My career has been defined by "hard things"—from building a noSQL service platform at Yahoo to writing Modern System Administration. Over two decades in the trenches of systems engineering, I’ve learned a vital truth: the secret to tackling complexity isn't just technical expertise; it's the strength of the community around you.
I recently visited Nirvana Soul in San Francisco and was struck by the reminder on their wall: "We Can Do Hard Things."
As an Engineering Manager, I often reflect on how we challenge our teams to reach their full potential without hitting a breaking point. We can do hard things—whether that’s improving operability or overhauling legacy infrastructure—but we can only do them consistently if we build a sustainable foundation.
To me, "doing hard things" in 2026 means:
- Fostering Community: Encouraging a culture of experimentation where it is safe to fail, learn, and iterate.
- Prioritizing Reliability: Moving beyond "firefighting" mode to build systems that allow for deep work and innovation.
- Leading with Empathy: Ensuring the people building the systems are as well-cared for as the systems themselves.
Systems are hard. Leadership is hard. Community building is hard. But the "We" is what makes it possible.
Let’s celebrate your wins
What is one "hard thing" you tackled in the last year that you’re proud of? I’d love to hear about the people or communities that helped you get across the finish line. Let’s start the year celebrating our wins in the comments!
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