Training the Young and Fluency July 28, 2010
Posted by ActiveEngine Sensei in ActiveEngine, Business Processes, Coaching, Fluent, Mythology, Personal Development.Tags: ActiveEngine, Coaching, communication, focus, Wolf Creedo
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Repeat with Sensei, if you will, the Wolf Creedo:
The Wolf Credo:
Respect the elders
Teach the young
Cooperate with the pack
Play when you can
Hunt when you must
Rest in between
Share you affections
Voice your feelings
Leave your mark.*
What have you done to nurture your team? Are you the resident Elvis, and if the newbies make the cut they’ll graduate from a Mort to be the next King, hand plucked by you from millions and millions of people? Can I get a little ka-ra-te with that?
What makes you an Elvis, and are you a bloated drunk Elvis at the end, or the bad-ass version 1970 version who can jump start anything? Elvis in 1970 practiced the Wolf Creedo. Watch the documentory Elvis the Way It Is 2001, just the first half hour. This short half hour will show you Elvis, after years of being away from touring, ready to return to touring again in attempts to re-start his career. The first half hour of the movie focuses on the few weeks of rehearsals before the debut concert. Elvis had a fluent, incredible means of communicating with his band members and back up singers. With a glance, a gesture, a wink, a new song would spring up. Maybe Elvis would say a quick word, hum a note, and suddenly a bass line would kick in, and not more than three beats later, the entire band and Elvis are playing a tune complete with improves. While playing Little Sister, Elvis nods, and issues “Get Back” and off the group goes playing Get back from the Beatles. Congruent would be best word to describe the synchronization that each member had.
Elvis nurtured that vibe. They all keyed off of him, for to the band he was Elvis, not the King. He lead by being a focal point, but not necessarily an ostentatious leader. When you watch the practice sessions where Elvis worked on the orchestrations of each song it is clear that he could communicate what he wanted, and worked with his band members to produce the product he envisioned.
But in order to function like this unit, each member has to practice. You, as pack leader, have to pick the scales, the arpeggios, the rudiments that you want to be second nature so that your team, the young ones and old warriors can produce what you want, fluently.
*Credit: Del Getz and Associates
Chang-chang-a-ching-changa-langa-langa: Why Your User Community is Fluent in English and You Are Not the King February 6, 2010
Posted by ActiveEngine Sensei in .Net, ActiveEngine, Business Processes, Coaching, Fluent, Problem Solving, software economics.Tags: ActiveEngine, ActiveEngine Sensei, bad software, balance, communication, new thinking, Problem Solving
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Get ready for the sound of one hand clapping, but first, fire off the song as it get’s your head straight.
Some of you want to be Elvis too much. Sensei’s going to tell you a story so you know what he’s talking about. You see, users of your apps are waaaay smarter than you, and spend more time in their fields than you ever hope to do. You need a little love. It’s called fluent interaction. Fluent. Interaction. Lord have mercy.
Process mapping helps, but in the end that takes you to overly scientific abstractions, and while user stories help some they, too, stray with you as the sole author. You in the chair, just the important details from the user, but mostly you. Should you consider yourself not Mort but an Elvis, you may want to ask yourself what Elvis you want to be:
Kick-ass Karate Elvis |
Drug Ridden Elvis Wanna Be |
Back to the story. Last episode, in a spate of productivity and a dose of SQL-NoSQL fever, Sensei created a slim document management solution that can be quickly applied to an existing framework with minimal impact to database schema and code base. Sitting around the conference room table the comment arose from Annie, the project lead from the Sales group:
“Why do I have to save a commission record first before I can attach a document? That interrupts my flow. I want to put in everything that I want and save, period. No dialog box thingy prompting to save first, come back and do something else. Why can’t we just do it”
Long silence. The sound of one hand clapping.
One of Sensei’s report-to’s jumped in: ”Because in order to associate the document to the commission you have to save that commission first in the database, then take the id from the record and associate it document. This allows you to retrieve it later on.”
Annie: So. Can’t that just happen behind the scenes? If it’s two steps the sales gal won’t do it. She’s got calls to make.
Ssensei drifted out in research land, or as normal people call it, he spaced out for a bit. NetFlix sprang to mind, iPhone too, where you delete, it does it, but you can bring it back. Take the confirmation response out of the equation. Give the user a chance to undo their mess, but don’t get in their way. It’s fun to pretend to be the King, but what a wake up slap. The technology was right, but the user was seeing the benefit because “putting the stuff in was too clunky”. Sensei went and did want Annie wanted. Annie thinks its great. Good technology made better by the user, not the King.
Fluent. Interaction. Lord have mercy. You see, Annie’s right and user stories, UML and other brain death would never capture the essense of her perspective, particularly after she used the software. Yeah, soft deletes are great theory, but you are not thinking like a user. In order to be a better King, you gotta give the concert they want to hear. You have to know that the fans have created you, have shaped your persona. You have to know your fans, almost be them.
Elvis had a come back concert in 1968 but it almost didn’t happen as there was a huge fight with NBC. The network insisted that the show would be like a Bing Crosby special given that the air date was during the Christmas holiday season. Elvis wanted an intimate environment where he could perform up close, live with his fans. He thrived off of close contact with his fans. Know your audience. Elvis was right, and it helped re-launch his singing career and revive his legend. It was one of his best performances. For the fans.
You need to listen to your users. Spend the time to hone your craft, 
but work even harder to make them fans. What do they need? Is the concert for them or for you? Are you learning just to be smart or for their benefit? Fluent solutions require interaction with the fans. Thank you. Thank you very much.
More than .Net, jQuery, S3 and Corporate-Speak November 24, 2009
Posted by ActiveEngine Sensei in ActiveEngine, Coaching.Tags: Philosophy
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This new section of ActiveEngine called “Hope” will focus on inspiration, endurance and hope. Those are the foundation of your ActiveEngine. Your ideas can not be forged without them.
The corporate droogs can not rob you of these ingredients, although they may try. Look above, not around for your inspiration. Listen to the unwanted but eerily familiar voice that you squelch in your meetings, PowerPoint presentations and esoteric vocabulary.
First round is a gentle reminder of why we need to break free.
The Economics of Protecting the Red Shirts July 29, 2009
Posted by ActiveEngine Sensei in .Net Development, ActiveEngine, Business Processes, Coaching, Design Patterns, Mythology, Personal Development, Problem Solving, software economics.Tags: ActiveEngine, bad software, communication, Data Stewardship, new thinking, paradigm
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Recently I came across this post from a fellow lamenting the lack of interest on the part of .Net developers in architecture solutions such as IoC, Dependency Injection, ORMs, and the like. 
This stood out in stark contrast to Java developers who this person interviewed, who either were conversant with the technology or were interested enough to pursue informing themselves further. Some call this the result of Drag -n -Drop design as laid out in a post by Greg Young, a Microsoft MVP and .Net developer who has specialized in high performance applications. Greg maintains in his post Java vs. .Net Developers that drag and drop is mis applied and there needs to be an greater effort the isolate the cases where it is mis used. This practice has arisen, he maintains, from poor training and lack of awareness of other development platforms. (more…)
Faith – The Time is Now Again July 18, 2009
Posted by ActiveEngine Sensei in ActiveEngine, Coaching, Mythology, Personal Development.Tags: ActiveEngine Sensei, bad software, Bushido, Coaching, Ego, focus, humility, new thinking, paradigm, self improvement, survival
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Ceiling unlimited
World so wide
Turn and turn againFeeling unlimited
Still unsatisfied
Changes never endWinding like an ancient river
The time is now againHope is like an ancient river
The time is now againNeil Peart
Indulge, play the song, drink in the message and go hug your kids, embrace your family, be thankful for your friends, team members, co-workers.
There is so many new things on the horizon. For those of us who are lucky enough to practice this technical craft called programming, we can be stymied by all the possiblities, the arguments and skirmishes. These de-rail you. Build a fortress against the distractions and ignore your fear of change by embracing the challenge of good arguments. It’s all a chance for you to improve.
When you arrive at work think of what ways you can engage with others. Can you practice your techniques in a better way? Recite the Wolf Creedo and end an argument. Better yet, start a new one in jest and revel in the ideas. Bang out some code and fight for the day. What new things can you add to your team’s arsenal if you inspire someone else? Are you leading or are you a suit sitting in a chair? Would someone ask you for help or think that you’re too involved in your own head to deign to talk to them? Have you built an empire above you or below you? Is your legacy more important than what you have truly done?
Okay, so you’re code was awful – but did someone else still benefit? Was your code perfect but never used? Was your ego hurt yet your company still profitable, keeping families fed? Did your mistakes help others learn?
What matters is that you engage. Most times it will be painful. Developers need serenity to produce but I’m telling you man you’re lucky if you have it. Life is full of the distractions and once you conquer them, you’ll find greater strength and battle hardened capability. Work at it. Revel in it, share it. Be grateful and humble. Win and go home to the ones you love. Technology is great, but you as a friend, mother, father, co-worker, neighbor, dude in line at Starbucks or grandma at church are even greater.
Sensei’s Playlist – Pay the Rent with Rock! July 10, 2009
Posted by ActiveEngine Sensei in ActiveEngine, Coaching, Mythology, Personal Development.Tags: ActiveEngine, balance, Coaching, communication, concentration, Ego, focus, new thinking, paradigm, Problem Solving, survival
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You’ve asked for it – well you didn’t actually, BUT HERE IT IS ANYWAY!! Yeahhh! Music to pump you up. Rev your ActiveEngine to these tunes, babes, and get stuff done. Decisively. As in total victory.
There’s a new page to the site, Pay the Rent with Rock. Here is the music that get’s me through. It’s powered by Grooveshark. Post a comment with a suggestion if you like. If it cranks and you’re lucky, I’ll include it. Describe what scenario your song helps you pull things off, helps you get things done, cranks, whatever.
Here’s a sample:
This bloke to the left loves it!!
Brotherhood of the Wolf February 11, 2008
Posted by ActiveEngine Sensei in ActiveEngine, Business Processes, Coaching, Mythology, Problem Solving.Tags: ActiveEngine, On Boarding, Team Work
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The Wolf Credo:
Respect the elders
Teach the young
Cooperate with the pack
Play when you can
Hunt when you must
Rest in between
Share you affections
Voice your feelings
Leave your mark.Del Getz and Associates
It’s not enough to identify objectives, FTE’s and timetables. You have to focus your team like a unit. The wolf pack is natures most effective hunting unit, but in order to become that cohesive machine there are many activities that take place. “Respect your elders”, “Corporate with the pack”, “Teach the young” doesn’t sound like cut throat competition within the team. It also doesn’t really sound like SCRUM. The pack leader is there to silence the dissent that will destroy the pack. But the pack leader is the not only role.
The new team members are the future as all new projects will arise from their efforts. The leader has to discipline the team to enable the new team members to progress along the right path. Guarding territory can never conflict with getting new members ready for the hunt. The new team members will ask questions, voice opinions, bring new ideas to the group. Run with some of these ideas, as this will stretch the mind and team’s muscle. Modeling ideas, quick throw away code, all these things that the group can play with while including the new team members will unlock some doors that have been shut tight for a while. Things will get solved in new ways.
Each team member will evolve their ActiveEngine as their skills and ambitions grow. When it comes time to hunt, the pack will be ready.
Discipline is the Mind Liberator January 24, 2008
Posted by ActiveEngine Sensei in ActiveEngine, Coaching, Personal Development, Problem Solving.Tags: ActiveEngine, Ego, Liberation
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As a corollary to the post Ego is the Mind Killer, a practitioner of ActiveEngine principles will always seek the basics and routine to liberate the mind. Constraints are the best way to innovate, to turn the puzzle upside down, read the paragraph from end to beginning. Constraints force you to make a decision and take action, innovate further why attaining your goal.
Your skill built from years of hard work, trials of failure and above all the alacrity to achieve through struggle will shape your mind to solve problems more quickly. Having the discipline to face criticism when it comes head on tempers your talents like fine steal. Forgery of steel is violent, harsh, but what is born from pounding and fire endures.
Just because you solve something once, doesn’t mean you can not optimize later. Analysis paralysis delays validation of your skills. Fail early, regroup, then win. Maybe that doesn’t happen until the fifth time. Who cares – you’re on deadline so be assured you will be around to try again. When you deliver you actually get the freedom to experiment later on.
Ego Is The Mind Killer January 23, 2008
Posted by ActiveEngine Sensei in ActiveEngine, Coaching, Mythology, Problem Solving.Tags: ActiveEngine, Ego, taming your ego, training your mind
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Years ago when ActiveEngine Sensei attended Kenshu, he was struck by the fact that some of the most humble of the akidoka were the seniors. Every class the students were exposed to shi-doho style of teaching, when O-Sensei would select a technique, one from among thousands, and then select a student at random to demonstrate in front of the class. After demonstrating the technique, the other students would ask questions. Many times these questions forced you to realize how little you knew, while on other occasions the senior’s questions were merely a convention to tell you that you had made a mistake.
But this was not the most brutal part. After the question and answer session finished, O-Sensei would then deliver his critique, which could cover any foible, any weird movement, tone of voice that occurred in your delivery. This was difficult to hear. Some times a senior would be selected to demonstrate the most basic technique, then receive unending criticism.
But one senior explained to ActiveEngine Sensei, who was left discouraged and afraid after many stinging reviews, that this was the best gift you could get from the seniors and O-Sensei.
“What an opportunity. You have people who think enough of you to ask questions, point out errors and give things for you to work on. The harsh style is to train your ego, because your ego just gets in the way.”
Developers need to be shown things – they’re the “Show me guys”, but many fall into the “Show-me-no-don’t-show-me” syndrome where their egos cloud their thoughts. For those of you who want to get to the next level of performance and build your own ActiveEngine, check your ego barometer every now and then. This way you will open yourself to learning a lot more.
The Art of Letting Bad Things Happen January 10, 2008
Posted by ActiveEngine Sensei in ActiveEngine, Business Processes, Coaching.Tags: Descision Making, Strategy, Tactics
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Coders love to improve things and sometimes can’t understand why a company would want to enhance or replace a “bad” process. Here’s some advice on being impatient with lack of change: don’t be impatient with a lack of change. When you rail against process owners they’ll think you think their stupid; when you flail at convincing someone of their inept ways and how extensiblity will save them money, you’ll stutter, sound like a techie idiot, and will be ignored.
There are three levels to decision making that need to overcome. They are the intellectual level, the physical level, and the emotional level, and guess which one is the deciding factor? Emotional. And this level is the most difficult to overcome.
Programmers don’t understand this as their emotions play out in different ways where passion is derived from creating elegant code. But this prevents them from moving the decision makers appropiately. If you state your case and point to real samples of timing, defects, and impact to other dependencies you may have a chance of convincing someone to make the changes you want. Use English to explain yourself and your arguments, and forget all the buzzwords you read on the blogs. Nobody important who signs your check cares about that jargon.
They do care about money. If you lose the intellectual battle, submit you case, and be ready to step in when they’ve been hit with a huge bill. Nothing crystallizes thoughts more than “I just lost out on an opportunity and we could have saved money.” Be ready to move then. The situation is making the argument for you and you’ll have to do less work as your arguments, if expressed appropriately, be even clearer.
Add the Art of Letting Bad Things Happen to your ActiveEngine toolkit. This new found patience will win you more in the long run.
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