🕵️ Corporate Espionage

Hey everybody!

This week’s newsletter covers key career advice for navigating the tough 2025 job market, a shocking lawsuit where Rippling accuses Deel of corporate espionage, and a deep dive into the myth of the “10x engineer.” Plus, we explore the challenges startup CTOs face when transitioning from coding to leadership.

Let’s dive in!

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💼 Career advice in 2025
The job market is tough right now, and if you're struggling to find a new role, you're definitely not alone. It’s not about you, it’s just the reality of the current hiring landscape. If you're in a job that feels frustrating, try to make the most of it while you search for something better. Look for ways to gain new skills, build connections, or shift your mindset to stay motivated. This blog post offers some really great career advice for 2025.

⚖️ Rippling sues Deel for espionage
Rippling has filed a lawsuit against Deel, alleging the company planted a spy to steal trade secrets. According to the complaint, the individual searched for “Deel” in Rippling’s systems an average of 23 times per day, accessing data on Deel’s customers considering a switch. Rippling claims a honeypot trap exposed Deel’s senior leadership as orchestrators of the scheme.

🫣 A software engineer argues against the myth of the “10x engineer”
Some software engineers seem almost magical in their ability to solve complex problems and produce high-quality code at an incredible pace. This has fueled the concept of the “10x engineer”, someone supposedly ten times more productive than their peers. This blog post argues against the concept, calling it a myth.

📜 The Startup CTO'S Handbook
Most startups rely on a technical cofounder to build the initial codebase and hire the first engineers. However, as the team grows, this person often shifts from coding to management, which can lead to slower development and rising costs. Many technical leaders excel at programming but lack leadership experience, making the transition challenging. This highly praised CTO’s handbook aims to address the issue.

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Reading Good Books WILL CHANGE Your Life

I shared this video a while ago, but many of you may have missed it, and I still think it’s incredibly valuable.

Eight years ago, I made the decision to learn software development and leave my dead-end job. That choice was driven by the books I was reading and the videos I was watching at the time.

They all emphasized one key lesson: consistently invest a small portion of your income in learning.

So I did. I started reading, kept learning, and the rest is history.

Until next week,

Travis.