Nikolay Abromov blog

  This is the first time I am writing something similar on my blog, but I find it being so relevant to what is happening at that point of time across the world. This post is about a person I never heard of until recently, e.g. Bertrand Russell. He wrote this so well written letter to British Pro-natzi party leader, and I think I could easily call that letter an art. I find myself in conversations with people and feels like exactly what is being described by Russell's letter.                  ------------------- Dear Sir Oswald, Thank you for your letter and for your enclosures. I have given some thought to our recent correspondence. It is always difficult to decide on how to respond to people whose ethos is so alien and, in fact, repellent to one’s own. It is not that I take exception to the general points made by you but that every ounce of my energy has been devoted to an active opposition to cruel bigotry, compulsive violence, and the sadistic persecution which has characterised

It’s Tuesday, and it feels strange to say that today is my first day of being between jobs. There’s something unsettling about it. I’ve got four days off between my old position and my new one, and I’m trying to figure out how to make the most of it. The last time I switched jobs, I wrapped up on a Friday and started the new role the following Monday, which left me feeling completely drained. This time, I’ve learned from that mistake and decided to give myself a bit of breathing room (though with two little ones running around, it’s nearly impossible to do absolutely nothing—but I’m going to try!). I recently picked up an intriguing book called Crucial Conversations , which caught my eye while I was researching the Five Whys technique. Maybe I’ll take refuge in a coffee shop, enjoy endless chai lattes, and dive into it. Who knows ...  I’ll figure it out tomorrow. On a different note, I reconnected with an old friend today—someone I haven’t spoken to in a while but used to have the most

Today marked my final day at Three UK . It was a short and reflective day. I didn’t plan a formal farewell – after all, it would have been my second one, and I preferred to keep it simple. My vision for the day was to spend some time with each team member and, of course, enjoy as many chai lattes as possible!  ;-) However, as life goes, several colleagues were on leave, and others were dealing with family matters. So, only a few of the people I work closely with were around. That said, I received a call on Sunday from one of the team, inviting me to lunch, which was a nice surprise. It ended up being a much better day than I had anticipated – a good note to end on.

Over the years, I had the privilege of working with some incredible individuals. Having a team that inspires you and pushes you to grow makes all the difference in the world. There were days when I’d go to work thinking, “I can’t believe they’re paying me to do something I would happily do for free!” It was a remarkable feeling.  Being part of a team where I could ask, “What do you think about X, Y, or Z?” and receive insights I’d never considered before was invaluable. My colleagues offered perspectives that challenged my thinking and broadened my horizons. Their support and camaraderie turned work into a place of continuous learning and collaboration. However, circumstances have changed. The supportive environment that once made my job so fulfilling is no longer the same. The dynamics have shifted, and that sense of inspiration and mutual growth has faded. It’s this change that has led me to the difficult decision to seek new opportunities. While I’ll always cherish the experiences a

I recently listened to a conversation on Packet Pushers that really got me thinking. In the past, I’ve seen a similar pattern in large transformations where organizations adopt the “Big Rock” approach—going all in on a single, massive solution to address their needs. Each time, it didn’t deliver the expected results. So why does this approach keep getting chosen? Is it driven by cost-saving measures, the desire for streamlined management, or is there something else at play? Of course, the best-of-breed approach has its own set of challenges—like managing multiple vendors or integrating different systems—but doesn’t it offer a safer path for better business continuity and outcomes? It allows for flexibility and adaptability, which are crucial in today’s fast-changing landscape. While it’s not without its headaches, it seems like a more reliable bet in the long run. Link to the talk . 

I’ve always been the type of person who enjoys a good challenge—whether it’s figuring out a new skill or diving into something I have no idea about. Recently, my latest obsession has been cloud-native programming. I got involved in a project that’s all about acquiring cloud-native applications for telecoms, and it felt like the perfect excuse to push my limits. Now, let’s be clear—I don’t code every day. I don’t even get the chance to write code as often as I’d like. And when I do, it takes me a minute to remember how things work.  Here’s the thing—I know I’ll never be a “proper” programmer and I’m not trying to be. But that doesn’t stop me from pushing myself. My goal is simple: keep learning, keep getting better, and see how far I can take it. One thing I’ve discovered along the way is how much I love Golang. I’ve dabbled in Python, but Golang just clicks for me. It’s that sweet spot where things make sense and don’t feel as clunky. It even helped me have some solid technical convers