January 31, 2024

Greg Thomas

Speak Softly

And carry a pen? Type on a keyboard? Be the first one there? Be the last one out? Wait till the end to ask questions. Whatever it is, just go softly, just be there, and let your actions dictate what sometimes becomes your words. Everything else will fall into place from there.

January 30, 2024

Greg Thomas

Meetings By Need

You only need to have meetings when a need arises. Anything else is put aside for IF a need arises that instead becomes a discussion on what people are up to and not really discussing a need per se.

January 29, 2024

Greg Thomas

The Rabbit Hole of Hidden Configurations

I was troubleshooting an issue today, trying to figure out why an automated build wasn’t working. It turns out I had to toggle a configuration value and then from there remove some steps. I found the answer on a random StackOverflow post where someone had a similar issue. This after 2 hours of trying different scenarios and pulling (what’s left) of my hair out trying to get there. The Hidden Configurations and back-end combinations of toggles will always get you and always remind you how many people are working on various systems and if they were working together, this wouldn’t

January 28, 2024

Greg Thomas

Creative Systems

Systems get a bad rap when all we follow is the system – do it this way or else. A collection of systems (and the freedom to add more) creates a toolbox where it’s left up to the user to decide which system they should use and when. This ensures creativity and growth are still being applied in implementing and developing new systems BUT also that what has been proven to work is still being implemented (i.e., we’re not reinventing the world each time.

January 27, 2024

Greg Thomas

Wipe your Calendar

Take everything off, decline everything. Whoever comes back asking for you to be at the meeting, add those ones back in. Everything else leave out.