And a month later...
I met my work goals for the 2 week period from last meeting.. however, thats not that impressive since we took a month between meets this time.
Beta-9 is out and 1/3 of the Big-Three done. The remaining Big 2 are really umbrella issues that contain a dozen or more things each. Ouch.
Things that I still suck at: Good customer conversations.
My goal notes:
1) For the next two weeks, focus exclusively on bug fixing and re-enabling things that had to be disabled for B -9. Two weeks of solid effort should resolve the vast majority of bugs that need fixing before release.
a) Make a priority list of bugs, and solve them in-order.
b) ONE thing at a time only. Do NOT have the dozen-in-flight modifications that were plaguing B-9.
2) Reply to a couple of the backlogged emails every time I check work email.
3) Try putting my coffee maker in/next to my room, with auto-brew for the morning. Knowing there's coffee brewed and ready will greatly help me get up at the same regular time each morning. Funny how excited this idea makes me. I still like the idea of the caffeine watch though, guys.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Accountability, What's That?
Before I post my goal list, a few thoughts.
So as I mentioned at the meeting last night, we all suck since we missed an entire 2 weeks for no real reason. I guess it sort of brings up an important point: that alot of the time, our 2 week progress indicators will just be "Same ol, Same ol". It's hard to be dedicated when you don't have anything happening.
Three solutions are possible then. 1) Actually make Interesting Shit happen every period (perhaps impossible), or 2) Broaden our meeting scope to accommodate more (identifiable, actionable) goals, or 3) Move to a monthly format to allow for more things to happen. (reasonable for some times, but at other times is too few).
Anyways. Just wanted to throw out some ideas to help keep us regular. Because, you know, that's important. Otherwise, we just become metaphorically full of crap.
So as I mentioned at the meeting last night, we all suck since we missed an entire 2 weeks for no real reason. I guess it sort of brings up an important point: that alot of the time, our 2 week progress indicators will just be "Same ol, Same ol". It's hard to be dedicated when you don't have anything happening.
Three solutions are possible then. 1) Actually make Interesting Shit happen every period (perhaps impossible), or 2) Broaden our meeting scope to accommodate more (identifiable, actionable) goals, or 3) Move to a monthly format to allow for more things to happen. (reasonable for some times, but at other times is too few).
Anyways. Just wanted to throw out some ideas to help keep us regular. Because, you know, that's important. Otherwise, we just become metaphorically full of crap.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Andrew - Period 2
Okay, I am not coming in last for a second time on my own damn blog... Unfortunately, my bulleted lists aren't nearly so pretty as everyone else's... Seems I've got more internal house-cleaning to do before I can embark on Big Projects (tm). That said, I'm trying to take a different approach with stress from work: do only what I can, be more selective about the projects I choose to involve myself with, and play Mr. Teflon to the high-pitched nonsense coming out of my superiors. (Wait - isn't this supposed to be a bulleted list?) Fine, here are the rest:
Given the pace of some of the other projects being floated around here, I might have to start adding some side projects with some of you... All told, the future is bright!
- Continue with the Importing class - start thinking about implementation steps, as there are only 2 more class periods left...
- Gym/Running - 3 times/week for each, though I'm not going to feel bad if a weekend run turns into a day of downhill skiing...
- Start the day early - This is going okay, though it could use a bit of improvement. If I want to get off work early, I've gotta arrive early and not dawdle at home.
- Schedule time for reflection - This is the one I didn't get to, insofar as I didn't schedule any specific time free of distractions. I'm thinking a self-imposed lunch break at work might do the trick...
Given the pace of some of the other projects being floated around here, I might have to start adding some side projects with some of you... All told, the future is bright!
Stephen -- Period 2
So all of us had lets say less than exciting goals for the next two weeks, seeing as they basically boil down to "get shit done".
As frustrating as the last couple weeks were, these next two are shaping up to be awesome, as I feel my productivity hitting a marked upswing and being invigated by a dash to the finish in terms of coding work.
More specifically, goals for the next 2 weeks for me are:
Continue:
1) Continue the 4hrs/day all week on a BIG-3 ISSUE time commitment. This is most easily measured simply by doing this work at Zoka, and making sure I'm there for 4 hrs+ a day. They must love me there.
2) Continue waking up early(ish). This is a work in progress still sadly.
Start:
3) Dealing with customer email backlog in the morning, after waking and food but before my brain is fully ready to code. This works well because in the evening I'm sick of working.
I also brought up at the last meeting that, once this stage of the project is done (BIG-3 completed), its time to shift to the more interesting work -- that of ramping up everything for the product launch. That involves website, documentation, marketing, advertising, advocacy, etc. I'm seeking and taking help in any and all areas of the above. I want to make as big a splash as possible -- I haven't spent two years of my life for a lukewarm project launch.
Cheers to the rest of you! Let's kick some ass this period...
As frustrating as the last couple weeks were, these next two are shaping up to be awesome, as I feel my productivity hitting a marked upswing and being invigated by a dash to the finish in terms of coding work.
More specifically, goals for the next 2 weeks for me are:
Continue:
1) Continue the 4hrs/day all week on a BIG-3 ISSUE time commitment. This is most easily measured simply by doing this work at Zoka, and making sure I'm there for 4 hrs+ a day. They must love me there.
2) Continue waking up early(ish). This is a work in progress still sadly.
Start:
3) Dealing with customer email backlog in the morning, after waking and food but before my brain is fully ready to code. This works well because in the evening I'm sick of working.
I also brought up at the last meeting that, once this stage of the project is done (BIG-3 completed), its time to shift to the more interesting work -- that of ramping up everything for the product launch. That involves website, documentation, marketing, advertising, advocacy, etc. I'm seeking and taking help in any and all areas of the above. I want to make as big a splash as possible -- I haven't spent two years of my life for a lukewarm project launch.
Cheers to the rest of you! Let's kick some ass this period...
Update on my progress...
Hello boys, I thought it was high time I write you again. Here's what's going on.
1. I finally have good internet access. Actually, better than yours - I can get online in the taxi, at restaurants etc because of my little dongle. It's a little wireless device that allows me to be online no matter where I am. Boo-yeah.
2. I got a headset - so we can actually talk to each other. Please get skype, because I miss all your melodic voices (natch).
3. I'm going up to Bangkok this weekend, on a visa-run (when you have to leave the country, so you're forced to take a little R&R). I'll be buying samples of jewelry etc to photograph and sell for discoverati.com.
4. I have another project I want your help with. I'll outline it in another posting to you boys. It's called gayakarta.com - I want it to be Indonesia's leading place to look for local hotels, restaurants, clubs, bars, etc... Because there isn't a good place yet, the market is BLEEDING for it!
5. I finally feel like I'm starting to belong. I have a good set of friends in different spheres, and I'm constantly meeting new ones everyday. =) But that doesn't mean I don't miss you boys like crazy.
Alright - back to work. I have to get the office boy to make me some tea. I have a special pot and everything. =)
Much love,
Riani
1. I finally have good internet access. Actually, better than yours - I can get online in the taxi, at restaurants etc because of my little dongle. It's a little wireless device that allows me to be online no matter where I am. Boo-yeah.
2. I got a headset - so we can actually talk to each other. Please get skype, because I miss all your melodic voices (natch).
3. I'm going up to Bangkok this weekend, on a visa-run (when you have to leave the country, so you're forced to take a little R&R). I'll be buying samples of jewelry etc to photograph and sell for discoverati.com.
4. I have another project I want your help with. I'll outline it in another posting to you boys. It's called gayakarta.com - I want it to be Indonesia's leading place to look for local hotels, restaurants, clubs, bars, etc... Because there isn't a good place yet, the market is BLEEDING for it!
5. I finally feel like I'm starting to belong. I have a good set of friends in different spheres, and I'm constantly meeting new ones everyday. =) But that doesn't mean I don't miss you boys like crazy.
Alright - back to work. I have to get the office boy to make me some tea. I have a special pot and everything. =)
Much love,
Riani
Monday, February 18, 2008
Latecomer - Session 1
Wonderful, I'm last... Even Riani posted before me! I'm in a somewhat strange place for this group, given certain issues outside my control (boss out of the country until March, etc.), so my goals for the moment are pretty simple. I'm taking my Import class at the UW, and that will provide a way forward, though for the moment the goal is... to attend! The rest are just an effort to get my life in order:
- Gym - 3x a week
- Run - 3x a week (for Patty's Day Dash)
- Be at work before 9am every day
- Schedule time for reflection - no distractions!
Period 1 -- Stephen
So, one week late in posting my TAP-1 results (now it sounds properly tech-ish, with a sweet sweet acronym).
Micah, I'm not sure if I agree that we should post our lists as comments -- for one thing, comments are not editable that I can figure out, and so we can't do strike-throughs or any other updates. I suggest we simply each post our session results every two weeks and title/label appropriately.
Onwards.
The issues I'm facing in the short term we all know from the last meeting. Here's the list of actionable things that I set forth to make happen:
1) Work on the Hard Stuff -- effort-based goal of 4 hours per day working on one of my remaining Big Three problems. I can work >4 hrs per day on WM obviously, and those extra hours can be on other issues/funner stuff. But 4hrs a workday must go into fixing the 3 issues that haven't been done for years..
How to hold accountable: Daily planner, record time spent working on a big-3 issue.
2) When to Call it Done -- When the big-three are done. Not a time-based goal, which I suck at holding too because they don't fit the situation.
How to hold accountable: Don't let feature-creep happen!
3) Die Perfectionism Die.
How to hold accountable: Well, you guys can beat the shit out of me whenever I start talking about making things awesome with just one more thing...
4) Email Management -- Check once a day, reply for support emails. Add an auto-responder to all other emails to give myself breathing room to reply within a 1wk timeframe.
How to hold accountable: Close email during the day.
5) Get up at 9am each day.
How to hold accountable: 3 alarms, nature helping out (sunlight through the windows)
6) Make some &*#$ business cards (late addition...)
How to hold accountable: Spent time after my big-3 chunk to research best cheap cards option.
So, since I'm posting this a week late, how am I doing at these?
Bottom line, I'm sucking at them. You all can rip me apart at the next meeting, there are extenuating circumstances but that's no excuse. This upcoming week has to make up for the missed time last week that i couldn't control. I've ordered the replacement laptop power supply, won't be here till the end of the week but I can grit it out and work from home for the week as best I can.
Micah, I'm not sure if I agree that we should post our lists as comments -- for one thing, comments are not editable that I can figure out, and so we can't do strike-throughs or any other updates. I suggest we simply each post our session results every two weeks and title/label appropriately.
Onwards.
The issues I'm facing in the short term we all know from the last meeting. Here's the list of actionable things that I set forth to make happen:
1) Work on the Hard Stuff -- effort-based goal of 4 hours per day working on one of my remaining Big Three problems. I can work >4 hrs per day on WM obviously, and those extra hours can be on other issues/funner stuff. But 4hrs a workday must go into fixing the 3 issues that haven't been done for years..
How to hold accountable: Daily planner, record time spent working on a big-3 issue.
2) When to Call it Done -- When the big-three are done. Not a time-based goal, which I suck at holding too because they don't fit the situation.
How to hold accountable: Don't let feature-creep happen!
3) Die Perfectionism Die.
How to hold accountable: Well, you guys can beat the shit out of me whenever I start talking about making things awesome with just one more thing...
4) Email Management -- Check once a day, reply for support emails. Add an auto-responder to all other emails to give myself breathing room to reply within a 1wk timeframe.
How to hold accountable: Close email during the day.
5) Get up at 9am each day.
How to hold accountable: 3 alarms, nature helping out (sunlight through the windows)
6) Make some &*#$ business cards (late addition...)
How to hold accountable: Spent time after my big-3 chunk to research best cheap cards option.
So, since I'm posting this a week late, how am I doing at these?
Bottom line, I'm sucking at them. You all can rip me apart at the next meeting, there are extenuating circumstances but that's no excuse. This upcoming week has to make up for the missed time last week that i couldn't control. I've ordered the replacement laptop power supply, won't be here till the end of the week but I can grit it out and work from home for the week as best I can.
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