A user guide for Krish Shah (inspired by David Bauer)
About this document
Internships are so short to begin with; it’s impossible to decode how someone functions and capitalize on that in just a couple months. As a result, I’ve spelled it out here to give a quick head-start.
It’s meant as a frame of reference and a starting point for discussions. Hopefully, it will help you understand me better and allow us to work together in a more meaningful way. If you have a similar document, I’d love to see it.
Inevitably, I will sometimes fail to live up to my own ideals. I will always try, and they are here so you can hold me accountable. If you’re not a fan of this type of stuff, that’s fine too, we can figure things out as we go.
This is a living document, incomplete and imperfect. I will update it regularly and would appreciate your feedback.
Work Style
- Odd hours: Sometimes I work at unholy hours to catch up, finish a task, or just because I’m bored. No pressure to respond at 3 AM—it’s just my flow.
- Impact-driven: If I can’t see a project’s direct impact or vision, I quickly lose interest.
- Career volatility: I’m still figuring out my place in the tech world. I might ask for advice or random favors.
- Speed vs. detail: I value speed but realize details matter. I’m working on balancing both. Currently a little heavy on the speed.
- Ownership: I believe the fun part of work is having ownership over an open-ended problem and then resourcefully figuring out a path forward. I do best when I have this type of ownership.
Communication & Feedback
- Questions welcome: I’m never bothered by questions—even repeated ones. Let’s keep everything crystal clear.
- Direct critical feedback: If you see something off, please tell me right away candidly—even if it’s small. I view feedback as a moral responsibility.
- Speak out: I’m not shy to speak up or ask questions. I want to hear your candid thoughts too.
- Wow factor: I love showcasing my work to friends and family—that “wow” moment is a big motivator. I prefer to work on things that have this property.
- Challenge me: If I’m making a mistake or have a flawed idea, say so. I appreciate the honesty.
Collaboration Preferences
- Friendship at work: I want to be friends with my coworkers, not just colleagues.
- Meeting presence: If a meeting doesn’t feel relevant, I might slip out. If I should stay, please let me know.
- Tenacity: I rarely take “no” for an answer. If you truly mean it, be very explicit.
- Learning mindset: I believe I can learn anything quickly so I tend to volunteer myself for things that I have no business doing. Usually this works out well.