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I'm curious about why and how you've become a CTO? Presumably, you don't have to do it if you don't want to. If that's true, be nice to yourself and remember t

I'm curious about why and how you've become a CTO? Presumably, you don't have to do it if you don't want to. If that's true, be nice to yourself and remember that on a regular basis :) What you've described is pretty much the way many CTOs would describe the job. Don't worry. Treat it like any new discipline. Seek out expertise and learn from it. Make notes and crib sheets and read them regularly (they might be about financial management, or about people management, whatever you need). Find a mentor if you can. Don't burn out. Don't be a jerk (ignore the more outspoken comments in this thread, you are clearly not well suited to sociopathy, congratulations). You will not be able to please everyone all the time. You can't be everyone's friend all the time. But you can probably be decent to everyone nearly all the time. Lying is shitty. Really, really shitty. Think about it. Doubt is normal, but check yourself for imposter syndrome on the reg. Ask yourself: what do you want? If you don't like who you're becoming, move on. Good luck :)

dijit 4y ago
Apologies for not responding sooner. The reason I became a CTO is three-fold: Firstly, I was recommended for the position by the managing director of a large (the largest?) Swedish games company, so I figured it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Secondly, I asked my old CTO if it was a good fit for me as I’d been a manager before and I felt I preferred IC, I also have an abrasive way of communicating which worried me greatly, his response was that the abrasive parts of my communication style will melt away because it is bore out of frustration. Finally; I have worked in meritocratic cultures but only when there was significant external political pressure from the publisher. Theoretically I could replicate that culture but without the political cruft; additionally I would be in a position to set the company up with long-term technological investments and partnerships: which I was trying to do before but managers are usually focused on short term goals. > Find a mentor if you can. > Don't burn out. > Don't be a jerk (ignore the more outspoken comments in this thread, you are clearly not well suited to sociopathy, congratulations). > You will not be able to please everyone all the time. You can't be everyone's friend all the time. But you can probably be decent to everyone nearly all the time. This is good advice and I appreciate it greatly, I will wear these words going forward. Thank you. :)

dijit 4y ago

Apologies for not responding sooner. The reason I became a CTO is three-fold: Firstly, I was recommended for the position by the managing director of a large (the largest?) Swedish games company, so I figured it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Secondly, I asked my old CTO if it was a good fit for me as I’d been a manager before and I felt I preferred IC, I also have an abrasive way of communicating which worried me greatly, his response was that the abrasive parts of my communication style will melt away because it is bore out of frustration. Finally; I have worked in meritocratic cultures but only when there was significant external political pressure from the publisher. Theoretically I could replicate that culture but without the political cruft; additionally I would be in a position to set the company up with long-term technological investments and partnerships: which I was trying to do before but managers are usually focused on short term goals. > Find a mentor if you can. > Don't burn out. > Don't be a jerk (ignore the more outspoken comments in this thread, you are clearly not well suited to sociopathy, congratulations). > You will not be able to please everyone all the time. You can't be everyone's friend all the time. But you can probably be decent to everyone nearly all the time. This is good advice and I appreciate it greatly, I will wear these words going forward. Thank you. :)