Many developers are already using AI. But here’s the thing: most of them do it in secret. They test it in side projects, use it quietly to get through tickets, and then draw conclusions—without ever bringing it into the open with their team.

That’s a mistake.

When I’ve been disciplined in my own work, I noticed something: I was faster, could work longer, and felt less drained, because I stayed focused on high-level thinking instead of every small detail. That’s precisely the kind of shift AI can support.

But here’s the danger: if you let AI turn into a lazy habit, if you’re just vibing with it instead of working with intention, the outcomes get worse. You’ll ship sloppy code, misunderstand problems, and create more cleanup work later. At scale, that kills quality and trust.

And if AI use stays a private habit, it doesn’t scale anyway. Worse, it creates hidden workflows, uneven quality, and mistrust inside the team.

The solution is simple: treat AI as a team strategy. Not a secret shortcut. Not a personal experiment. A shared challenge. Align on how to use it, where it makes sense, and what it should not do. Explore it together.

That’s when AI becomes valuable: when it creates space for humans to do what we’re best at—thinking, designing, and solving problems—without burning out on the repetitive parts.

—Adrian

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Why Building an App Isn't Enough: Solving Real Problems for Business Success

In this episode, we tackle the common misconception that an app alone can create a successful business. We discuss the importance of identifying true pain points and solving real problems as the foundation of any sustainable business. Using examples like Canva and lessons from the SaaS market, this video emphasizes that domain knowledge, not just tools, is critical for success. We also explain how AI can accelerate the process but cannot replace the need for a solid business idea and expertise. Finally, we address the challenges and realities of building a viable product and securing reliable revenue.

00:00 Introduction: The Misconception About Building Apps

00:46 Identifying the Real Problem: Business Idea vs. App

01:54 Understanding the Market and Solving Pain Points

03:13 The Role of AI in Business

04:47 Sustainable Business Practices

07:22 The Reality of Building a Functional App

09:48 Conclusion: The True Challenge in Business

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Overcoming Resistance: Motivating Your Dev Team for Change In today’s episode, we tackle the challenge of motivating a development team to embrace change. You'll hear about common resistance scenarios, the psychological forces at play, and practical strategies to highlight the value of change.

Learn how to foster a culture of trust and motivation, making your team more adaptable over time.

00:00 Introduction: The Challenge of Motivating Developers

00:42 Facing Resistance: Common Developer Reactions

02:25 Understanding the Forces of Resistance and Assistance

03:17 The Importance of Value and Trust in Leadership

04:30 Building a Culture of Trust and Change

05:00 The Basics of Motivation and Resistance

05:58 Conclusion: The Mission and Persistent Motivation

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The Role of Habits in Leadership Development

In this episode, we delve into the importance of developing habits for personal and leadership growth. The discussion outlines four pillars essential to becoming a credible and effective leader: credibility, role modeling, vision-sharing, and the ability to challenge others. By consistently practicing these habits, individuals can cultivate virtues that enhance their leadership skills. The episode emphasizes the necessity of maintaining discipline and a mindset conducive to habitual development to achieve credibility, become a role model, and effectively lead others.

00:00 Introduction to Habits

00:02 The Importance of Habits

00:10 Becoming a Leader

00:15 The Four Pillars of Leadership

00:49 Developing Discipline and Baseline

02:30 Leadership and Training

03:11 Credibility and Role Modeling

05:12 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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How to Keep Junior Developers Motivated and Loyal

In this video, a vocational trainer with extensive experience shares insights on how to keep junior developers motivated and loyal to your company. The discussion covers the importance of clear career plans, realistic expectations, and long-term learning for junior developers. The narrator also warns against frequent job-hopping and emphasizes the value of stability and domain expertise for career growth. By nurturing junior developers and providing a clear path to grow, companies can ensure a committed and skilled workforce.

00:00 Introduction: Keeping Juniors Motivated

00:36 Understanding the Junior Developer Role

01:09 The Importance of Career Development

01:52 Avoiding the Job-Hopping Trap

03:12 Becoming a Domain Expert

05:04 Guidance for Trainers and Companies

05:58 Long-Term Career Planning

06:37 Marker

07:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.adrianstanek.dev/subscribe

When is the Right Time to Become a Leader? Insights for Software Engineers

In this video, we explore the right moment to step into a leadership role, particularly in software engineering. We discuss the importance of building personal credibility, being a role model, and motivating others before taking on responsibility. The speaker advises against prematurely assuming leadership roles without sufficient experience, emphasizing the need for step-by-step growth and the guidance of a mentor or coach. Key points include mastering your craft, the risks of early leadership burnout, and the delicate balance of technical and human skills necessary for effective leadership. Watch for vital insights and practical advice on how to prepare for and succeed in leadership roles.

00:00 Introduction: When is the Right Moment to Become a Leader?

00:02 The Basics of Leadership: Credibility and Motivation

00:52 The Role of a Manager in Software Engineering

01:03 Challenges of Early Leadership

01:46 The Importance of Mastering Your Craft

02:17 Real Talk: Facing Opposition as a Leader

03:30 Step-by-Step Approach to Leadership

04:28 Avoiding Burnout: The Reality of Leadership Roles

05:07 Starting Small: Building Leadership Skills

06:55 The Human and Technical Aspects of Leadership

07:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.adrianstanek.dev/subscribe

In this episode, we unpack the recent hype suggesting that AI agents will replace SaaS products. Adrian shares why that narrative is misleading—and why SaaS is still thriving.

You’ll hear

Why AI agents still depend on SaaS infrastructure

The real needs of everyday users and businesses

How psychological and economic factors continue to drive SaaS adoption

Why convenience still beats complexity

If you’re building software people rely on, this one’s for you.

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Navigating Software Development Methodologies: Tailoring Systems to Fit Your Needs

In this video, we delve into the interplay between social media advice and practical application in software development. Highlighting popular platforms like LinkedIn, X, and Reddit, we discuss the importance of understanding the foundational purposes behind various methodologies instead of following them blindly. We emphasize the value of adapting systems to fit individual and business needs, particularly for startups, and stress the importance of iterative development and feedback. Key topics include TDD, continuous delivery, and SaaS product development, urging developers to focus on long-term consistency and learning over rigid planning.

00:00 Introduction to Social Media and Software Development

00:15 The Importance of Understanding Systems

01:04 Applying Systems Thoughtfully

01:32 Influencers and Independent Thinking

02:00 Developing Your Own Methods

02:27 Iterative Approach in Software Development

03:02 Long-Term Planning in Software Development

03:17 The Agile Mindset

04:13 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.adrianstanek.dev/subscribe

🚀 From Developer to Entrepreneur: My 15-Year Journey. In this episode, I share my personal journey from being a software developer to becoming an entrepreneur responsible for multiple software products over the past 15 years. I'll discuss the challenges and realizations that come with this transformation, the critical need for business skills beyond development, and the importance of planning and experience to avoid burnout. You'll also hear my reflections on the pitfalls of early entrepreneurship, the process of building sustainable products, and the balance between technology and business strategy. Ultimately, this episode aims to offer valuable insights and cautionary advice for anyone considering a similar path.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Story

00:41 Transitioning from Developer to Entrepreneur

03:30 Challenges of Self-Employment

06:01 Lessons Learned from 15 Years of Experience

09:27 Building and Selling Products

12:54 Final Thoughts and Advice

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🎁 BONUS: 14 Tips to Save Money with Claude Code! After spending over $300 working with Claude Code in production, I’ve learned what really works — and what’s just expensive noise. In this video, I share my personal lessons, what I wish I had known before, and how you can save time, tokens, and sanity.

👇 Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:37 What We Want, Why, and How 01:56 Clean Codebase = Better AI 02:51 How Good Is Claude Code Really? 05:14 Claude & The Senior Developer 06:17 Flow vs Vibe Coding 07:06 The Economic Shift 09:14 Why Vibe Coding Suits Juniors 10:13 Why AI Isn’t Everywhere (Yet) 10:48 The Future of Coding 11:59 Vibe Coding Is Coming 🎯 14 Money-Saving Tips 13:28 Bonus Starts 13:41 Tip 1: Choose a Strict Language (e.g. TypeScript) 14:03 Tip 2: Clean React Structures 14:27 Tip 3: Use Context Files 15:01 Tip 4: Tests Are Key 16:32 Tip 5: Let AI Fix Its Own Errors 16:52 Tip 6: Work in Small Batches 17:48 Tip 7: Don’t Expect Perfection 19:12 Tip 8: No Multitasking 19:55 Tip 9: Manage Context Tokens 20:37 Tip 10: Comments Are Back 21:51 Tip 11: Let Go of Style Wars 22:54 Tip 12: Plan with the AI 23:30 Tip 13: Flow over Vibe (for now) 24:39 Tip 14: Split Big Tasks 25:45 Outro

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.adrianstanek.dev/subscribe