Always try to be irreplaceable

There is a good life philosophy to adhere to in the workplace, which is “always be quitting”. This does not mean thinking about quitting work. But act like you can leave in no time. Paradoxically, it will make you a better engineer and open up opportunities for growth.



So what does it mean to be ready to leave all the time? It means "making yourself replaceable"; "Humiliate yourself"; "Automate your work." You may have heard these more popular shortcuts (and you will need to sort it out and figure out what it is), and they give you a hint on what to do.



The key is NOT to be irreplaceable. If you are irreplaceable, then you will be stuck in your specific job as long as that job is relevant, with very little opportunity to take a break (no vacations, no growth). And when (not if) the work becomes unnecessary, your position will also become unnecessary.



Paradoxically, by being easily replaceable, you set yourself free. You make it easier for yourself to transition to a higher-level role and it is easier for you to change the projects you are working on. Do not agree? Confused? Here are 10 specific things you can do:

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Please note that nothing here is intended to be a disclaimer. You still have to be responsible for all projects and teams that you own, and you must be responsible for as long as you are in your role. This is important because it is this responsibility that will open new gates.



Finally, note that by doing all of the above, you are actively improving your entire team, not just yourself, even if you are an individual contributor. You are actually practicing a subset of skills sometimes associated with boss / subordinate + engineers.