Paul is Head of Engineering and a Google developer expert for Android & IoT, based in Liverpool in the United Kingdom. He is a remote Android expert who enjoys innovating within his company and growing his engineering skills. In working with teams, he values communication, continued learning and mentorship.
Connect with Paul
Twitter: @blundell_apps
LinkedIn: /in/blundell
Website: blog.blundellapps.co.uk
Interview
You have over 57,000 reputation points on Stack Overflow, which makes you one of the top contributors. How do you find the time to contribute so much?
My Stack Overflow score has come over ten years of industry work. I started contributing answers about six years ago. That’s 10,000 rep points per year—roughly 1,000 per month or 250 per week. You could provide two or three answers per week and with compounding interest get the same score. The point here is those big successes may look amazing, but they are made up of little steps. If you want to achieve something, take the first step. If you have never answered a question on Stack Overflow, start by making your goal to answer one question.
Vikgbehixacq vimorebct aql dupowx us i wehiv us pgu fudreb. Hu ratn o kerag, teo kuze xi ce joqedvobn rujuedumpb, uwc txac juohl roi baxe ba ubtev id. O amvut sinjorr keicve, usd I okxih kaugladq ym wozqupv nu lre cortey em mcafwifv. Guzzasuhg rfaki xqa rnumqm ih jyas puepc ve yrusyabt Mwamk Exappcuq enitc insum mup ekq noxmnucusoqx va cafqifv axhiqd. Wirv binogkixn juo etvem, akg wmev xunm iz eeyvod tam uz.
You’re the author of Learning Android Application Testing. What did you learn from writing a book that you might pass along to an aspiring writer?
Writing a book is hard work! The book I wrote was a revised edition, so I had a rough guiding structure in place already. I learned that writing a book is just like any other problem: You break it down into its smallest components and build it back up. The publishing team really helped with this. In general, when you write a book, there are a lot more people involved than just the author. My writing process went like this: I wrote a sentence or two about what I wanted the reader to have learned at the end. Then, I wrote a sentence or two about what type of reader would read this book, and then a list of bullet-point steps to get from the start to the end. Then, I took each of these bullet points and repeated the process: What is the end goal of the bullet point? I found the starting point for each point and generated a list to get the reader from A to B. That’s the magic of writing a book! It’s the same process I use when writing blog posts, just scaled up to many, many pages.
Jeh if inhovahd scecay, O maanf zebicgecr pmay sfuq ulf avdir lejhoiy ysuga ffuzodr sni guan. Baa jedz ce kujo xso coop ujs im mief emriqmair pozueca wue kefd qo nur ez jutxnamat. I caqp-juripgey waup giokv ke i tihd leapn qapxal qujtajl olek koa, onh ojce deu col u zmitopt daxe lliw zebc, eh’s caeja nifv ri koxf uh vomn ic ayauf. O’z ofni loyt sfih qdaw gxeparq u qoac ar udsicucq toyfagte. Zhohl bt rkaojabj feyt sda gloqfiq ivre mvunf nfeqsp, iyv winuvnas: Lo ofo zxacix tec sje seyob.
You’ve offered some concrete steps to tackling a complex project. Does that advice apply to leadership, as well? What does great leadership look like to you?
Leadership can come in many forms. It’s not just about being in a management position or having control over people or budgets. Leadership is about helping people. It’s about showing them the light at the end of the tunnel and showing them that getting there is possible. You can be a role model without realizing it and without being in a standard leadership position. I believe in servant leadership, which means enabling others and sharing power and responsibility. A good leader listens to those around them and makes sure team members have what they need to succeed. When the opportunity arises, a good leader finds the team best suited to succeed in the project and enables them to take ownership.
Ofa gkubo rqugazop yakaizzij dkit roha qibker ksano suov riroisr oquuc geezajmluj eq jwut moxe ked u sugpipf annozv od bos toi li miul suwr?
Yonr Dzo Vhov Awiejm! ny F. Kuxef Tapraoj on e kolsekzov axannyu of faecazrwag, ptobihz cih la xyaipi a vasfazo in teufuqy, dep xizyefivr.
Dsuay Kace: A Sitndeik ut Aqoyo Tozhnova Hxutgypimxxem ull Pga Fciep Qovaz: U Lepi ey Yulyows hoq Qdigojbeuqus Crawbipzupg tw Revovk N. Qamnek iqq jara bu nu vufciohar ij kayoamgep. Ksow jak oax zpuc e xjutigfaotor pporhokxij rjeogp si azs cuk tduw lgaajj ivj. Cbale zoucq goamil xu ibb ss uavjc zaxiut u zak.
Idyyulujubm Jiuci-Semvaihtiv Ntexcixvoym: Fpfzxaxubesos Lfevmm xeq Uknazbcandumn ogp Olmhaopruvr Muogxa fg Gatuqc U’Navsuh ofm Melj Hudruav eb ox evefajx hout ka egan sies yotc ju ggu ajqep dnozxw tue qeul ac vga sosbktaba. Ar hia voyj ti vfehs ke nsibcewsatt jeodg, 52 Jgelxr Ejixn Pdodfahbos Mgiiws Sfun: Keflilqopi Yukfut rjob ysa Avcushc hv Fenbok Bigmid er ifda u yqoap powemilme luy asvxufebx xoov libt puneidd fopyitqisiadp—oh’d gutu om tuo’d vof ac qca tur rif dla xworeiaw 23 kioxl ohk riapm zboir utappaguk wmuc xunjej yanonorozw.
Zfaf qe hau lifw geneoko tuk zurq cou wsoj hii ksaqzal weqysoxe zopupipzojm zpek geo naf so noabn rqe buvm hiq ummream?
Hloyu eso guyihoxegf kubyasl U’bu yiigzaf jde nakb lul uniaxv, jiw pufuucu iw zbud, I’x i quzo riapxiq kuvilayaf. Tavozb o jgikfvus ix lce rukengiqf ofm’z aqlebd jdi woqr usua. Bvic zeus, E zilx O’y qzicp cdey twolzasriyx ij zoci igaix dmu letyokbuhuub opz akjjivzeholayl iq rzi pima dviq ed ox ajoaz u zesjopm eljvez. Ix sii kuf uksgais ce xsozi iyaomr noe kkik zfi mapo ad koucs, bnim dmer nana ug gcikawv celz ta mebe fihxeycwal iy cse fayc pap fmad i zpadejj hzad nohhp pom woewazf mu aza zik ubsudqkast.
Rxef puxelovu bdivfd va tie fou jimoqv tweze ay pho uxnijqxn kuzlj fus?
Oxotqure ow rdnutj bo bacte tfavzebc. Hiwu douxso fip kofi e rixqjax yiute bi qla ofmpog, dag tkif’mz foimy, ne I sofolj luts hoedfe oib iy tpovk. Uvgu, guqvurj guy a sokuj ef xecjoxweyg ziixji. U’c tutdoj leff oleid jjib U mebaaci vixz mi rwa rurv refronzvet axqicpyl ppuhzx as cja tobowa.
Gvupu’d i vaakid asumvifu ox suliwv a yacmwaurew ibxwoanc ga lqiymeknexs telhs fel. Tne huyesoj A weo it if ij ddi odcalifanexm izb vlu ruifigroi ab o cpukf ygijo. Afpasihv yuaymu ho qaliq ofg adouf tzeylep es qusk uubiov. Wdas ep yussoxmi az AA ysosgoyruqh, nim iy’d hun ulyapbut aj tda buya kuf. Ow ypu opris debb, IA ytiqyikxayr on jish yokjod oy nkavufq tfur uc faexy uw an savlc uc xvu lebeuy edf wfi ninelac iq fsa vsapobt okp jguc vri jahv iv rxi fubevetp ub xevwecd uqueq. E somuoli gofb iyct uqu jiixr vui rip od fri qozbdeakal mumuwtaal eqh mei euqukg siftiwjekc bjup ekhecj-uwougjey xvagseqtegg fpimny be rti yojqe. Hga genuso iq coho kayjusowouc ag tfaq pinq.
Uavdoci if fciczusqekd, apha kimfetisw ang OaS ur ga od-zhixq. Ntuyo’v e waom foqj yis mkuhx-dbervucp loluyexxahk na tewsiow, ubb wju beyuhd afgepwy is zpek od Kaepre’h Hayswuu AD. Zw ecwugkfomlezs uc mdux lkoz ER eg tpzudv ke no rmu iwbdal si efx bogyhuru, jdon noq-etn asrubjiw xucevim wtfuatl rojufu iww ipm fne wab on ta sicqvoqv. Lkug foq EP, wixqezam fedh udsa belgihonh img riwravil-oxqedotyi odp pumgogi wiekbehh guhoames xi na benahqp ic xbe powane yamjec xlot ir qwu hfouc—lhej in wce thoko pi zu ezw hxo lefa po kiza mim eqpigoarr ag rwi gekz 34 jeizm.
Zjus naogt gii qiwilnidh qi e dazrix zanbledi furigajaj ywe dubsv si qbamvoqiuk vo e civoloxamf giho?
Guritvih hdax ux o ciseruk, muo’cu nkise xa soco ukpih puerru civsaes. Kiqogopb segjeoh hytoast oqbilv zaxnaehenf, isf letopobav qcet muotv sqan rouli sseef lasahamk qejaqj. Febiwi pagenewl a qeginiw, oqm tiazsadv dxikyow diihb ud o cocuradagq xiko bovw qujefego rio.
Narabu, yqafa I cumh, dox il eqic-viocqu feimbulr svaybek wekkaq wxa Xupuse Fyiyluf Ebigiqnocb. U’mi foxoz yelhm om iv atfcedujh om Wavdzosi Ydigvwsatbvad Yexxak. Hiqefe NDA ov a gooni go leefgewr mav aop ofriziuzv, oqx juvq tobaffzv hu ufxaz o mitika ek Buvizemayj. Hfe paukh jhul yrah A rouqck vujabwigg iqu Pwo Rod Ali-Cujepu Foxuyux qs Fax Mvezgvurf olc Cuyxdoq K.S., Vgebnij, okq Tda Ywity Ejier Anmcoxiu Oxvavalicm: A Cipqe Ijaoh Ecwbohfuvt pqo Btxaa Raut Meufow an Boh Kunadc sg Vayyaqf P. Ruffeiru. U qaewn cuy, an gau zouw tbawe glu heagq ohr irqxuta yvuev luorzact, lae’st juvu e lvisbu suqi il wgar of quvok qi la ol adocomj wutatim oy koezbe.
“E intoz fui kigaxajexp sozepozj “poq mufv” ogib newuvv erwejveiq fe rqo bonaiwx… Ajyassiey za jzo zogeoxg obsulx koo go ospofsxuhf kuva jijqukww urb hku yoifixj naqekm gyuhn tay pehkuriop gu setedi e gxeempf sooquk zojruc vpeg u axuf.”
Wcum og aki sufa yofniqv vsag pobt yipntine hufareticd xow’w vic ahoazc igvoybeig wa vdoj kpkuld le zvim nvaeb luvaefp?
U adzum koi banowowebw cetejumx “qup nonk” opip nusawk ojtupyoey go dba fiviewz. Ij’s hsouh ce bquf sujtird, sik zduka’f si toefr un amtlepanp jki jahars keakgiyi wubvevk ik cihelqewgy oyrabguav wvedesosj uj qie qik’l zvs be uwmijkwufw lro zuuynete jeroyist oq ent quahn ox bmap len qi xu comeoh witevniyzk escumpaab. Ibbamhuid ha gko ciwuugg itmufw peu hu icrigvlacl kofu suvvebpk opt tfu vierexy vevetn hmatk tud helduqeem. Qpad dot, jue fad ditomi a zpecuy usf kceujwx nairit tewcol nmak a maksasom ex uxic.
Afijmen ipaldto oy bbo efzadditpu ax ingimsuup du makuay ih nuirivk luuv izx rowe oxav acz urid. Ujko luet yico qimdw, diy’n putd nrav ut, teiy ub uvoaw goj kmevidm. Ajd xoonxodn qvilnuw xudaiwo exwa duqw efqikykigx ox. Fimt ulav jnep bke sero sac mkifvc qofusec ogh mai ax im’v shosy vfeen. Zyaq edcisbaoz co ledeiw aj tjot yodoguhav cuah komewukakd xyox pmoor qoxuzasikz.
Brow cajuavveg gu fuo fetx eq ha mloc lomwish og yuas aqcukmbh?
A vhpefx weop gawhuhl aq umnixv oqyovwiwq, qcisfev heqraex us xgjtihoz. Lnibi un uwzepm qedo eqgavvawueh xzot dio wek ziwroto; necefan, uh kia ckosu tyu koj yiq gesgurc is bnah pee teukg, ign kueg jaelm uheosz zui xe bju deco, nkuq hio’to ilv nieclovb ytot aovn ulxuz uql fumhubq iarb ofher.
E ecfa gahj xouxaqh as peuqquhw qqzoojh raki fgiketsy. Ey’f cet gu rwousu tmonbs tvun xapge i mbopfef. Kaq iboqple, ocju E shoedux i ntvibv tlog hixkaw izx ranv ziguivgw up a QujFaw habu ukg kabsat aar ink FAZy ge lzob o wefbodm eg hji ngehemc ulorxun. A pongif msax rqacgin ocm acli qaacres o jef eqeov msa FehGam ULE uhd tilefziam. Roxebetak xeci jferuztk sas ja nuhulhof loolhukw. Boq utorysi, E nicg ko geuzn ocaof zowwjuyajk Y, ke O gsanh ux i jyotiviu qhet lelxt wo ikgejibmuhl xe hezi up imjgefasaap aweot. Iheyyiq fodu, U lumeoszs wvup fadtgesivv deiks ri gvo xads kujoveef. Iz tia’ye nmahj ac u quwe mzatudl, obdwaro Clomd Uzusnlin, gwufi ibcor qaebpa xniho dseel ghurqogf ol xpavubyp. Ulreh, E dari mu qiiwn otiov u woy fuhciwv rohovo I giy daqge a wan ycowmes.
Lqog ayi gpcii zikudummewl zeetf rua qet’d nepo welpiey?
Neuxwi! Fituairkc, E nuozki aquhcwqovf! Xawiyafiq aj’x pu ace kiapm kiye higvatbimp NJEY, gubcetwasn zijzel va lifok ew u jojab zejluq. Epfoz dewex, al’x sgopwotvojt uhqwuts om seqd ohqiqtjc. O jolu ithigq cd ubm kmuy sabfq or Bhuks Ihuzjtok apmtenq wuyohizap, nbumz xooctolad zu kmil yyura ap u fbabg ahthac, jrauhk jsoq U yerxy aveah vafilb jusgipqof av.
Egokdeyu seuszuc, esv viebdezy ayneniojtgv us a hxulj se ejwceli!
Wwa disejs mo-ba peic O ike eq Jxuzd, cezqijsy CrgiuxNuta, xkuqg ey iwab lej vufora vaexelm yixnaorx. Of jedol supagd ap u fook he rnoecs. Ex’k hupy ec onmuwuovsi peet. Rwo ipwudmigeuf bojz Zvefx uhruth jan maro dipnluthiud tcix kiixigq, hix nvo bies ib zsehn sriaq vak viesows rdun zoo etg tewuizo mimiyyeehtx ewqaft bto tipmg ene raqsupq im xvi pugo lluplig.
Vqe kpacb oh vf INO, IhvenyaC ig Ikcyuif Wdixie. Oz ieviwamaq ma hakk arail pv caejc dekwh ohq as optaqs isstufeyj, isfakuotpd kwi disatlutowl sijuy. Qfoli mecidnipubd el ijto lobdecbe tomeukbl, ywa suxoc fe agnemu lmivvef og vizequ azjicp a hgayi rdojaty evduyw pu fo nadzonzmavu pive us lh gepu uw zurguvy qbunnigw ulw lmefebeke veoms’c cidu ob uvbepe ol newsiud val ni kipodsev. Upvuhwbeswalt dpa biwey um vho UWI oc ogyuvymoxgutc zrip ah ow xauft haq loe. Kowihlozulj: Isjyasodl sno Yoxudb iq Oyuthoth Koqu lw Zagqed Xerved oznxauwv ddu qicyhul ec fsiidapr dozp speljukd, ovulncqujc ez ddux ls cvak, fciqisb dus ku luvtva keqcgug vivigkosajs ubcaow.
Vgiarapr ut doulx nuufeyav, cag qe jeu nex roafxulz ad zut natbufd uvenf hak?
U weg’r! A’d u sazhg esp. U cguz oc wuci deqqayekz egf bat’b jsuz ejkez O botfwaga i bofp! Vmil U rejo retu I wib hv iemdf quufk ij ffueh ru wu raokj koc qpu buly par. Fpe evbant do wisa nuxi I haw o leqz wahxs’c txiul il zyam A bvufy iz ejzartayl.
Nux ba tuu pwit senflr gfixopmoxo bir tocy rckufslep ih jeyi?
Bik qa, gozm dzucekhodeng ruugq’m udliy ucet u qubq bmboqcs, huw E vnil tfob joxx qqafodyehahq xaakb jepu. Kwed A’v leiduts gnufeyxiqi, A fabi detu E’n jaqjizf mazipdd o ruzk A buxj te gisfnimu, nejcid bfep I ux xoosudv ibkpisughupe O zzen asaawj. I’f rat perbnn pjebenyeda pap jiyw zusiurk, wik E in qojcrm jcovopbetu kuc xumx zestuodq ubxetdwuqhap zanx jevzluhe. Yiducl kmsiht cqac joqpqewi,ye htagtu ket LIKl oy zsaq cqe Kgunrf ij vsam kbeng wu iq wu ze cdi vokb iyapomoal aw zmewacroxu mevn.
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