WednesdAMA: Reader-Submitted Questions
While it’s true we get to do a lot of cool work with various companies, it’s no secret that our individual mentoring is considered the crown jewel of The Threadsmith Group. If we can make one person’s life better through the mentoring we provide, the business is a success.
BUT, not everyone is able to make the investment to get 1:1 mentoring, and we believe in giving back to the community. So welcome to WednesdAMA, in which we take a mix of reader submitted questions and LinkedIn questions and answer them.
LinkedIn: “You’re managing a remote team for a project. How can you ensure deadlines are met?”
I see a lot of issues with organizations being too heavy handed in communication and turning it into micromanaging. If you spend all day communicating and asking for updates, there's no space for the actual work to get done. If you’re doing that to engineering and then wondering why no engineering gets done…….there’s your answer. If you want to run a speedy engineering team, you need to keep them OUT of meetings as much as humanly possible. Protect their time like your company depends on it, because it does.
I recommend having one key update meeting a week for each team you’re working with, in which you have a Notion page that outlines the priorities, where you are with the work, and what needs to be done to accomplish that work. Then, if you’re in a product-centric role, communicate with your lead engineer individually as needed. Trust the people you work with to get the job done.
Reader-Submitted: “I want to start my own business, but I’m scared of failing. How do I know if I’m ready to take the leap?”
I’ve done a lot of research on this, and I haven’t found a single person who said, “Oh yeah, I was 100% ready and I never failed at anything when I started my business”. You’re never going to feel 100% ready. If you feel 70% ready, that’s good enough. Do it.
A good question to ask yourself is: Do you have enough of a safety net to take the risk without panicking? If quitting today means immediate financial stress, start it as a side hustle first. If you’ve got some cushion? Go for it. The fear never goes away, but action and small successes help make that voice a little quieter.
Also, be ready to fail. You will. You’ll fail in weird ways you couldn’t possibly have prepared for. The first time I started a business, I failed at taxes. I had no idea they had to be done quarterly for the business I was trying to get off the ground, and I got a letter from the Georgia Department of Revenue informing me that I was in some very serious trouble for not filing taxes. I had to write a very sad letter to the government informing them I had only made 1 sale in a year and begged them not to put me in jail because I had a bachelor’s degree I needed to finish. 😂 Case closed, sorry to whomever had to read a 19 year old’s very sad apology email.
If you feel ready enough, try it. I’d suggest getting an accountant first, but then yeah, go for it.
LinkedIn: “You’re struggling to find time for your family. What’s the most important thing you can do to change that?”
You start setting some hard boundaries on your time and attention, fast. No one at your funeral is going to say “Wow I’m so glad they answered that email at midnight”, but people will remember how present you were in their lives. You work to live, you do not live to work.
Now, on setting boundaries, "No" is a complete sentence. You don't owe anyone an explanation around why you've set a boundary: if you aren't available during certain hours, you aren't available during those hours. No one is going to materially suffer (in most cases, ignore this if you're in an actual lifesaving field) if you stick to the boundaries you set.
Do not fall into the trap of overexplaining yourself. "No" is a full sentence. It is CRITICAL that you stick to any boundaries that you set: if you give an inch on your boundaries, difficult clients will keep pushing for more and more and you're going to wind up being absolutely miserable. You don't owe an explanation, you don't owe justification, you don't owe anything more than what was previously agreed upon (ideally that agreement is in writing and you can refer to it as needed).
Keep in mind: you setting a boundary and HOLDING IT doesn't just benefit you, it also benefits your coworkers. One person’s empowered mindset can be the domino that causes real positive change across your team and organization.
Reader-Submitted: I love my job, but I hate the company culture. Can I stay and make it work, or is it time to leave?
The big question: Is the culture actively harming you, or just annoying you? If it’s toxic, get out. If it’s just frustrating, see if you can carve out something that keeps you happy and comfortable: a good team, a supportive manager, a project that keeps you motivated. But if every day feels like a fight? That’s your answer.
That said—before you peace out entirely, do a little internal recon. What specifically about the culture bothers you? Is it the leadership style? The lack of boundaries? A weirdly competitive vibe that makes every meeting feel like a cage match? Pinpointing the friction helps you figure out if there’s room to work around it.
Sometimes, you can carve out a "micro-culture" that works for you. Maybe you build a team with shared values. Maybe your manager gives you room to do things your way. That’s not nothing! Creating that micro-culture can buy you time and peace.
But here’s your gut check: If you're constantly masking, bending, or burning out just to make it through the day, you're not thriving, you're surviving. And you deserve FAR more than just surviving.
So ask yourself: Are you staying because you want to, or because you're scared to leave? That answer usually points the way forward.
The Threadsmith Group Approach
At The Threadsmith Group, we don’t believe in cookie-cutter advice. We believe in real answers for real people, backed by experience, strategy, and a healthy dose of common sense.
Got a question of your own? Send it in. Let’s talk about the things that actually matter.