Tech debt ain’t all bad. What can we learn from the comparison to financial debt? Wikipedia defines Technical Debt as “the implied cost of future reworking required when choosing an easy but ...

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Published on April 16, 2024 | 2 min read

If you’re going to make an assumption, assume that additional clarification is needed.Have ever had an experience like this? You ask a question. The other person asks you to clarify… 🤔 And at that moment, you realiz...

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Published on February 01, 2024 | 0 min read

Languages are dynamic. They grow and change shape. Existing words are repurposed to describe new ideas. Sometimes it’s helpful. Often it’s harmless. But in some cases, like today’s example, it results in layers of absolute and utter nonsense that compound gloriously.<h2 ...

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Published on December 28, 2023 | 8 min read

How do the following words make you feel?“Management has decided that we need to introduce additional process to keep up with the operational demands of our growing business.”Setting aside the whole “management has decided” part, let’s talk about process. Depending upon your ...

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Published on November 13, 2023 | 3 min read

Are trees green? Is the sky blue? Yes, of course. Everyone knows that.However, looking out my window, what do I see? Trees that are red and orange along with a sky that is gray.To make sense of the information around us we must assess context. My writing is no different. I’ll...

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Published on October 11, 2023 | 1 min read

You will be asked to do the impossible.⚠ Proceed with caution. ⚠Saying “Yes” to everything is a great way to let others down while also burning yourself out. 👍On the other hand, simply saying “No...

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Published on January 29, 2023 | 3 min read

This post is part of The Words We Use series.Sprint is commonly used in software engineering to describe a period of planned work, and frankly, it annoys me a bit. Let me explain.I live in beautiful Boise, ID surroun...

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Published on January 02, 2023 | 1 min read

This post is part of The Words We Use series.During an interview this morning I was asked about how I approach deadlines. My answer began with something like: “I’m not sure of deadline’s etymology, but ...

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Published on December 19, 2022 | 2 min read

Words are the tools by which we exchange thoughts. Whether we do so with intention, or not, they convey not only facts but also feelings. These building blocks of communication can add a subtle color.The old barn in the picture didn’t fall into this state of disrepair overnight. Rain ...

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Published on December 18, 2022 | 0 min read

“The CTO will need to fix that.” This phrase should reflexively cause a reaction.I’m not saying it will always be a red flag if the CTO* is the only person who can fix something, but I think it should at least prompt a moment of reflection.* While I’m usi...

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Published on October 27, 2022 | 3 min read

Sometimes 1on1s will need to be rescheduled. I’m sure you can relate to having multiple things competing for our time and attention that don’t always neatly fit into calendared time slots.That’s a reality of being a manager.When needing to reschedule a 1on1, I find it helpful to ask “...

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Published on June 09, 2022 | 1 min read