Alfonso Graziano

Build More Than Software, Build a Life You Love.

The Intentional Engineer is a series of articles and notes I’m building over time.

For each “chapter” I try to summarize what I’m learning during my journey in the Tech industry and more generally, in life.

The core value that binds all the articles is being intentional.

Whatever we want to do, whoever we want to become, being intentional is the key to live a life we want.

I hope you will enjoy the content that follows.

Published articles

The Stoic Engineer - Using ancient Philosophy to solve modern real-world issues

💡

✨

The Stoic Engineer: Using ancient Philosophy to solve modern real-world issues

Code breaks. Clients panic. Deadlines shift. But your mind? That’s your domain. This chapter dives into how Stoic philosophy — yes, the stuff from 2,000 years ago — can help you stay calm, focused, and grounded in the chaos of modern tech.

We’ll explore timeless ideas from thinkers like Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Seneca, and show how they apply to everything from code reviews to career setbacks.

You’ll learn how to control what you can, accept what you can’t, and show up with purpose every day — no matter how many Slack notifications hit your screen. Think of it as an emotional debugger.

The Visible Engineer: turning communication into a career superpower

💡

💬

The Visible Engineer: turning communication into a career superpower

You can be brilliant at solving problems, but if no one knows what you’re doing, you're leaving career growth on the table. This chapter shows you how to turn communication into your unfair advantage.

You’ll learn how to speak up in meetings, write documentation people actually read, and build trust by sharing progress without sounding like a walking Jira ticket. We’ll cover the power of being a multiplier — helping others to raise your own visibility — and how to make visibility part of your long-term strategy, not just a one-off effort.

Then we go beyond the company firewall: personal websites, social presence, meetups, and the small online steps that lead to big real-world opportunities. Visibility isn’t bragging. It’s about making your work—and your impact—clear, inside and out.

Articles in draft or WIP

⚠️

The content, order or list of these chapters might change at every point in the future. As soon as something is ready to be read, I’ll publish it. I still want to give you at least a high-level idea of what are the topic I want to cover in the future. In case you have any idea or feedback, please reach out.

🧭 The Rationale Engineer: A Practical Guide to Critical Thinking and Mental Models

In a world full of hot takes, urgent requests, and complex systems, the ability to think clearly is an underrated superpower. This chapter explores how critical thinking and mental models can help you make better decisions — in code, in teams, and in life. We’ll break down what it means to reason through problems instead of just reacting to them, and how to spot the hidden assumptions that trip up even the smartest engineers.

You’ll learn how to apply mental models like first principles, second-order thinking, and inversion to everyday challenges, and how to build a personal thinking framework you can actually use when things get messy. No philosophy degree required — just a curious mind and a willingness to debug your own brain.

💪🏻 The Healthy Engineer: Optimizing Your Health Like You Optimize Your Code

Tech is a brain game, but your body’s the machine that runs it. If you’ve ever spent 10 hours fixing a memory leak but skipped lunch and sat in a chair shaped like medieval torture, this chapter is for you. We’ll talk about how to treat your health like you treat your code — with regular updates, good defaults, and smart monitoring.

From sleep, nutrition, and exercise to stress, burnout, and digital overload, this is your crash course in staying functional, focused, and resilient. You don’t need six-pack abs or a standing desk shrine — just simple, consistent habits that keep your mind clear and your system running smoothly.

💰 The Wealthy Engineer: Personal Finance for Engineers Who Think Long-Term

You’ve mastered async functions—now it’s time to get good at compounding interest. This chapter is about building wealth with the same mindset you use in engineering: clear thinking, smart systems, and long-term outcomes.

We’ll cover the basics of earning, saving, and investing without the jargon or hype, and show you how to make money decisions that support the life you actually want. Whether you're optimizing for financial freedom, runway between gigs, or just fewer money headaches, this is your guide to being intentional with your income.

No crypto tips, no “side hustle grind”—just solid, sustainable strategies for engineers who want to play the long game.

🎯 The Strategic Engineer: A Framework for Career Growth in a Fast-Moving Industry

In tech, standing still is falling behind. But growth isn’t just about learning the next shiny tool — it’s about knowing where you’re going and why. This chapter helps you zoom out from daily tickets and think like a long-term player.

We’ll break down how to set direction, pick roles and projects that align with your goals, and avoid common traps like chasing titles or burning out for badges. You’ll learn how to think like a system designer — only this time, you are the system.

With a few clear principles and a bit of reflection, you’ll start managing your career with the same clarity and intention you bring to your best code.

📕 The Curious Engineer: Building Skills That Compound Over Time

In tech, the best investment isn’t a certification — it’s curiosity. This chapter is about turning that inner voice that keeps asking “How does this work?” into your biggest career advantage.

We’ll explore how continuous learning fuels long-term growth, why small daily improvements beat binge-learning marathons, and how to build a personal learning system that actually sticks. From side projects to reading habits to learning in public, this is your playbook for becoming the kind of engineer who’s always evolving — not because they have to, but because they want to.

The good news? Knowledge compounds. And curiosity is the interest rate.