Forthcoming April 2027Fast Company Press
The people you work with aren't stupid.
A practical, relatable guide for techies who want to become better collaborators without giving up their sanity, technical instincts, or sense of humor.
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Forthcoming April 2027 from
00 / What humans say
Recommended by leaders who’ve helped techies survive.
“This is more than a book about technology. It is a book about people.”
01 / The real problem
People don't come with APIs.
You can design the cleanest architecture, write elegant code, and build a flawless project plan. Then a stakeholder changes their mind, a requirement means three different things to three different people, or the “obvious” solution turns out not to be obvious at all.
The technical problem is often the predictable part. Dealing with Carbon-Based Life Forms helps you work with the less deterministic layer: expectations, incentives, ambiguity, competing priorities, trust, and change.
- PART I
- Urgency & Unplanned Work
- PART II
- Recognition, Credit & Team Dynamics
- PART III
- Boundaries & Expectations
- PART IV
- Tools, Trends & the Techie Burden
- PART V
- Quality, Testing & Innovation
02 / What's inside
The human side of getting technical work done.
Across five parts, Rob tackles the pressures that make technology work harder than the technology itself: urgency, recognition, boundaries, shifting tools, quality, and the expectations attached to all of them.
- Relatable stories from real technology work
- Actionable suggestions instead of slogans
- Useful before a kickoff, status meeting, or difficult conversation
- Written for people who care about both systems and outcomes
03 / Free chapter + book updates
Start with Chapter 1: “The Triple Ping.”
Submit the form and Chapter 1 will be sent to your inbox. We'll also keep you updated about the book, preorder availability, signings, and more.
From Chapter 1If you ever find yourself on the receiving end of a barrage of pings, remember that the sender's world may be spinning as quickly as yours. Instead of reacting with sarcasm or silence, pause and ask yourself, What pressure is this person under? A quick acknowledgment—“Got your message, I'm tied up until 3 p.m. but will call you then”—can deflate a lot of anxiety.
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From Rob Polocz, author and founder of Polar Bear Consulting.
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04 / Meet Rob
Technical enough to build it. Experienced enough to see around the corner.
Rob Polocz is a technologist, consultant, business leader, and founder of Polar Bear Consulting. For decades, he has worked where technical complexity meets real people, real deadlines, and real consequences.
This book grew out of Rob's firsthand experience navigating the stories, mistakes, and patterns that repeat across technology work—and learning which practical moves create clarity, give teams confidence, and make the vision work in the real world.
Work with Rob at Polar Bear Consulting