Managing Humans: Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager, Second Edition

Lost in Translation

Early on in your mastery of a complex thing, you are going to catastrophically overestimate your ability.

Your confidence is going to be artificially high. This new job, hobby, or sport is going to appear magically easy. You’re going to feel gifted. Those watching your miraculous aptitude keep saying “beginner’s luck,” but that’s neither what you’re hearing nor what they’re actually saying. What you’re hearing them say is, “We are jealous that you are gifted at this thing you totally don’t understand,” but what they’re actually saying is, “We understand it’s intoxicating to instantly feel like an expert and we will most certainly ...