Technical interviews have always felt artificial to me—puzzle-solving under pressure that reflects nothing about real work. After many interviews on both sides, I started wondering if there was a better way.

Being self-employed isn’t the freedom fantasy many imagine. After years of freelancing, I’ve learned the real magic isn’t actual freedom—it’s the powerful illusion of it. And surprisingly, that illusion might be worth more than the real thing.

There used to be a tribe of us — developers who lived and breathed code, sharing discoveries and debating ideas late into the night. The profession grew, the tribe scattered. We’re still out there. Just harder to find.

A young developer once asked me why my code needed fewer review rounds and generated fewer bugs. I’d never really thought about it before, so I took some time to observe my own habits. Here’s what I found — a few simple practices around architecture, writing, and relentless rereading that might help you too.