24 Jul 2026 #mondaylinks
Hey there.
Quick update: Street-Smart Coding Manifesto is almost done. No more hunting for typos. If you preordered, I’m sending a preview next week.
And as usual, here are 4 links I thought were worth sharing this week:
#1. Google search (if that’s still a thing) and LLMs are great for quick facts. When was America discovered? But the real problem is offloading our thinking to AI (10min), even for simple tasks.
#2. LLMs often reply “You’re absolutely right.” For your next project or idea, get a punch in reality (5min).
#3. Want to read more books? Here’s how (9min). And no, you don’t need hacks.
#4. AI has made code so cheap that it’s turning software into marketing (9min).
And in case you missed it, I wrote on my blog about what my early readers said about Street-Smart Coding Manifesto (2min) and also wrote to celebrate my blog’s 8th anniversary (2min).
(Bzzz…Radio voice) This email was brought to you by… Street-Smart Coding Manifesto. A case against syntax obsession. Because real impact comes from skills outside your IDE.
See you next time,
Cesar
23 Jul 2026 #wellness #selfgrowth
In 2023, I burned out. It was the darkest moment of my life.
It was a long process on the way down…and a longer one on the way up. It took me about a year to wake up with a sense of purpose again.
What helped me can be summarized into one line:
Taking care of my health (by doing something for my mind, body, and spirit every day) and bringing a sense of joy and fulfillment to my life every day (by going back to some of my hobbies just for fun).
Writing played a big role. It worked like therapy. And that’s why I keep writing.
Writing was so helpful in my recovery that it became one of 10 simple ideas that changed my life.
22 Jul 2026 #misc
It’s sales day, and the whole grocery store is crowded.
“We have to be patient, right?” a guy said to me. I’m in the butchery section. The guy is frantically walking from one side of the aisle to the other, phone in his hand.
“I have 70,” he said when I asked what turn he had. “I have 94, and I only need one chicken breast,” I told him while taking my U-shaped ticket out of my pocket. The display shows 64 in red LED lights. We both laughed. He knew I was more screwed than he was.
A few minutes later, when it was finally his turn, he came running from another aisle. I asked him if he could order the chicken breast for me. He was kind enough to do it. I smiled and told him he had just saved me about an hour.
After thanking him again, I walked around to give away my 94. You know, to return the favor. The guy with the 95 accepted it. “Well, one turn earlier,” he said.
I thought I only needed a couple of things, but after walking around, I ended up with my hands full. It’s not the first time that has happened, even when I had a to-buy list.
Later, while in line to pay, an old lady behind me handed me the cart she was using. “I’m only buying a few things,” she said.
Wow! Sometimes I lose hope in humankind, but a guy ordering for me and a lady handing me her cart made my day.
Lesson: You don’t have to give away money to make someone’s day…And somehow, you’ll always end up buying more than expected—even with a list. So pick a cart.
21 Jul 2026 #misc
Street-Smart Coding Manifesto is almost here.
This past month, I’ve been writing a book to help you become a street-smart coder.
It’s my case against syntax obsession to stand out as a coder.
This week, I heard back from my awesome beta readers: Ricardo Cardona and Darren Lin.
Their feedback helped me simplify chapters and cut duplication.
Here’s some of their feedback.
“What I liked the most is that it is actually relatable, experiences we’ve all been through at some point in our careers. You can really think, that’s true, that happened to me. Some of the points can put a smile on your face when reading them.”
“‘Don’t work hard.’ This is the stuff nobody tells you early in your career, deliver on time, don’t be a hero, document your work, be easy to work with. I wish someone handed me this list on day one instead of having to figure it out over years.”
Want make real impact beyond lines of code? Grab a copy of Street-Smart Coding Manifesto. A short, actionable guide you can finish over coffee to help you truly stand out.
20 Jul 2026 #writing
Blogging for 8 years hasn’t been unicorns and rainbows.
I abandoned my blog for months.
I’ve also wanted to quit more than once.
Even when I preach to write like nobody is reading, my last 100 daily posts made me question if I should keep a blog.
Maybe YouTube, Substack, or a social media platform aren’t that bad after all.
Then I remember Seth Godin sharing about his 10,000 posts.
That’s 25 years of blogging.
That reminds me that the real hack is sticking for years.
I’m reflecting on my 8-year anniversary. I don’t like to ask for coffee, but uf you’d like to support this blog, grab one of my books—Actionable books that respect your time on coding and personal growth.