| My friends and colleagues often ask me how I | | | | not just what I do on the computer, but also |
| am able to produce so much in so little time. | | | | how I work in general. More importantly, I |
| Although I am flattered by such compliments, | | | | do not fear technology and am always looking |
| it's really not much of a secret which I | | | | for new ways for it to assist me. Make no |
| attribute to the following areas (in no | | | | mistake though, I have been burned on more |
| particular order): | | | | than one occasion by new technology, |
| | | | particularly in the use of beta-releases. |
| * A strong sense of organization and | | | | Consequently, I am less likely to migrate to |
| prioritization which has been ingrained in me | | | | something new until it has proven itself as a |
| over the years during my professional | | | | viable alternative. In other words, I have |
| development. Basically, I had good mentors | | | | to trust the technology before I make it a |
| who taught me what was right and what was | | | | normal part of my operations. |
| wrong, what was important and what was not, | | | | |
| and how to best spend my time and how to | | | | * Avoiding complicated solutions. I tend to |
| avoid wasting it. This includes being | | | | believe the best solutions are simple ones. |
| sensitive to schedules and commitments, | | | | Some people have the curious habit of making |
| particularly those of customers. Call me | | | | life more complicated than what is really |
| old-fashioned, but I still believe that a | | | | necessary. As for me, I have always sought |
| person's word should be his bond. My company | | | | pragmatic solutions as opposed to wallowing |
| has now been in business for 37 years and in | | | | in technical detail. True, there may be |
| all of that time we have never failed to meet | | | | situations where there are many elements to |
| a customer commitment. This is something I | | | | be addressed by a single problem. In this |
| am particularly proud of. | | | | event, controls have to be enacted to manage |
| | | | complexity. But in all my years in this |
| * Training and experience. Although I have | | | | industry, I have never encountered a |
| a college degree, I recognize I am far from | | | | technical problem that couldn't be conquered |
| being perfect, and smart enough to learn from | | | | with a little imagination, some concentrated |
| my mistakes as well as others. I network, I | | | | effort, and a lot of good old-fashioned |
| listen, I learn. And I believe we're never | | | | management. |
| too old to learn a new trick. As such, I am | | | | |
| a firm believer in continuous improvement and | | | | * Caring about what you produce; which I |
| set aside time to stay abreast of industry | | | | consider to be of paramount importance. If |
| developments. I guess what I'm saying is | | | | you do not have the determination or |
| that you have to exert yourself and exercise | | | | dedication to see something through to its |
| some intellectual curiosity as opposed to | | | | successful completion, no amount of |
| sitting like a vegetable and hoping someone | | | | technology will expedite the assignment. To |
| will spoonfeed you. They won't. | | | | me, your work is a reflection of your |
| | | | character and how you will be judged by |
| * Use of standard and reusable | | | | others. Interestingly, some people do not |
| methodologies. I recognize the value of | | | | make this connection and put forth little |
| uniformity and standardization in work effort | | | | effort. Caring about your work makes you |
| and understand its impact on productivity. I | | | | more resourceful than others as you are |
| am also not a big believer in reinventing the | | | | concerned with doing whatever is necessary to |
| wheel with each project. If something has | | | | get the job done. Ultimately, your work is a |
| been tried and proven, I will use it | | | | reflection of your value system which will |
| unabashedly, regardless if it is old or out | | | | become obvious to your coworkers and your |
| of fashion. I am more interested in results. | | | | boss. |
| This also means I am a student of history in | | | | |
| my field and have noted successes as well as | | | | Bottom-line, my productivity is based on my |
| failures. | | | | sense of organization and discipline I |
| | | | learned at home, in school and in the |
| * Competency in the use of technology. I am | | | | workplace. Fortunately, I believe I had some |
| sure my early indoctrination in computing has | | | | very good teachers along the way. The one |
| materially assisted me in my work effort over | | | | thing I have learned is that you make money |
| the years. One thing technology taught me in | | | | when you are organized and waste money when |
| particular was the concept of multitasking; | | | | you aren't. |