This CEO, even if he were an engineer, would probably not hire himself even though he thinks he’s the ideal specimen. He’s likely a max cash, 30u30 sort of person. But he’s not wrong if you optimize for max speed and minimum cost of hiring. You should always aim to be the best at what you do. It does not mean that will become your card to every role. You need to complement that with drive (being able to deliver, no m…
"The idea of strong opinions, loosely held is that you can make bombastic statements, and everyone should implicitly assume that you’ll happily change your mind in a heartbeat if new data suggests you are wrong. It is supposed to lead to a collegial, competitive environment in which ideas get a vigorous defense, the best of them survive, and no-one gets their feelings hurt in the process. What really happens? The loudest, most bombastic engineer states their case with certainty, and that shuts down discussion. Other people either assume the loudmouth knows best, or don’t want to stick out their neck and risk criticism and shame. This is especially true if the loudmouth is senior, or there is any other power differential." - Michael