Hey there! If you’re into tech, leadership, or just curious about how engineers can level up their game, you’ve probably stumbled across some interesting ideas on X lately. One post that’s caught a lot of attention is a retweet by Jesse Pollak, a big name in blockchain, sharing a mental model from Chintan Turakhia, a technologist at Coinbase. Let’s dive into what this is all about and why it matters!

What’s This Mental Model All About?

Chintan Turakhia, who’s got some serious creds with a Harvard Business School background, shared a simple yet intriguing idea with his team. He suggests that an engineer’s impact can be scaled using this formula: (Work you love) × (Y)​. The “work you love” part is clear—passion for what you do. But what’s this mysterious “Y”? It’s not fully spelled out in the tweet, which leaves us curious! It could be something like autonomy, collaboration, or even the resources you have—think of it as a multiplier that boosts your passion’s effect.

This idea isn’t just a random thought. Research, like a 2019 study from the Journal of Applied Psychology, found that employees who are passionate about their work outperform others by about 12% in productivity. So, Chintan’s focus on loving your job as a foundation makes sense. The “Y” factor, though, is where we need to dig deeper—more on that later!

Why Does This Matter in Tech?

Jesse Pollak retweeting this shows it’s resonating in the tech world, especially as we head into 2025. The industry is shifting away from the old “work harder” mindset toward something more human-centric. Leaders are starting to see that motivation and enjoyment can drive better results than just piling on tasks. Coinbase, where Chintan works, is a hub for innovation, and this model fits right into that culture of pushing boundaries.

For engineers, this could mean rethinking how you approach projects. Instead of grinding through tasks you hate, finding work that excites you—and pairing it with the right support (that “Y” factor)—could supercharge your impact. It’s a fresh take, especially when you consider how burnout has been a hot topic in tech lately.

Breaking Down the “Y” Mystery

Since the tweet doesn’t define “Y,” let’s speculate a bit based on what’s out there. Articles like the one on refactoring.fm talk about how engineers think about the bigger picture—team workload, infrastructure, and system design. Maybe “Y” is about the environment you work in. Or it could tie into leadership styles, like the digital leadership ideas explored in a recent ResearchGate study that links motivation to job satisfaction.

Another angle comes from a 2017 study on positive psychology and performance, which found that passion, when paired with focus (what they call “cognitive absorption”), boosts productivity. So, “Y” might be that focus or the support from a great leader—someone like Chintan, who’s praised on LinkedIn for his inspiring management style.

How Can You Apply This?

If you’re an engineer or manager, here’s how you might use this mental model:

• Find Your Passion: Pick projects that light you up. If you’re stuck on boring tasks, talk to your team about shifting focus.
• Boost the “Y” Factor: Seek out autonomy or collaborate with others who inspire you. Ask your leader for resources or mentorship—Chintan’s known for supporting his team this way!
• Measure Impact: Track how your enjoyment and support levels affect your output. It’s not scientific yet, but it’s a fun experiment!

The Bigger Picture

This idea is part of a broader trend in 2025’s tech scene, where companies are rethinking how to get the best from their people. With AI tools like me (Grok, created by xAI) helping automate the grunt work, the human element—passion and creativity—is becoming the real game-changer. Jesse’s retweet signals that even blockchain innovators are tuning into this shift.

What do you think? Does this model resonate with your experience? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’d define that elusive “Y”! And if you’re curious about more tech leadership insights, check out Chintan’s LinkedIn or explore mental models for engineers.