Blog

August 11, 2016

Greg Thomas

The End of a Conference

On the last day of a conference, everyone is generally in a pretty giddy mood.  A small part for end of conference party, but the larger part for the wealth of material they have just amassed. Assuming you went to a conference on a topic that you had an interest in. We aren’t giddy for what we’ve learned, but to go back and try out some ideas and put what we have learned into effect. There is no greater conference killer than the attendee who comes back, never uses what they have learned and goes back to keeping on doing

August 10, 2016

Greg Thomas

Props to the Front-Row

No matter how boring or interesting the topic – I’m never the person to go in and sit in the front-row.  Even if it is someone I know, I’ll never sit at the front. I’ll aim for the middle, never the front. I’m always impressed by the people who go right up to the front each and every time, sitting there, waiting to listen. Whether it is my presenting or me attending – lots of respect for those people – they fuel the speaker and energize the crowd.

August 9, 2016

Greg Thomas

Don’t do the Sure Thing

There are too many people doing the Sure Thing. Not trying out new ideas and sticking with what’s been done. Not going outside of what is built and instead sticking with the vendor of choice. Not running a meeting in a totally different way than was done before. There are too many people doing the Sure Thing. And if you’re worried about how people will react to the New Thing, start off by saying you’re done being a Sure Thing and that you want to do a Better Thing. You might fall and stumble, but at least you’ll have set

August 8, 2016

Greg Thomas

The Hardest Question to Answer

“Where do you want to go?” No joke, that is the hardest question for all of us to answer, because when asked our minds flutter to all the things we are doing in our lives that matter and all of a sudden there are all these paths in front of us. Do I become a musician? I really like my art? Oh, I could be a great coach? This software development thing is really great. And the list goes on and on and on. It’s not a hard question to ask, 6 words, no bigger than 5 letters, but does

August 5, 2016

Greg Thomas

Sports and Leaders

If I had the time during the interview process to take someone out and play 21 with them, shoot 9 holes of golf or insert favourite quick game of sport here, I would do that. You learn so much in watching people play sports when they don’t feel like they have anything holding them back.  In addition, you learn how they approach all those questions that you are really asking and whether it is for show or how they really behave. Are they really fair? Do they play with heart? Good loser/bad winner? What about the banter between the physical