October 2011
1 post
Putting ideas to the test
By nature I’m a tinkerer; I like to play around with new and different things. So when I have an idea the first thing that comes to mind is that I have to try it out. I recently came across an issue in which I tried to register for a Twitter handle, but it was already taking by someone. I’m sure that I’m not the only one that has experienced this problem. The issue in this...
August 2011
2 posts
4 tags
Not just nerds in a corner
I was inspired to start blogging again after attending a talk given by the CEO of Etsy, Chad Dickerson. The talk focused around the importance of the engineering culture at Etsy and how it’s helping the company move faster than they thought they could. For those that don’t know Chad, @chaddickerson on Twitter, was the CTO until July of this year and has been the driving force behind...
June 2011
1 post
2 tags
Most thoughtful gift
I consider myself a very fortunate man. I have everything I need. I’m not bragging, this is just how I feel. Because of this, when asked on special occasions (b-days, father’s day, etc.) what I want or what people should get me, my typical response is “I don’t need anything.” I realize that this can be frustrating for family & friends that are trying to do...
3 tags
2 tags
Why is the why more important than the what?
I haven’t pooped in a while, so I figured it was time. Take it easy, I’m not being literal, I’m referring to an older post I wrote.
Have you ever wondered why some people’s thoughts/ideas solicit more of a reaction than others? Why do some companies have a stronger following than their competitors in the same business. According to the speaker in this video below it has...
May 2010
1 post
1 tag
Song of the day, dedicated to my wife.
HAPPY...
April 2010
1 post
“May the best of your todays be the worst of your tomorrows.”
– Jay-Z (that’s whom I got it from, not sure of his source)
February 2010
1 post
“Simplicity means the achievement of maximum effect with minimum means.”
– Dr. Koichi Kawana
January 2010
4 posts
4 tags
OMG: brains can’t handle all our Facebook friends... →
I find this study interesting on a couple of fronts. First, I have 236 friends on Facebook as of today. According to this study, I should probably purge a few folks from my friend list ;-)
The second reason I find this interesting is looking at this from a company/organization perspective. I’ve often heard complaints that companies get too large and take on minds of their own. That...
Tired of the same old background wallpaper →
Just one example
Moved to tumblr →
I just moved my blog to tumblr.com. My previous site was hosted via Wordpress.com, I just found it too heavy weight. Lets see if I can contribute more content with tumblr.com.
June 2009
1 post
5 tags
Where has the joy gone?
I think I found it (the joy that is) at a bar in Montclair, NJ called Just Jakes. My wife and I had gone to see a friend and his band, Hyperactive, play the other night and had an incredible time. Not only was the diversity of music (that ranged from funk to rock to swing to ska) fantastic, but I saw something that night that I hadn’t seen in a really long time. The guys on stage...
December 2008
1 post
5 tags
Life mimicking art
Or is it the other way around?
If you liked the movie Minority Report, or at least thought the technology scenes were cool, you’re going to love this. A company has built an operating systems that leverages hand gestures to manipulate the information presented on the screen. One of the founders of Oblong was a science advisor on the movie and based the designs of those scenes on his work...
November 2008
1 post
5 tags
What business leaders can learn from the military
I recently came across a term called Commander’s Intent (CI). I briefly mentioned it in a previous post.
The core idea behind CI is:
The commander’s stated vision which defines the purpose of an operation
The end state with respect to the relationship among the force, the enemy and the terrain
The enabling of subordinates to quickly grasp the successful end state and their part in...
October 2008
2 posts
7 tags
Eat like a bird, poop like an elephant
I realize that this is a fairly strange title, but it is actually a quote from Rules for Revolutionaries a book by Guy Kawasaki. I haven’t read the book as of yet, but it is on the list to read.
The quote “Eat like a bird, poop like an elephant.” is actually a philosophy that I have adopted recently.
It is fairly simple, consume as much information as you can; read, have...
1 tag
Managing Scope Creep
I believe that one of the most difficult tasks we face as software development professionals is scope management. We have all been there, features are added to a system because someone from a particular business unit says the features are a must have. When any system has multiple business stakeholders the problem just worsens. Here is an example: a CRM application is customized because the...
September 2008
6 posts
4 tags
Grow a pair
and stand behind your words
This has been an issue of mine for some time now. Individuals that hide behind anonymity. I am targeting this frustration towards two groups of individuals. Those that post articles or comments on blog sites that won’t identify themselves. Their opinions are masked behind some random username that is only funny or makes sense to them. The other group are...
2 tags
Honesty, Loyalty, Respect, & Responsibility
Four principals to live life by.
7 tags
Book: The Ten Faces of Innovation
Author:
Tom Kelly
Premise:
This book discusses the importance of innovation and how it separates good organizations from excellent organizations. The Ten Faces of Innovations also details the different personas that can foster & create innovation within an organization.
My Thoughts:
Go out and buy this book today, you will not regret it. Some books inspire you, others can make you feel...
5 tags
Book: Made to Stick
Authors:
Chip & Dan Heath
Premise:
What is it about certain ideas/stories that makes people remember them? Made to Stick breaks down a number of different messages/stories and analyzes what makes them compelling enough to remember. Breaking down the analysis in this way shows you how you can get your messages to STICK, so not only can you learn how others have done it, but how you can do...
3 tags
Yet Again
I woke up this morning tired as usual, again.
I got ready and headed out the door before anyone else woke up, again.
Another day another dollar.
I worked until late, again.
Got home after the kids were already asleep.
Yet Again.
2 tags
Inspiration
Long are the hours you wait for her to come. Alone you sit, waiting for her to come. The harder you try to find her the further away she seems. She is unpredictable, coming only when it pleases her and leaving just as quickly as she came. When you do finally find her, it is the most intense sensation you can experience. She allows you to open yourself to all possibilities you couldn’t...
August 2008
1 post
3 tags
Is your team as efficient as it could be?
Laying the foundation
Improve the efficiency of your team simply by changing the way you organize and think about your work. Organizations are typically composed of separate functional groups/departments that perform specific functions. Most organizations are setup this way regardless of their size or industry. Within these departments, there are the people that make the decisions (managers)...