Skip to content
Home » Blog » HowTo

HowTo

Unlock actionable insights with Coffee Journeys’ ‘How to’ discussions. Navigate the nuances of transitioning from technical expertise to leadership through practical guides and step-by-step insights. Whether you’re seeking advice on leadership development, technology integration, or intentional living, our ‘How to’ tag provides a roadmap for success. Join us in dissecting the intricacies of implementing change, building new skills, and fostering a mindset that leads to extraordinary results in both the professional and personal spheres.

A Farmer’s Guide to Patient Leadership and Being Present in Growth

A Farmer’s Guide to Patient Leadership and Being Present in Growth

I spend most of my day sitting; at work, behind a laptop, or at my podcasting desk.
Even my so-called “creative time” usually means more sitting, writing, or editing.

To balance it out, I try to move. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu helps. So does helping my wife at our allotment, though helping might be a generous word sometimes.

That small patch of soil has taught me more about patience and process than most leadership books ever did. We used to spend hours there, planting, weeding, and chasing the kids around. Then life got busy, kids, work, everything, and the allotment went quiet for a few years.

Recently, we went back to get it ready for winter, planning to bring it back to life in spring. And while digging and pulling out stubborn weeds, I realised how much farming has in common with leadership.

Hence today’s reflection: what leaders can learn from farmers and what patient leadership is all about.

Read More »A Farmer’s Guide to Patient Leadership and Being Present in Growth
Home mini PC running local LLM lab with Docker and AMD iGPU.

Build a Home Lab for Local LLMs with Docker + AMD iGPU

Running local LLMs at home is easier than it looks. With the right mini PC, Ubuntu setup, BIOS tweaks, and Docker containers, you can build a powerful lab that runs models like Mistral 7B and Ollama on AMD hardware. Here’s how I set up mine.

It started the way many of my tinkering projects do: with a cup of coffee and a quiet Saturday morning. For weeks I’d been thinking about building a small server — something quiet enough to sit under the desk, strong enough to handle 7B–8B (or even 12-14B!) models, and flexible enough to let me learn Docker properly without melting my laptop. This time, instead of just daydreaming, I actually pressed “Order”. A little box was on its way to become my home LLM LAB.

Read More »Build a Home Lab for Local LLMs with Docker + AMD iGPU
What is the RACI Model: Clearer Roles, Better Collaboration in Team Projects

What is the RACI Model: Clearer Roles, Better Collaboration in Team Projects

Today, we’re diving into a simple yet incredibly powerful framework for improving team collaboration: the RACI model. Now, if you’ve ever worked on a team project – whether it’s building software, launching a product, or even planning an event – you’ve probably experienced moments of confusion around roles and responsibilities. You might have wondered, “Wait, who’s actually responsible for this task?” or “Who’s making the final decision here?” That’s exactly what the RACI model is all about.

Read More »What is the RACI Model: Clearer Roles, Better Collaboration in Team Projects
Productivity Myths that hold you back

Productivity—Buzzwords, Myths and Traps

Productivity—it’s the buzzword of modern life. Everyone’s chasing it, everyone wants to master it, but along the way, we’ve picked up some false beliefs about what productivity actually means. These myths can lead to burnout, frustration, and, ironically, less productivity.

In this blog post, I’m breaking down 5 common productivity buzzwords myths and traps and showing you how to rethink them. By the end, you’ll have actionable strategies to work smarter, not harder, and focus on what really matters.

So, grab a coffee, and let’s bust some myths!

Read More »Productivity—Buzzwords, Myths and Traps
Technical and Management Debt

How Technical and Management Debt Sabotage Organizational Success

Today we’re exploring a topic that affects organizations of all sizes and industries: The Debt Dilemma. Now, when I say ‘debt,’ I’m not just talking about financial debt. In the world of business and technology, we encounter two other crucial forms: technical debt and management debt. These hidden liabilities can silently erode your organization’s efficiency, morale, and bottom line.

Read More »How Technical and Management Debt Sabotage Organizational Success
Uncomfortable Conversations

Uncomfortable Conversations: The Power of Embracing Discomfort

Today’s post is all about pushing your boundaries—through something as simple as a conversation that makes you uncomfortable. Sounds intriguing, right? Well, it’s time to dive in!

Whether you’re leading a team, managing your business, or just navigating the complexities of life, you’re bound to face uncomfortable conversations. But what if I told you that there’s a way to practice handling these tough conversations—with something as simple as your next coffee order?

Yes, you heard that right. So, grab your coffee, sit back, and let’s talk about how to build confidence in uncomfortable conversations… starting with coffee.

Read More »Uncomfortable Conversations: The Power of Embracing Discomfort
PREP Framework Communication

Mastering Communication with the PREP Framework

There are a few things that I constantly need to improve. One of them is clear and concise communication. Nowadays, it is more valuable than ever. Whether I am delivering a presentation, leading a team meeting, or just sharing ideas with friends, the ability to convey my message effectively is key. But we’ve all experienced moments where we needed to communicate something important, yet the message just didn’t land as we’d hoped.
That’s where the PREP framework comes in.

The PREP framework is a simple, effective structure designed to help you organize your thoughts in a way that’s logical, engaging, and easy to follow. It stands for Point, Reason, Example, Point, and by the end of this article, you’ll know exactly how to use it to make sure your message always has impact.

Let’s break it down.

Read More »Mastering Communication with the PREP Framework
How to land your dream job checklist

Is there any ‘good’ in layoffs? 

It was a long time ago. I was working for a cable TV company. Internet was booming in Poland. I started to learn Linux and wanted to change my job. The opportunity came as my company bought the Sun Microsystems server. I called my director, and full of enthusiasm, I explained why I was a good candidate.
In response, he bluntly asked me: do you know how expensive this computer was?

Read More »Is there any ‘good’ in layoffs? 
The Right Way to Hold People Accountable

The right way to hold people accountable

It was a long time ago. At that time, I was not too fond of trekking. Yet, I was there, exhausted, but happy. I was at the top of the mountain. I was with my friend who convinced me to go for this journey with him. To our surprise, there was a place where we could buy hot food. My friend asked me did I want anything. I said something like “yes probably, just bring me something”. He disappeared, and a moment later, he was back with a juicy, beautifully smelling burger. He brought me … nothing. I was furious. I was blaming him. It was years after when I realised that it was me who was wrong, and there is the right way to hold people accountable.

Read More »The right way to hold people accountable
The Responsibility Process

The Responsibility Process: How to Overcome Challenges and Take Personal Responsibility

What do you think when you hear the word “responsibility”? The place where I come from (Poland) it usually has negative connotations, and it means you are in trouble. You broke the glass, you are responsible, and you need to pay for it. It comes hand in hand with the fact that our education systems teach us to avoid failures. All of that combined makes us think that responsibility is a bad thing, and we should avoid being responsible for things in our lives. Is this the full picture? What if we look at this from a different angle? If I am responsible, it means I am response-able – able to respond, able to think logically and move, fix and correct things around me. Let’s take a look at the Responsibility Process.

Read More »The Responsibility Process: How to Overcome Challenges and Take Personal Responsibility