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No Prize for Pessimism
No Prize for Pessimism by Sam Schillace is a thoughtful meditation on the importance of optimism in building and designing tech products - or any product, for that matter. Schillace is Microsoft's Deputy Chief Technology Officer. He is the co-inventor of Google Docs, a product used by more than a billion people around the world. Through a series of insightful letters and reflections, Schillace shares his journey from the early days of personal computing to the forefront of AI innovation. This book delves into the mindset required for disruption and innovation, emphasizing the importance of optimism, experimentation, and a willingness to embrace the messiness of creation.
In his debut as an author, Schillace argues that optimism is crucial for innovation, contrasting it with the dangers of a pessimistic mindset which he believes stifles creativity and progress. Leadership, according to Schillace, is rooted in humility and trust. He warns against the "prima donna death spiral" where leaders fail to delegate, leading to team inefficiency. The author discusses the transformative potential of AI, emphasizing the need to integrate AI capabilities with traditional coding practices for effective product development. He explores the balance between speed and maintainability in coding, advocating for a pragmatic approach to software development. Schillace stresses the importance of humility in leadership, encouraging leaders to support their teams and prioritize collective success over personal ego. He identifies several emerging technologies with disruptive potential, including AI, quantum computing, and renewable energy solutions.
Throughout, the author encourages readers to adopt a "What if?" mindset, fostering creativity and resilience in the face of challenges. Schillace shares personal anecdotes and lessons learned throughout his career, offering practical advice for aspiring innovators and leaders. No Prize for Pessimism is perfect for entrepreneurs, engineers, and anyone interested in the future of technology.
In his debut as an author, Schillace argues that optimism is crucial for innovation, contrasting it with the dangers of a pessimistic mindset which he believes stifles creativity and progress. Leadership, according to Schillace, is rooted in humility and trust. He warns against the "prima donna death spiral" where leaders fail to delegate, leading to team inefficiency. The author discusses the transformative potential of AI, emphasizing the need to integrate AI capabilities with traditional coding practices for effective product development. He explores the balance between speed and maintainability in coding, advocating for a pragmatic approach to software development. Schillace stresses the importance of humility in leadership, encouraging leaders to support their teams and prioritize collective success over personal ego. He identifies several emerging technologies with disruptive potential, including AI, quantum computing, and renewable energy solutions.
Throughout, the author encourages readers to adopt a "What if?" mindset, fostering creativity and resilience in the face of challenges. Schillace shares personal anecdotes and lessons learned throughout his career, offering practical advice for aspiring innovators and leaders. No Prize for Pessimism is perfect for entrepreneurs, engineers, and anyone interested in the future of technology.
213 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 12, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 21, 2024
A useful guide to building software, filled with timeless lessons and timely advice for how building software changes in the age of AI. Replete with wisdom and hard-won insights — "Solutions aren't apparent until you start working on the problem" (so prototype early and often!) and "The desire to succeed right away breeds a reluctance to experiment" (paths are only clear in retrospect). The author, one of the inventors of Google Docs, also shares heartfelt career advice: "Career success comes from impact. Impact comes from doing something you are good at that is valuable with as much energy as possible." (And reminds us that sometimes "We often have blind spots about what it is that we are good at; if it feels natural and easy, we think it must not be valuable" — where in fact, "if you are good at something, it will often feel easy to you. That’s a great sign to look for that you’re actually on the right track").
The author focuses on the user — and underlines the importance of making it easy and fast for users to find value in what you're building. People aren't going to spend hours trying to find a use for your product. "Look beyond “cool” to how much easier a new tool or tech makes someone’s life. Convenience always wins."
Beyond content, the author also helps cultivate the right mindset. Optimism as a strategic choice, along with a healthy curiosity for the possible (reframing from "Why try?" to "What if?" is a core theme of the book). And the author is refreshingly down-to-earth, humble, and real. No one knows what the future holds but we know the way to get there — with a resolute patience, openness to experimentation, and the fortitude to accept failure and missteps so long as we learn from them.
The author focuses on the user — and underlines the importance of making it easy and fast for users to find value in what you're building. People aren't going to spend hours trying to find a use for your product. "Look beyond “cool” to how much easier a new tool or tech makes someone’s life. Convenience always wins."
Beyond content, the author also helps cultivate the right mindset. Optimism as a strategic choice, along with a healthy curiosity for the possible (reframing from "Why try?" to "What if?" is a core theme of the book). And the author is refreshingly down-to-earth, humble, and real. No one knows what the future holds but we know the way to get there — with a resolute patience, openness to experimentation, and the fortitude to accept failure and missteps so long as we learn from them.
December 17, 2024
A book written by AI from a tech bro asking "what's wrong with AI?"
In a world that demands our basic necessities be exchanged for with money, AI bros and corporations like Microsoft, through which this 'book' was published, are doing their very best to avoid giving money to as many people as possible, thus cutting them off from those basic necessities. In a world where machines should be doing the mining so we have the freedom to make art, they want that in reverse.
There is no prize for pessimism, but there's no prize for being right either, which is why AI is going to take my job someday sooner rather than later.
In a world that demands our basic necessities be exchanged for with money, AI bros and corporations like Microsoft, through which this 'book' was published, are doing their very best to avoid giving money to as many people as possible, thus cutting them off from those basic necessities. In a world where machines should be doing the mining so we have the freedom to make art, they want that in reverse.
There is no prize for pessimism, but there's no prize for being right either, which is why AI is going to take my job someday sooner rather than later.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews