Thought Sparks

Category Archives: perspective

Time to Tighten Our Belts

Posted by Phil on September 16, 2008 – 6:01 am

Filed under Just for Fun, Philosophy, economics, perspective

The market correction for the over indulgence of our country is finally catching-up with us and it’s going to smack a good bit for a while. We have been living on borrowed time with a false sense of prosperity for too long. Time to pay the piper and it is going to cost us big time.

No doubt things look grim. Our banking system is in virtual free fall and our international environment looks grim with Russia back on the scene as our enemy of old taking aggressive steps; building a base in Syria and parking nuclear bombers in Argentina. We will most likely vote a young man who is ill-prepared with the least experience in the history of the country to be president. The American people will continue to point fingers at our Government to blame them for the excess. All total, it looks like we are in for a big piece of humble pie.

In this time of political upheaval, we want to blame the present administration. In truth, we should blame ourselves. Our problems run deep and long dating back to Roosevelt’s New Deal when the government got in the business of trying to rescue the economy. In the course of less than a hundred years we have lost our way.

What does one do about it? Personally, what steps to take?

The first step I’m taking is to get quiet and listen for the truth among all the rhetoric. Try to listen for the voice of reason through the flurry of reports. This is a good time to also get quiet before God and ask Him for wisdom and discernment as to how we should live through some impending difficult times.

The second step I’m taking is to tighten my belt a bit. I’m beginning to discuss with my family the difference between a want and a need and make some spending choices accordingly. The recent hurricane events in Texas certainly help to give a visual reminder of our necessities. The basics such as food, shelter, healthcare, transportation and communication enable us to function as individuals and society at large. We are not the self-contained units we would like to be.

The third step I’m taking is to evaluate my current situation. Are there ways to simplify my lifestyle? What built-in expenses are there that I can alter to reduce our overall financial liability? In my case, for the most part, the answer is to hold steady. Don’t make any sudden changes. We are not hemorraging in any major area, so don’t do anything stupid. Make decisions very slowly and thoughtfully. Put-off major purchases until we see the backside of these turn of events (if we see them anytime soon).

The fourth step I’m taking is to look for opportunity in an economic down turn. Opportunity to prosper with the right investments and opportunity to serve people in need. Each season presents unique challenges and makes available possibilities that won’t present themselves again. The coming economic freefall opens-up the need we have for each other.

It’s going to get worse before it gets better, that we know for sure. How we approach these circumstances will make all the difference. Do we shake in our boots or do we boldly move forward seizing the opporunities before us to turn away from our selfishness and find a new level of caring and interaction with our neighbors. I just pray that any hardships that come would bring-out the best in us.

Flexible and Relevant

Posted by Phil on August 27, 2008 – 4:09 am

Filed under Philosophy, Productivity, perspective

I must be a glutten for punishment. I’ve always said that most techies are closet masochists. In truth though, I love the chase, the challenge of the learning curve. It seems that every six months or so I climb yet another hill with every project requiring skills that I don’t presently posses.

Four months into an intranet implementation with Microsoft SharePoint it’s nice to be moving up the hill a bit further. Fairly new to .Net, I’ve been configuring the site and leading the team project. Next month we start the launch in phases over the course of the Fall. The requirements are steep and development will be ongoing. I’m sure, just about the time I get comfortable and accomplished in SharePoint development another major initiative will come along, just to keep me on my toes.

Sometimes I wish for more ruts in my life, but honestly if I got my wish I’d go mad. Being a glutton for punishment and constantly in learning mode has certainly been an asset. As a successful professional techie I see some key traits that have served me well. I also recognize these traits in others that I’ve worked with over the years:

Stay flexible and don’t personalize technology. I know Apple has made a mint by personalizing technology. That’s all fine and good when it comes to your iPod or Mac book, but getting personal with technology, expressing a strong bias will limit the possibilities. In truth, the major development platforms, languages, methodologies all have their merits or they wouldn’t have stuck around.
Stay on the learning curve to keep relevant. Technology is in a constant state of change, well no duh. Staying technically relevant therefore dictates maintaining a constant state of learning. If "research or die" is the mantra of the college professor, "learn or die" would be for the techie. Speaking of technologies state of change, watch "Kevin Kelly on the next 5,000 days of the web" on Ted.com. It will blow your mind or make you wanna crawl-up into the fetal position.
Say yes as much as possible, but follow-through. Being known as a go-for-it guy can be quite dangerous, but it also presents opportunities. Being honest and not over committing is essential. When beginning this intranet implementation project, I was asked what it would take to effectively launch the site. I said six months to get a good start. The higher-ups said, "let’s do it in three." That’s all fine and good, but as I indicated it will take six months to fully launch the project, and so it will.
Know your limits and then push past them. The curve always posses challenges that are beyond my existing skill set. Honesty enables one to assess the required learning curve to climb the next hill. There is such a thing as getting-in so far over ones head that the project implodes. Not a good thing.
Don’t under-rate yourself. If you have been working aggressively in technology for any length of time you are probably worth more than you are getting paid. Being on a constant learning curve helps to keep ones feet on the ground, but it can also strike at your ego. You are likely more gifted and bring to the table more resources than you realize.
Serve people not technology. What’s the point if it doesn’t positively affect people. Keeping your eye on the end-user will also drive your relevancy as their needs constantly change. It’s easy to get caught-up in pet projects and lose sight of pressing needs.
Win as many hits as possible. In a large project, sometimes I hit barriers in the curve that are more difficult than I anticipated. So, keep moving and knocking-out items while I keep hammering at the biggies along the way.
Be a life-long learner. Taking classes, attending conferences, joining user groups, building your network, reading industry sites and magazines should be a given.
Just when you got it figured-out, the rules will change. Comforting I know, but such is life.

Change happens. In the words of Paul Simon, "What are you going to do about it? that’s what I’d like to know." What do you do to stay current?

I Don’t Work for a Living

Posted by Phil on September 26, 2007 – 11:05 pm

Filed under Just for Fun, Philosophy, perspective

Do you work for a living? You know it can kill you don’t you? Maybe quitting is a good idea. Stress is a major killer in its many forms and a job is a sure fire way to end your life early.

As for me, yeah I have a long-term arrangement with a company to show-up everyday and go about doing cool projects that they need done. In the end, I play with technology, learn new stuff, put it into practice and the company benefits from the process. It’s a win/win deal and as long as it is so, I’ll show-up and keep experimenting. At the moment I prefer no other road.

Now the income thing, it has its merits and I need to pull in some income in one way or another. My wife and kiddos certainly appreciate the fact that I do so on a regular basis. But living is so much more than making a buck. I could certainly make more money shifting my efforts away from blogging. Compared to what I can make as a freelance developer, blogging pays peanuts and that’s if I do a bang-up job of publishing the site. No, I don’t do it for the money.

I often tell my girls, "find something you love to do, become good at it, people will pay you to do it and you’ll never work another day in your life." You’ve probably heard it before, but I think it’s a good reminder and plumb-line to evaluate ones life. How close is that description to your life?

I’ve certainly had some jobs that were a less than perfect fit. It’s been a learning process that brought me to this point. The overall equilibrium I sense during this season is nice, but I don’t count on it remaining indefinitely. Who knows, I may be in major re-evaluation mode at any moment. The touchstone for me is to pursue the passions in my life. I just don’t have much patience for spinning my wheels doing trivial tasks that offer little avenue for growth.

So I’m thinking through the things I enjoy doing. Some have a revenue producing stream, some less so. Stuff I like to do includes; writing, playing the guitar, gardening, coding sites, designing sites, reading, researching, biking, playing with my kids, spending time with my wife, hanging-out with friends, chatting online, being a part of a church, traveling. It’s all good and important stuff in my life and it all has its place. It’s part of what makes me uniquely myself.

Many of these mentioned are possible careers. The web developer mode seems to be working well for me at the moment. I’ve been a landscaper, don’t want to repeat that. Used to aspire to be a musician, amateur status is fine by me. I’ve worked as a gourmet chef, no thanks. I was at one time a youth pastor, not the right fit in this stage of the game. Writer, researcher, yeah those kind of fold into my current gig with coding and design. Being a webmaster is an all encompassing position. I do a number of diverse things with the main theme of finding solutions. That is a central core to my passion, I love to solve problems. It keeps me up at night and gets me up in the morning. The greater the hurdle, the more stoked I am when I get over it.

I’d love to hear what you do and how it fits your passions. I believe learning from the stories of other people gives insight back into one’s own life. What do you love to do? How much of your job is wrapped-up in those passions?

Our Rhythmic Lives in Concert

Posted by Phil on July 31, 2007 – 11:29 pm

Filed under Just for Fun, perspective

The tide is high in my mind this night as I stop to ponder the rhythms of life. Why does there exist such struggle between people? Do language, culture, beliefs or values create clashes or is it something more natural, more organic that generates friction? When you talk am I listening? Are we on the same wavelength? Is that manner of speaking metaphor or a literal variance in waves of thought?

Answers without questions. Questions with no audience. Being alone when in close proximity to a dozen people. Who understands? Who keeps in time with the pace I run? Why the disconnect in communication?

Ah, yes, written word. How splendid, how sublime to write in frenzy, to articulate the cascading thoughts to be sorted and straightened in methodical manner for others to receive. How much clearer the voice filtered by time, testing and revisited before the premiere of another post, this one slowed by the very nature of delivery in written form to the reader.

Have you ever found yourself in a conversation that seemed as if two radios blaring at each other with no audio input device? Strife in the work place, contention in the home, sparks between neighbors. We all face it in some form or fashion. How human, how profane this act of communication, this means for relation. Are we so advanced that we can write with eloquence our lofty thoughts yet stumble and muddle through the day with those by our side? Are we functionally blind, deaf and dumb in our ability to relate? Or do we run at a different rhythm and pace, on different strokes of time?

Perhaps there is a language of time we have yet to learn. Do we know our own rhythm and recognize our syncopated movements with others of kindred spirit? If we listen closely, does the sounds in our home, the conversations at work not resound with the rhythms of life? Are these not songs of laughter and ovations of a job well done?

What then becomes of our lives, day-to-day, as we run ever nearing to its conclusion? Did we learn the new language, hear the new rhymes, accents and inflections of this concerto of life? Or do we drone along and cover our ears when we hear some dissonance between singers, people voicing their part? Little may be perceived but the banter of souls wrestling with trivial thoughts. For those who hear the song of the heart and the vocals of the living, let’s learn, let’s listen and join the anthem.

Wall of Adversity

Posted by Phil on July 26, 2007 – 7:08 am

Filed under Just for Fun, perspective

Have you ever travelled along a path in life, come around the bend and were faced with something that looked like this canyon wall? Maybe it was a physical ailment, an emotional pain, a financial hardship or loss of a friend. Or perhaps it was a combination of elements that together created the perfect storm in your life.

Just as I was wrapping-up my third decade of life on this rock, I came into my personal perfect storm. In the course of a few short years my father passed away, we lost three children to miscarriage, went through some physical suffering, experienced a rocky road in my job oversees returning early, transitioned professionally, moved into a new ring of social relationships and spiritual community, and relocated our family. It took a number of years to work through all these challenges and get our feet back on the ground.

Approaching a decade later I now appreciate more than ever what I learned and how that experienced shaped my life. Through it all I found shelter and strength in God. I am thankful that He protected me from growing cynical as some of the darts that came my way were from people that bear His name. People are people and they can do really goofy stuff, myself included. It’s easy to transfer flawed character of humans onto God when in fact, the opposite should be true. Life in Him should mean His character working in us.

So I’ve emerged through this decade, approaching 40 and excited about what’s to come. In many ways I feel much younger than I did at 32 and much more at peace in my life as I move towards the future. The challenges loom large. It’s not going to be an easy climb, but oh the view from the top is going to be amazing. And what’s on the other side? I don’t know, but I can’t wait to find out.

Ten Reasons I’ll Read Your Blog

Posted by Phil on June 19, 2007 – 6:53 am

Filed under Blog Tip, Productivity, Web and Tech Helps, Writing, perspective

Your blog is written with a professional and creative tone. Becoming an excellent communicator takes time. No matter where you are starting from, you can improve and develop your voice. I am pleasantly surprised by my twelve year-old’s blog Gloriana’s Book Blog. Call me biased, but for her age I find her short posts entertaining and informative.
The posts are not riddled with coarse, profane and negative words. Writing that is pilfered with these qualities are like the overuse of the exclamation point. Quite often writers will employ these methods instead of using more thoughtful concepts to get their point across.
You pride yourself in your work enough to re-read for grammatical and spelling errors. Spell check anyone? A spelling or grammatical error on occasion is understandable. If it is indicative of your work however, do yourself the favor of re-reading and checking your work. If it’s worth writing, it’s worth proofing.
You are passionate about what you are writing. It is obvious when someone feels deeply about what they communicate. I learn much from people with different perspectives when they present them wholeheartedly.
The intrinsic motivation for the blog is not a get-rich-quick scheme. There are many more profitable and easier ways to make a buck.
The content is an original and/or unique collection of information. Developing or adding to interesting online content has real value. If your blog is only a collection of the latest YouTube videos, I think I’ll just go there myself thanks.
You have categorized your content into topic areas for easy reference. Content broken into categories gives me themes to follow in your blog. I may be more interested in one than another. Serve-up content that I can quickly digest according to my interest and you’ll get me hooked.
Reading your blog adds something of value to my personal or professional life. When you write for the reader, you are giving them a gift that has real worth. If that’s your blog, I’ll be back for sure.
You interact with other bloggers with thoughtful comments. Thoughtful comments suggest that you are interested in engaging about your topics. Comments are the heart and soul of the blog. It is the comments of you, the reader that makes my blog so interesting to me. I enjoy the fact that there are 64 posts and 151 comments at this posting. Thank you friends for making this a rich experience.
You are an honest soul. Writing is a very vulnerable and revealing expression of you and what you value. If you are true to your voice it is obvious and endearing. Everyone has something of value to contribute. Go for the gold.

Like Fine Wine

Posted by Phil on June 15, 2007 – 6:55 am

Filed under Just for Fun, Philosophy, Ponderings, perspective

A life well lived, which I hope mine continues to be, is like a bottle of fine wine. It really does get better with age.

Yesterday, I sat down and updated my resume and posted it to Portfolio. It’s something I try to do every year or so as I figure it’s just a good idea. It took me less time to revise even though I had more to pack-in on two pages. It should be that way. As we move through life and pick-up experience we grow our skills and experience.

I’ve picked-up or improved on other skills as of late. My guitar picking has improved, I’m learning how to garden and am finding more enjoyment in written communication.

Age also brings perspective. I move a little slower than I used to, am a little more thoughtful and less impulsive and I think a little more compassionate and patient with people.

I do find that my strengths and weaknesses seem to be more pronounced. I am more engaged in creative work but loath redundancy and routine. I’m fighting against the mid-life muck that some call a crisis. I see life as too short to stand by and ride through like a cog caught in a system. I want to live until I die, to the very end.

Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity says essentially that time is elastic. I believe it. It’s true in the cosmos, but I believe it’s real in our lives as well. I spent a decade of my life one year living in the middle east. I spent a day of my life this past month working at my job. The Bible says that a thousand years is like a day to God.

The most amazing thing for me in living is spending my life getting to know the One who created me. This God who created the universe 14 billion years ago, that set in motion a continual expansion of the galaxies, is beyond comprehension.

When it’s all said and done and my time here on earth is through, I’m going to look back on my life and what is written in my resume will turn to dust. What’s written in the hearts of my children and the people I touch will live on well beyond my years. That’s what living is to me.

The One Degree of Difference

Posted by Phil on April 9, 2007 – 9:19 pm

Filed under Critical Thinking, Productivity, perspective

There is a difference between good and shoddy work. It’s a one degree difference. One definition of perfect is: "excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement." Being perfect, complete in ones projects sometimes is the difference of a few minutes well spent.

Did you take out a piece of paper and think through the project?
Did you anticipate the pitfalls and identify the solutions?
Did you take a break after the initial rough-draft of the project and reflect on the process?
Did you have someone review for errors? Spelling, grammatical, graphical, linkage?
Did you review the project as well looking for both errors and points of improvement?
Did you come away from the project with a sense of satisfaction that you did your best?

These are really simple suggestions, but doing your best is not neglecting the mundane elements of a project.

Today, I took a different look at the tasks and projects on my plate. I considered how to reconnect the dots between like projects for development that would accomplish multiple tasks: One set of code for multiple HTML Email, one Flash kiosk concept for multiple presentations, one reporting mechanism for multiple statistical reports, one code revision for multiple applications on the web. Efficient work gives me time to do a more effective job with strategic goals in mind. In the end, I will produce better work in less time because I thought through how to reuse code and design. It is the little things that make the difference.