optimizing
Last modified on May 29, 2022

I think that optimizing for clear, measurable metrics is a powerful frame. Dan Luu talks about how one can get better at their craft in https://danluu.com/p95-skill/ – practice in an intentional way. Get feedback from others, and even from your past self by recording yourself and analyzing it.

On the flip side, it’s crucial to deeply consider what you’re optimizing for, and why. There’s been some (rightful) pushback against “optimization mindset” in Silicon Valley. I think it’s kind of throwing out the baby with the bathwater to say that “optimization = bad”… that said, their core point holds water, in that lots of tech involves optimizing for objectives without any forethought about why a particular objective was chosen.