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Improve Productivity – Pick Up Your Head And Plan

How often have you been too busy to consider ways to improve productivity?  Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon problem.  We can easily get buried in day-to-day tasks and details.  However, our best way forward often requires us to pick our heads up. Improve Productivity With Planning I think we all learn somewhere along the way that design and planning make us more likely to be successful in any endeavor.  That makes it all the more frustrating when we find ourselves buried in the weeds.  You are not alone in this challenge.  IT work often carries a lot of details and small tasks that drag us away from our primary work and goals. The key to winning this battle is quality over quantity.  It... Read more

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Buying Toys and Enjoying Life

Once we become adults we often relegate playing as something that died along with our childhood.  This can often be a mistake.  A trip for buying toys may look very different as an adult.  However, it can still be one that refreshes us and triggers those same positive feelings we get with any reward. Buying Toys Can Be Practical The first thing to get clear is what toys mean.  These are anything that we get enjoyment from.  Thus, our toys can be things like tools, appliances, accessories, or even simple items.  In fact, our toy buying thrill may be triggered by a trip to pick up office supplies, silverware, or even giving to a charity. I think we try to justify... Read more

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Build Or Buy – Deciding What Is Right For You

In a simple way of looking at solutions, the decision comes down to build or buy.  We run into this a lot in planning and running a business.  Time after time we are faced with the decision of either doing something ourselves or finding someone else to handle it.  Yes, even the decision to outsource boils down to a build or buy conundrum. Build Or Buy – Common Themes Although very situation requires reflection, there are similarities in these options that can help us with our decision.  Thus, we can look at pros and cons of each approach that are nearly universal.  This may not get us to an easy answer.  However, it can get us to a decision sooner... Read more

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Code Generation Or Manual Coding as a Learning Tool

It is hard to imagine how different software development was even a few decades ago.  We used to have to write our applications manually.  Heck, even copy and paste was complicated.  Luckily, code generation is becoming common no matter which language you use.  This may be in the form of direct generation of code or tools that make the process easier.  However, that is not always the best way to get the job done. Frameworks and Generators The biggest bang for your buck comes from generators and frameworks.  These tools can get your application up and running in minutes.  Even when that is not the case, the time saved by using these tools can add up to weeks and even months.  There is... Read more

revisit problems
Posted on Become a Better Developer

Revisit Problems To Provide Better Solutions

One of the most frustrating barriers to improvement is the idea that “we always did it this way.”  The idea that once a problem is solved, there is no better solution has been proven wrong time and again.  If that were true, then we would have stopped with a walkman and never known about an iPod.  Thus, it is worth our time to revisit problems as we advance our skills.  Doing so can provide better solutions or lead to addressing more complex issues. Sudoku Patterns The famous puzzle, Sudoku provides an excellent example of how to keep revisiting a problem.  The goal of the puzzle is to enter the numbers 0-9 in a nine by nine grid.  No number is... Read more

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Stay True To Yourself For A Happy Life

The good and bad news about being truly happy is that it comes down to individual taste.  We are only going to be truly happy when we are doing the things we enjoy.  That means that focusing your success on what others want will not bring happiness.  You must be true to yourself, and a little honesty does not hurt either. Know Yourself The scary thing is that we do not always know what is best for us.  We listen to others and gauge our happiness on what we are told should lead to happiness.  This happiness may be money, success, friends, relationships, or a good haircut.  That leads to frustration and wasted effort.  We end up chasing someone else’s dreams... Read more