I see people optimize for speed, on the highway, in their projects, and often in their personal lives. I wonder if speed, quickness, is everything these people actually want. On the highway, I’ve seen (and I bet you have, too) the person weave in and out of traffic, finding the “right” lane and creating little […]
When Should You Optimize for Speed? Read More »
I take multiple walks through my neighborhood to get my steps in. Most of the time, I pass the houses and it’s quiet, just me and my rollator and my thoughts. One house, however, has a totally adorable little white dog on the first floor. Every time I pass by that house, the dog barks
Who’s Your Guard Dog? Read More »
I was in Prague last week (Agile Prague and a client). One of the nice folks at the client explained that beer in Prague Is inexpensive. For years, in The Czech Republic, the beer is less expensive than water or a soft drink. (There is now a law that says the bars and restaurants have
What’s Your (Beer) Emergency? Read More »
I like being independent. Throughout my life, I have said, “I can do it myself.” (They weren’t my first words, but they were close.) I feel a sense of accomplishment when I master something. When I was younger, it was piano lessons, then swimming, then bicycling. In school, it was reading, and then math, and
CAL Tip #6: Practice Asking for Help Read More »
I’m on my way to Agile Prague, transiting through JFK. JFK is an older airport and the way you move from a domestic terminal to the international terminal is to take a bus, aka jitney. Yes, they call it a jitney. The jitney has a ramp so it’s easy for me to get on and
When is “Let’s Not” the Right Answer? Read More »
I like my routines. I have exercise routines, eating routines, writing routines, to name three. I find comfort in my routines. I think of my routines as a groove. My grooves smooth the paths towards my accomplishments. And, every so often, my groove turns into a rut. I discovered I’m in a rut now. I need
When Does Your Groove Turn Into a Rut? Read More »
I have a Fitbit Zip. I use it every day to track my steps. Mark and I took a vacation last week, so our normal laundry routine changed. I did the clothes on Sunday. We had a lot of dirty clothes, so we didn’t get to the sheets and towels. On Monday, Mark stripped the
What Surprises You When It Works? Read More »
At the Agile 2017 conference last week, I volunteered for “Agile Therapy,” a chance to discuss a topic of your choice for 20 minutes with an experienced coach. I was the coach. Just in case you weren’t sure. One of the people who came to me asked about automation. We had a wide-ranging discussion which
What Is Your Obligation? Read More »
A few weeks ago, Mark coined the term, “excessively above average.” Since then, he’s used it for his progress on rehabbing his Achilles tendon post-surgery, my hyperbole, and other things, such as my book sales. We laugh every time we use the term. I like to be above average in almost everything. And, that’s quite
When are You Excessively Above Average? Read More »
I hear a lot of “No, but…” and people tell me why they can’t possibly do the thing I suggested. I agree with them. I often say something like this, “Yes, you are correct. Yes, that would be a problem here. And, could this other thing be a possibility?” Sometimes they say yes, and we
How About Yes, And … ? Read More »