Scarlet Ink
@scarletink.skystack.xyz
Tech industry career and leadership advice from an ex-Amazon GM and Tech Director.
This is an automated Substack Account of https://scarletink.substack.com
Discover more/Create at: @skystack.xyz
This is an automated Substack Account of https://scarletink.substack.com
Discover more/Create at: @skystack.xyz
Your Strength Got You Here, but Doing The Opposite Will Take You Farther • Your natural tendencies work brilliantly in the right context, but real growth comes from learning when to flip them.
Your Strength Got You Here, but Doing The Opposite Will Take You Farther
Your natural tendencies work brilliantly in the right context, but real growth comes from learning when to flip them.
www.scarletink.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Your Strength Got You Here, but Doing The Opposite Will Take You Farther • Your natural tendencies work brilliantly in the right context, but real growth comes from learning when to flip them.
Twelve Career Lessons They Don’t Put in Onboarding • A few hard-earned lessons about people, politics, consistency, and the parts of work we pretend aren’t part of the job. But really are.
Twelve Career Lessons They Don’t Put in Onboarding
A few hard-earned lessons about people, politics, consistency, and the parts of work we pretend aren’t part of the job. But really are.
www.scarletink.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Twelve Career Lessons They Don’t Put in Onboarding • A few hard-earned lessons about people, politics, consistency, and the parts of work we pretend aren’t part of the job. But really are.
Confidence: A Legal Performance-Enhancing Drug for the Office. 7 Manipulation Tips for Winners. • You don’t need permission to lead. You just need to look, sound, and act like a person others instinctively follow. Because, yes, we're all sheep.
Confidence: A Legal Performance-Enhancing Drug for the Office. 7 Manipulation Tips for Winners.
You don’t need permission to lead. You just need to look, sound, and act like a person others instinctively follow. Because, yes, we're all sheep.
www.scarletink.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Confidence: A Legal Performance-Enhancing Drug for the Office. 7 Manipulation Tips for Winners. • You don’t need permission to lead. You just need to look, sound, and act like a person others instinctively follow. Because, yes, we're all sheep.
Please, for the Love of All That’s Holy in Corporate America, Stop Saying These 8 Things at Work • Doing your work absolutely matters. But you can easily sabotage yourself by saying the wrong thing. These are a few phrases that quietly sabotage your reputation.
Please, for the Love of All That’s Holy in Corporate America, Stop Saying These 8 Things at Work
Doing your work absolutely matters. But you can easily sabotage yourself by saying the wrong thing. These are a few phrases that quietly sabotage your reputation.
www.scarletink.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Please, for the Love of All That’s Holy in Corporate America, Stop Saying These 8 Things at Work • Doing your work absolutely matters. But you can easily sabotage yourself by saying the wrong thing. These are a few phrases that quietly sabotage your reputation.
Think Your Skip-Level Is for "Visibility"? That’s Cute. It’s Not. • Levels in an organization garble communication. A skip-level meeting is an opportunity to communicate clearly. Most importantly, it helps low-level employees see past their blinders.
Think Your Skip-Level Is for "Visibility"? That’s Cute. It’s Not.
Levels in an organization garble communication. A skip-level meeting is an opportunity to communicate clearly. Most importantly, it helps low-level employees see past their blinders.
www.scarletink.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Think Your Skip-Level Is for "Visibility"? That’s Cute. It’s Not. • Levels in an organization garble communication. A skip-level meeting is an opportunity to communicate clearly. Most importantly, it helps low-level employees see past their blinders.
5 School Habits That Make You Worse at Your Job • Being a good student might make you a poor worker. Here are a few habits and behaviors that might serve you well in the classroom but poorly in the workplace.
5 School Habits That Make You Worse at Your Job
Being a good student might make you a poor worker. Here are a few habits and behaviors that might serve you well in the classroom but poorly in the workplace.
www.scarletink.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
5 School Habits That Make You Worse at Your Job • Being a good student might make you a poor worker. Here are a few habits and behaviors that might serve you well in the classroom but poorly in the workplace.
The AWS Outage—Lessons on Worst-Case Scenarios • How bad is the worst-case scenario of your systems? I suspect it's not as bad as the DynamoDB system.
The AWS Outage—Lessons on Worst-Case Scenarios
How bad is the worst-case scenario of your systems? I suspect it's not as bad as the DynamoDB system.
www.scarletink.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
The AWS Outage—Lessons on Worst-Case Scenarios • How bad is the worst-case scenario of your systems? I suspect it's not as bad as the DynamoDB system.
The 4 Major Impacts of Amazon's Decentralization and Ownership Model • Amazon is decentralized and has a strong focus on ownership. This causes various positive and negative impacts. Let's walk through those impacts, and how you can navigate them successfully.
The 4 Major Impacts of Amazon's Decentralization and Ownership Model
Amazon is decentralized and has a strong focus on ownership. This causes various positive and negative impacts. Let's walk through those impacts, and how you can navigate them successfully.
www.scarletink.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
The 4 Major Impacts of Amazon's Decentralization and Ownership Model • Amazon is decentralized and has a strong focus on ownership. This causes various positive and negative impacts. Let's walk through those impacts, and how you can navigate them successfully.
4 Problems Managers Run Into - and Practical Solutions • The management job comes with interesting people challenges. Here are four I've run into more than a few times and what to do when they land in your lap.
4 Problems Managers Run Into - and Practical Solutions
The management job comes with interesting people challenges. Here are four I've run into more than a few times and what to do when they land in your lap.
www.scarletink.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
4 Problems Managers Run Into - and Practical Solutions • The management job comes with interesting people challenges. Here are four I've run into more than a few times and what to do when they land in your lap.
The 5 Whys in Action: How to Turn Human Mistakes Into Lasting Improvements • When humans inevitably slip, the 5 Whys uncover the real fixes hiding beneath the surface. The 5 Whys expose our weak systems, not our weak people.
The 5 Whys in Action: How to Turn Human Mistakes Into Lasting Improvements
When humans inevitably slip, the 5 Whys uncover the real fixes hiding beneath the surface. The 5 Whys expose our weak systems, not our weak people.
www.scarletink.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
The 5 Whys in Action: How to Turn Human Mistakes Into Lasting Improvements • When humans inevitably slip, the 5 Whys uncover the real fixes hiding beneath the surface. The 5 Whys expose our weak systems, not our weak people.
My Reflections on Bret Taylor’s Podcast Conversation with Shane Parrish About AI and Software Development • From code generation to shifting developer roles to organizational decay, here’s what stood out to me in their discussion.
My Reflections on Bret Taylor’s Podcast Conversation with Shane Parrish About AI and Software Development
From code generation to shifting developer roles to organizational decay, here’s what stood out to me in their discussion.
www.scarletink.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
My Reflections on Bret Taylor’s Podcast Conversation with Shane Parrish About AI and Software Development • From code generation to shifting developer roles to organizational decay, here’s what stood out to me in their discussion.
I'll Explain How I Defeated Procrastination, Right After I Watch Another YouTube Video • What do high school students, and experienced professionals have in common? We all unwisely put off our most important work.
I'll Explain How I Defeated Procrastination, Right After I Watch Another YouTube Video
What do high school students, and experienced professionals have in common? We all unwisely put off our most important work.
www.scarletink.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I'll Explain How I Defeated Procrastination, Right After I Watch Another YouTube Video • What do high school students, and experienced professionals have in common? We all unwisely put off our most important work.
Day 1 Is About Doing What’s Right. Day 2 Is About Getting Promoted. • The shift from customer obsession to career obsession happens quietly, usually through the hiring process. But as your original leadership team transitions out, a new culture moves in.
Day 1 Is About Doing What’s Right. Day 2 Is About Getting Promoted.
The shift from customer obsession to career obsession happens quietly, usually through the hiring process. But as your original leadership team transitions out, a new culture moves in.
www.scarletink.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Day 1 Is About Doing What’s Right. Day 2 Is About Getting Promoted. • The shift from customer obsession to career obsession happens quietly, usually through the hiring process. But as your original leadership team transitions out, a new culture moves in.
Customer Obsession Means Listening Harder—Not Measuring Harder • Large businesses use metrics to handle millions of customers. Yet a single customer story can reveal more than a mountain of metrics—if you’re willing to invest some time to learn more.
Customer Obsession Means Listening Harder—Not Measuring Harder
Large businesses use metrics to handle millions of customers. Yet a single customer story can reveal more than a mountain of metrics—if you’re willing to invest some time to learn more.
www.scarletink.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Customer Obsession Means Listening Harder—Not Measuring Harder • Large businesses use metrics to handle millions of customers. Yet a single customer story can reveal more than a mountain of metrics—if you’re willing to invest some time to learn more.
“Are Right, a Lot”: The Most Misunderstood Amazon Leadership Principle • This leadership principle is less about knowing the right answer and more about getting to the right answer eventually.
“Are Right, a Lot”: The Most Misunderstood Amazon Leadership Principle
This leadership principle is less about knowing the right answer and more about getting to the right answer eventually.
www.scarletink.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
“Are Right, a Lot”: The Most Misunderstood Amazon Leadership Principle • This leadership principle is less about knowing the right answer and more about getting to the right answer eventually.
4 Steps to Delegate (Give Away) Your Work—And Become a Better Leader • Delegation isn’t just about doing less. It’s about getting the work done—and helping others grow in the process.
4 Steps to Delegate (Give Away) Your Work—And Become a Better Leader
Delegation isn’t just about doing less. It’s about getting the work done—and helping others grow in the process.
www.scarletink.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
4 Steps to Delegate (Give Away) Your Work—And Become a Better Leader • Delegation isn’t just about doing less. It’s about getting the work done—and helping others grow in the process.
8 Lessons for Work, Life, and Everything in Between • Not everything here will apply to you—but at least one thing might stick. I particularly like number 7.
8 Lessons for Work, Life, and Everything in Between
Not everything here will apply to you—but at least one thing might stick. I particularly like number 7.
www.scarletink.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
8 Lessons for Work, Life, and Everything in Between • Not everything here will apply to you—but at least one thing might stick. I particularly like number 7.
AI and the Imminent Death of Capitalism • Successful AGI and capitalism can't coexist. What will happen when AI companies are successful?
AI and the Imminent Death of Capitalism
Successful AGI and capitalism can't coexist. What will happen when AI companies are successful?
www.scarletink.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
AI and the Imminent Death of Capitalism • Successful AGI and capitalism can't coexist. What will happen when AI companies are successful?
More Engineers = Less Output? The Costs of Growth. • Growing quickly is lauded as a great thing in the news. But is it always a great thing?
More Engineers = Less Output? The Costs of Growth.
Growing quickly is lauded as a great thing in the news. But is it always a great thing?
www.scarletink.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
More Engineers = Less Output? The Costs of Growth. • Growing quickly is lauded as a great thing in the news. But is it always a great thing?