Latest Posts - Page 73 of 192

November 16, 2020November 14, 2020 Special Topics

Setting Work Boundaries And Separating Your Life

The holy grail of full-time work from our home has several challenges. One of the most impactful snares is a blurring of the lines between work and the rest of our life. Therefore, we need to consider how some work boundaries can be set and enforced. Slave labor is never a goal, and we need to be aware of whether we are being taken for granted. Quality Or Quantity There is always a trade-off in accomplishing a goal. We can do it fast, cheap, or of quality. You get two of the three. Thus, fast and cheap products will lack quality. High quality requires either more resources (time, money, etc.) or takes longer to complete. Our boss or manager is... Read more

November 12, 2020November 7, 2020 Tech Notes

Are We Really Bad at Estimating?

Are We Really Bad at Estimating? The topic of estimating can be a contentious one. Teams may be reluctant to estimate for fear of creating something stakeholders will use against them. Clients and stakeholders will always want to know what will be delivered and when, but how do you predict this if the work is new or unfamiliar? And if you work in an environment where estimates are usually wrong, should you skip estimating altogether and get on with building something? I believe a lot of the frustration and issues surrounding estimates stems from the belief that, as humans, we’re just bad at estimating. But I don’t think that’s true. We’re Actually Pretty Good at Estimating (Some Things) Don’t get... Read more

November 10, 2020November 9, 2020 Python-Django Crash Course

Using Flask to Create an API

We continue our Django-Python tutorials by exploring how to use Flask to create an API. This popular library/framework is easy to use and powerful. We will return to it in future sessions for other features. However, we can focus on building an API with what we have already discussed about Python. A Micro Framework One of the strengths of Python is how lightweight it is. The environment does not require large amounts of memory or space to get serious work done. That includes many of the frameworks such as Flask. These tools make it easy to extend functionality without requiring a substantial investment in time or resources. You may find this a bit limiting when compared to other solutions like... Read more

November 6, 2020November 3, 2020 Special Topics

Work Boundaries and Constraints For Greater Success

We are moving to more and more remote options for our job and career. However, we need to set work boundaries if we are going to enjoy long-term success. These constraints on our schedules will help us find a balance between work and other areas of life. Your family will thank you, and so will your general health. Physical Work Boundaries Our work environment is an essential ingredient in our success. There have been numerous studies on ergonomic environments and how they help us. Our physical comfort is important at home as well as in the office. Unfortunately, we often give up true comfort at home for ease and other reasons. For example, many of us will sit in bed... Read more

November 4, 2020November 1, 2020 Special Topics

Setting a Professional Development Pace For Success

We frequently look for ways to become better. One part of that approach is steady (daily) forward progress. However, this approach can be exhausting and even lead to burnout. Therefore, we need to be aware of our professional development pace and avoid allowing it to drag us down. Daily Pacing The Pomodoro technique is a well-known approach to setting a pace through our day. This creates periods of focused work and then rest. The specifics of the focus and rest periods vary from person to person. Some people do better with longer periods of focus, while others need more regular breaks. This timing of focus and rest shows in many educational situations, including conferences. We typically limit educational presentations (focused... Read more

November 2, 2020November 1, 2020 Special Topics

Hard Work Pays Off – You Get Out What You Put In

There is an old saw that hard work pays off. It may seem to be a truth that only holds in some cases. However, things tend to work out for us when we put in the time, effort and have some patience. A recent “pay-off” reminded me that overnight success is seldom overnight. The 10000 Hour Rule There is a book that talks about how it takes ten thousand hours to master something. That is a focus on developing a skill. On the other hand, we develop soft skills and recognition around areas we focus on. That is easily seen in areas like blogging, videos, and other content production. The more you research and talk about a topic, the more... Read more