My first line in future software design documents

"This document might be a little out of date, but skim it anyway to get an idea: it might help."

Engineers Needed

The world needs engineers and science-types. If you're not needed in your current role, find a way to move to where you are. The world is bigger than your team, bigger than your company, even bigger than your city.

After decades and decades of the world shrinking due to technology, it's time to sit back and reflect that the world is still a pretty large and exciting place that needs people who can do what you do. Polish up that resume and get out there.

One is silver and the other’s gold

Make new friends,


But keep the old.


One is silver


and the other's gold.

The song is about new friends vs. old friends, but really it's not new or old, it's how deep the friendship is, especially with our digital age. Old friends tend to be deeper because we have had longer to share more of our lives with them, but older doesn't mean deeper.

Deep friends are friends with whom you can comfortably share anything in life: your most private challenges to your most petty triumphs. The more of these sorts of things you're comfortable discussing with a friend, the more intimate the friendship.

Technology can be a big barrier to intimate conversations, so plan activities with friends that encourage deep conversations (something beyond the weather, movies, politics, like the meaning of life, hopes and fears, and even your crushes). Camping works well for this, even with a larger group.

When building your social circle, don't go for quantity. Go for depth and deeper sharing. Go for intimate friendships. Deepen those friendships now.