[s_Hogg]

I like the point he makes. It's worth expanding on a little; why don't more people do what he's suggesting and spend most of their time trying to just do stuff they think will be good I stead of optimising for something else? At a basic level, it can be pretty scary, particularly if you're in the situation he describes where you don't quite trust yourself yet.

We have a big problem with that where I'm from. We get a lot of brain drain going over to California (ok fine, everyone does), not necessarily because of the opportunities that are undeniably present there but because early-career tech people here are inherently less willing to accept the proposition that it's possible to make the work cool where you are; not everyone will work for Google Brain once in the valley, anyway.

I struggled greatly with this and had a big misadventure going to the US myself but the perspective it gave me on the need to lean in(wards) was worth it. Hope it is for someone else too.

[tppiotrowski]

You have to be able to explain what you're working on to your partner's parents and friends. If they haven't heard about it in the newspaper or on TV they won't be impressed and might not want you to be their in-law.

Edit: interviewers are also unimpressed by personal projects they've never heard of. It's the publicity that gives you clout, not the quality of your project.

Edit 2: Just to clarify, I wholeheartedly agree with the author and also try to build according to their ethos, but I've felt the insecurity they describe at various point in my life.