❓I’m thinking about adding a new section to my newsletter for The Modern Leader showcasing some Engineering Manager roles I come across. Useful or noisy?
December 26, 2025 at 4:55 PM
❓I’m thinking about adding a new section to my newsletter for The Modern Leader showcasing some Engineering Manager roles I come across. Useful or noisy?
(Checking my notifications this morning)
Dad: Merry Xmas
Text group: Merry Christmas love you all!
Chase: Your statement is available
Dad: Merry Xmas
Text group: Merry Christmas love you all!
Chase: Your statement is available
December 25, 2025 at 2:28 PM
(Checking my notifications this morning)
Dad: Merry Xmas
Text group: Merry Christmas love you all!
Chase: Your statement is available
Dad: Merry Xmas
Text group: Merry Christmas love you all!
Chase: Your statement is available
2 weeks until surgery ❤️
Made the payment in full yesterday so I’m locked in. Now to buy all of the necessities for home.
Made the payment in full yesterday so I’m locked in. Now to buy all of the necessities for home.
December 25, 2025 at 3:45 AM
2 weeks until surgery ❤️
Made the payment in full yesterday so I’m locked in. Now to buy all of the necessities for home.
Made the payment in full yesterday so I’m locked in. Now to buy all of the necessities for home.
Officially off work for the next 5 days. How many new side projects should I start? 3? 6? 2 new domains?
December 24, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Officially off work for the next 5 days. How many new side projects should I start? 3? 6? 2 new domains?
10 performance reviews down, 5 to go!
I suppose I should take a coffee break ☕
I suppose I should take a coffee break ☕
December 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
10 performance reviews down, 5 to go!
I suppose I should take a coffee break ☕
I suppose I should take a coffee break ☕
Thank you for supporting me on another great year of writing The Modern Leader 💌
Today's newsletter is the last for the year. See you on Jan 1 for the All Access members download, Jan 5 for the start of the Reset Challenge, and Jan 6 for regular programming!
www.modernleader.is/p/2025-wrap-up
Today's newsletter is the last for the year. See you on Jan 1 for the All Access members download, Jan 5 for the start of the Reset Challenge, and Jan 6 for regular programming!
www.modernleader.is/p/2025-wrap-up
Before we head into the new year
A quick thank you before signing off for 2025
www.modernleader.is
December 23, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Thank you for supporting me on another great year of writing The Modern Leader 💌
Today's newsletter is the last for the year. See you on Jan 1 for the All Access members download, Jan 5 for the start of the Reset Challenge, and Jan 6 for regular programming!
www.modernleader.is/p/2025-wrap-up
Today's newsletter is the last for the year. See you on Jan 1 for the All Access members download, Jan 5 for the start of the Reset Challenge, and Jan 6 for regular programming!
www.modernleader.is/p/2025-wrap-up
I feel like I need to make a donation to an environmental impact fund 😬
December 23, 2025 at 2:02 PM
I feel like I need to make a donation to an environmental impact fund 😬
this is my 2026 vision board
December 22, 2025 at 4:46 PM
this is my 2026 vision board
ICYMI: New post for After Burnout on how I'm approaching goal setting differently in 2026
December 22, 2025 at 2:23 PM
ICYMI: New post for After Burnout on how I'm approaching goal setting differently in 2026
signing on to work today when most people took the full 2 weeks off
a man is dancing in a living room with a foosball table
Alt: a man is dancing in a living room with a foosball table
media.tenor.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:17 PM
signing on to work today when most people took the full 2 weeks off
Where did “no fluff” even come from? Like why is AI so insistent on writing it?
December 22, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Where did “no fluff” even come from? Like why is AI so insistent on writing it?
My favorite part of the end of the year is realizing that nothing I thought I would care about going into 2025 actually made my top list of things I ended up caring about.
It doesn’t matter what goals I set for 2026. The year will have me on its own timeline.
It doesn’t matter what goals I set for 2026. The year will have me on its own timeline.
December 21, 2025 at 4:57 PM
My favorite part of the end of the year is realizing that nothing I thought I would care about going into 2025 actually made my top list of things I ended up caring about.
It doesn’t matter what goals I set for 2026. The year will have me on its own timeline.
It doesn’t matter what goals I set for 2026. The year will have me on its own timeline.
Starting my new career as a photographer. Thank you for your support
December 21, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Starting my new career as a photographer. Thank you for your support
My ED dietitian has SO much patience with me while we continue to rewire my brain when it comes to food. The holidays are always a hard time for me for many reasons (food, family, lipedema diagnosis) but my dietitian is magic when it comes to patiently calling me on my shit when I start spiraling.
December 20, 2025 at 3:37 PM
My ED dietitian has SO much patience with me while we continue to rewire my brain when it comes to food. The holidays are always a hard time for me for many reasons (food, family, lipedema diagnosis) but my dietitian is magic when it comes to patiently calling me on my shit when I start spiraling.
✨ Enshittification ✨
Facebook is testing a monthly $14.99 subscription, and telling users they need to subscribe if they want to post more than 2 links a month.
techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/f...
techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/f...
Facebook is testing a link-posting limit for professional accounts and pages | TechCrunch
Meta said that the test impacts professional accounts and pages on Facebook.
techcrunch.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:54 PM
✨ Enshittification ✨
It's amazing how many things I suddenly need to do before I can start writing (14) performance reviews.
I'm magically so busy!
I'm magically so busy!
December 19, 2025 at 2:54 PM
It's amazing how many things I suddenly need to do before I can start writing (14) performance reviews.
I'm magically so busy!
I'm magically so busy!
Reposted by Kelly Vaughn
Exciting news: I’m running a free 15-day Manager Reset Challenge for senior ICs + managers starting Jan 5! 🎉
One short prompt each weekday to reset how you communicate, delegate, prioritize, and lead in 2026.
Join here 👉 modernleader.is/reset
One short prompt each weekday to reset how you communicate, delegate, prioritize, and lead in 2026.
Join here 👉 modernleader.is/reset
2026 Manager Reset Challenge | The Modern Leader
Get quick, actionable insights to elevate your engineering leadership in just 5 minutes a week. Trusted by 5,000+ professionals.
modernleader.is
December 8, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Exciting news: I’m running a free 15-day Manager Reset Challenge for senior ICs + managers starting Jan 5! 🎉
One short prompt each weekday to reset how you communicate, delegate, prioritize, and lead in 2026.
Join here 👉 modernleader.is/reset
One short prompt each weekday to reset how you communicate, delegate, prioritize, and lead in 2026.
Join here 👉 modernleader.is/reset
3 weeks until surgery #1 of 3! 🎉
December 17, 2025 at 4:57 PM
3 weeks until surgery #1 of 3! 🎉
One day I'm going to write another book, but I feel like there are already so many leadership books
December 16, 2025 at 3:58 PM
One day I'm going to write another book, but I feel like there are already so many leadership books
Sometimes nothing is “wrong” at work.
The company changed. You changed. The fit didn’t get renegotiated.
Wrote about this today, especially relevant as review season approaches.
www.modernleader.is/p/why-cultur...
The company changed. You changed. The fit didn’t get renegotiated.
Wrote about this today, especially relevant as review season approaches.
www.modernleader.is/p/why-cultur...
December 16, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Sometimes nothing is “wrong” at work.
The company changed. You changed. The fit didn’t get renegotiated.
Wrote about this today, especially relevant as review season approaches.
www.modernleader.is/p/why-cultur...
The company changed. You changed. The fit didn’t get renegotiated.
Wrote about this today, especially relevant as review season approaches.
www.modernleader.is/p/why-cultur...
I would like to have a very stern discussion with whoever decided to book several meetings on the final week of work for 2026 (it's me, I would like to have a discussion with myself)
December 15, 2025 at 10:05 PM
I would like to have a very stern discussion with whoever decided to book several meetings on the final week of work for 2026 (it's me, I would like to have a discussion with myself)
December 14, 2025 at 3:12 PM
getting into the holiday spirit (seasonal depression)
getting into the holiday spirit (8pm bedtime)
December 14, 2025 at 2:25 AM
getting into the holiday spirit (seasonal depression)
(Sitting in the car with my husband and MIL in calm silence)
MIL: What is a Rick Roll?
MIL: What is a Rick Roll?
December 13, 2025 at 11:00 PM
(Sitting in the car with my husband and MIL in calm silence)
MIL: What is a Rick Roll?
MIL: What is a Rick Roll?