embedded at the top of the article).

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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