Ever since I started in this industry, I’ve noticed that software developers have a curious aversion to criticism of their work product. On an emotional and creative level, I understand why this is so. But on a logical, business-minded level, this kind of personalization makes no sense. Case in point: …
Christopher Hawkins
Did you ever consider quitting the computer industry when things were at their bleakest? I definitely considered it after being laid off last year. A friend of mine was (and still is) making money hand over fist with his commercial debt collection business, and he offered me a job (I…
During a conversation with a colleague yesterday, the subject of managers that do more harm than good came up (imagine that). We each had our war stories of organizations that appeared to survive by economies of scale alone, as their actual operations were so crippled by internal politics and poor…
In his latest Business of Software column, Eric Sink focuses on what he calls Micro-ISVs – software companies comprised of one person. In the article, he urges one-person companies to not use the term “we” self-referentially in their marketing materials; rather, small companies should own up to the fact that…
Sometimes, to get the job done, you have to say “no.” That’s exactly what Microsoft developers did with regard to the schedule for Longhorn, the next generation of the Windows operating system. The product’s feature set was recently cut back in order to bring it to market on time. This…
This one is for all the businesses that need to hire out for some software development work but don’t have the necessary experience to reliably choose a winner. So you have a software project in mind, and you are trying to choose the right developer to take on your project…
As I work in this industry on a daily basis, I come into contact with more and more people who write software in one fashion or another. Some are hobbyists, some are small business owners trying to be more productive, and some are professionals who get paid to write code…
Pop quiz, hotshot – you have a task of known importance in hand. You have an interruption (phone call, eMail, fax, someone hovering in your doorway) ofunknown importance coming in. What do you do? If you’re truly interested in being effective, you turn off your ringer, close your office door, and…
Jim Rohn, quoted from this week’s Gitomer newsletter: When asked, “How do you develop an above average income…” a friend of mine has always answered, “Simple. Become an above average person. Work on you.” My friend says, “Develop an above average handshake.” He says, “A lot of people want to be…
Best blog entry ever? It is possible. This morning’s edition of David Gristwood’s blog boasts an absolute gem entitled 21 Rules of Thumb – How Microsoft Develops its Software. The item, originally written by Jim McCarthy, deals with how to get a team to gel, be productive, and produce great software. To be…