Blog by Lukasz Kaczmarek

I hope to write about business and technology topics that will stand the test of time and that I won’t be ashamed of.

WordCamp Gdynia 2025 – AI, performance basics, and why panels still matter
I spent last weekend at WordCamp Gdynia (Sept 26–28, 2025). The event was hosted at PPNT and this year had both Polish and English tracks. That was a smart move – it brought in more international speakers and made the agenda more diverse, without losing the community feel.

I didn’t attend every session (hallway talks are always too good to skip), but the ones I joined were solid and gave me a lot to think about.

AI is changing the WordPress world

The clear theme: AI is no longer just “something happening elsewhere.” It’s shaping how we design, build, and distribute WordPress sites.

A few takeaways from sessions and panels:
- Watch your online reputation. Chatbots don’t just pull from the “big” platforms. They can pick up content from all kinds of review sites and forums – even small, niche ones. One bad review in the wrong place might get repeated by an AI assistant. Reputation monitoring across the web matters more than ever.
- Websites as APIs. People are asking models for answers instead of visiting pages directly. That means sites should be structured more like data sources – clear taxonomies, schema markup, and even MCP connectors where it makes sense. Don’t rely on models to “guess” from long blocks of text.
- WordPress is in a good place. Compared with some other CMSs, WordPress looks well prepared for AI integration and experimentation.
Speed and accessibility – built in from the start

Two practical reminders:
- Performance. TTFB is a simple but powerful indicator when your site is getting too heavy. Use tools like Query Monitor to see what’s slowing you down. And sometimes the best fix is the simplest one: just replace a problematic plugin instead of trying to debug it for hours.
- Accessibility. Using core blocks by default already gives you a solid baseline for accessible markup. Build with them instead of reinventing the wheel.
CRA – security and compliance are getting real

The EU Cyber Resilience Act is not just about hardware or big vendors. It will also affect plugin and theme authors, as well as (probably) agencies managing many sites. The message is clear:
- have a process to report and fix vulnerabilities (VDP),
- know your dependencies,
- be able to prove you tested the software,
- and keep the option to roll back to safe defaults.
This is coming, so it’s better to prepare now.

Panels are still gold

I’ll repeat what I’ve said about other WordCamps: panels are gold. They break up the rhythm of talks, bring in voices that don’t usually apply for solo slots, and give space for debate. I hope organizers keep including them.

And a word about Gdynia

Finally – Gdynia itself. It’s one of my favorite Polish cities. Great energy, walkable, and always worth the visit. If the next WordCamp here keeps this format and energy, I’ll be back 😊
29/09/2025
From Warmth to Numbers: How Agencies Treat Teams in Changing Times

I keep hearing stories from agencies and dev shops about treating employees like numbers on a balance sheet. It makes me wonder: how do founders so easily transition from nurturing and protecting their teams—often to the point of creating overly cozy environments where mediocrity thrived and unacceptable behaviors were overlooked—during prosperous times to running things with a cold, iron fist when challenges arise? Or hiring someone else to play the “bad cop” under the guise of financial optimization.

Adjusting strategy or shifting course is sometimes necessary. But what’s inexcusable is the refusal to learn from past mistakes, the constant distortion of reality, and the shameless twisting of marketing narratives.

During the good times, companies acted as if their teams were made up of top-tier players—even though anyone who could string a few buzzwords together in an interview was hired. Now, as the market shifts, they claim to pivot toward consulting or emphasize “deep expertise,” even as staff churns with every new project, leaving no institutional knowledge behind. The irony is especially glaring when these same companies boast about their “vibrant remote culture” while refusing to invest even minimal resources in real-world team gatherings—not even an annual holiday party to let colleagues finally meet face-to-face.

The same old shortcuts aimed at quick wins continue to surface: instead of setting realistic goals and working steadily toward them, it’s a frantic scramble for any opportunity to make a quick buck.

I’ve never heard a smart business leader advocate short-term profit optimization as a viable long-term strategy. All it seems to lead to is endless scheming and constant reorganization.

If there’s a lesson here, it’s this: sustainable growth comes from building on solid foundations, not from chasing every shiny, short-lived opportunity that comes along.

29/11/2024
The Importance of Travel in Remote Work

In the world of remote work, there are many well-established practices that contribute to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. These include separating work and personal time, getting out of the house, meeting people in real life, exercising, and more. While these strategies are widely recognized and effective, there’s one aspect that is often overlooked but, in my opinion, is incredibly important: regular travel. This is particularly crucial if you work from home.

I’m not talking about grand adventures to the other side of the world. I’m referring to any kind of travel, no matter the scale. The key is to leave your home and spend some time away from your own bed. I’ve noticed that for me, going away for even a weekend every 2-3 months works wonders.

There’s a period of 2-3 weeks of anticipation and preparation for the trip, followed by the time spent away, and then a period of recovery and readjustment upon return. After that, you can start thinking about the next getaway. This cycle doesn’t usually occupy a lot of mental space, but it provides a structure that greatly facilitates organization throughout the year.

Regular travel, even if it’s just a short weekend trip every few months, can bring a refreshing change of pace and environment. It breaks up the monotony of the daily routine and provides something to look forward to. The anticipation and planning of the trip can be just as enjoyable as the trip itself. Moreover, the change of scenery and the opportunity to disconnect from work can help recharge your batteries and bring a renewed sense of motivation and productivity upon return.

I don’t know if everyone experiences this the same way, but I highly recommend giving it a try. It certainly works for me 🙂

So, if you’re working remotely and looking for ways to maintain a healthy work-life balance, consider incorporating regular travel into your routine. It doesn’t have to be extravagant or expensive. Even a simple weekend getaway can make a significant difference in your overall well-being and job satisfaction. Give it a shot and see how it works for you!

03/04/2024
Navigating Life’s Complex Decisions: A Multidimensional Approach

In life, we constantly face decisions that require careful consideration across multiple dimensions. However, people often focus on a single aspect, leading to suboptimal choices. To make better decisions, it’s crucial to identify the key factors relevant to the situation and assign weights based on their importance to you.

Be honest about your true priorities and values, and realistically assess the expected outcomes across these dimensions. Engage in open discussions with trusted individuals who can provide alternative viewpoints to help identify blind spots and broaden your understanding.

While it’s important to carefully consider all relevant factors, recognize that perfect information is rarely available, and some uncertainty is inherent in most decisions. Strive for clarity of thought and alignment with your values, while being willing to act decisively based on imperfect information.

Embrace a holistic approach, assign appropriate weights to different dimensions, and be mindful of your own biases. Leading with strong values, sound judgment, and a tolerance for ambiguity is often more important than perfecting an analytical decision-making process.

By taking a multidimensional approach and being true to yourself, you can navigate life’s complex choices with greater confidence and make decisions that optimize your overall satisfaction and align with your goals.

Remember, understanding your biases, values, and desires is the key to effective decision-making. When you have a clear grasp of these internal factors, finding the optimal option becomes easier, regardless of whether you need to make a well-informed decision or not. Self-awareness is the foundation upon which sound decisions are built.

02/04/2024
The Art of Giving Meaningful Advice

In a world full of opinions, giving advice that truly helps is a valuable skill. Good advice is more than just words; it’s about sharing ideas that make a real difference, not just echoing what others might say.

When someone asks for your advice, it’s an opportunity to offer something genuinely helpful. Avoid just being a cheerleader with phrases like “You go, girl!” Instead, delve deeper. Share from your own experiences or from the wealth of knowledge you’ve gathered, whether from books, articles, or observing others.

Consider the field of business. Here, advice should extend beyond personal anecdotes. It’s about blending these experiences with a broad understanding of different strategies and theories. This enriches your advice, making it both relatable and insightful.

Good advice is about more than just encouragement. It involves deeply understanding the issue and offering solutions that demonstrate a comprehensive grasp of the topic. It’s about combining your life lessons with the extensive knowledge you’ve accumulated.

In summary, effective advice is a mix of support, honesty, and wisdom. Whether it’s drawn from your personal journey or your wide-ranging learning, your advice should aim to inspire growth and enable better decisions.

24/01/2024
State Of The Word 2023 in Madrid

Both the summary of 2023 and the sneak peek into what is planned for 2024 reinforce my belief that WordPress is on an exciting path and thriving. Clear goals on the horizon and the swift implementation of various improvements are solidifying WordPress’s role as a market leader in CMS…

My full summary you can find here: https://www.osomstudio.com/blog/state-og-the-word-2023-madrid/

19/12/2023
Why Remote-First Companies Can’t Hire Just Anyone

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies transitioned to remote work. As we move forward, it’s crucial to acknowledge a fundamental truth: remote work is not suitable for everyone, and understanding this is key for both companies and employees.

Initially, many organizations, lured by the flexibility of remote work, tried to adapt wholesale to this model. However, it’s becoming increasingly clear that remote work’s feasibility varies greatly depending on individual circumstances and preferences. For some, factors like living arrangements, family responsibilities, or personal work style make remote work impractical or even stressful.

Consider the situation where someone lives in a small space with a young child and part of the company’s communication happens via video calls. Neither can the company, in the long run, make an exception for one person, nor can this person keep waking up their small child with conversations. This scenario highlights that the suitability of remote work varies based on individual circumstances.

From a company’s perspective, the challenge is not just about implementing remote work but also about recognizing when it isn’t the right fit. During recruitment, it’s imperative for companies to discern not just the professional capabilities of candidates, but also their compatibility with a remote working environment. Hiring someone who can’t or doesn’t want to work remotely can lead to long-term issues, such as reduced productivity, strained communication, and a diluted company culture.

Therefore, companies need to be more discerning in their hiring process, considering not just the skills and experience but also the suitability and willingness of candidates for remote work. This approach will prevent potential problems that could arise from forcing a square peg into a round hole.

While acknowledging these challenges, it’s also important to recognize that for the right person and the right role, remote work can offer unparalleled flexibility and efficiency. The era of remote work demands a new kind of awareness from both employers and employees. Recognizing and respecting the limitations and suitability of remote work is essential. It’s not about forcing a trend but about finding a harmonious balance that benefits both the company and its workforce.

21/11/2023
Bold Moves, Smart Strategy: Navigating the Risk Terrain in Business
The legends of influential companies and entrepreneurs often celebrate the pivotal moments where bold decisions acted as catalysts for transformation. These stories suggest that when a business is mired in stagnation or confronted with unforeseen challenges, taking a significant risk could be the spark needed for a breakthrough.

Yet, the full narrative is often more nuanced. Before such turning points, there may be a series of misguided decisions or a pursuit to validate a bold thesis, to be perceived as a visionary, or to fulfill other driven ambitions. A pattern of such actions can lead businesses to a juncture where they feel compelled to make a high-stakes bet—sometimes as a deliberate choice, other times out of sheer necessity.

However, the allure of being a maverick can be misleading. The stories we remember, like Steve Jobs’s bold move to simplify Apple’s product line, are memorable precisely because they stand out against a backdrop of countless unseen failures. For every celebrated risk that pays off, many more go awry—not due to the nature of risk itself, but because these risks were either not thoroughly calculated, not executed with the necessary conviction, or simply taken too late.

It is a delicate balance between innovation and caution. Taking a risk should never be about proving a point or seeking acclaim. It should come from a place of careful deliberation, a well-founded belief in the potential success, and an unwavering commitment to see it through. Risks taken should be strategic, informed by data and insight, and carried out with full force—anything less can result in half-measures that are unlikely to yield the desired outcome.

With these considerations in mind, several insights emerge:
1. Strategic Risk Reduction: Business is inherently volatile, and managing risk strategically is essential. Where one area of the business ventures into uncertain territory, others should provide stability, mitigating overall risk exposure.
2. Balanced Incentives: Reward structures within organizations should not only fuel the pursuit of rapid growth but also recognize and encourage actions that contribute to long-term stability. Leaders should be motivated to build enduring value, not just to deliver short-term shareholder delights. This approach helps avert the pressure to engage in reckless risk-taking for immediate, yet unsustainable, gains.
3. Quantifying and Scaling Risk: Risks must be measured against their potential outcomes. If initial, well-considered risks show promise, it may be justified to increase investment. Still, this should be done with a clear understanding of the company’s capacity to absorb potential setbacks, ensuring that each step forward is as secure as it is bold.
4. The Balance of Risk: An overly cautious stance can lead to stagnation, but reckless risk-taking can threaten the company’s survival. Risk is a necessary element of business, but it must be used judiciously. A company must find the equilibrium where opportunities are pursued with foresight and confidence, not rashness or desperation.
In conclusion, the mythos of rapid scaling and pivotal gambles, while alluring, should not overshadow the steady, deliberate approach that characterizes most business successes. Growth is more commonly achieved through patient, methodical progress, avoiding unnecessary risks in favor of long-term stability. Incremental improvements, underpinned by thoughtful risk-taking, lay the foundation for sustainable business expansion. This ethos champions innovation but emphasizes calculated, strategic decision-making that drives a company forward, ensuring its core remains intact amidst the market’s ebb and flow.

Embrace risk not as a dramatic flourish or an act of desperation but as a conscious strategic choice. When considering risks, do so with a clear head and a commitment to thorough analysis, knowing that more often than not, success lies in careful planning and execution rather than a final, frantic roll of the dice. Let this be your guiding principle: take risks with deliberation, commit to them with confidence, and proceed with the firm resolve that comes from a well-considered strategy.
08/11/2023
The Absence of Decision is a Decision Too

People generally fall into two categories: those who make decisions instantly, almost instinctively, and those who need to mull over their choices. Among the latter group, there are individuals who are highly analytical, weighing various arguments, as well as those who find the necessity of making a decision paralyzing, using reflection time as a means of procrastination. Often, this isn’t a bad strategy at all. Life moves on, and sometimes, the urgency of making a particular decision dissipates as circumstances change.

However, it’s crucial to realize that the absence of a decision is a decision in itself. Relying on changing circumstances to avoid making a choice isn’t a strategy; it’s leaving things to chance, hoping the situation will unfold in our favor. Unlike the whims of fate, our own decisions and their implications can be analyzed and learned from, which is not quite the case with external changes or decisions made by others.

When you find yourself postponing an important decision, remember, the absence of a decision is a decision too. I won’t provide specific examples as the scenarios are endless and highly personal. It could be the need to change jobs, close an entrepreneurial endeavor, or move to a different city. In most such cases, the lack of decision results in remaining in a situation that one might not like or appreciate, but it’s known and therefore, easier to cope with. Do with this knowledge what you deem appropriate, but remember, awareness alone is significant.

Embrace the power of decisive action, and let this newfound understanding propel you towards making informed choices that align with your goals. Your decision, or lack thereof, can be the catalyst for the change you desire.

30/10/2023
The Expert Selection Framework: Who Really Deserves Your Trust?
In a world saturated with information and self-proclaimed experts, it can be challenging to know whose advice is worth heeding. This dilemma isn’t universal; some people prefer to rely solely on their intuition or existing knowledge. However, if you’re someone who finds value in seeking outside opinions for critical decisions or testing your ideas, the question remains: How do you choose who to listen to?

I recently attended a meeting where a discussion began about whom to listen to and how to select individuals whose advice is worth considering. In the modern age, we are bombarded by people who share their thoughts online, give advice in interviews, podcasts, and YouTube channels. And yes, I realize the irony as I sit here, typing away my own unsolicited advice 😀 So, in this sea of self-proclaimed experts, how do you minimize the risk of taking bad, harmful advice that could lead to undesirable outcomes?

In the course of this conversation, I suggested that when looking for someone whose advice you want to take, consider three main aspects:
- their knowledge
- their experience
- their values—or their relationship with you
Firstly, Knowledge. You want to ensure that the person you are considering listening to is well-informed in the subject matter. Their knowledge should come from scholarly works, books, or conversations with other experts in the field. In essence, you want to rely on someone who has gathered or accumulated a body of knowledge on the subject.

Secondly, Experience. It’s crucial that the person has had hands-on experience in the area of interest. Academic or bookish knowledge alone isn’t enough. It’s important that the individual has had the opportunity to make decisions—or to experience the benefits or consequences of decisions—in a real-world setting.

Thirdly, Values and Attitude towards you. If you know the person, it’s beneficial to understand their relationship with you. Family members may be more or less supportive, depending on the dynamics. If the person is an outsider, pay attention to their values or background. Investigate their past decisions, especially if they historically made recommendations that were financially beneficial to them.

What we’re ideally looking for is someone balanced in these three areas. Why? We don’t want a person who is merely academic, drawing only from scholarly works and research papers, as these often don’t fully capture the nuances of real-world scenarios. We also want the individual to filter academic knowledge through their experiences, enabling them to offer advice that is not just theoretically sound but practically applicable.

To make this advice as useful—or at least as harmless—as possible, it should come from someone who is knowledgeable, experienced, and either positively disposed towards us or at least shares similar values and ethical principles. In covering these three areas, there’s a greater likelihood that the advice we receive will resonate with us, align with our values, and offer practical applications in our lives.

As a final note, it’s worth mentioning that effective communication is an additional asset when seeking advice. No matter how knowledgeable or experienced someone is, if they can’t convey their insights in a manner that’s easy to understand and tailored to the recipient, the value of their advice diminishes. Ideally, look for individuals who not only excel in knowledge, experience, and shared values but also in the art of communication. It enhances the transfer of wisdom, making your search for advice even more fruitful.

P.S.: Beware of those who are exceptionally good at communication but lack substance in knowledge and experience. If you also have reservations about their values, then it’s not just a matter of not seeking their advice; you should actively stay away. Their persuasive communication skills can dangerously mask their inadequacies, making them potentially the most harmful people to listen to.
26/09/2023
9 Reflections After ETHWarsaw 2023
1. Academic Nature of L2 Development: Most of the work surrounding Layer 2 feels akin to academic endeavors. The problems are complex and intricate, and the timeline for implementing solutions seems almost implausibly long-term. I wouldn’t be surprised if alternative, more immediate solutions emerge before all of Ethereum’s scalability plans come to fruition.
2. Dependency on Grants and VC Funds: The ecosystem largely relies on grants from organizations like the Ethereum Foundation or venture capital funds awaiting their token allocations. It’s unclear how most projects could generate value beyond token speculation to sustain themselves.
3. Unclear Value Proposition: Many projects lack a clear value proposition. While some are crucial for infrastructure development, something valuable needs to be built on top of this infrastructure. Most existing projects, stripped of their speculative layer, offer limited utility.
4. DeFi’s Risk Factor: DeFi attracts smaller players with the promise of potentially high returns but seems less appealing for larger, institutional investors due to overlapping risks.
5. Ethereum’s Promising Outlook: Despite scalability issues and other challenges, Ethereum appears to be the most promising and future-oriented blockchain ecosystem. It has a well-thought-out plan, a growing community, some scale, and seems to be bulletproof.
6. Web3 Realism: The Web3 world is gradually coming to terms with the fact that some compromises will be necessary, and not all ideals can be achieved, at least not in the short to medium term.
7. The Limits of Education: Advocating for more education is somewhat futile. Education won’t convince users to adopt solutions they don’t find valuable. It can only help when there’s a barrier to entry for a genuinely useful solution.
8. Blockchain as a Commodity: If all goes well, most blockchain technologies will become commodities, serving as layers for building further solutions. Technical details and infrastructure will then only concern developers.
9. The Mobile Gap in Web3: One significant barrier to Web3 adoption is its limited use on mobile platforms.
Conclusion

These are my observations as of now. Given that I’m not deeply involved in the Web3 world, it’s quite possible that my views will change or that I may get some things wrong. But for the moment, these are the issues and trends that have caught my attention.
06/09/2023
The WordPress Community Needs to Raise Standards, Not Play the Victim

There’s a recurring narrative within the WordPress community that suggests some mysterious entities—be it individuals or companies—are out to get WordPress. However, my observations tell a different story. The issue isn’t that people are against WordPress; it’s that they don’t give it the respect it deserves. Let’s delve into why this is the case.

The Misconception of Inferiority and the Role of Competing Interests

Firstly, there’s a damaging perception that WordPress is an inferior technology. This misconception often stems from past negative experiences, usually due to poor implementation by someone who was supposed to be an “expert” in setting up WordPress sites.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Many of these detractors are actually salespeople or advocates for other CMS platforms. These platforms, often not open-source and backed by venture capital, have a clear agenda: to sell their licenses. To make their offerings seem more appealing, they overpromise their capabilities and portray WordPress, the market leader, in the worst possible light. While it’s crucial for the WordPress community to be vigilant in pointing out misinformation or outright lies, we must also be open to legitimate criticism. If the criticisms align with the product roadmap, acknowledging and accommodating these concerns can only serve to improve WordPress.

The Security Angle

Another significant contributor to WordPress’s tarnished image is the issue of security. The marketplace is flooded with products that don’t prioritize security, putting users at risk and further damaging WordPress’s reputation. This makes community-driven security initiatives all the more crucial for restoring trust in the platform. Creators of WordPress products, such as plugins or themes, should be acutely aware that their frivolous approach to security can cause significant damage to the entire community.

The Way Forward

Instead of being sidetracked by perceived external threats, the WordPress community should concentrate on actionable improvements: elevating project implementation standards and ensuring both the quality and security of WordPress products. To shift the prevailing perception of WordPress, we should focus on quality, security, and openness to valid criticism.

Moreover, showcasing WordPress’s adoption by esteemed organizations like NASA or Vox Media will resonate more powerfully than merely citing statistics about the number of WordPress-powered sites 😉

P.S. By raising standards in both quality and security, WordPress not only improves itself but also contributes to the broader mission of keeping the web open and accessible.

29/08/2023