17 Jan 2016
Starting at a larger company after working with and for startups has created an interesting perspective on getting things done. One element, that I’ll lay out here, is about showing up to meetings with a plan prepared so the other team simply has to say, “Yes”.
All too often, I’ve been to meetings designed to generate a plan, when one or both groups had enough information to create one independently. It is way more efficient to simply present a proposal of how to move forward, ask the other group if they can meet your needs, ask for feedback, and iterate if there is an unforeseen issue with your plan.
This can work both ways for even better decision making. Both parties could present plans that they believe would succeed while detailing the pros and cons of their own plans. Then, they could combine them to mitigate the weak spots of individual plans.
This is all dependent on the complexity and impact of the necessary work. Sometimes there isn’t enough information to come up with an appropriate plan (I’d still give it a shot). Sometimes, the required work is so clear cut that a recommendation makes everyone’s lives easier. Use your judgement and don’t piss people off by telling them what to do, but nobody minds being presented with a good plan that only requires them to say, “Yes”.
tl;dr; Think about the other guy and present a plan to get things done.
16 Jan 2016
Hey folks,
It’s been quite a while since my last post. Things have been pretty busy and changed drastically, but I’m settling into more of a routine and I’m looking forward to writing again. I’ve got a new job now as a Technical Product Manager for Mobile with Dow Jones. I’m about three months in at this point and it’s been quite the ride. I’ve been learning about all different facets of the business and really enjoying it as I get to work on nuts and bolts with my dev team as I run Scrum, participate in high level strategic meetings with executives, and do anything and everything in between.
It’s an exciting time, and I’m looking forward to once again sharing some of what I have, and will, learn with all of you.
Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.
25 Oct 2015
Months ago I made a mistake at work. It wasn’t an error of execution, a missed email, or anything related to work. I behaved in a way that was inconsistent with the person I want to be. I felt I had betrayed the trust of someone I respected and I was ashamed. In this moment, and for a while after, I was inclined to simply let the matter pass. To pretend that what was significant to me wasn’t noticed and needed no explanation.
But stronger than that inclination was a desire to own my mistake. To own it and resolve not to repeat it. I went to the person that I felt I might have insulted with my behavior and made a sincere apology. I called to their attention my bad behavior, I apologized to them for the situation in may have put them in, I asked their forgiveness of my judgement, and I stated how I would do my best not to repeat the mistake.
I would say those are the parts necessary for an apology that works. Calling attention to the error, apologizing for the position that has put the other person in, asking forgiveness, and stating a resolution to do better in the future. An apology like this can be freeing and will reveal the character of those around you.
So, if there’s something you feel badly about. Apologize. You’ll feel better.
13 Oct 2015
I’ve noticed lately that there have been many latent influences that have slowly made their way into the foreground of my life. Some of these are artistic pursuits that I tried as a child and have since become central themes in my life, others are more subtle. It seems I’m slowly turning into my father.
I’ve long cherished the thought of embarrassing my future spawn with awkward songs, bad catchphrases, and (intentionally) terrible dancing. The legacy of my father in imitable form.
However, there are more subtle things that I’ve been noticing. An interest in Bonsai, the New York reflection of my father’s green thumb. A focus on esoteric athletic activity, climbing and capoeira instead of racquetball and rowing. A desire to sit and really listen to albums.
At one point these similarities would have concerned me, who wants to turn into their parents? But as I get a little older (no comment on related attributes), I’ve started to cherish the connection that these attributes create with my old man. So… Cheers to doing it right.
03 Aug 2015
It will be.
I tried tracing the decisions that led me to where I am right now. It’s a surreal experience. So many major components of my life are the result of almost haphazard circumstance. An absent friends ticket, a spur of the moment decision to volunteer, a party in December. Looking backwards I can see how the butterfly flapped, but there is no way I could have foreseen this path as a result of my decisions, though in a way it feels inevitable.
It will be.
It’s been comforting to see things roll along, and it’s been helpful to maintain that perspective when things don’t go the way I expected. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to sleep off most things, knowing that the situation won’t be much different in the morning, but at least my perspective will improve. And that seems to help more often than not. A good nights sleep and faith that if I try to put good out there,
It will be.
