In today’s software world, applications often use services and components that reside in vastly different locations around the world and on different platforms. Unbeknownst to the end user, the simple click of an OK button on a Web page may spawn bits traversing more miles and visiting more cities than George Clooney in Up in... read more
When you describe a favorite restaurant to a friend, what is the word you that you use? Is it “satisfactory”? “Try this place, you’ll find the meal to be satisfactory, and the service, and the ambience. You’ll be satisfied.” That won’t likely motivate anyone to drive out of their way to visit, or return, unless... read more
This weekend I saw a weathered sign in an antique store painted with the phrase, Lange’s Best Yet is Better. I liked it (the old fashioned way, with emotion, not by clicking a thumbs up icon). Are you striving to be “the best”? The best is relative…to your competition, your peers, your friends (and if... read more
This week as I was walking to work, with my mind fresh and free to free to explore and ignore office boundaries, I stepped into the crosswalk as the light blinked “walk”. After a few more steps I suddenly jumped back, as a car rapidly turned the corner and swerved just in front of me,... read more
Close to our home lie two parallel streets separated by just a few blocks. With multiple schools between the two there’s an emphasis to keep drivers safely within the speed limit on both. However, the safety strategy employed on each differs substantially. The first is patrolled diligently by the municipal police. Sometimes the white SUV... read more
I’ve coached my two daughters’ basketball teams for the past 10 years. They attend a small private school (class A) but we play in a league against some of the largest schools in the state. We do this to push ourselves to improve as much as possible and prepare the girls for high school. The... read more
They are not mutually exclusive. But there are moments when you have to choose: with the time and energy that you have, will you devote it to increasing the impact of what you are doing, or ensuring that you get credit? Perhaps it comes down to this – are you passionate about what you do,... read more
Like a wine glass that has been knocked to the floor and shattered into a hundreds of shards, my coherent thoughts were abruptly splintered into tiny fragments as I heard the voice over my left shoulder sneer, “Watcha working on?” The familiar refrain was coming from my team lead. It felt more like a torturous... read more
A management team invited a few select technical leads to join them in planning discussions for the coming year. One of the solicited Architects later enthusiastically told me about his experience and the opportunity to contribute. Suddenly his heart was in the effort and not just his head. I remember thinking at the time, people... read more
As an authority figure (leader/parent/coach/etc.) you accept responsibility for your team’s actions as well as your own. You do your best to make sure the parts are working well together and moving towards a goal (“Point A”). In the best scenario everyone performs well and you celebrate. But Pollyanna has left the building and real... read more