| Fully agree on understanding users. I usually strive to develop a strong working relationship with users. Working with them 1:1 is even better. I like to set clear expectations upfront about what I’m capable of helping with to manage my time well. When I take the time to observe users working - understanding their concerns, figuring out their pain points, gathering feedback - it gives customers a sense of ownership, and they will probably stay customers for a while. I got into software development after a long stint at Apple Retail during college; a good place to weather the storm from the terrible 2008 recession. The experience I got working as a Mac Genius at Apple has benefited me more than anything else I did for my career in software engineering. The deep empathy for users I have developed from observing dozens of people use their devices for 8 hours a day, 8 years is the biggest asset of all my skillsets. I don’t claim to be an expert at how users feel and think; but it’s sure thorough enough to be a positive influence on my work. If I feel a user is ”doing it wrong;” a simple practice for me in being empathetic is to ask myself “how can we do better?” |