Field notes
Expert opinions. Independent views.
Real experiences from operators building with AI in the SDLC, including what worked, what failed, and what changed. We freely give our content. Our only requirement is that you attribute it to here.
By Norman and Nathan — practitioners who build production software with AI agents.
All content reflects the personal opinions of its authors and does not represent any employer, client, or affiliated organization.
Articles
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What Got You Here Won’t Keep You Here: A Letter to Technology Executives
Executive Deck ↗Listen ↗Technology executives: the skills that got you here won't keep you here. A frank letter about adapting your leadership for the AI-native era.
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What Got You Here Won’t Keep You Here: A Letter to Mid and Late-Career Developers
Executive Deck ↗Listen ↗Mid and late-career developers: AI isn't here to replace you. But developers who use AI will replace those who don't. Here's how to adapt.
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If Your CFO Is Picking Your AI Tools, You Do Not Have an AI Strategy
Executive Deck ↗Listen ↗Your CFO should absolutely control the money. Your procurement team should absolutely manage the buying process. But neither of them should be deciding which AI capabilities…
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Your Sales CRM Is Now a Tax, Not a Moat
Executive Deck ↗Listen ↗Your revenue team already exports pipeline data out of the CRM to do the real work somewhere else. You are not buying a strategic platform. You…
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Stop Asking for “Advanced” AI Training
Executive Deck ↗Listen ↗Advanced AI training is a status marker, not a learning objective. Discover what you actually need to know based on your role and current skill level.
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You Do Not Have Time for a Two-Hour Kickoff but You Have Time to Fail for a Year
Executive Deck ↗A VP told me his org only had 30 minutes for AI training. I recommended the two-hour kickoff that has consistently produced results. He said they…
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Your Best Salesperson Didn’t Pick Salesforce. Your Best Engineer Shouldn’t Pick Their AI.
Executive Deck ↗Listen ↗Your best engineer shouldn't pick their AI tools any more than your best salesperson picked Salesforce. Make AI infrastructure, not individual choice.
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As CxO, the 2 Things Your HR Needs to Do Different
Executive Deck ↗Listen ↗Your HR is declining AI-native candidates who ship in weeks what your teams ship in quarters. Two critical changes your HR needs to make before you…
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What Got You Here Won’t Keep You Here: A Letter to VPs of Engineering
Executive Deck ↗Listen ↗VPs of Engineering: your playbook is obsolete. Here's how AI changes everything about how you lead, measure, and develop your organization.
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How to Win Without Disruption: The Senior Director’s Guide to AI That Actually Wins
Executive Deck ↗Listen ↗Senior Directors: Win the AI transformation without disrupting your political capital. A practical guide to delivering results while managing up.
Essential or Ornamental
Three companies. Three choices. One satisfactory ending.
One does nothing. One maps the waste. One bets everything on twelve people in a warehouse.
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