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