Lars Klint on unsticking your career

[00:03:36] Welcome and Introduction

Andrew Murphy: Hello everybody and welcome to Tech Leaders Launchpad Livestream. My name is Andrew Murphy and this is a livestream where we talk about technology, leadership, and everything at JP. I started this livestream because 15 years ago I became a leader and there wasn't anybody to help me—no books, websites, resources, or Slack groups like there are nowadays. So I figured that when I got to a place where I could share my journey, I should, and also share the stories of people who've mentored me and who I've learned from. Speaking of which, today we are talking about unsticking your career with Lars Klint. Lars, your LinkedIn profile says you’re an Arkahna magician, community champion, Microsoft Azure MVP, and YouTube creator. Is there anything you don't do?

Lars Klint: I don't do a lot of singing.

Andrew Murphy: That's a shame.

Lars Klint: Unfortunately! People like their glass not shattered. I just like doing things—maybe, sometimes to my detriment—but it’s very rewarding. I’m not good at being bored. I like putting myself out there and trying new things.

Andrew Murphy: I approve and applaud that. A lot of us get shaped by the boxes we make for ourselves, but breaking out and exploring can be fun. If you've got any questions or comments during the livestream, post them on your platform of choice and we’ll ask Lars. Typically, I have prepared questions, but your comments always end up being more interesting, so we shift to those. So, let's start with one of my prepared questions...

[00:07:04] Icebreaker: Favorite Tech Gadget (That Isn't a Phone or Computer)

Andrew Murphy: What's your favorite tech gadget that isn't your computer or your phone?

Lars Klint: I can only do one? I just got this new thing I haven't started using yet—not my favorite, but interesting. But, believe it or not, my favorite is a lawnmower. I know—that guy, right? But it’s not just any lawnmower, it’s a robot lawnmower. So, it saves me time—probably the number one reason I love it. Number two: it's a robot. I have about an acre and a half of lawn—well, it’s farm grass, not a golf course. I spend time mapping things out so it knows where to go, but once you do that, after a few weeks, it's just automatic. I clean it occasionally and it just mows. The grass is healthier and I’m happier. And it’s a robot.

Andrew Murphy: Does it integrate with smart home stuff, or is it its own ecosystem?

Lars Klint: I do a ton with home automation, especially Home Assistant. Often, I try to get things integrated. Half the time it works, half the time it doesn’t. My next video is about a trail cam I tried to integrate, but couldn’t. The robot mower doesn’t yet work with Home Assistant, but I’m talking to the company, and many people are asking for it. Once you’re in IoT and home automation, you want everything automated… like integrating with the weather, etc.

Andrew Murphy: It's addictive. I got into home automation after getting solar panels, integrated with Home Assistant, rigged up the house aircon, and did crazy stuff like having my Ethereum miner turn on with excess solar. Very addictive if you're a nerd.

Lars Klint: Right! Can I get my mower to mine Bitcoin? [laughs] Never mind. Gadgets are fun. I have many.

Andrew Murphy: We can see a lot of them behind you! Cool. Let's get to the meat of today's talk.

[00:10:29] How Andrew and Lars Met, Setting the Scene

Andrew Murphy: Lars and I first met in person in Porto, Portugal at NDC Porto Conference.

Lars Klint: Even though we live in almost the same city! Had to go to Portugal to finally meet.

Andrew Murphy: I always talk about how small Melbourne's tech scene is. But go a little outside and you find people like Lars resisting being sucked in.

Lars Klint: Oh, I resist.

Andrew Murphy: Lars, you did a talk at NDC called "Turning Dreaming into Doing: A Life Manual for Nerds." Apart from the ChatGPT-generated title [joking], tell us what the talk was about.

Lars Klint: It wasn’t from ChatGPT! I’ve done this talk in various forms, even before ChatGPT existed. So, what was the question again?

Andrew Murphy: Tell me about the talk—what it was actually about.

[00:11:51] Turning Dreaming into Doing: Origins of the Talk

Lars Klint: Over the past ten years, especially after I started putting myself forward—organizing events, etc—people started asking: “How can I do what you're doing? How can you help?” There were always questions about people wanting to know more, do more, have more time, get help. I’d done some people-skill talks before, and I’m still a technologist, but as nerds we often ignore that side to focus on tech. This talk is a life manual for nerds—why aren’t you as successful as someone else? Why aren’t you achieving or feeling the same fulfillment as others? Often, people just see the green grass on social media—don’t do that; it’s a small snapshot. But I thought I could contribute, especially around goal setting, and about cutting away the routines and rubbish we get stuck in. I try to poke people a bit, get them out of their comfort zone, and it sparks great conversations every time.

Andrew Murphy: I love when the best talks have the meat of actionability at the end—first half is knowledge transfer, next half is discussion where the behavior change happens. Q&A is where the real impact is.

Lars Klint: Yeah, if I don’t get people to interact, the talk is just 15 minutes long. It’s a very fluid talk. It’s never the same twice.

Andrew Murphy: That’s the best kind of talk! I wanted to boil it down (knowing this loses all nuance) as: “Set goals and work hard to reach them.” Why do people need a talk about this? Why aren’t people just doing that already?

[00:15:15] Why Aren't People Acting on Their Goals?

Lars Klint: You hit the nail on the head… Someone once commented on a recording of my talk: "This is just waffling, or hustle-promoting.” But if just saying “set a goal and do it” were enough, everyone would do it. It’s a simple concept, but most people don't actually do it. If you create the habit and the routine—writing them down, putting them somewhere visible—it becomes part of what you do. But most people don't. They say “I have goals,” but when you ask specifics, they don't have them. It’s not a goal unless there’s a date, some detail; otherwise, it’s just wishful thinking. The physical act of writing it down makes it real. If you file it away digitally, you forget it. If it’s on your fridge or wall, you're reminded daily why you’re doing what you do.

The “work hard” bit isn’t about slaving over something all the time; it’s about knowing what’s important, allowing you to say no to distractions, and focus your energy intentionally.

Andrew Murphy: I like that idea of making it physical, a whiteboard, somewhere you see every day. A digital note you forget, but a whiteboard by the dinner table you see AND remember. It’s about bringing your goals to the front of your mind—being conscious and intentional in your decisions.

Lars Klint: My favorite word is "intentional." Be intentional about your actions. Instead of saying "I can't," say "I won't"—for reasons that are yours. My wife Fiona is a life coach, and helped me see the power here. It’s not about pleasing everyone; it’s about knowing what’s valuable to you, and being intentional.

[00:23:57] Audience Interactions & The Power of 'Intentional' Decisions

Andrew Murphy: We’ve had a couple of comments. Gibran sent the digital cake! Also, “Turning Dreaming into Doing,” is that a book or article? It’s a talk Lars has done, not a book, but there’s a YouTube recording. I’ll post the link after.

Lars Klint: People always ask for slides, but that’s not the point. The real value is in the conversation.

Andrew Murphy: You talked about the value of being conscious about your actions. My job on these livestreams is to turn advice into actionable steps. So, tell us—give us an example of a goal you set and how you made it happen.

[00:26:02] Real Life Goal-Setting Example (Cars and YouTube)

Lars Klint: I love cars—loud, fast, the V8 experience. Moved to Australia (V8 country), and we as a family wanted a seven-seater car: not a minivan, but fast, comfortable, and preferably a V8. Super specific. My wife Fiona used to work as a vehicle research analyst, so we got deep into research. We pinpointed the Mercedes GL63—even though brand new, it’s a quarter-million dollar car—not an option. But it was the RIGHT car. So: How do we make this happen? We set an 18-month timeline, figured out financing, exactly what model, low kilometers, interior, etc.—written down, really specific. Then, worked towards milestones and gates: Are we actually progressing? Eventually, we bought a seven-year-old, low kilometer model in perfect condition. It didn’t go as planned, but we adjusted. Getting there by writing things down, sticking to milestones, and celebrating progress made it real.

I also set YouTube goals: Started two years ago, set a goal to release a video every two weeks (26 per year) and hit 1,000 subscribers (when you can monetize)—hit that early, then set a 10,000 subscriber goal for the next year, and reached that early too. Having a quantitative, trackable goal lets you focus and adjust strategies as necessary, but know when you arrive.

Andrew Murphy: I love quantitative goals—the destination is fixed, the strategies can flex.

Lars Klint: The journey ALWAYS changes, that’s just reality. Adjusting goals is fine, as long as you’re intentional and honest.

[00:33:24] Applying Goal-Setting To Life, Not Just Work

Andrew Murphy: A lot of these concepts—setting targets, being agile, milestones—we do at work, but forget at home. Why don’t we use the same practices personally?

Lars Klint: My theory—from talks—is people want to "wind down," relax. Everyone needs to unplug, but what do people actually do when unwinding? I'd love to hear from the comments, what do you do after work, after kids are asleep? Let’s see!

Andrew Murphy: My story: My hobby (coding) became my career, so I lost it as a hobby. Now, my job is different, and I've got my hobby back—I code for fun again.

Lars Klint: That’s a good one.

Andrew Murphy: TJ says, “Video games or sports.”

Lars Klint: Sports is culturally important for many. But especially with TV and games—it needs an end! Netflix, for example, is built to keep you there. So I make a point with people in my talks: calculate how much time you're actually investing in that show. What are you actually getting? Are you relaxing, or could you have gotten just as much from a 90-minute movie?

Personally, I build LEGO sets—it’s relaxing, I appreciate the engineering, I do it with my son, and I can do it gradually. Audiobooks, writing, whatever puts you in "flow" and isn’t just empty. TV is an easy out, but not always the best. (Says the guy who makes YouTube videos!)

[00:39:36] Productivity vs. Intentional Relaxation

Andrew Murphy: There’s a place for real "switch off" activities, but it's about being intentional. I encourage people to book time for it—if Thursday night is TV night, it’s in the calendar, and you don't watch the rest of the week.

Lars Klint: If you're a calendar person, sure! Find what works, but keep it intentional and limited. Otherwise, relaxation activities can eat into the rest of your week.

And again, this is not "hustle culture." It’s about being intentional, fulfilled, and joyful—not chasing Silicon Valley hustle, but a good life.

[00:42:38] Tech As Relaxation And Skill Sharpening

Andrew Murphy: My planned relaxation overlaps with my interest in tech; sometimes, coding for myself helps my business a little, but mostly it’s just because I enjoy it. For example, I rebuilt my site from WordPress to custom code for fun—not a great use of "business hours," but a good use of hobby time.

Lars Klint: That’s the game: finding what fulfills you, knowing not all tasks will—but if you find overlap between work and play, it’s magic. Same for me: I speak, create, and content-make for a living, and I love it.

Andrew Murphy: Ben says, “Turn off the work laptop, look for GitHub projects.” Sharpening skills, full of ideas—a great way to relax if you love it.

Lars Klint: Or you can ask ChatGPT for fun project ideas! You can get weird, creative suggestions. If code is your thing, great.

Andrew Murphy: I struggled with the hobby/work overlap before, now I’ve found balance. Home automation as another hobby for lots of people...

Gibran: “What about AI projects on GitHub?”

Andrew Murphy: Ask yourself: are you doing it because you truly care, or because it's hot right now? Make sure it aligns with your bigger purpose.

Lars Klint: I use GitHub Copilot a lot for this—so much fun, you can do little side projects or app ideas quickly and learn by reading the code Copilot generates. If that’s your thing, go for it!

[00:46:32] Balancing Conflicting Goals (Family & Work)

Andrew Murphy: Sometimes goals conflict—like starting a business and wanting to be present for my young son. I want my business to succeed, but I also don’t want to sacrifice precious family moments. How do you manage conflicting goals like that?

Lars Klint: Everyone faces conflicting priorities. My son’s nine—so, I involve him in what I do as much as possible. I want him to see me put in effort, to understand why sometimes I can’t be present, but also to participate where he can (e.g., at conferences, on YouTube shoots). I explain when I have to focus and make sure he sees I’m working hard for things that benefit us. Sometimes our goals can’t overlap, but involving your family as much as possible helps. It’s never easy and always a trial and error balance.

Andrew Murphy: As my son grows, I think more about sacrificing present self for future self, and vice versa. We rarely satisfy both at once.

Lars Klint: Exactly, but if you know your goals and long-term trajectory, it’s easier to make those tough choices. It gets hard if your goals are only for you, not for your family or people around you—then you risk discarding everything else.

Thomas (comment): Sometimes balancing conflicting goals becomes its own goal.

Lars Klint: Absolutely! That’s real.

[00:51:17] Family Goals vs Individual Goals

Andrew Murphy: You mentioned setting goals as a family, not just individually. How do you draw the line between those? Are your wife’s goals yours and vice versa?

Lars Klint: For us, we have a big, overarching 3–5 year family goal (with milestones), so most smaller goals fit within that. But you have to look after yourself, too. The key is regular conversations about the shape of the future, making sure you’re not just grinding along. Most people structure life around the 9-to-5 to have weekends off, but life can be so much more. Talk about what you really want—do you want to be doing the exact same thing for 30 years? Or something different?

[00:53:51] Trade-Offs and Wrapping Up

Andrew Murphy: My wife and I often talk about our 10- and 20-year vision—those dreams shape all decisions and goals. For example, I take Monday mornings off to be with my son; it’s a deliberate trade-off between current business growth and long-term memory-making. These trade-offs matter. We're almost at time—Lars, where can people find you?

Lars Klint: I love my YouTube channel—it’s my creative outlet, all sorts of tech, gadgets, narrative, storytelling. Just search for my name and look for the lightbulb icon. My day job at Arkahna is advocacy—presenting around Australia (recently at Microsoft AI Tour in Sydney, NDC Sydney, Serverless Days in Auckland, etc.). Website: larsklint.com. Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook… I’m everywhere.

Andrew Murphy: Awesome. Did not know about Slash New—will have to check that out. Also, the next livestream features Anwan Simmons from GitHub, talking about hiring and building engineering teams. I’ll share the YouTube link and newsletter sign-up—LinkedIn is not great for livestreaming, so subscribe for better links and updates.

Thanks so much, Lars. This was a fascinating chat—see you soon (if not at DDD Melbourne, then elsewhere)!

Lars Klint: Thanks for having me, Andrew!

Andrew Murphy: Thank you, everyone. See you at the next Launchpad livestream!