Software engineer Charity Majors challenges the "10x engineer" myth, arguing that true productivity lies in team performance, not individual brilliance. She encourages building workplaces where "normal" engineers can thrive. Are we focusing too much on hiring "the best" instead of the right people?
I’ve never heard of this 10x thing but it reeks of “alpha male” exceptionalism that makes mediocre white boys feel powerful. Wherever these 10x people exist, I promise there are annoyed women and minorities having to take up the slack for them in every non-engineer aspect of their lives. The normal shit that’s beneath them because they must dedicate all waking hours to the grind or the world will fall apart. Meanwhile normal people have to actually cook, do laundry, make appointments, raise children, etc. and catch flack for not being productive enough compared to the 10x guy who avoids showers and adult responsibilities.
I know like 3-4 people who I’d label 10x engineers and while all but one are male, they’re all non-toxic both at work and outside of work. Huge part of being 10x is enabling the rest of the team to work faster as well. If you just shit out code 10x as fast but someone else needs to pick up the slack to fix your bullshit and you don’t communicate at all because your work is sooo important, you’re not a 10x engineer, you’re an asshole. A true 10x engineer elevates everyone around them.
Do they call themselves 10x?
I’ve worked with three incredible developers who I’d consider 10x: people who can reliably build a solution quickly, or debug problems that go deep into the OS. One would fit your description, one is a mom who shuttles her kid to after school stuff, and the other is a really nice music nerd.
Like the post states, some people are in the right place at the right time: they have the right background and temperament to do really well at their job. They don’t need to be shitty people.
this was my introduction to “10x” engineers: https://youtu.be/kKAue9DiHc0