Software Modernization Projects Dilemma:Think Twice – Focus Is Saying No

14 days ago

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The author moved to a critical product team handling massive traffic after two years with the previous team.
Initially, they focused on software modernization tasks for career growth, believing product delivery wouldn't contribute to their development.
After two years, they successfully delivered modernization tasks like updating libraries and improving deployment pipelines.
During a promotion discussion, their manager pointed out that these tasks lacked business value and customer impact, which are crucial for senior roles.
The manager emphasized that senior roles require cross-team collaboration, broader influence, and visibility beyond individual tasks.
The author learned the importance of focusing on high-impact work that benefits the product and users, rather than isolated technical tasks.
They reflected on Steve Jobs' philosophy that focus is about saying 'no' to low-impact tasks to achieve great products.
The author now prioritizes saying 'no' to tasks that don't add value to the team or business, focusing instead on impactful product work.

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