Reflecting on a decade @Wix- Lessons learned

Importance of context, finding meaning, challenging conventions and attention to details: 4 lessons (out of many) that have helped me to grow both personally and professionally from reflecting on 10 years at Wix Engineering!

Yesterday we held a legacy session, in which I had the chance to reflect and share my decade-long journey at Wix in front of 250 Wix engineers and managers. As a developer, TL, Server Guild CTO, and tech entrepreneur in an established company, I’ve had the opportunity to experience various roles and learn from different perspectives.

Here are a few of the lessons I shared yesterday:

1. Context is king: When applying a methodology, best pattern, or principle, it’s important to consider the context in which you’re working. One size does not fit all, and failing to account for the context can lead to sub-par results or outright failure. For example, prioritizing land-grab and product expansion over cost optimizations when the market is throwing money at companies is likely the right thing to do. If you continue to do it when the context (e.g. the market conditions) changes is not the right course of action.
2. Meaning: Finding meaning in what you do is crucial for maintaining motivation and a sense of purpose. For me, meaning came from improving the d2d of other developers at Wix. Sometimes in small increments and sometimes in huge increments. It became my super fuel that kept me going even during challenging times.
3. Challenge the convention and d2d: Challenging the status quo and the way things have always been done can be difficult, but it’s necessary for growth and innovation. When we settle for mediocrity and follow the norm, we (as individuals, teams, and companies) risk becoming stagnant, losing our edge and becoming detached. Challenging the convention requires stamina, resolve, and a deep understanding of the material. However, the reward is definitely worth it — making an impact, changing the course of your team, group, or even company is super rewarding. One example of challenging the convention at Wix was when I introduced guild weeks, even though many people thought it was crazy for developers to be away from their d2d tasks for a full week every quarter. It turned out it strengthened the teams and gave people different perspectives.
4. Small details DO matter: Paying attention to the small details can make a big difference in the long run. Often, small issues accumulate and compound until they become big problems that are difficult to fix. To avoid this, it’s important to alternate perspectives between the big picture and the small details. For instance, I once overlooked a minor bug in a production code that ended up causing a major outage and costing us a lot of time and money.

Reflecting on these lessons has reminded me of how much I’ve learned and how much more there is to learn. I hope these lessons resonate with you and inspire you to reflect on your own experiences. What are some lessons you’ve learned that have helped you grow? Let’s share and learn from each other. Here’s to 10 more amazing years ahead!

Before I sign off, I want to express my gratitude to two people who made this legacy session possible. First, I want to thank my manager and now close friend, Aviran Mordo. Aviran has been a mentor and guide to me throughout my time at Wix, and I’m grateful for his support, encouragement and friendship. Second, I want to thank Guy Margalit from Wix Academy for pushing me out of my comfort zone and helping me turn this event into an opportunity for knowledge sharing. I initially hesitated to have an event focused on me, but Guy’s enthusiasm and vision helped me see the value in reflecting on my journey and sharing my insights with others. Thank you both!