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.

Inside you'll learn how 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.

This book is for you if:

• 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.