<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Notes from the Field]]></title><description><![CDATA[Real observations from fractional CTO work. Engineering leadership, AI, and startup building. 
By Waseem Aslam.]]></description><link>https://notes.fractionalmindset.com</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k2KY!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcb18c84f-c979-4efa-8b61-075ac4c61ba4_394x394.png</url><title>Notes from the Field</title><link>https://notes.fractionalmindset.com</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:39:03 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://notes.fractionalmindset.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Waseem Aslam]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[waseemaslam75@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[waseemaslam75@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Waseem Aslam]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Waseem Aslam]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[waseemaslam75@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[waseemaslam75@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Waseem Aslam]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[Field Note #001 - The Fractional Mindset Manifesto]]></title><description><![CDATA[For builders, leaders, and those who value impact over positions.]]></description><link>https://notes.fractionalmindset.com/p/the-fractional-mindset-manifesto</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://notes.fractionalmindset.com/p/the-fractional-mindset-manifesto</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Waseem Aslam]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 21:43:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PsOn!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe6d56a2c-bfe2-4e84-9107-6ed62ac780a6_1200x630.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PsOn!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe6d56a2c-bfe2-4e84-9107-6ed62ac780a6_1200x630.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PsOn!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe6d56a2c-bfe2-4e84-9107-6ed62ac780a6_1200x630.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PsOn!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe6d56a2c-bfe2-4e84-9107-6ed62ac780a6_1200x630.png 848w, 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class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><strong>What does being a &#8216;Fractional CTO / CEO &#8221; actually mean ? </strong></p><p>How do you provide the greatest impact for your clients in the shortest space of time all whilst keeping their business goals in mind. </p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://notes.fractionalmindset.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading Notes from the Field! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>These are some ideas I work towards when engaging with my clients. <br></p><ol><li><p><strong>Seeking Outcomes<br><br></strong>Fractional leaders can be single minded in seeking outcomes without having to worry about the status quo. <br><strong><br></strong></p></li><li><p><strong>Add Value Quickly<br><br></strong>Find the shortest route from idea to value and take it.<br></p></li><li><p><strong>Build systems that outlast me<br><br></strong>If the process relies on my presence to function, it is a dependency. The goal is capability transfer, not continued reliance.<br></p></li><li><p><strong> I treat your business like I would my own<br><br></strong>Care about the business without needing to own it. I see the bigger picture beyond just the tech and timelines, but how it will affect the team and the</p><p>whole organisation.<br></p></li><li><p><strong>Fix the process<br><br></strong>Implement<strong> </strong>automation where its needed to improve the process, so your team can add real value rather than fight the system. <br></p></li><li><p><strong>Fractional doesn&#8217;t mean temporary<br><br></strong>Stepping away from a day-to-day role doesn&#8217;t mean disappearing. It means giving clients space to grow, and being there when they need a sounding board.</p></li></ol><p></p><p></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://notes.fractionalmindset.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading Notes from the Field! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>