Jul 24, 2024

Coffee with Developers - Saron Yitbarek

Is your career insulated from layoffs? Learn why a side project is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for developers in today's economy.

#1about 3 minutes

Finding a creative and human path into technology

Reading the Steve Jobs biography revealed that technology could be a human-centered, creative pursuit, not just a technical one.

#2about 3 minutes

Embracing the multi-hyphenate identity over being a generalist

The term "multi-hyphenate," borrowed from the entertainment industry, better captures the value of having multiple skilled roles than the negative connotation of "generalist."

#3about 3 minutes

Building a community before building a product

After a product pivot, the focus shifted to building the BCM community first to understand user pain points and let a product emerge organically.

#4about 3 minutes

Diversifying income as career insulation in a tough economy

While not for everyone, creating multiple income streams provides a financial buffer against layoffs and economic uncertainty, but requires patience through feast-and-famine cycles.

#5about 2 minutes

The fluid journey between full-time jobs and entrepreneurship

Community members often move between having a full-time job and being a full-time entrepreneur based on changing life priorities and opportunities.

#6about 4 minutes

Designing a community as a gym instead of a workout class

Shifting the community model from a rigid "workout class" to a flexible "gym" allows members to engage on their own terms and get value even as lurkers.

#7about 2 minutes

How major life changes activate community engagement

The primary trigger for inactive members to re-engage with the community is a significant life event, such as a job search, product launch, or hiring need.

#8about 4 minutes

Creating space to discuss burnout and work-life balance

The community intentionally avoids hustle culture by creating a space to discuss burnout, family responsibilities, and health to support members as whole people.