# 21: The Tent Is Flat and Everyone Is Wet

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2013-10-02
- Length: 43m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-02-21-the-tent-is-flat-and-everyone-is-wet
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/mes-ep21-mp3

## Summary

Rob Mitchell, recently transitioned from systems engineering to management at Lightro, discusses his unconventional career path from technician to manager at companies like LeapFrog, Palm, and Validus. He details the challenges of writing performance reviews for senior engineers and the difficulty of shifting from peer to boss, particularly with former colleagues like Phil King. Mitchell emphasizes the importance of product management, hard deadlines in consumer hardware, and leveraging professional networks over formal degrees for career advancement.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-02-21-the-tent-is-flat-and-everyone-is-wet#t=6) Introduction: Rob Mitchell's Career History
- [3:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-02-21-the-tent-is-flat-and-everyone-is-wet#t=196) Writing Performance Reviews and Managing Senior Engineers
- [8:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-02-21-the-tent-is-flat-and-everyone-is-wet#t=505) The Role of Schedules and Product Management
- [11:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-02-21-the-tent-is-flat-and-everyone-is-wet#t=704) Scheduling in Consumer Hardware vs. Research
- [19:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-02-21-the-tent-is-flat-and-everyone-is-wet#t=1154) Transitioning from Engineer to Manager and Micromanagement
- [33:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-02-21-the-tent-is-flat-and-everyone-is-wet#t=2009) Career Advice: Degrees, Networking, and Mentorship

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Lightro (company)
- LeapFrog (company)
- Palm (company)
- Validus (company)
- Shotspotter (company)
- HP (company)

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- [S6E21 Ron Higgs | Systems Thinking, People Skills, & Executive Leadership](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-05-23-s6e21-ron-higgs-systems-thinking-people-skills-executive-leadership) (Being an Engineer)
- [001 - “Learning Never Exhausts the Mind” with Rick Doe](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2021-10-06-001-learning-never-exhausts-the-mind-with-rick-doe) (Let's Combinate)
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- [S5E49 John Rogers & Sean Maciag | A Career Worth Engineering – From Graduation to Professional](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-12-06-s5e49-john-rogers-sean-maciag-a-career-worth-engineering-from-graduation-to-prof) (Being an Engineer)

## Citing this page

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