Career

Laying every goal and venture out on a whiteboard at once reveals the connections that stay hidden when strategy is built one isolated section at a time.

Maps go obsolete the moment circumstances shift; a compass grounded in core values keeps you oriented through career changes, family transitions, and every season of life that did not appear in the original plan.

Have you ever felt uncertain whether to start a venture, or in too deep with a venture to be able to quit? The Dip help's to work through that!

As someone who personally struggles with leadership, whether it’s leading a bible study or making decisions in a startup, I’ve been inspired to keep the end in mind.

There have been many people who have inspired me through their words of encouragement. Words that motivated me to pursue coding, enter into entrepreneurship, and serve as a leader in my church.

Playing both mentor and mentee across work, church, and entrepreneurship, Eric reflects on why intentional investment in someone else changes both people in ways that only become visible in hindsight.

I learned a lot about tennis rating systems from my friend, as well as the competitiveness of tennis. Essentially you’re ranked against the world, and most people who try to get into the field start as early as their teen years, skip college to compete, and only the top 100+ people can maintain a tennis career as a salary.

Freed from syllabi and tests, learning becomes an adventure rather than an obligation. A reminder to follow your curiosity and explore topics well outside your primary field.

Eric sets his 2020 aspirations — 12 books, 12 posts, 4 ventures, and 2 speaking events — while anchoring the year in a theme of Focus and Rest, prioritizing faith over accomplishment.

Walking into an interview with a full head of thoughts — how preparation, nerves, and presence shape the outcome on both sides of the table.

A deliberate decision to step out of the entrepreneurship season — reflecting on what prompted the choice and what comes next after leaving it behind.

Following up on broad uncertainty: why finding and working within a specific niche — rather than staying wide — builds real depth and opens unexpected doors.

After a nonstop semester packed with meetings, projects, and entrepreneurial events — taking a breath, looking back at what mattered, and setting intentions for a more deliberate year.

A semester recap of my winding path through Austin's startup scene—joining and leaving two startups, sitting in the in-between, and finally finding Crash Cook Off at 3 Day Startup.

A tour through every interview format—coding challenges, phone screens, video calls, whiteboarding—and learning to stop performing for companies and just aim to be better than yesterday.

How hackathons became the gateway into entrepreneurship—shifting from 24-hour sprints to building something for the long run.

A playful reminder to look past the free t-shirts and BBQ at CS events and actually engage with what they offer—mentors, learning, interviews, and real connections.

Shifting from shotgunning resumes at every booth to recruiting with intention—researching company values, culture, and mission to find a fit worth rooting into.

The original version of my CS event swag rant—watching students stampede a recruiter's table and reflecting on the privilege we take for granted as CS majors.

A mid-college crisis at the career fair—choosing a mission trip over an internship, discovering a love for teaching through proctoring, and questioning whether the industry is really where I belong.

Algo problem-sets, Netflix finished early, SWE group coordination for Spring Break, and the decision to do missions instead of internships this summer.

Church retreat debt, tedious Algo proofs, interviewing a UTCS professor on OS research, and changing a fiction story from zombies to tribal artists.

Learning to ask for help after spending three days on a problem a coworker fixed in five minutes—and finding the balance between cheap help and expensive help.

First week of sophomore year at UT Austin: installing Docker, writing C linked lists, revamping a resume, and teaching social dance.