Steve Huynh
@alengineered.bsky.social
YouTuber | Software Engineering | Career Advice
Helping professionals achieve goals with a life engineered.
Helping professionals achieve goals with a life engineered.
Your development isn't linear. The faster you understand that the further you’ll go.
Everything is an experiment.
Growth happens in fits and spurts, and by the seat of your pants.
Personal development isn't about the end goal, it's about who you become during the journey.
Everything is an experiment.
Growth happens in fits and spurts, and by the seat of your pants.
Personal development isn't about the end goal, it's about who you become during the journey.
March 14, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Your development isn't linear. The faster you understand that the further you’ll go.
Everything is an experiment.
Growth happens in fits and spurts, and by the seat of your pants.
Personal development isn't about the end goal, it's about who you become during the journey.
Everything is an experiment.
Growth happens in fits and spurts, and by the seat of your pants.
Personal development isn't about the end goal, it's about who you become during the journey.
Most people could transform their careers by writing down their thoughts every day for a few years.
March 13, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Most people could transform their careers by writing down their thoughts every day for a few years.
In your twenties, absorb from role models.
In your thirties, apply it to the world.
In your forties, teach it to others.
Most people spend their whole lives scrolling empty content and never live any of these stages.
In your thirties, apply it to the world.
In your forties, teach it to others.
Most people spend their whole lives scrolling empty content and never live any of these stages.
March 12, 2025 at 1:02 PM
In your twenties, absorb from role models.
In your thirties, apply it to the world.
In your forties, teach it to others.
Most people spend their whole lives scrolling empty content and never live any of these stages.
In your thirties, apply it to the world.
In your forties, teach it to others.
Most people spend their whole lives scrolling empty content and never live any of these stages.
I've never regretted:
- Spending more time with my kids
- Ghosting from meetings where I know I’m not needed
- Saying no to busywork
- Investing in deep work sessions
- Taking a walk to clear my mind
Protect your bandwidth like it's your most valuable asset because it is.
- Spending more time with my kids
- Ghosting from meetings where I know I’m not needed
- Saying no to busywork
- Investing in deep work sessions
- Taking a walk to clear my mind
Protect your bandwidth like it's your most valuable asset because it is.
March 11, 2025 at 1:02 PM
I've never regretted:
- Spending more time with my kids
- Ghosting from meetings where I know I’m not needed
- Saying no to busywork
- Investing in deep work sessions
- Taking a walk to clear my mind
Protect your bandwidth like it's your most valuable asset because it is.
- Spending more time with my kids
- Ghosting from meetings where I know I’m not needed
- Saying no to busywork
- Investing in deep work sessions
- Taking a walk to clear my mind
Protect your bandwidth like it's your most valuable asset because it is.
There's too much focus on:
- The best AI model
- Languages
- Frameworks
- Libraries
And not enough focus on:
- Systems thinking
- Pattern recognition
- Reasoning from first principles
- Solving real problems for people
Developing mental models isn't boring theory. It's practical leverage.
- The best AI model
- Languages
- Frameworks
- Libraries
And not enough focus on:
- Systems thinking
- Pattern recognition
- Reasoning from first principles
- Solving real problems for people
Developing mental models isn't boring theory. It's practical leverage.
March 7, 2025 at 2:02 PM
There's too much focus on:
- The best AI model
- Languages
- Frameworks
- Libraries
And not enough focus on:
- Systems thinking
- Pattern recognition
- Reasoning from first principles
- Solving real problems for people
Developing mental models isn't boring theory. It's practical leverage.
- The best AI model
- Languages
- Frameworks
- Libraries
And not enough focus on:
- Systems thinking
- Pattern recognition
- Reasoning from first principles
- Solving real problems for people
Developing mental models isn't boring theory. It's practical leverage.
The world will always pay more for your demonstrated value than your credentials will. Build in public and launch or stay invisible forever.
March 6, 2025 at 2:01 PM
The world will always pay more for your demonstrated value than your credentials will. Build in public and launch or stay invisible forever.
The most dangerous addiction is busyness without anything to show for it. Eliminate zero days.
March 5, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The most dangerous addiction is busyness without anything to show for it. Eliminate zero days.
How to increase your technical relevance:
- Learn fundamentals more
- Practice problem-solving more
- Build projects more
- Share your work in public more
- Help others understand complex concepts more
Technical relevance comes from putting in the reps.
- Learn fundamentals more
- Practice problem-solving more
- Build projects more
- Share your work in public more
- Help others understand complex concepts more
Technical relevance comes from putting in the reps.
March 4, 2025 at 2:02 PM
How to increase your technical relevance:
- Learn fundamentals more
- Practice problem-solving more
- Build projects more
- Share your work in public more
- Help others understand complex concepts more
Technical relevance comes from putting in the reps.
- Learn fundamentals more
- Practice problem-solving more
- Build projects more
- Share your work in public more
- Help others understand complex concepts more
Technical relevance comes from putting in the reps.
Great work never speak for itself—it whispers.
The alternative is that you’re silent hoping others will notice you.
Your work matters. Make sure it’s seen.
Read more about this mindset shift here: https://alifeengineered.substack.com/...
The alternative is that you’re silent hoping others will notice you.
Your work matters. Make sure it’s seen.
Read more about this mindset shift here: https://alifeengineered.substack.com/...
A Life Engineered | Steve Huynh | Substack
Your weekly dose of practical and realistic tech career advice and insights. Leverage the combined wisdom of industry leaders and my 20 years of experience navigating the tech landscape to unlock your full potential. Click to read A Life Engineered, by Steve Huynh, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.
alifeengineered.substack.com
March 3, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Great work never speak for itself—it whispers.
The alternative is that you’re silent hoping others will notice you.
Your work matters. Make sure it’s seen.
Read more about this mindset shift here: https://alifeengineered.substack.com/...
The alternative is that you’re silent hoping others will notice you.
Your work matters. Make sure it’s seen.
Read more about this mindset shift here: https://alifeengineered.substack.com/...
Here’s what I’ve learned:
Leadership isn’t just about hitting targets—it’s about helping others reach their potential.
And it starts with one simple thing: 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.
Leadership isn’t just about hitting targets—it’s about helping others reach their potential.
And it starts with one simple thing: 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.
February 28, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Here’s what I’ve learned:
Leadership isn’t just about hitting targets—it’s about helping others reach their potential.
And it starts with one simple thing: 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.
Leadership isn’t just about hitting targets—it’s about helping others reach their potential.
And it starts with one simple thing: 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.
When I started at Amazon this wasn't far from the truth
February 10, 2025 at 2:01 PM
When I started at Amazon this wasn't far from the truth
Really, why ARE all comments like this?
February 3, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Really, why ARE all comments like this?
If you want to know someone’s actual priorities, look at their calendar.
If family comes first how much of your day goes to them?
Money comes and goes but nobody can buy more tim
If family comes first how much of your day goes to them?
Money comes and goes but nobody can buy more tim
January 30, 2025 at 2:01 PM
If you want to know someone’s actual priorities, look at their calendar.
If family comes first how much of your day goes to them?
Money comes and goes but nobody can buy more tim
If family comes first how much of your day goes to them?
Money comes and goes but nobody can buy more tim
People are using AI backwards. Don’t just have it do tasks, have it help you up-level your skills.
If you over-use AI to do everything for you, your skills with atrophy.
If you continue to educate yourself you’re using AI to get better.
If you over-use AI to do everything for you, your skills with atrophy.
If you continue to educate yourself you’re using AI to get better.
January 29, 2025 at 2:02 PM
People are using AI backwards. Don’t just have it do tasks, have it help you up-level your skills.
If you over-use AI to do everything for you, your skills with atrophy.
If you continue to educate yourself you’re using AI to get better.
If you over-use AI to do everything for you, your skills with atrophy.
If you continue to educate yourself you’re using AI to get better.
When someone looks older I tend to think by default that they know more and question them less.
When someone looks like they’re straight out of school it’s hard for people to take them as seriously, even when their ideas are stellar.
What do you think?
When someone looks like they’re straight out of school it’s hard for people to take them as seriously, even when their ideas are stellar.
What do you think?
January 28, 2025 at 2:01 PM
When someone looks older I tend to think by default that they know more and question them less.
When someone looks like they’re straight out of school it’s hard for people to take them as seriously, even when their ideas are stellar.
What do you think?
When someone looks like they’re straight out of school it’s hard for people to take them as seriously, even when their ideas are stellar.
What do you think?
It's been a while but I've decided to pick up some coding tasks, and this is how I feel.
January 27, 2025 at 2:02 PM
It's been a while but I've decided to pick up some coding tasks, and this is how I feel.
The best programming language to learn in 2025 is English. Software is a team sport.
To build big things requires that you clearly communicate with others.
I wish schools taught people how to write an effective email.
Your ideas matter only if people understand them.
To build big things requires that you clearly communicate with others.
I wish schools taught people how to write an effective email.
Your ideas matter only if people understand them.
January 24, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The best programming language to learn in 2025 is English. Software is a team sport.
To build big things requires that you clearly communicate with others.
I wish schools taught people how to write an effective email.
Your ideas matter only if people understand them.
To build big things requires that you clearly communicate with others.
I wish schools taught people how to write an effective email.
Your ideas matter only if people understand them.
Creativity doesn’t come on a deadline.
It doesn’t happen when your stressed. The best ideas come when you’re recharged.
If you need to be creative hit the reset button not the turbo button.
It doesn’t happen when your stressed. The best ideas come when you’re recharged.
If you need to be creative hit the reset button not the turbo button.
January 23, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Creativity doesn’t come on a deadline.
It doesn’t happen when your stressed. The best ideas come when you’re recharged.
If you need to be creative hit the reset button not the turbo button.
It doesn’t happen when your stressed. The best ideas come when you’re recharged.
If you need to be creative hit the reset button not the turbo button.
The problem is that as humans we are conditioned to avoid uncomfortable situations.
That’s fine if you want to stay put. In that case comfort is great.
Otherwise comfort == stagnation.
That’s fine if you want to stay put. In that case comfort is great.
Otherwise comfort == stagnation.
January 22, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The problem is that as humans we are conditioned to avoid uncomfortable situations.
That’s fine if you want to stay put. In that case comfort is great.
Otherwise comfort == stagnation.
That’s fine if you want to stay put. In that case comfort is great.
Otherwise comfort == stagnation.
I think you’re truly rested and recovered when you feel the itch to get back into the action.
Too many people start the process but go back to work way too soon.
Too many people start the process but go back to work way too soon.
January 16, 2025 at 2:01 PM
I think you’re truly rested and recovered when you feel the itch to get back into the action.
Too many people start the process but go back to work way too soon.
Too many people start the process but go back to work way too soon.
I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder because I got a writing degree instead of a STEM degree.
After breaking into tech I realized that code isn’t everything because big software projects are a team sport.
The best software developers are good coders with great communication skills.
After breaking into tech I realized that code isn’t everything because big software projects are a team sport.
The best software developers are good coders with great communication skills.
January 15, 2025 at 2:01 PM
I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder because I got a writing degree instead of a STEM degree.
After breaking into tech I realized that code isn’t everything because big software projects are a team sport.
The best software developers are good coders with great communication skills.
After breaking into tech I realized that code isn’t everything because big software projects are a team sport.
The best software developers are good coders with great communication skills.
AI will turn non-coders into coders, so everybody can experience 0 → 1.
AI will turn every 1x developer into a 10x developer.
If you’re already a 10x developer you’ll become a 1000x developer.
The age of a 1 person billion dollar company is coming.
AI will turn every 1x developer into a 10x developer.
If you’re already a 10x developer you’ll become a 1000x developer.
The age of a 1 person billion dollar company is coming.
January 14, 2025 at 2:01 PM
AI will turn non-coders into coders, so everybody can experience 0 → 1.
AI will turn every 1x developer into a 10x developer.
If you’re already a 10x developer you’ll become a 1000x developer.
The age of a 1 person billion dollar company is coming.
AI will turn every 1x developer into a 10x developer.
If you’re already a 10x developer you’ll become a 1000x developer.
The age of a 1 person billion dollar company is coming.
I’ll take a great debugger over a great coder any day of the week, but I’ll take a prolific code deleter over all of them.
January 13, 2025 at 2:01 PM
I’ll take a great debugger over a great coder any day of the week, but I’ll take a prolific code deleter over all of them.
Ok engineers deliver quickly. Great engineers deliver at high quality. Exceptional engineers deliver quickly at high quality.
January 11, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Ok engineers deliver quickly. Great engineers deliver at high quality. Exceptional engineers deliver quickly at high quality.
If you want a job in today’s market you simply have to stand out.
Too many people focus on breadth but by doing so they just blend in more.
The easiest way to stand out is to go deep because nobody does that.
Too many people focus on breadth but by doing so they just blend in more.
The easiest way to stand out is to go deep because nobody does that.
January 10, 2025 at 2:01 PM
If you want a job in today’s market you simply have to stand out.
Too many people focus on breadth but by doing so they just blend in more.
The easiest way to stand out is to go deep because nobody does that.
Too many people focus on breadth but by doing so they just blend in more.
The easiest way to stand out is to go deep because nobody does that.