Steve App

AVP, Marketing & Biz Dev at @SimpScar | prev @campussonar, @volthighered, @ecityinteract | @Stonehill_info & @TempleUniv Alum | I enjoy eating donuts. (he/him)

[Steve App @StephenApp]

@MattGelb I actually think the most cruel scenario (and thus most likely) is the team winning both games in LA to force a game 5 at home that they’ll lose.

[Steve App @StephenApp]

I’m just a dad, on my way to the airport early on a Sunday morning, once again posting my annual question of why people schedule professional conferences that start on a Sunday.

[Steve App @StephenApp]

@Will_Bunch FWIW, it was a really good article. Amazingly written for the time at which you wrote it especially.

[Steve App @StephenApp]

@jeremiahdbarba Two people who know who the one person is

[Steve App @StephenApp]

@drewsykes Usually we are the ones chasing you at this point in the season. I’m terrified they are not going to hold onto this decision lead.

[Steve App @StephenApp]

@tomdurso @Phillies Real bad. They just look lifeless

[Steve App @StephenApp]

@jeremiahdbarba You’re THERE!?

[Steve App @StephenApp]

@shane_baglini Could not disagree more. Weeding is 0/10. Mulching is phenomenal. Instant gratification

[Steve App @StephenApp]

@AlondaThomas Congratulations, Alonda!! You did incredible work at Jackson State—can’t wait to see what’s next for you.

[Steve App @StephenApp]

@shane_baglini Way to get out there!

[Steve App @StephenApp]

@DPommellsNBCS Dude was spent with 7 minutes left to go in the 4th

[Steve App @StephenApp]

@ChrisVito Every year it’s something new but the same result.

[Steve App @StephenApp]

@JaimeHuntIMC I’m here, but my usage is now largely related to sports, where there still seems to be an active community

[Steve App @StephenApp]

@tomdurso Aww such a bummer. But congrats on the milestone! What’s your username?

[Steve App @StephenApp]

@tomdurso @Phillies Feels like a hockey jersey

[Steve App @StephenApp]

@shane_baglini No I definitely don’t have any experience with that sort of thing you’re describing. 😃

[Steve App @StephenApp]

@shane_baglini Brutal. Not sure what tech stack you use, but could you consider proactively scheduling focus time on your calendar (private) so ppl can’t book out your entire day? Microsoft has a feature that does that automatically for me.

[Amanda Natividad @amandanat]

Normalize senior-level roles that don't require people management.

It sucks that most of us are forced to become people managers if we ever want to make a lot of money.

We need more high-level individual contributor roles. Grown adults who want to roll up their sleeves AND get paid like upper management.

And for founders/CEOs, isn't this what you want more of? Competent adults who can do their jobs extremely well with little to no oversight.

Nobody wants to monitor Asana to make sure the person they hired is actually doing their job.

If you think this could be right for your org...

Guidelines for hiring a high-level IC:

1. Pay them well.

Sure, you can argue they shouldn’t get paid as much as the c-level executive who oversees a whole department.

But the high-level IC is much more experienced and competent than a manager-level worker.

2. Be clear it's not a people management role.

This will turn off some people, which is great. More time saved for both of you. In a conventional corporate environment, you’d bury this aspect of the role. But you don't have time for those silly trappings.

Put "individual contributor" front and center, and the right types of people will apply.

3. Let them define accountability.

Remember: this is a grown adult you’re hiring. Making them join a daily standup or updating a spreadsheet is waste of their time and yours. (You don't actually want to look at those daily updates, do you?)

A common understanding for what accountability looks like is key. So have them define it, and only agree to it if you're truly on board.

Be open-minded. Accountability might not just be outcomes (like increased revenue or more customers). It might be output (like number of projects completed or programs launched). It might be a mix of both.

A great high-level IC might be paid like a VP. But for that value, you may very well get the power of several directors.

And that might be exactly what you need.

[Steve App @StephenApp]

Welp, now that I’ve made 6 breakfasts, gotten two kids dressed, three kids to school, emptied the dishwasher, folded and put away the last of the six loads of laundry from yesterday, and vacuumed the kitchen, I guess I can start my day!