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When I first started studying software engineering/development/programming, I was bombarded with advice to question everything, push back on unnecessary feature

When I first started studying software engineering/development/programming, I was bombarded with advice to question everything, push back on unnecessary features, try to get to the bottom of what was really needed and deliver that instead of what was being asked for and not to be afraid to say no. I took that advice to heart - I was a professional and in it for the long haul, trying to make a lifetime career out of this, after all. It took a long time for me to realize I was better off abandoning those platitudes and just getting my work done. Although the inspirational types are correct in arguing that the world would truly be a better place if everybody took ownership and made the bottom line their business, it's hard to make the world a better place if you get fired for being a PITA.

rxhernandez 6y ago
Yeah, I heavily bucked trends at my past 3 companies. I even got into plenty of disagreements with "principal engineers" at the end of their careers and those engineers inevitably won the arguments. However, there were enough times where, once the team realized how problematic those solutions were, they backtracked and used my solutions. Every manager (as well as a few colleagues) has tried to get me to come back so far. A couple have recommended me to lead the tech side of their friend's (well-funded) startups long after I left. I wouldn't ever do it again though unless it was explicitly asked for. Stressing about getting fired in the initial weeks after getting hired (or during a boss change) just isn't worth it.