What can we learn from the hunt for Osama Bin Laden
I often seek inspiration from unexpected sources (movies, sports, fiction novels, biographies, etc) to think about career narratives. What can we learn from the mistakes of others (characters in a novel, for example) that can be useful for us to bring about behavior change, or provide perspective in our own lives - is a question I sometimes find myself asking.
In that light, I recently rewatched one of my favorite movies, Zero Dark Thirty. Its not an easy one to watch, especially the first few minutes. It draws from true events that unfolded after 9/11 and the efforts to capture Osama Bin Laden. In this blog post, we will delve into key takeaways from the movie and explore how they can be applied to your journey as a software engineer.
Big Things Take a Long Time: In the world of coding and development, it's easy to get impatient when projects seem to progress slowly. Product <> Market fit can take a long time, and you may find yourself stuck on the endless treadmill of feature after feature. Just like the hunt for Osama bin Laden in the movie took years of effort, building complex software systems and products also demands time and persistence. Remember that significant achievements rarely happen overnight, and dedicating yourself to consistent, incremental progress will ultimately lead to the successful completion of your projects / achievement of business goals.
Building Strong Intuition and Conviction: Developing a robust intuition in your field of expertise can significantly enhance your decision-making abilities as a software engineer. The protagonist's journey in the movie demonstrates the importance of building intuition through experience and research. Having strong convictions about the solutions you propose can help you gain the trust of your team and stakeholders. As a software engineer, honing your intuition will empower you to make informed choices and contribute more effectively to your projects. (Note, technical intuition isn’t the only thing, building intuition about your users and their domain is also important!). Again, its not something that can happen overnight, usually takes years.
Crafting Compelling Convictions: In both the movie "Zero Dark Thirty" and your software engineering journey, the art of persuasion plays a pivotal role. Whether you're presenting ideas to your team or advocating for new technologies, crafting compelling arguments that showcase your conviction is essential. Sharing well-structured reasoning, emphasizing the benefits, and addressing potential concerns can help you win support and drive positive change. Just as the protagonist had to convince her superiors, colleagues, and even the President (of the United States), your ability to communicate your ideas effectively can shape the trajectory of your career in software engineering. Unfortunately, sometimes we think of this body of work as “having to play politics”. This is a myopic view of looking at this. For a better understanding of this, I highly recommend you read Cindy Sridharan’s blogpost know how your org works (or how to become a more effective engineer).
Cultivating a Diverse Network and Leveraging Resources: In the world of "Zero Dark Thirty" and software engineering alike, success often hinges on connections and collaboration. Building a diverse network of professional relationships across various departments can offer a multitude of benefits. Much like the protagonist tapped into unexpected resources, software engineers can tap into the expertise of colleagues from different areas. Collaborative problem-solving, aided by insights from diverse perspectives, can lead to innovative solutions that propel your projects forward. Remember, the CIA knew how to get a key piece of information from a Kuwaiti prince (hint: it required a lamborghini gallardo). Similarly, seeking input and assistance (and knowing how to get it) beyond your immediate sphere can be a game-changer in your software engineering endeavors.
Security Requires Consistent Vigilance: Much like the constant vigilance required in the field of national security, maintaining the security of your software is an ongoing endeavor. Following best practices and security protocols with every line of code is vital to preventing vulnerabilities and ensuring the integrity of your applications. Just as security was central to the success of the mission in the movie (and where processes were flouted, bad things happened), prioritizing security in your coding can protect your projects from potential breaches and setbacks.
"Zero Dark Thirty" may seem like an unconventional source of career advice for software engineers, but its themes of patience, conviction, collaboration, and persuasion resonate strongly in the tech world. By embracing these takeaways, you can navigate your software engineering career with greater purpose, resilience, and effectiveness. There are many other lessons in there as well. These are some that rose to the top for me. I would love to hear what your top takeaways from this movie were.