Fish Percolator
@fishpercolator.co.uk
Human-centric tech leadership consultancy and nonsense from @quinn.mx and friends
Subscribe to the newsletter! https://fishperc.substack.com/
Subscribe to the newsletter! https://fishperc.substack.com/
🧓 In part two of my series on the Agile Manifesto: Is the Manifesto still relevant after 25 years? fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/is-the-...
I explore what has changed in the industry in the last quarter-century and what is painfully the same.
What did I miss? Comment below!
I explore what has changed in the industry in the last quarter-century and what is painfully the same.
What did I miss? Comment below!
Is the Manifesto still relevant in 2026? | Fish Percolator
Part 2 of the series exploring the Agile Manifesto at 25 years old
fishpercolator.co.uk
September 16, 2026 at 7:15 AM
🧓 In part two of my series on the Agile Manifesto: Is the Manifesto still relevant after 25 years? fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/is-the-...
I explore what has changed in the industry in the last quarter-century and what is painfully the same.
What did I miss? Comment below!
I explore what has changed in the industry in the last quarter-century and what is painfully the same.
What did I miss? Comment below!
♻️ I'm starting a new series of blog posts this autumn, about the Agile Manifesto (which turned 25 earlier this year).
Here's the first: "Is Agile iterative development?" fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/is-agil...
Let me know what you think below and I'll see you in the next instalment!
Here's the first: "Is Agile iterative development?" fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/is-agil...
Let me know what you think below and I'll see you in the next instalment!
Is Agile iterative development? | Fish Percolator
In this new series I explore the Agile Manifesto, 25 years on from its first publication
fishpercolator.co.uk
September 9, 2026 at 7:15 AM
♻️ I'm starting a new series of blog posts this autumn, about the Agile Manifesto (which turned 25 earlier this year).
Here's the first: "Is Agile iterative development?" fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/is-agil...
Let me know what you think below and I'll see you in the next instalment!
Here's the first: "Is Agile iterative development?" fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/is-agil...
Let me know what you think below and I'll see you in the next instalment!
🃏🐴 I've been teasing my brand new product Shufflehorse for a while. Now it's time for me to reveal the (very) early access version! Read this month's newsletter for more information...
fishperc.substack.com/p/wanna-get-...
If you sign up and create anything cool, please share it with me on there!
fishperc.substack.com/p/wanna-get-...
If you sign up and create anything cool, please share it with me on there!
Wanna get Shufflehorse early access? 🃏🐴
Read on for a very very early reveal
fishperc.substack.com
September 2, 2026 at 7:15 AM
🃏🐴 I've been teasing my brand new product Shufflehorse for a while. Now it's time for me to reveal the (very) early access version! Read this month's newsletter for more information...
fishperc.substack.com/p/wanna-get-...
If you sign up and create anything cool, please share it with me on there!
fishperc.substack.com/p/wanna-get-...
If you sign up and create anything cool, please share it with me on there!
⏰️ When you hear the phrase "time is money", do you picture a moustache-twirling micromanager?
I actually think this concept is a useful abstraction, and I explore that in my new blog post: fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/time-ac...
Do you like to do everything in-house even if it takes time?
I actually think this concept is a useful abstraction, and I explore that in my new blog post: fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/time-ac...
Do you like to do everything in-house even if it takes time?
Time actually is money | Fish Percolator
And why your mid-levels often don't get it
fishpercolator.co.uk
August 26, 2026 at 7:15 AM
⏰️ When you hear the phrase "time is money", do you picture a moustache-twirling micromanager?
I actually think this concept is a useful abstraction, and I explore that in my new blog post: fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/time-ac...
Do you like to do everything in-house even if it takes time?
I actually think this concept is a useful abstraction, and I explore that in my new blog post: fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/time-ac...
Do you like to do everything in-house even if it takes time?
💮 It's August! I hope you all had a great Yorkshire Day on Saturday.
My latest newsletter went out on Thursday - did you catch it? If not, here's an online version: open.substack.com/pub/fishperc...
Please do subscribe if you haven't already! I promise it will always be good content!
My latest newsletter went out on Thursday - did you catch it? If not, here's an online version: open.substack.com/pub/fishperc...
Please do subscribe if you haven't already! I promise it will always be good content!
Slides, teeth and birds 🪶
A transitional month still packed with news
open.substack.com
August 5, 2026 at 7:15 AM
💮 It's August! I hope you all had a great Yorkshire Day on Saturday.
My latest newsletter went out on Thursday - did you catch it? If not, here's an online version: open.substack.com/pub/fishperc...
Please do subscribe if you haven't already! I promise it will always be good content!
My latest newsletter went out on Thursday - did you catch it? If not, here's an online version: open.substack.com/pub/fishperc...
Please do subscribe if you haven't already! I promise it will always be good content!
🧠 Your team is made of brains. Make sure you look after them!
My recent mental health experience reminded me to write a blog post about mental health at work. fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/mental-...
Do you agree? How do you take care of your mental health at work?
My recent mental health experience reminded me to write a blog post about mental health at work. fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/mental-...
Do you agree? How do you take care of your mental health at work?
Mental health is team health | Fish Percolator
My recent experience reminds me how important this is
fishpercolator.co.uk
July 29, 2026 at 7:15 AM
🧠 Your team is made of brains. Make sure you look after them!
My recent mental health experience reminded me to write a blog post about mental health at work. fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/mental-...
Do you agree? How do you take care of your mental health at work?
My recent mental health experience reminded me to write a blog post about mental health at work. fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/mental-...
Do you agree? How do you take care of your mental health at work?
📽 I recently had the chance to do some public speaking and - of course - having great slides is really important to me.
Here's a blog post with my tips about making great slides, and a link to some great tech that might help you! fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/good-sl...
Let me know what you think!
Here's a blog post with my tips about making great slides, and a link to some great tech that might help you! fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/good-sl...
Let me know what you think!
July 22, 2026 at 7:15 AM
📽 I recently had the chance to do some public speaking and - of course - having great slides is really important to me.
Here's a blog post with my tips about making great slides, and a link to some great tech that might help you! fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/good-sl...
Let me know what you think!
Here's a blog post with my tips about making great slides, and a link to some great tech that might help you! fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/good-sl...
Let me know what you think!
🏳️⚧️ Happy International Non-Binary People's Day!
Shout out to all the amazing genderqueer, transfem, transmasc, agender, bigender and every-other-gender people in my network & hope you are having a lovely week!
Don't forget that at this time every year, it's time to fill out www.gendercensus.com
Shout out to all the amazing genderqueer, transfem, transmasc, agender, bigender and every-other-gender people in my network & hope you are having a lovely week!
Don't forget that at this time every year, it's time to fill out www.gendercensus.com
Gender Census
Gender Census
www.gendercensus.com
July 14, 2026 at 12:49 PM
🏳️⚧️ Happy International Non-Binary People's Day!
Shout out to all the amazing genderqueer, transfem, transmasc, agender, bigender and every-other-gender people in my network & hope you are having a lovely week!
Don't forget that at this time every year, it's time to fill out www.gendercensus.com
Shout out to all the amazing genderqueer, transfem, transmasc, agender, bigender and every-other-gender people in my network & hope you are having a lovely week!
Don't forget that at this time every year, it's time to fill out www.gendercensus.com
💬 It was my pleasure to be speaking at Queer In Tech Leeds last night on the topic of "Fun is mandatory". Thank you for having me!
♟️ I've also published a blog post version of this talk - please do share it around if you agree! fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/fun-is-...
♟️ I've also published a blog post version of this talk - please do share it around if you agree! fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/fun-is-...
Fun is mandatory | Fish Percolator
Is "I'm too busy to have fun" really the most professional approach as a leader?
fishpercolator.co.uk
July 8, 2026 at 7:15 AM
💬 It was my pleasure to be speaking at Queer In Tech Leeds last night on the topic of "Fun is mandatory". Thank you for having me!
♟️ I've also published a blog post version of this talk - please do share it around if you agree! fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/fun-is-...
♟️ I've also published a blog post version of this talk - please do share it around if you agree! fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/fun-is-...
🔥 Is it still hot where you are? It is where I am!
Maybe print out this month's newsletter and use it as a makeshift fan?
open.substack.com/pub/fishperc...
Maybe print out this month's newsletter and use it as a makeshift fan?
open.substack.com/pub/fishperc...
Weird month it's been 🥵
But I've still got monthly news for you!
open.substack.com
July 1, 2026 at 7:15 AM
🔥 Is it still hot where you are? It is where I am!
Maybe print out this month's newsletter and use it as a makeshift fan?
open.substack.com/pub/fishperc...
Maybe print out this month's newsletter and use it as a makeshift fan?
open.substack.com/pub/fishperc...
🇲🇹 I'm on holiday this week and having a great time.
Alas, no blog post for you this week. But I'll get to work on June's newsletter as soon as I get back!
Does anyone else have _loads_ of creative work thoughts while they're away on holiday supposedly getting away from it all?
Alas, no blog post for you this week. But I'll get to work on June's newsletter as soon as I get back!
Does anyone else have _loads_ of creative work thoughts while they're away on holiday supposedly getting away from it all?
June 24, 2026 at 7:15 AM
🇲🇹 I'm on holiday this week and having a great time.
Alas, no blog post for you this week. But I'll get to work on June's newsletter as soon as I get back!
Does anyone else have _loads_ of creative work thoughts while they're away on holiday supposedly getting away from it all?
Alas, no blog post for you this week. But I'll get to work on June's newsletter as soon as I get back!
Does anyone else have _loads_ of creative work thoughts while they're away on holiday supposedly getting away from it all?
🌊 Have you ever seen your engineering team suddenly go from being super-productive and motivated to being demoralised and defeated?
You might be experiencing what I call a "morale wave". Here's my guide to what they are & how to stop them happening to your team: fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/morale-...
You might be experiencing what I call a "morale wave". Here's my guide to what they are & how to stop them happening to your team: fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/morale-...
Morale waves | Fish Percolator
Why does "we just have to write the tests" or paying down technical debt always take so long?
fishpercolator.co.uk
June 17, 2026 at 7:15 AM
🌊 Have you ever seen your engineering team suddenly go from being super-productive and motivated to being demoralised and defeated?
You might be experiencing what I call a "morale wave". Here's my guide to what they are & how to stop them happening to your team: fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/morale-...
You might be experiencing what I call a "morale wave". Here's my guide to what they are & how to stop them happening to your team: fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/morale-...
🤖 AI in software engineering. If you move in the same circles as me, this is a super-divisive topic.
In this blog post, I set out Fish Percolator's position on using AI at work when developing my own products. Do you agree with this?
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/do-i-us...
In this blog post, I set out Fish Percolator's position on using AI at work when developing my own products. Do you agree with this?
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/do-i-us...
Do I use AI at work? | Fish Percolator
Yes, but. There's always a but.
fishpercolator.co.uk
June 10, 2026 at 7:15 AM
🤖 AI in software engineering. If you move in the same circles as me, this is a super-divisive topic.
In this blog post, I set out Fish Percolator's position on using AI at work when developing my own products. Do you agree with this?
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/do-i-us...
In this blog post, I set out Fish Percolator's position on using AI at work when developing my own products. Do you agree with this?
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/do-i-us...
🍰 Last Thursday was my birthday - a perfect time for a new Fish Percolator newsletter!
Here's a copy: open.substack.com/pub/fishperc...
Please consider subscribing if you haven't - there's only one newsletter a month, it's always (I think) high-quality content, and every subscriber means a lot!
Here's a copy: open.substack.com/pub/fishperc...
Please consider subscribing if you haven't - there's only one newsletter a month, it's always (I think) high-quality content, and every subscriber means a lot!
It's my birthday! 🍰
New year of my life, new...sletter
open.substack.com
June 3, 2026 at 7:15 AM
🍰 Last Thursday was my birthday - a perfect time for a new Fish Percolator newsletter!
Here's a copy: open.substack.com/pub/fishperc...
Please consider subscribing if you haven't - there's only one newsletter a month, it's always (I think) high-quality content, and every subscriber means a lot!
Here's a copy: open.substack.com/pub/fishperc...
Please consider subscribing if you haven't - there's only one newsletter a month, it's always (I think) high-quality content, and every subscriber means a lot!
🧪 Automated testing. Is it just an automated version of manual testing? That sounds like a luxury, right?
🔬 I think automated testing is essential in *every* definition of done and I'd like to try to convince you in my latest blog post: fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/why-aut...
🥼 Do you agree?
🔬 I think automated testing is essential in *every* definition of done and I'd like to try to convince you in my latest blog post: fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/why-aut...
🥼 Do you agree?
Why automated testing is essential | Fish Percolator
It's not a luxury version of manual testing
fishpercolator.co.uk
May 27, 2026 at 7:15 AM
🧪 Automated testing. Is it just an automated version of manual testing? That sounds like a luxury, right?
🔬 I think automated testing is essential in *every* definition of done and I'd like to try to convince you in my latest blog post: fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/why-aut...
🥼 Do you agree?
🔬 I think automated testing is essential in *every* definition of done and I'd like to try to convince you in my latest blog post: fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/why-aut...
🥼 Do you agree?
🪡 "It's the way we've always done things... That's the process!"
Here's a nice term you can throw around when you face the challenge of ways-of-working inertia: Principle Twelve
Here's a nice term you can throw around when you face the challenge of ways-of-working inertia: Principle Twelve
Principle Twelve | Fish Percolator
Your ways of working need agility too
fishpercolator.co.uk
May 20, 2026 at 7:15 AM
🪡 "It's the way we've always done things... That's the process!"
Here's a nice term you can throw around when you face the challenge of ways-of-working inertia: Principle Twelve
Here's a nice term you can throw around when you face the challenge of ways-of-working inertia: Principle Twelve
🗞️ It's time for another Fish Percolator newsletter! open.substack.com/pub/fishperc...
If you read one thing this month, scroll to the bottom and watch the video about the problems AI can't solve.
And please subscribe while you're there! If you already do, please forward it! Thank you so much!! 🙏🏻
If you read one thing this month, scroll to the bottom and watch the video about the problems AI can't solve.
And please subscribe while you're there! If you already do, please forward it! Thank you so much!! 🙏🏻
📚🐴 The tale of the librarian and the horse
OK I'm just trying to tease you in, but both these words do feature somewhere in this newsletter!
fishperc.substack.com
May 6, 2026 at 7:15 AM
🗞️ It's time for another Fish Percolator newsletter! open.substack.com/pub/fishperc...
If you read one thing this month, scroll to the bottom and watch the video about the problems AI can't solve.
And please subscribe while you're there! If you already do, please forward it! Thank you so much!! 🙏🏻
If you read one thing this month, scroll to the bottom and watch the video about the problems AI can't solve.
And please subscribe while you're there! If you already do, please forward it! Thank you so much!! 🙏🏻
🗄️ You want people to come back to the office, at least a couple of days a week, but you know demanding this isn't inclusive or accessible.
🏖️ What if you could take the office to where your team live, rather than bringing them to the office?
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/buildin...
🏖️ What if you could take the office to where your team live, rather than bringing them to the office?
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/buildin...
Building a virtual office | Fish Percolator
Remote or hybrid working is only half the solution
fishpercolator.co.uk
April 29, 2026 at 7:15 AM
🗄️ You want people to come back to the office, at least a couple of days a week, but you know demanding this isn't inclusive or accessible.
🏖️ What if you could take the office to where your team live, rather than bringing them to the office?
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/buildin...
🏖️ What if you could take the office to where your team live, rather than bringing them to the office?
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/buildin...
📜 The Fish Percolator blog now has enough posts that I finally had to learn how to do multiple pages in Astro! fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/1/
💬 I've got loads more blog ideas but I'd love to hear from you. Are there any topics I've covered so far that you wish I'd return to with more depth?
💬 I've got loads more blog ideas but I'd love to hear from you. Are there any topics I've covered so far that you wish I'd return to with more depth?
Blog | Fish Percolator
Empowering technical teams to deliver faster and still have fun
fishpercolator.co.uk
April 22, 2026 at 7:15 AM
📜 The Fish Percolator blog now has enough posts that I finally had to learn how to do multiple pages in Astro! fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/1/
💬 I've got loads more blog ideas but I'd love to hear from you. Are there any topics I've covered so far that you wish I'd return to with more depth?
💬 I've got loads more blog ideas but I'd love to hear from you. Are there any topics I've covered so far that you wish I'd return to with more depth?
🤮 Barf.
Why am I talking about barf on main? And what does it have to do with getting internal documentation written?
You'll have to read my latest blog post to find out!
Why am I talking about barf on main? And what does it have to do with getting internal documentation written?
You'll have to read my latest blog post to find out!
The Barf-Librarian Technique | Fish Percolator
Utilizing 🤮 and 📚 to get internal documentation written
fishpercolator.co.uk
April 15, 2026 at 7:15 AM
🤮 Barf.
Why am I talking about barf on main? And what does it have to do with getting internal documentation written?
You'll have to read my latest blog post to find out!
Why am I talking about barf on main? And what does it have to do with getting internal documentation written?
You'll have to read my latest blog post to find out!
🕹️ Let's talk about fun at work. It's my firm belief that teams which regularly have fun are wildly more productive (both quantity and quality) than teams which are serious all the time.
What's one thing you do regularly at your work that you really look forward to?
What's one thing you do regularly at your work that you really look forward to?
April 8, 2026 at 7:15 AM
🕹️ Let's talk about fun at work. It's my firm belief that teams which regularly have fun are wildly more productive (both quantity and quality) than teams which are serious all the time.
What's one thing you do regularly at your work that you really look forward to?
What's one thing you do regularly at your work that you really look forward to?
🤡 You'd be a FOOL not to be subscribed to my newsletter already!
But in case you missed yesterday's edition, here's an online version: fishperc.substack.com/publish/post...
I thought long and hard about whether to make up some nonsense since it's 1 April, but I'm so bad at lying, even as a joke!
But in case you missed yesterday's edition, here's an online version: fishperc.substack.com/publish/post...
I thought long and hard about whether to make up some nonsense since it's 1 April, but I'm so bad at lying, even as a joke!
.quinn { visibility: visible; }
🏳️⚧️ Happy TDOV! And more Fish Percolator news inside...
fishperc.substack.com
April 1, 2026 at 7:15 AM
🤡 You'd be a FOOL not to be subscribed to my newsletter already!
But in case you missed yesterday's edition, here's an online version: fishperc.substack.com/publish/post...
I thought long and hard about whether to make up some nonsense since it's 1 April, but I'm so bad at lying, even as a joke!
But in case you missed yesterday's edition, here's an online version: fishperc.substack.com/publish/post...
I thought long and hard about whether to make up some nonsense since it's 1 April, but I'm so bad at lying, even as a joke!
🦉 This is a post about AI. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/were-tr...
I have heard this phrase enough times that I thought it was time to explore it here.
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/were-tr...
I have heard this phrase enough times that I thought it was time to explore it here.
“We're only training it on trusted content” | Fish Percolator
You can't trick an AI into being more trustworthy
fishpercolator.co.uk
March 25, 2026 at 8:15 AM
🦉 This is a post about AI. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/were-tr...
I have heard this phrase enough times that I thought it was time to explore it here.
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/were-tr...
I have heard this phrase enough times that I thought it was time to explore it here.
😎 Happy Neurodiversity Celebration Week!
This subject is very important to me so I've written a very personal - but hopefully also helpful - blog post about being autistic and working with neurodivergent people.
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/notes-f...
This subject is very important to me so I've written a very personal - but hopefully also helpful - blog post about being autistic and working with neurodivergent people.
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/notes-f...
Notes from a neurodivergent leader | Fish Percolator
Why I'm open about my diagnosis at work
fishpercolator.co.uk
March 18, 2026 at 8:15 AM
😎 Happy Neurodiversity Celebration Week!
This subject is very important to me so I've written a very personal - but hopefully also helpful - blog post about being autistic and working with neurodivergent people.
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/notes-f...
This subject is very important to me so I've written a very personal - but hopefully also helpful - blog post about being autistic and working with neurodivergent people.
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/notes-f...
🚧 I'm a week ahead of myself on the blog post I wanted to write (you'll see why next week) so I thought I'd take the time to talk a bit more about my business's approach and why working in a human-centric way is so important to me.
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/one-siz...
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/one-siz...
One size doesn't fit all | Fish Percolator
Why I say my business is human-centric
fishpercolator.co.uk
March 11, 2026 at 8:15 AM
🚧 I'm a week ahead of myself on the blog post I wanted to write (you'll see why next week) so I thought I'd take the time to talk a bit more about my business's approach and why working in a human-centric way is so important to me.
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/one-siz...
fishpercolator.co.uk/blog/one-siz...