Posted on Podcast

A Team Victory Brings Great Joy

One of the most valuable lessons I have learned is the joy of a team victory.  We can celebrate and be proud of individual accomplishments.  However, it is better when you can share the joy with others that were part of the struggle.  We can do a lot to improve our lives, but the way to make the most impact is to find others to share your journey. A Team Victory Can Come At Any Time In sports a team is well-defined.  There are players, coaches, managers, etc. that contribute in various ways.  We also see this in business.  If you have a paycheck signed by the same person, then you are on the same team.  Of course, politics and self-interest can... Read more

Posted on Podcast

Business Networking For Introverts

A challenge for many IT workers is business networking.  We chose out career often as a desire to avoid dealing with people more than we have to.  We are often introverts and not very comfortable in a crowd.  That makes it even harder for us to find our way to a useful discussion in a networking environment. Business Networking Is Critical The problem is, of course, that we have to network to build a customer list and become successful.  The good news is that we do not have to suffer through these situations.  A good script and routine can help us avoid the uncomfortable “winging it” situation.  Instead of having to grope for words, we can recite a message we... Read more

better developers
Posted on Become a Better Developer Overview

What is a Develpreneur

The Develpreneur site focuses on building better developers.  It may seem obvious that the name comes from a mashup of developer and entrepreneur.  Thus, it is logical to ask how that mashup is related to building better developers.  Before we go very far, I think it is essential to address that question. The Power Of Entrepreneurship The label “entrepreneur” is almost a meaningless buzzword in the modern world.  It is thrown around a lot like a path to a life of ease.  The TV shows like “Shark Tank” highlight entrepreneurs of all sizes and bookshelves are full of stories of those that “made it.”  The success of silicon valley companies has fed this concept as well.  There are countless stories... Read more

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Problem-Solving With Friends and Associates (or Google)

One of the reasons for an enjoying an IT career is problem-solving.  We get to face a challenge of varying levels every day.  That can lead to us spending more time working on a problem than we need to.  Thus, we need to keep in mind schedules and resources we have to meet our deadlines. Problem-Solving as a Team Sport There is a reason we find many developer offices set up in a way that lends itself to interaction.  Yes, cubicles can be a cheap way to create an “office.”  However, they also tend to lead us to communicate with our coworkers more than a real office with walls and a door.  Some managers claim their door is always open, but... Read more

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Continuing Education – Learning More Every Day

We live in the technology age.  Also known as the information age.  Thus, we have more and easier ways to educate ourselves each day.  As Apple says, “there is an app for that.”  However, we need to be intentional in our approach to continuing education.  Moderation is best and a roadmap will help us reach our goals. Continuing Education Via the Internet A core strength of the Internet is the delivery of news all the time.  Not only that, the news can be on any topic you choose.  Content is not only readily available, it is always growing.  This flood of information can be daunting.  However, there are several tools available to organize your content and build good habits of information consumption. Learn... Read more

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Further Your Career Through a Higher Degree

A higher degree in my mind is anything beyond a high school diploma.  These days, that diploma is almost always a minimum requirement for a technology job.  There are just too many applicants that have that and more. A Higher Degree Sets a Baseline A degree is a great way to raise the ceiling for your career, but it also is a way to lift the floor.  In fact, a college degree can be a path to avoiding some steps of the ladder climbing required in any career.  These rungs may be skipping out on years at a help desk, mindless coding jobs, or other standard entry-level tasks.  In my case, I was even able to skip a company-sponsored month of... Read more