My latest read was The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck, by Mark Manson. Beyond the snappy title, it’s been a phenomenal read. It’s permanently changed how I look at life and what I DO give a fuck about. So much that I wanted to share my impression with others because I think it’s something everyone could benefit from reading. Read More
In an effort to make myself the best developer possible, I have been reading the classics in the programmer’s cannon. These are the books you are assigned as homework on your way to a computer science degree. This month I read “The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master” by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas. It was nothing short of fantastic, and truly a book that I can see myself constantly referring back to in my career. Read More
I was talking with a co-worker about work/life balance recently and he shared this interesting quote from Coca Cola’s CEO with me. Not sure if the link is totally accurate, but I loved the sentiment. In life you are constantly juggling 5 balls in the air: work, health, family, friends, and spirit. The first is made of rubber and the rest are made of glass. When you inevitably drop one, keep in mind that work will bounce back, whereas the others will not. The may scrape, or scuff, or totally break, but whatever the severity they will be forever changed.
That quote left an impression on me because I think it is so true. I also liked how he included spirit, because I think that the importance of our internal mental/emotional part of our character often gets left out of the balance. It’s an easy thing to skip, especially when it can be the hardest thing to grasp, and unique to each individual.
Anyway, gotta add that to the growing list of mantras I keep and wanted to share it with others.
Best.
While planning out the next steps for my fitness app, the question crossed my mind, “should I use my own API to actually power the backend of my app?” After a little research, that is where I learned the pros and cons of “eating your own dog food.” Gotta love how technology professionals communicate.
Can you tell who the asses are?
“You can’t ride a horse with two asses” is one of my favorite sayings, and comes to mind as I look at why my career search has been in limbo. First, let’s talk about the saying. I’m not even sure I have it correct, but that’s how I remember it, and it’s awesome. Read More
[Illustration attributed to Sean Gallo at http://www.seangallo.com]
How do you approach a large project? (The same way you eat an elephant.)
My mantra is to break it down into smaller parts and methodically work my way through. How you work your way through can vary. If it is something you quickly want feedback on I like to iterate, as with agile project management. If the requirements/goal are more static, waterfall may be the appropriate technique.
Life is about taking risks (another mantra I live by). It shouldn’t be everyday, but there are certainly important times to do it… that is, if you want to reap the benefits. Maybe it’s a risk over love… or going to school… or living in a new place… or in my case today, it’s quitting your job with the goal of getting an even better one.
A mantra I live by started as something I saw at the gym: “It doesn’t get easier, you only get stronger.” I think this idea is just as applicable to working out as making your way through life’s many challenges.
It’s been a long 5 years. A lot of work went into creating those chapters in my life, and sometimes it’s easy to get lost in the weeds. You forget to look up and see how much progress has been made. I was thinking about that today and I’m really proud of where I’ve come from and where I’m heading. It certainly wasn’t easy… buying and selling several houses, divorce, creating a life with a new set of family and friends, transitioning from one job to another… all while trying to keep a smile on. And you know what? I did a damn good job. AND I’m thankful for each one of those experiences. They were significant milestones that will have a major influence on where I’m heading. I’m really excited about what lies ahead…
Life is one big exercise in prioritization… portfolio managment (your life), project management (your goals), task management (the steps to get there). Be it professional or personal development. We have finite resources to work, so how will you manage your personal trifecta of constraints (time, scope, quality)?