Said vs Meant - Josh Brody Said vs Meant | Josh Brody
All projects
Said vs Meant cover

Said vs Meant

Promotions Are Broken and This Won't Fix It

Self-published 2026

The unwritten rules of engineering promotions nobody explains. Why good work isn't enough, what actually determines who advances, and why you're not imagining it.

About the Book

This was my first (maybe not last, I don’t know) published book. I wrote most if it while incarcerated, between lockdowns. I’m always questioning if I should call it a book because I’m always questioning if I’m worthy of calling myself a writer.

It explores the disconnect between doing good work and being visible, and how the two don’t always correlate. Organizations are partly at fault—developers should just have to develop—but organizations are made of humans and humans have certain biases.

I don’t have answers, so this book isn’t a prescription, it isn’t a guide, it isn’t a how-to. I decorate it as a field guide of my observations.

It’s not lost on me that I went to prison for internet piracy and I’m pushing out a copyrighted work behind a paywall. For that reason—and personal beliefs—the book will be made available for free, or for money.

Stay in the loop

Occasional essays on design, tools, and the craft of building things. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Ambient weather

The background of this site reflects the current weather and time of day in Saint Paul. The orbs shift in color and behavior based on what's happening outside my window.

Learn more about how this works