Conor's Newsletter: Issue 36
Habits of experts, pushing through friction, and enterprise software
Let's get to the stories and links that I thought were worth sharing this week. As always, enjoy the newsletter. If this was forwarded to you, you can go ahead and subscribe at conordewey.com.
What I read —
This post helped me understand Markov chain Monte Carlo way better than I did previously. Both aptly named and well done. MCMC Without the Bullshit.
This message has been something that has stuck with me over the last few years, and this was a welcome reminder. The best things often start small. Projects and Companies.
Designing good software is easier said than done. At least, it seems that way. I know I have a lot to learn. MIT Press lays out some helpful mental models here. Eight Habits of Expert Software Designers.
Practical data science in industry often looks a lot like this. Master these strategies and watch everything else get easier. The UX of Data.
The world is driven by tail events. Nothing radical here, but this post blew my mind, nonetheless. Three Big Things.
What I found interesting —
This talk from Dan Na of Squarespace on pushing through friction to deliver results couldn't be more spot-on with my experience. Pushing Through Friction.
I've never thought about enterprise software this way, but the "baby outfit" metaphor is pretty excellent. Enterprise Software Sucks.
Quote I'm pondering —
"Watson, Deep Blue, and ever-better machine learning algorithms are cool. But the most valuable companies in the future won’t ask what problems can be solved with computers alone. Instead, they’ll ask: how can computers help humans solve hard problems?" — Peter Thiel