#50: 100 Copies Sold 💸

Appam secrets inside...

Tech 👨🏾‍💻

In January 2023, I released a video course titled “How To Get Promoted Beyond Senior Engineer”.

Last week, I sold the 100th copy.

My gumroad dashboard.

I’m honored that 100 humans trusted me enough to buy the course.

As you become more senior in corporate software, you get more leverage programming people than programming computers.

Through writing.

Prose over code.

Based on the feedback, I’ve compiled material for additional modules. If you’ve bought the course, you’ll get new modules for free.

Big thanks to all the humans who turned my small bet into a small win.

Tamil 💛

I found an edge case in the culture.

May 2022: The last photo I have with Rani Ammamma in South Carolina.

My great aunt, Rani Ammamma, passed away on February 5.

I attended her funeral in Indiana. As I was leaving the funeral home, I said to my aunt, Aru Periamma, “poitu varen” - which means “I’ll go and come”.

In Tamil, we don’t say bye. We say “I’ll go and come”. 

We never say “I’m going”. 

It implies you won’t return.

But, my aunt taught me that when leaving a funeral home -you should never say “I’ll go and come”. 

It implies that you’ll be returning to the funeral home soon.

When I started learning Tamil, I did it alone in my apartment in New York. I was so focused on transliteration - translating word for word. Only once I started speaking with native speakers did I realize how different the prevailing assumptions are between languages.

In English, it is assumed that I will return.

In Tamil, it is assumed that I will not return.

A language is more than grammar and vocabulary. It contains prevailing assumptions. Values. Encapsulating the culture.

Something about that is so beautiful to me.

Have you heard of this edge case?

Treat 👨🏾‍🍳

I made appam for the first time. It turned out better than I expected.

Appams are a fermented rice and coconut crepe. They have a crispy lace with a thicker bottom. A textural delight.

Usually, appam chattis have a rounded bottom. If you have a flat top stove, it won’t balance properly. Furthermore, the pan won’t heat evenly. 

Standard appam chatti

But, I found a solution!

I found a pan with a rounded inner shape and a flat bottom. It sits flush on the flat top stove. Heating evenly.

Lodge 6.25” Mini Wok.

So if you’ve ever wanted to make appam at home but have a flat top stove, I got you. 

All you need is

1. 6.25” Mini wok

2. 6.5” Mini lid (it fits perfectly, don’t worry about the .25” inch difference)

3. Brownie spatula (fits the curves of the mini wok)

4. Amma’s appam recipe

I gifted the 4 items above to my aunt, Savi Periamma, last week.

She sent me this lovely text and picture.

My Savi Periamma’s text and egg appam. Beautiful.

I hope your appams come out beautifully, too.

Thanks for reading,
Janahan

P.S. If you liked this edition of Janahan Newsletter, share it with a friend :)

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Whenever you're ready, there are 2 additional ways I can help you:

1. If you’re looking to break past the senior software engineer glass ceiling, I’d recommend starting with this affordable course. These are the secrets I’ve learned from going from a mid-level to a Distinguished Engineer in less than 4 years. Join 100+ students from over 20 countries.

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