Build Stuff 2017

Our company started last year in dire straits. Our strategy was not working. All the key metrics were slowly drifting downwards. That continued for most of the year. Many people left. We even did a re-org. I've had multiple last conversations. Sometimes, trying to stop people from leaving. Other times, telling them that they'll have to leave. This story will be centered on three such conversations.

The first one with my lead, who decided to leave the company.
The second one with a developer, who was offered a, what he perceived to be, better opportunity.
The third one with a developer, who we had to let go during the re-org.

This story has a happy ending. I'm still with the company. We managed to turn it around and have never been in a better position.

I've learned a lot through last year. I'll talk about mistakes, diving saves, honesty and delivering bad news. But most importantly, I'll focus on effort and result. I'll answer which of them is more valuable and why.