Karell Ste-Marie aka The Serious CTO/The Developer Upgrade Protocol: Escape the idiots. Keep the craft.

The Developer Upgrade Protocol: Escape the idiots. Keep the craft.

  • Closed
  • Course
  • 83 Lessons

Most devs aren’t burned out from code. They’re burned out from idiots, chaos, and pointless pressure. This program shows you how to shut down the noise, cut the BS, and get your career back under your control. No fluff. No hand-holding. Just the system that lets you actually enjoy the job again.

Contents

Introduction

What is this?
Preview

Week 1 (Mindset): Stop Thinking Like an Employee – The Ownership Shift

Learn how to stop waiting for instructions and start owning outcomes.

The Ownership Shift
Applying the Ownership Shift at Work
Ownership Shift – Application Check
Supporting Files

Week 2 (Craft): Clean Code Fundamentals That Actually Stick

Build a foundation of clarity, consistency, and maintainability in your code.

Clean Code Isn’t Pretty, It’s Predictable
Why Mastering Fundamentals Makes You a Better Developer
Spotting and Eliminating Code Smells
Practical Tools & Resources for Code Clarity

Week 3 (Context): Why Business Goals Are Your Job Too

Understand why aligning your work with company objectives makes you indispensable.

Understanding Business Context as a Developer
Cut the noise: Learn to spot the real problem before you solve it.
Root Cause Analysis Fundamentals
Checklist and Templates for High-Impact Sprint Reviews

Week 4 (Resilience): Burnout 101: How to See It Before It Hits

Identify early warning signs and stop burnout before it takes you out.

Understanding Context Before You Commit
Navigating Ambiguity Without Losing Momentum
Context Before Execution
Resource Pack: Context Mapping Template

Week 5 (Mindset): Breaking the “Ticket Taker” Mentality

Shift from passively taking tasks to actively influencing the work you do.

Breaking the “Ticket Taker” Mentality
Applying Breaking the “Ticket Taker” Mentality
Breaking the “Ticket Taker” Mentality Check
Breaking the “Ticket Taker” Mentality Guide (PDF)

Week 6 (Craft): Writing Code That’s Easy to Change Later

Master patterns that make future changes fast, safe, and stress-free.

Writing Code That’s Easy to Change Later
Applying Writing Code That’s Easy to Change Later
Writing Code That’s Easy to Change Later Check
Writing Code That’s Easy to Change Later Guide (PDF)

Week 7 (Context): Reading the Room: Meeting Survival Skills

Learn how to gauge mood, priorities, and politics in real time.

Meeting Survival Skills
Applying Meeting Survival Skills
Meeting Survival Skills Check
Meeting Survival Skills Guide (PDF)

Week 8 (Resilience): The Daily Reset: Micro-Habits That Keep You Sane

Build daily habits that keep your focus and energy stable.

Micro-Habits That Keep You Sane
Applying Micro-Habits That Keep You Sane
Micro-Habits That Keep You Sane Check
Micro-Habits Daily Reset Guides

Week 9 (Mindset): Learning Faster Than Everyone Around You

Adopt learning strategies that give you an unfair advantage.

Learning Faster Than Everyone Around You
Applying Learning Faster Than Everyone Around You
Learning Faster Than Everyone Around You Check
Resources (Playbook)

Week 10 (Craft): Debugging With Surgical Precision

Cut your debugging time in half by applying targeted investigation methods.

Debugging With Surgical Precision
Practical Application
Implementation Exercise
Resources (Playbook)

Week 11 (Context): Understanding Stakeholder Motivations

Decode why people push for certain outcomes so you can navigate decisions better.

Understanding Stakeholder Motivations
Practical Application
Implementation Exercise
Resources

Week 12 (Resilience): Building Slack Into Your Schedule Without Looking Lazy

Create breathing room in your workflow without losing trust.

Building Slack Into Your Schedule Without Looking Lazy
Applying Building Slack Into Your Schedule Without Looking Lazy
Building Slack Into Your Schedule Without Looking Lazy Check
Resources
📆
Meeting 1

Week 13 (Mindset): How to Speak So Non-Tech People Listen

Translate technical details into messages anyone can understand and act on.

How to Speak So Non-Tech People Listen
Applying How to Speak So Non-Tech People Listen
How to Speak So Non-Tech People Listen Check
🛠️
Business Value Translation Matrix: Communicating Like an Executive

Week 14 (Craft): System Design Principles for Everyday Devs

Apply lightweight architecture thinking to make systems stable and scalable.

System Design Principles for Everyday Devs
Applying System Design Principles for Everyday Devs
System Design Principles for Everyday Devs Check
🛠️
Lightweight Architecture Quick-Reference: Stability and Scale in Your Code

Week 15 (Context): Mapping the Hidden Power Structure at Work

Learn who really makes decisions and how to reach them.

Mapping the Hidden Power Structure at Work
Applying Mapping the Hidden Power Structure at Work
Mapping the Hidden Power Structure at Work Check
🛠️
Power Structure Mapping Template

Week 16 (Resilience): The “No” Muscle: Setting Boundaries Without Career Suicide

Say no effectively so you control your workload and protect your credibility.

Setting Boundaries Without Career Suicide
Applying Setting Boundaries Without Career Suicide
Setting Boundaries Without Career Suicide Check
🛠️
The Strategic "No" Scripting Guide: Protecting Time for Impact

Week 17 (Mindset): Thinking Like the Person Who Signs the Checks

Make decisions with cost, risk, and return in mind, just like leadership does.

Core Teaching
Practical Application
Implementation Exercise
🛠️
Resources

Week 18 (Craft): Code Reviews That Actually Improve the Codebase

Turn code reviews into collaborative improvement instead of nitpicking.

Core Teaching
Practical Application
Implementation Exercise
🛠️
Resources

Week 19 (Context): Turning Project Chaos Into Personal Leverage

Use messy situations to showcase leadership and problem-solving skills.

Core Teaching
Practical Application
⚒️
Resources

Week 20 (Resilience): Recovery Protocols After Hell Weeks

Bounce back from extreme workloads without losing momentum.

Core Teaching
Practical Application
⚒️
Resources

Week 24 (Resilience): Handling Career Setbacks Like a Pro

Respond to setbacks in a way that strengthens your reputation.

📆
Meeting 2

Week 36 (Resilience): Staying Sharp in Long, Grinding Projects

Keep your focus high even when the work feels endless.

📆
Meeting 3

Week 48 (Resilience): The Career Firewall: Protecting Your Future From Anything

Build a career safety net so you can withstand any storm.

📆
Meeting 4