Slow Down to Get Ahead

I got fired for being right.

Not for being wrong. For being right-but saying it the wrong way, to the wrong people, at the wrong time.

That experience, and dozens like it over 30+ years in the tech industry, taught me something no coding bootcamp or MBA program ever will: how you communicate matters as much as what you know.

Slow Down to Get Ahead is the book I wish I'd had when I started my career. Twenty-six chapters of hard-won lessons about the soft skills that actually determine whether you succeed-or sabotage yourself. Every chapter is a mistake I made so you don't have to.

• Adopt "The Answer is Yes"-the mindset shift that opens doors you didn't know existed
• Say no without being a jerk (and why most people get this wrong)
• Disagree without getting fired-I learned this one the hard way
• Manage your temper when everything is on fire
• Stop using weasel words that undermine your credibility
• Navigate social media without torpedoing your career
• Recognize unconscious biases that derail conversations before they start
• Build trust through honesty while keeping professional discretion

Each chapter includes real stories from my career at companies including HP, Compaq, Dell, and Disney-plus practical strategies you can use in your next meeting, email, or difficult conversation.

• You're great at code but suspect "the people stuff" is holding you back
• You've watched less talented colleagues get promoted while you got overlooked
• You've ever said the wrong thing at work and watched it blow up
• Technical skills got you promoted-but won't keep you there

Free practice materials-checklists, worksheets, email templates, and more-are available to all readers. Details are inside the book.

Technical skills get you hired. Communication skills get you promoted-or fired. Choose your words wisely.