The text discusses the concept of pragmatism in software engineering, a mindset that values adaptability, practicality, and continuous learning. Pragmatic engineers possess key behaviors such as being an early adopter, curious, critical thinker, grounded in realism, and embracing a broad spectrum of knowledge. They prioritize finding options over excuses, ask questions to gain understanding, refactor or remove parts if necessary, assess needs and implement improvements, and seek resources and collaboration. The text also explores the "broken windows" theory, which highlights how technical debt can accumulate and lead to project failure, and how pragmatic engineers resist causing further damage by addressing known issues and creating plans to fix them. A story about making a stone soup is used as an analogy for teamwork, resourcefulness, and problem-solving in software engineering, where pragmatic engineers challenge others, act as catalysts for change, inspire others, transform vision into reality, and create a win-win situation. The text concludes by reflecting on the importance of applying these concepts and encourages readers to engage with them and hold themselves accountable.