Hi, my name is Merlin Rebrović. Welcome to my place on the Web.

I love learning, books, and technology, and it’s been like that since my childhood. I use this website to write and share my thoughts on those topics and as an occasional personal journal. My professional career has spanned several roles and companies in tech, which seems like a symptom of my broad interests and curiosity. You can read more about me and stay updated with my writings on this website.

Selected essays and talks

Evidence-based learning methods I use regularly

Several learning methods that will help you learn more efficiently and effectively.
How I organize my work and keep my sanity

Like many knowledge workers, I operate in an environment where I have too many options to work on at any given moment. I have found a way of keeping on top of it, and I’m sharing it here.
The paradox of learning

Why struggling could mean you’re actually doing it the right way.
10 behaviors for more influence

I mentored several UX designers on improving communication and cross-functional influence. Similar topics started to surface with each person, so I decided to note them down.
The top work skills you need in the 21^st century

Instead of chasing trends and fads, wouldn’t it be better to focus on knowledge and skills that last for decades or even a lifetime? This talk introduced foundational work skills that cross industries and ways to identify and quickly learn core skills within an industry.

Latest blog posts

Cutting a red ribbon

I’m reading Daniel Yergin’s The Quest book about energy and politics. There is an interesting passage about the time when Andris Piebalgs, EU’s Commissioner for Energy during late 2000s, was asked about the relative popularity of adding new renewable sources of energy versus improving efficiency.
The last vestiges of summer

Today is the last day of summer, but the telltale signs hid in plain sight for weeks. Warm orange and brown colors abound and shadows lengthen.
When it works on the first try

Thomas Edison described his first experience building a phonograph for storing and reproducing sound.
The end of (my) Twitter

I deleted my Twitter account.
Would you do it?

Several questions I use to help me understand my motivation for doing something.

Older projects

WebGL cube (2015)

A WebGL experiment that responds to device rotation.
Focus.vim (2013)

A Vim plugin that removes clutter and makes working on a wide screen enjoyable.