12 More Essential Skills for Software Architects

Chapter 5. Management

“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I’m actually as proud of the things we haven’t done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things.”

—Steve Jobs

“Be willing to make decisions. That’s the most important quality in a good leader. Don’t fall victim to what I call the ‘ready—aim—aim—aim—aim syndrome.’ You must be willing to fire.”

—T. Boone Pickens

“Boundary setting is really a huge part of time management.”

—Jim Loehr

“People who don’t take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year. People who do take risks generally make about ...