I started my career in high tech with a simple set of requirements: put food on the table, clothes on my back, a roof over my head, and a few dollars in the bank for a rainy day. After 17 jobs lasting 6 months to 6 years—spanning the rise of the PC, the collapse of industrial giants like Sun and GE, and the current "hoopla" of Generative AI—I've met those requirements.
But leaving high tech isn't just about walking away; it’s about sharing key insights from the perspective of 45 years as a tech writer and information architect. In a world currently obsessed with the "How" (the fastest chip, the smarter API, the next big exit), we are losing sight of the "Why" (solving a real-world requirement). We are trading Precision for Hype, and Stewardship for a Mercenary Mindset.
So, the following posts are my attempt to separate the 'wheat" from the "chaff". The intent is to leave a frame of reference for the next generation of engineers and tech writers who are currently being blinded by the "hoopla." Whether you are a veteran looking for an exit or a 25-year-old just starting the journey, these insights may be the only "rainy day fund" that never devalues.
Key Insights:
- Part 1: The Industrial Ghost in the Consumer Machine– Why hardware is just a pane of glass and that your "old" M1 Mac Mini might be just as industrial as the "latest" M5 MacBook.
- Part 2: The API Trap and the Death of Precision – How the industry fell in love with "How" and forgot building for a "Why" to solve a real-world problem.
- Part 3: Escaping the Mercenary Mindset – The difference between building for a "Why" and building for an "Exit."
- Part 4: The Final Requirement – Knowing when you’re "Done" and why a 25-year-olds needs your perspective more than your seat.
Welcome to the afterlife. Now, let's start separating the "wheat" from the "chaff".
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