From Brian

Uncensored advice about product development and building a high-growth software company from Brian de Haaff, co-founder and CEO at Aha!

Collection897 articles
The 8 Rude "Animal" Types of Bosses
February 15, 2017
The 8 Rude "Animal" Types of Bosses

Ever work with someone who hogs all the credit? Or a parrot who never seems to have an original idea? I bet you can think of a few people who act more like zoo animals…

You Are An Executive (You Just Don't Know It Yet)
February 9, 2017
You Are An Executive (You Just Don't Know It Yet)

She said I had an “executive presence.” This was coming from the VP of a product team I worked on early in my career. And she told me I only needed to speak up a bit more…

You Do Not Need a Chief Happiness Officer
January 31, 2017
You Do Not Need a Chief Happiness Officer

Do you need a Chief Happiness Officer at work? Instead of gimmicks and happy hours, discover the 5 key building blocks that lead to real happiness at work.

You Deserve Workplace Freedom
January 26, 2017
You Deserve Workplace Freedom

I love being outside. Just last week I went snowshoeing with some friends in Yosemite. But when I told a colleague about my trip, she wrinkled her nose. Snowshoeing? No…

Sorry, Boss — But Your Apology Stinks
January 23, 2017
Sorry, Boss — But Your Apology Stinks

It should be simple. But there are many ways to screw up a perfectly good apology. There is the over-apology — as if saying “I’m really, really sorry” carries more…

Will Your Legacy Mindset Fail You?
January 17, 2017
Will Your Legacy Mindset Fail You?

“The epitome of power.” I recently read an article in Harvard Business Review that proclaimed this was why we should care about building a legacy. It gave me pause. The…

Please Do Not Send a Cover Letter Like This
January 12, 2017
Please Do Not Send a Cover Letter Like This

I am often surprised by what people choose to send as cover letters. Typos, broken links, and rambling emails. I also see messages like this one: “I was looking for…

You Are Bored at Work — Go Ahead and Admit It
January 10, 2017
You Are Bored at Work — Go Ahead and Admit It

Are you allergic to boredom? If you like achieving I will bet you are. There is always something new to learn and do. But no matter how busy you are sometimes the boredom…

You Cannot Buy This Priceless Tool
January 9, 2017
You Cannot Buy This Priceless Tool

Is there a fee for being happy at work? I recently saw an ad suggesting that there might be. A software company promised to boost employee engagement and retention with…

18 Blog Posts You Loved in 2016
January 3, 2017
18 Blog Posts You Loved in 2016

I seek adventure in two places: business and wilderness. When the two intersect the result is something special. And as far as adventures go, 2016 certainly offered…

See more collections

View more