Friday June 20, 2008
Readin', Ritin', and Rithmetic, by Rote
Yesterday in Twitter, @jemmons wroteIf answers to your test questions can be looked up by "cheaters" on their phones, maybe they don't need to learn them? BETTER QUESTIONS PLZ?
Saturday May 17, 2008
Surprise
In today's commentary, I consider the meaning of "surprise"Tuesday April 29, 2008
Job vs Company; I'll Take the Job
When I began working for Cotheme (the Company that employs me), it was with decidedly mixed feelings. I hadn't gone looking for a job there; they found me. I wasn't in their customer demographic. I didn't use any of their products or services. The location was at the far edge of the distance I was wiling to commute.
Saturday January 26, 2008
Leaving a Mark
Today's commentary discusses my reaction to an article, and particularly the followup comments, that I read in April of 2006. One of the comments referenced a quote attributed to Jean Baudrillard:The compact disc. It does not wear out, even when one uses it. That is terrible. As if one had never used it, as if one had never existed at all.
Friday January 4, 2008
Who Owns the Data?
There's been a lot of discussion in the Cyberverse recently regarding Robert Scoble and Facebook. Robert lost his Facebook account (he got it back after appealing) when he violated Facebook's Terms of Use by using a program to "scrape" (download) Facebook data -- specifically, his "friends" list.
What's interesting to me is that most of the discussion doesn't surround Facebook's policy or whether they were within their rights to turn off Robert's account, even temporarily. Much of the discussion concerns whether Robert Scoble had any right to the data he was "collecting".
In today's commentary, I discuss Robert Scoble, Facebook, and my opinion on data portability rights.
Friday December 28, 2007
Tact Filters
In today's commentary, I discuss Jeff Bigler's "Tact Filter" theory. I agree with most of it. But, there's one piece I don't agree with...Thursday December 6, 2007
Re-orgs Hazardous to Teams
Today in commentary, I discuss the deleterious effect of Company reorganizations on teams.On Monday, my manager said "We're having a re-org. But don't worry. it doesn't affect anyone in my group."
She was partially correct. There is no immediate, direct, acute effect. However, the longterm indirect effects are demoralizing. We're losing three people from the Team.
Read my commentary.
Friday November 2, 2007
Changing the Culture? Start with the Meeting!
The Company That Employs Me has decided it needs to Change. To get the employees to understand and "internalize" the new Purpose, they're holding "Corporate Purpose, Strategy and Culture" meetings. Specifically, mandatory, 3-hour, in-person attendance meetings.
This is not a Company with a history of holding effective meetings. You could say that effective meetings are not part of the Company Culture. It seems to me, then, that a good way to start changing the Company Culture would be to start with that first meeting.
Friday October 12, 2007
Personality Types
I'm interested in the study of Personality Types. In today's commentary, I discuss some of my thoughts about Jung Typology, the Meyers Briggs Type Index (MBTI), and the Keirsey Temperament sorter.Wednesday September 19, 2007
Hiding Behind the DMCA
In today's commentary, I discuss my recent encounter with the dreaded DMCA. Whatever happened to old-fashioned courtesy?Friday September 14, 2007
Four Walls and a Door
In today's commentary, I discuss the productivity losses caused by cubicles vs. the benefits of having "Four Walls and a Door".Saturday August 11, 2007
Whisper Campaign
Sometimes, when you switch to a new manager, you take along baggage you didn't know existed... In today's commentary, I discuss an upsetting workplace situation and why I actually feel better about my job now.Monday July 9, 2007
Who Are You?
In today's commentary, I discuss names: nicknames, handles, aliases, and, in particular, Chat IDs.Wednesday June 27, 2007
Who Moved My Cheese?
In today's commentary, I discuss Who Moved My Cheese, the popular motivational tale by Spencer Johnson.Wednesday May 16, 2007
Empowered Teams
In today's commentary, I discuss Empowered Teams. Companies fear empowered teams. Employee empowerment represents the end of management as we have known it. That cannot happen too soon for me.Friday May 11, 2007
Do You Pass the Joel Test?
In today's commentary, I discuss "The Joel Test", Joel Spolsky's 12 step test to rate the quality of a software team.Wednesday April 11, 2007
Commute Time Management
In today's commentary, I discuss my view of time management in the context of the daily commute.Thursday March 29, 2007
Business Communication
In today's commentary, I discuss why I believe that formal communication and discussion between people in the workplace should always be handled by emailThursday March 22, 2007
Choosing Email
In today's commentary, I discuss why we need to stop thinking of email as some strange beast. Email is written communication - nothing more, nothing less.Thursday March 1, 2007
Vital Integrities
In today's commentary, I discuss the book, Vital Integrities, by George Brymer, drawing comparisons to my job history.Wednesday February 14, 2007
State of Mind
In today's commentary, I discuss the consequences of feeling good about my work and my job — and what can happen if that changes.Wednesday February 7, 2007
Don't ask employees to be passionate about the company!
One of my favorite weblogs is called Creating Passionate Users. In today's commentary, I discuss Kathy Sierra's recent article, on a subject that I can really get behind.Tuesday September 26, 2006
Balancing Time
In today's commentary, I discuss a secret that good managers know (and mediocre managers may never understand):Increased productivity does not mean increased time. In fact, the reverse is true. Productivity is defined by work over time. To be more productive, you do more work in the same amount (or a smaller amount!) of time.
Thursday August 17, 2006
Cutting Back on Telecommuting
In today's commentary, I discuss HP's decision to cut back telecommuting in its IT division. Boo! Hissssss.Monday August 14, 2006
Where Do You Prefer to Work?
In today's commentary, I discuss telecommuting and the results of the recent National Technology Readiness Survey.Thursday August 10, 2006
Frame of Reference
In today's commentary, I discuss the importance of the proper frame of reference in understanding what you're seeing, or reading, or hearing.Sunday August 6, 2006
Are you a blogger?
Before you answer no, consider this:... In today's commentary, I discuss what defines a blogger. If you share writing, stories, and observations with your friends, even by email, you may be a blogger and not realize it!Friday June 9, 2006
Touchy Feely Paperwork
In today's commentary, I discuss the not-so-hidden costs of feeling a need to meet "face to face".Thursday June 8, 2006
After The Interview
In today's commentary: Interviews can cause enough stress while they are in progress. But when I get the polite "no thank you", my stress meter can go off the scale. My first thought is: Did I do something wrong? My second thought is usually "What did I do wrong?!"Tuesday May 30, 2006
Never Settle
In today's commentary: Don't let the difficulty in finding a job drive you to accept a job that's wrong for you.Tuesday May 16, 2006
Every Jot and Tittle
In today's commentary, I discuss one of my "pet peeves" — people who seem to feel that writing for the web doesn't need to be edited, spell-checked or proofread.Tuesday May 9, 2006
Strengths Finder
In today's commentary, I bring you part two in a two-part discussion of the Clifton StrengthsFinder and the book, Now, Discover Your Strengths.Friday May 5, 2006
Discover Your Strengths
"Most Americans do not know what their strengths are. When you ask them, they look at you with a blank stare, or they respond in terms of subject knowledge, which is the wrong answer."In today's commentary, I discuss the book, Now, Discover Your Strengths, by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton of the Gallup organization.--Peter Drucker
Thursday April 27, 2006
By Chance or By Choice?
In today's commentary, I discuss a question from career hub: "Do you think one's career is by chance, or by choice?"Tuesday April 25, 2006
Just in Time for Earth Day
In today's commentary, I discuss a relatively new California regulation that prohibits the disposal of household hazardous waste in the trash. That's the good news.Friday April 21, 2006
Net Community
In today's commentary, I discuss the latest "net scandal" (at digg) and why it puts the social software and the Net Community in a favorable light.Wednesday April 19, 2006
Addicted to the Computer?
In today's commentary, I discuss a topic for a possible article in the the SF Chronicle and my reaction to the topic. I had a nice chat with the reporter.Sunday April 16, 2006
Needs Direction?
In today's commentary, I discuss my reaction to the unexpected results of my request for "After the Interview" feedback.Saturday April 15, 2006
Following Up After the Interview
In today's commentary, I discuss asking for feedback. following an (unsuccessful) job interview.Wednesday April 12, 2006
The Indie "Virus"
In today's commentary, I discuss the "Indie Virus", a good idea with a terrible name. It's not what you're thinking...Sunday April 2, 2006
Can You Pass the "Human" Test?
In today's commentary, I discuss CAPTCHAs, those weird twisted letters that some sites use to try to prove you're a human.Friday March 24, 2006
Continuous Partial Atttention
In today's commentary, I discuss the problems of the "always on, always accessible" society.Tuesday March 21, 2006
The Math You Learned
In today's commentary, I discuss Steve Yegge's recent essay, Math For Programmers, and my thoughts on high school mathematics and its effect on what I do in my job.Friday March 17, 2006
Knowledge Sharing
In today's commentary I discuss the ways in which the World Wide Web provides us with a vast and ever-growing library where each of us can check things in as well as check things out!Wednesday March 15, 2006
Sustained Individual Success
In today's commentary I discuss some of my thoughts after reading part III of Marcus Buckingham's book, The One Thing You Need to Know.Friday March 10, 2006
Realtime Productivity Reduction
Welcome to Cubeville
In today's commentary I discuss two articles on office cubicles as well as my own feelings on the subject after working in Cubeville for two decades.Tuesday March 7, 2006
Great Managing
Has Your Manager Read This Book?
In today's commentary I discuss part I of The One Thing You Need to Know, by Marcus Buckingham. I've begun to understand why so many tech-industry managers are... mediocre at best.Wednesday March 1, 2006
Billable Hours
Unclear on the Concept
In today's commentary, I discuss the weird and often unfair world of "billable hours" as exemplified by a recent posting to ComputerWorld's Shark Tank.Tuesday February 21, 2006
The Weblog Handbook
Practical Advice on Creating and Maintaining Your Blog
In today's commentary, I muse about The Weblog Handbook, an excellent book by Rebecca Blood
Saturday February 18, 2006
Serendipity, Pet Rocks, and The Long Tail
A lot of people want to Get Rich Quick. I don't blame them. In today's commentary, I discuss how a lot of "get rich quick" success stories seem to involve a large element of serendipity.
Wednesday February 15, 2006
Professionalism
Software Development is Not Like Auto Mechanics
In today's commentary, I discuss a recent article in The Register that compares professionalism in programmers to profesionalism in auto mechanics.Sunday February 12, 2006
Note to FedEx
While we were out of the house today, a FedEx driver delivered a package. In today's commentary, I discuss my reaction to the way he did it.Friday February 10, 2006
Customer Disservice
In today's commentary, I discuss why it can be so difficult to file problem reports when Customer Service organizations claim to want to help me.Thursday February 9, 2006
Commuting To and Fro
In today's commentary I discuss the problems inherent in a regular, lengthy, commute.Tuesday February 7, 2006
Stepford Employees
In today's commentary I discuss a article posted today at CNNMoney.com, "Federal regulations kick in today that will make Internet job hunting more complicated."More complicated? It's a lot worse than "more complicated".
Thursday February 2, 2006
Internet Ties
In today's commentary, I discuss my interest in social networking applications and social software.Wednesday February 1, 2006
Make Me An Offer
In today's commentary I discuss the fact that, whenever I'm forced, unwillingly, into putting a price on my work, I wonder how best to respond.Thursday January 26, 2006
The Citizen Journalism Debate
In today's commentary, I discuss the recent announcement, by the National Union of Journalists in Britain and Ireland, of a "code of practice to address important issues raised by the 'phenomenon of citizen journalism'.Thursday January 19, 2006
The Interactive Web
In today's commentary, I duscuss my interest in interactive web appliations, so-called "Web 2.0".Tuesday January 3, 2006
The Color of My Parachute
In today's comentary, I discuss my current job hunt as well as what I like to do, the sorts of jobs I like, the kind of career I want to have, and the sort of company where I would like to work if I had my druthers.
Wednesday December 21, 2005
Seasons' Greetings
Today marks the winter solstice — the longest night (and the shortest day) of the year. For thousands of years, humans have observed this season with festival, celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of the next. At the winter solstice, humans celebrate the return of the sun.Thursday November 17, 2005
How to Lose Friends and Influence People
Today in commentary: I learned a few days ago that the Company That Formerly Employed Me has now laid off some 10 - 20% of its workforce. I guess I was the "canary in the mine". I still feel bad... but less paranoid.Monday November 7, 2005
What Part of "I prefer..." Don't You Understand?
In today's commentary, I discuss a comment, made recently by a friend, that my skills and work preferences "limit the options" in my current job hunt...
Friday October 21, 2005
Passion For Work (redux)
In today's commentary I discuss how passion for work can backfire...
Wednesday October 19, 2005
So Good At What I Do
Many years ago, in my first "real" (i.e. fulltime, salaried) job, my then-manager said to me:
Vicki, you're so good at what you do. Why can't you be good at this?Today in commentary.
Thursday September 29, 2005
Teaching Tomorrow's Employees Today
In today's commentary, I discuss IBM's plan to "financially back employees who want to leave the company to become math and science teachers."
Monday September 26, 2005
Tech Support Motivations
In today's commentary, I discuss how Rich and I frequently get into "discussions" with people who provide technical support for the various applications we run... The cause of the "discussions" is a fundamental difference in motivation.
Saturday September 10, 2005
We Are The Web
Ten years ago, Netscape went public, bringing the WWW to the attention of Wall Street and the masses. The masses took the Web as their own.
Kevin Kelly published an excellent article on the Web phenomenon of the decade in the August issue of Wired magazine.
My own comments, on both the Wired article and my own experience, are posted today in commentary.
Saturday May 1, 2004
Getting Out of the Box
Career Epiphany
[ This is an abstract of a longer commentary which I posted to my other weblog. ]Before you can do any thinking "outside the box" you need to realize that there is a box and that you've placed yourself within it. For years, I have been struggling with the question of "what do I want to do with my job". At least a decade ago, I made a set of Pro and Con lists, variously entitlted, Programmer, System Administrator, Tech Support, Quality Lead.
In the years that followed, I added Technical Writer and Webmaster to the lists. I added a list of generic Preferences and another for Interest Areas. But I was still thinking inside my box.
...
Continue reading "Getting Out of the Box"