Articles for category: Initiative

April 22, 2016

Greg Thomas

The Messages We Send

Recently I had to go get some work done on my vehicle.  When I entered the facility (for my scheduled appointment) I was told very matter of factly… This might not fix the issue, it could, but it won’t be perfect. My first thoughts immediately going to – “but you’re the guys who fix these things, with all the commercials that you’re the best, with all the ads all over the country, with all amazing customer service… I went through the wizard and checked my vehicle, you said it’d be perfect.” But this guy didn’t get the memo… Was he

April 21, 2016

Greg Thomas

It takes time…

Did you know that Macklemore’s hit – Can’t Hold Us – was released before it became a big hit? I originally found it on someone’s facebook feed, but this was the initial link off of a recording from KEXP. Who knew? Not many, but now we all do. It wasn’t until a later hit came out later that year (Thrift Shop) that people found Can’t Hold Us and it became almost as big (some might say even bigger). Who knew? You might be going crazy trying to figure out why something isn’t working, why no one gets it, why you are misunderstood, why

April 16, 2016

Greg Thomas

That Conversation Touch

Do you send out generic group invites inviting friends over for a BBQ? Do you have a robotic voice when calling a co-worker asking them for an update along with a generic question template? When you meet someone for the first time do you greet them with the same facial expression as anyone else? Never done any of this? So why do it in a text or email?  Why engage with someone in differently then you would in person? Oh wait, I know – because it’s synchronous, it’s a conversation, it requires a back and forth. And that’s what our interactions have been

April 15, 2016

Greg Thomas

The Developer Office Essential

Here it is, the definitive list of what a developer needs to get by in their career… A Whiteboard. That’s it, that’s all. What can a developer do with a whiteboard? Map out ideas. Collaborate with team members. Reduce confusion. Direct conversation. Learn patience by watching others “drive”. Layout their priorities. Plan release cycles. Do something funky with sprints and iterations and boards and scrums and product managers. Design a user interface Keep the list of the best takeout places in the area Guide your day. Sure I need a laptop or desktop or dual screens and keyboard or a pretty mouse and

April 8, 2016

Greg Thomas

The Levels of Success

Years ago I wrote a Business Plan and in it I wrote out my Exit Strategy (as was provided and documented in the template) and filled it in. I showed it to someone and they asked why was I thinking exit on Day One. Good point and I probably did not need to write it down in the business plan but it is important to know at what point you need to get out.  At what point has the burden of starting something new become new heavy to bear and when is it time to move on. For me it