Friday Links: High performance, AI's Herbalife moment, and lessons at 50
26 Jun 2026 #mondaylinksHey there.
Quick update before the links:
The first draft of Street-Smart Coding Manifesto is done, at 4,880 words.
I already did a first pass of editing, looking for typos. (No matter how often I reread a draft, I always fear typos.) Next pass is to remove duplication and simplify ideas.
As usual, here are 4 links I thought were worth sharing this week:
#1. A manager reveals what truly sets high performers from average performers (3min). Spoiler alert: Not their code.
#2. Generative AI is having its Herbalife moment (11min). Vibe coding startups are charging “their victims” upfront, without any guarantees.
#3. Be careful with what you put into ChatGPT. Remember it’s not a confessional, but a database. Your conversations are stored even after asking to delete them (6min).
#4. I’m far from 50, but I like sneaking into lessons from later stages of life. Here are 5 lessons from being 50 (5min). Lesson 4 is my favorite.
And in case you missed it, here are two popular posts I reshared last quarter: two ways to think of AI without outsourcing your mind (2min) and 12 hard truths about coding I learned the hard way (4min).
(Bzzz…Radio voice) This email was brought to you by… Street-Smart Coding Manifesto. Preorder your digital copy today—starting at just $1—and become a coder who stands out beyond syntax. If you’d like to support the work, contribute $5 or more and I’ll thank you in the Acknowledgments.
See you next time,
Cesar