

The Important Thing
Michael Lopp
The Important Thing with Michael ("Rands") Lopp and Lyle Troxell. Let's spend a few minutes of your life listening and learning about an Important Thing.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 22, 2019 • 12min
The One About YOLO
In our eleventh episode, we dissect "You Only Live Once", we talk about paying for BETA software, and the value of building things with your hands.

Apr 16, 2019 • 29min
The One About Travel
We're double digits! 10 episodes. Nailed it. In this episode, we talk about the perils of travel as an introvert, we examine each other's travel bags, and we learn that Rands is a control freak.

Mar 26, 2019 • 19min
The One About Manager READMEs
In our ninth episode, we discuss the idea of Manager READMEs, vulnerability in the workspace, how Toyota empower its humans, and how much Rands detests drama.

Mar 11, 2019 • 15min
The One About Process
In this episode, we talk about process being documented culture. How do we keep all the plates spinning? Who are good plate spinners? Why are there plates in the first place? This and more is answered in this episode of The Important Thing.

Mar 2, 2019 • 30min
The One About Lyle and Spider-Man
In this episode, we introduce you to my co-host Lyle – pre-eminent listener, longtime radio host, and fellow mountain resident. We also spend time talking logos and introversion… and then we finish with a strong Spider-Man chaser.

Feb 27, 2019 • 27min
The One About Communication
In our latest and greatest episode, we talk about the craft of communication. After a brief introduction, we talking about Werewolf, lying, death in D&D, and the art of yolo'ing it.

Feb 6, 2019 • 7min
The (Brief) One About Pens and Typography
Don't tell anyone. We're still producing episodes. In this brief episode, Lyle and Lopp talk pens and typography and how they help us say what we need to say.

Jan 27, 2019 • 15min
The One About Understanding the Why
In our surprisingly quick to arrive fourth episode, we briefly giggle about the clickity-clack of a mechanical keyboard and then talk about a time at Apple where it was critical to understanding the why.

Jan 20, 2019 • 1h 6min
The One About Destiny
In the second episode, I am excited to be joined by my fellow Guardian John Siracusa to discuss the video game Destiny. Proudest moments, total time wasted, and the reality of the Hunter handicap – it’s all there. Destiny overview Siracusa’s typical sniping performance What is a skinner box? And what is a Gjallarhorn? The Crota’s End Theme

Jan 20, 2019 • 50min
The One About Information Consumption
Two years later, we're back with the Important Thing. Lyle and Lopp talk information consumption. Notification purges, marking all as read, and figuring out how to catch the most important information are just a few of the tips and tricks we discuss. Interview with Ernie Cline Feedly Geekspeak Weather Episode Song Exploder West Wing Weekly Rands Feed List (OPML)