Latest Posts - Page 45 of 192

August 16, 2022August 7, 2022 Grow From Failures

Project Completion – Cross The Finish Line

Project completion is the focus of this episode. We discuss how to start and implement a solution but ignore finishing. That changes in this story. We look at how “moving the goal line” can be expensive and self-defeating. On the contrary, we are often far better off declaring victory and putting a stake in the ground. That gives us a solid foundation to build on. When we do not, we often find ourselves on shifting sand. That causes delays, overruns, and unneeded frustration. Project Completion – Declare Victory One of the essential facets of the Agile Manifesto is delivering working software. That seems like something that should go unsaid. However, we see that being an issue in far too many projects.... Read more

August 11, 2022July 31, 2022 Grow From Failures

Timely Billing – Avoid Headaches and Loss

We dive into the exciting world of accounting in this episode. Timely billing is the focus, and a worst-case scenario teaches the lesson. While the mistake is not directly mine in this story, I was a first-hand witness and deeply involved. That experience cemented my habit of providing regular status and gave me limits for billing flexibility. These steps have helped me avoid much loss and frustration over the years. Timely Billing – And Payment Terms Billing is not the only thing we need to do. There also needs to be follow-up and expectations set for when they should be paid. When those limits are exceeded, then we must have a plan for proceeding in a risk-appropriate manner. It is... Read more

August 9, 2022July 31, 2022 Grow From Failures

Status Reporting – The Simple Solution For Avoiding Big Problems

Few things cause excitement like the phrase, “status reporting.” Yes, I know you are already quivering from anticipation, but that is our topic. This episode looks at how much confusion could have been avoided (and some loss) through better use of this communication form. Accordingly, this is an excellent lesson to learn early in your career. Status Reporting – Staying on the Same Page The best reason for regular communication in a project is to ensure everyone stays on the same page. A lack of cohesion in a team is a common reason for failures, over-runs, and low quality. While status reporting may feel or seem like busy work, it is not. There is a noticeable value in even the... Read more

August 4, 2022July 26, 2022 Grow From Failures

Smart Scheduling – Including Buffer So It Can Flex

Our approach to becoming a better developer requires planning. Likewise, we need smart scheduling to hit our targets. That is the focus of this episode. I look back at a time when I overloaded my schedule and ended up stressing out. That led to more harm than good in many ways. Thus, we need to look at building in ways to allow our schedule to be flexible and adjust to life events. Smart Scheduling 101 – Add “Wiggle Room” A rigid structure is more likely to break when it is shown resistance. Think of a dry spaghetti noodle. Once you apply pressure, it is likely to break or crack. However, there are similar things (like a wet noodle) that are... Read more

August 2, 2022July 26, 2022 Grow From Failures

Making Good The Enemy of Better

There are many mistakes we make related to pushing too far or not pushing enough. The latter is where we make good the enemy of better. More precisely, good enough becomes our goal instead of getting better. That approach can be comfortable. However, it can also limit our growth professionally and personally. This episode shares a story where I limited myself regularly shooting for a goal that was good rather than better. While we can take the “win” and move on, there are more times we should aim higher. Good The Enemy of Better – Limiting Growth The idea of perfect as the enemy of good and pushing too hard has been discussed in other episodes. Those situations have us... Read more

July 28, 2022July 17, 2022 Grow From Failures

Proving Your Worth – Understand Expectations

It is not at all uncommon to focus on proving your worth when you start a new job or enter a new environment. However, we expect more than others. We often make the mistake of thinking we are expected to know everything. That is not the case. In fact, we are rarely likely to know much in the early days of a new job. That is why many companies have training and orientation programs for new hires. While there is typically not the same formal process when we move to a new team, there are still the same needs. It is a “rookie mistake” to think you are expected to hit the ground running at 100%. Your best days are... Read more