Why do some engineers in tech get promoted super fast into leadership or technical roles while others stay stuck, even though they're technically brilliant? My name is Naz Dalam and today I'm here to share with you the one big lesson I've learned in my career, which is how does the people on top 1% talent in tech perform, lead, and execute on a daily basis? In this talk, you will learn about the framework to build that mindset in yourself.
I've reviewed hundreds of resumes and coached engineers from Microsoft, to Meta, to Netflix, and I can tell you this, the biggest leaps in people's careers don't come from grinding harder, it comes from thinking differently. Quick show of hands, how many of you feel like you've been working harder than ever but it's not getting where you're getting that you're noticed or you're promoted? This talk isn't about hustle, it's about performance. You will learn today that is how it is to shift this mindset, install micro systems and lead with leverage, just like the top 1% in tech.
Know that elite performance don't follow the fame playbook, they rewrite it. But they all tend to live by a few universal philosophies that I would want to walk you through these core philosophies that the top 1% follow. Number one, clarity is bigger than hustle. Hustle culture is overrated, movement isn't progress. At Netflix, a mentee of mine was working 60 hours a week and was on the verge of burnout. We introduced a system to audit his goals every Friday. Within six months, he got promoted, not because he worked harder but because he worked smarter with more focus.
Remember, weekly focus filter, it can help you build a mental triage system. You can use it every Friday, Sunday evening to evaluate whether your time and effort are aligned with a strategic growth. Ask yourself three questions, is the task or project helping me grow new skills? Is this increasing my visibility and influence in the team and organization? Is this for creating leverage, which is automating, multiplying value or saving time and cost? If the answer is no to all the three, you either delegate it, defer it or deprioritize it. This filter helps you redirect your energy from being busy to being impactful. Over time, this practice becomes a compass guiding your weekly execution toward long-term career acceleration.
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