Why Most Engineers Aren't 10x Engineers

There are two simple reasons

👋 Hi, this is Ryan with this week’s newsletter. I write about software engineering, big tech/startups, and career growth. Thank you for your readership, we hit 42,000 readers this week 🙏 🎉

This week, I’m sharing a brief note on why most engineers aren’t “10x”. If you find the post helpful, please share it with your friends and coworkers. Enjoy!

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There are two simple reasons most engineers aren’t “10x engineers”:

1. No domain expertise - 10x engineers have a deep understanding of a specific area that lets them solve problems that few others can.

2. No influence - Not all 10x engineers have impact just through code. Some lead major initiatives and influence large groups of engineers to build what matters most.

10x engineers exist; impact is governed by a “power law”

Leading large initiatives (2) is “permissioned”. Everyone is chasing these positions, but someone has to give it to you. You’ll need to earn trust by building a track record to get one of these. See “how to receive scope” for examples of this.

Building domain expertise (1) has the advantage of being “permissionless” and therefore fully in your control (although hard).

The best way to develop your expertise is through curiosity. Some of the strongest engineers I know chase problems further than anyone else because they are curious to understand the root cause.

Let your curiosity guide your learning. It’s one of the best ways to develop domain expertise that will help you solve problems that few others can.

Thanks for reading,
Ryan Peterman