4 ms·

I like to say that I am a 10x developer 10% of the time. My work tends to be very "bursty" followed by long bouts of low productivity. It probably has more to d

I like to say that I am a 10x developer 10% of the time. My work tends to be very "bursty" followed by long bouts of low productivity. It probably has more to do with my mental health than anything else. :/

vicda 5y ago
Sounds like ADHD hyperfocus.
- sumtechguy 5y ago
  There can be that. But also some managers do not like you wander off task. So stick in your lane stick to your tasks... So eventually after years of that you just do only what is needed and skip anything else. After a few of those 'that is very nice but...' conversations you just say screw it and coast. Every once and awhile I get a burst where I can propel my group forward. But then usually I feel like I am bolder chained to them and dragging them down. More than likely I am just average and doing OK.
- bkromhout 5y ago
  Was just coming here to say, this is my exact situation
dgb23 5y ago
I have the same problem. But the more I tackle it in reasonable ways, the better it gets. Here's some pointers that work for me: - enough sleep, rather get in bed early than late as the quality of the sleep depends on natural rhythms - engage with people that are affected by my work - this is important for motivation and to keep track of what actually matters - operationalize everything, say out loud what to do next - being honest when I have bad focus, talk about it - trust my instinct and do the right thing, if I don't I quickly lose focus and motivation, if opinions don't align learn why
pjc50 5y ago
My personal joke about this is "I used to be a 10x developer but then I took an arrow to the knee". Many, many years ago a colleague wrote about the experience of being bipolar and choosing to stop taking the lithium for a temporary productivity boost and subsequent crash.
- kayodelycaon 5y ago
  > choosing to stop taking the lithium Having been unmediated and undiagnosed for most of my life, mania is a hell of a drug. But the cost is high... really high.

vicda 5y ago

Sounds like ADHD hyperfocus.

sumtechguy 5y ago
There can be that. But also some managers do not like you wander off task. So stick in your lane stick to your tasks... So eventually after years of that you just do only what is needed and skip anything else. After a few of those 'that is very nice but...' conversations you just say screw it and coast. Every once and awhile I get a burst where I can propel my group forward. But then usually I feel like I am bolder chained to them and dragging them down. More than likely I am just average and doing OK.
bkromhout 5y ago
Was just coming here to say, this is my exact situation

dgb23 5y ago

I have the same problem. But the more I tackle it in reasonable ways, the better it gets. Here's some pointers that work for me: - enough sleep, rather get in bed early than late as the quality of the sleep depends on natural rhythms - engage with people that are affected by my work - this is important for motivation and to keep track of what actually matters - operationalize everything, say out loud what to do next - being honest when I have bad focus, talk about it - trust my instinct and do the right thing, if I don't I quickly lose focus and motivation, if opinions don't align learn why

pjc50 5y ago

My personal joke about this is "I used to be a 10x developer but then I took an arrow to the knee". Many, many years ago a colleague wrote about the experience of being bipolar and choosing to stop taking the lithium for a temporary productivity boost and subsequent crash.

kayodelycaon 5y ago
> choosing to stop taking the lithium Having been unmediated and undiagnosed for most of my life, mania is a hell of a drug. But the cost is high... really high.