Ever thought about stepping into product management—just to try something totally different from engineering?

Want expert guidance to grow? Apply for 1-on-1 tech career coaching with me.

That's exactly where Monte found himself. After years in dev and even engineering leadership, he made a move he thought would lead to more ownership and product vision. But once he was in the role… something felt off.

In this coaching session, we unpack what actually happens when you chase product titles inside companies—and why the version you're offered often isn't what you imagined. Monte thought he was stepping forward. Instead, he realized he was just managing user stories and process artifacts.

If you've ever wondered, "Is this really what the role is supposed to be?"—you're not alone.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube.

Visit me at healthydeveloper.com

You ever notice how sometimes the people around you see what's really going on before you do? That's what happened with this channel. I tried to go broad, help everyone in tech, chase what the "experts" and the algorithm said people wanted—but you knew better.

You told me what made this channel special wasn't the hype or some generic success formula. It was the real talk. The raw stories. The focus on staying healthy, sane, and actually living your life while you write code in an industry that rarely cares about either.

In this episode, I'm owning up to where I lost the plot—and why I'm bringing it all back to what *actually* matters. We're going deep on why "Healthy Developer" is the right home for this community (and for me), what's staying, what's changing, and what you can expect from here on out.

If you're here to argue or troll, you won't like this one. But if you're tired of the tech grind, and you want real strategies for staying grounded and growing as a developer *without* burning out, you're in the right place.

Thanks for holding me to a higher standard—and for helping me find my way back. Let's build something better, together.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube.

Visit me at thrivingtechnologist.com

In this real coaching session, I talk with John, a developer-turned-manager, who's navigating the messy middle of leadership. He's caught between two teams, two continents, and shifting expectations.

Sound familiar?

We dig into:

• The difference between managing people and leading culture
• Why growth-stage teams break without intentional leadership
• How to lead without authority (especially when others outrank you)
• The startup → scale-up trap most companies fall into
• Ways to influence product direction by fixing culture first

This is one of the most honest, practical coaching conversations I've had on team culture, dev leadership, and transitioning into management. If you're a senior dev or manager trying to scale impact without losing your soul, you'll get a ton out of this.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube.

Visit me at thrivingtechnologist.com

Ever feel like tech work has turned you into a robot? Just crank out code, stay in your lane, and don't ask too many questions? Yeah—same.

→ Find Out If You're Ready To Go Solo in Tech

In this real, unfiltered coaching session, I work with Charlie—a creative technologist who's been wrestling with how to bring *real* artistry back into his work. After running his own 3D animation business and helping other creatives thrive, he's now stuck between paying the bills with soul-draining contracts... and figuring out how to build a career where he actually gets to make things that matter. We talk about time management, identity, and how hard it is to self-promote when your creativity feels personal.

If you're a developer or designer who's ever wondered "How do I get back to making stuff I care about?", this one's for you.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube.

Visit me at thrivingtechnologist.com

Today, I'm sharing a real conversation I had with Matt—an experienced developer who's been wrestling with where to take his career next. If you've ever felt like you're stuck doing the same thing over and over, or like your potential is being wasted, this episode is for you.

→ Find Out If You're Ready To Go Solo in Tech

Matt's been on a journey to figure out what he truly wants, beyond just writing code. We dug into some deep topics—like whether he's truly competitive, how to test his business idea, and finding clarity between stability and ambition.

It's a powerful session where Matt starts to rediscover his entrepreneurial drive and get real about what he wants to build. I think you'll find a lot of takeaways you can apply to your own journey.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube.

Visit me at thrivingtechnologist.com

Get your tech career unstuck here: https://healthydeveloper.com/coaching

Ever feel like you're living in the tech job twilight zone? One minute you're daydreaming about quitting, selling everything, and disappearing into the mountains. The next? You're convincing yourself, "Eh… it's not that bad." Yeah—I've been there.

For years. I spent nearly a decade gaslighting myself out of leaving corporate life, ignoring burnout, and pretending I was just "in a rough patch." But after coaching over 120 devs since going solo, I've learned this: most of us know we're done. We're just too skilled at lying to ourselves.

So in this episode, I'm calling it out: Here are 5 signs you shoulda quit years ago—and 5 actions you can take right now to start your escape plan. No fluff. No "just follow your passion" nonsense. Just hard-earned lessons from someone who's been in your shoes—and walked out the other side.

We'll discuss:

• Why being too good at your job is actually a trap
• How apathy about tech might be a deeper signal
• The sneaky way your side projects are trying to tell you something
• What your unused vacation days really mean
• And why your coworkers' loyalty is starting to feel cult-like

Chapter markers / timelinks:

(0:00) Introduction
(1:41) 1. 5 Signs You Should Have Quit Working in Tech Years Ago
(1:53) 1.1 You're Too Good At Your Job
(2:49) 1.2 You Stopped Caring About the Tech Stack
(3:50) 1.3 Your Side Gigs are Your Real Job
(5:01) 1.4 You're Hoarding Vacation Days
(6:10) 1.5 You Get Annoyed By Other People's Loyalty
(8:00) 2. 5 Immediate Actions to Start Breaking Free
(8:25) 2.1 Quit Caring About Your Next Performance Review
(9:45) 2.2 Sell Some Old Tech Gear
(10:45) 2.3 Reclaim an Hour From Your Job
(12:17) 2.4 Pitch a Fake Client Proposal
(13:58) 2.5 Burn One Bridge of Responsibility
(16:30) Tech Solopreneur Readiness Scorecard

Ever feel stuck in analysis paralysis, trying to figure out if you should go solo or stick with a stable tech job? In this live coaching session, I help Ben—a seasoned engineering manager and Agile coach—shift his focus away from fear and toward action.

→ Find Out If You're Ready To Go Solo in Tech

We break down:

• Why even a stable tech job can still feel uncertain
• How fear of the unknown keeps devs stuck—and how to move past it
• The real way to test your next move without risking everything
• How to balance financial security with the drive for independence

If you're a developer, tech lead, or engineering manager who's thinking about making a big career move but unsure where to start, this conversation is for you.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube.

Visit me at thrivingtechnologist.com

Most people get into software development for the money—and hey, I get it. The tech industry can be insanely lucrative. But if your end goal is to break free from the corporate grind and work for yourself, could a high income actually be holding you back?

Grow Faster in Your Tech Career: https://thrivingtechnologist.com/coaching
Join the Thriving Tech Community: https://thrivingtechnologist.com/community

In this episode, I dive into my own career stories—when money was a good motivator, and when it turned me into a "perfect programmer slave." I've seen it all—from promotions I didn't even care about to chasing startup dollars and, finally, finding freedom through coaching and serving others.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube.

Chapter markers / timelinks:

(0:00) Introduction
(1:27) 1. How Loving Money Prevents Self-Employment
(1:39) 1.1 Story: Early Raises
(4:19) 1.2 Story: Starting Up to Cash Out
(7:11) 1.3 Story: Starting Up to Serve
(10:43) 2. 3 Ways to Find Freedom from High Income Dependence
(11:18) 2.1 Reduce Monthly Expenses
(13:10) 2.2 Focus Effort on Your Highest Value
(14:44) 2.3 Quit Your Corporate Gig
(15:10) Take the DevPathfinder Career Assessment
(16:54) Join our Discord Community

Visit me at thrivingtechnologist.com