How to Survive The Worst Launch of Your Career with Brenda Romero

A disastrous launch left Brenda Romero with the cardiac health of a 70-year-old. She shares her cautionary tale and a framework for survival.

#1about 4 minutes

A personal journey into game development

The speaker shares her lifelong passion for making games, from childhood Dungeons & Dragons modifications to her first professional role in 1981.

#2about 3 minutes

The personal health crisis from a failed product launch

A difficult launch can lead to severe physical and mental health issues like sleep deprivation, heart palpitations, and extreme stress.

#3about 3 minutes

Leading a team while ignoring personal health warnings

Despite a serious medical diagnosis, the priority became projecting confidence and stability to the team, even while personally struggling.

#4about 6 minutes

Moral injury and examples of difficult product launches

The concept of moral injury explains the psychological distress from compromising one's values, which is common in many high-profile failed launches across the industry.

#5about 3 minutes

The impact of online harassment on development teams

Developers often face intense online harassment and even death threats after a difficult launch, making programming a high-risk occupation.

#6about 4 minutes

A practical framework for surviving a launch crisis

Follow a 15-step survival guide that includes visualizing a future without stress, triaging incoming data, delegating tasks, and engaging directly with your community.

#7about 2 minutes

Focusing on recovery and mental health after a crisis

True recovery from a traumatic launch involves taking significant time off, allowing yourself to be vulnerable, and seeking professional therapy to process the experience.

#8about 5 minutes

Q&A on burnout warning signs and industry responsibility

In a Q&A session, the speaker identifies cognitive decline as a key burnout indicator and argues that the industry must change its practices rather than forcing developers to endure them.