Martin Fowler

How do you work through feeling overwhelmed with projects, both at work and at home? My project list is never ending. I have multiple major work areas, a house with a sheet of improvement projects that keeps growing, half a dozen trips planned into next year, and a wife and two daughters with lists of their own. It's easy to not know where to start or what to do next. And then before you know it you've burned an entire day playing sudoku. Many years ago I learned the art of Getting Things Done. I even wrote an article on it for USENIX Association's ;login: Magazine just as the world came screeching to a halt in early 2020, and talked about it on The Hedge Podcast (episode 88). There is a lot of structure to GTD, but I can boil it down to having a trusted list of all the next actions I need to do. One that is reviewed regularly and captures thoughts as I have them. All of it - work, home, family - gets treated the same way in one place. I've been out of practice and I've recently rekindled my system. This is one of the ways I'm addressing feeling adrift. I can always find something to do that will move me forwards, as well as give me that dopamine hit of crossing a task off my list. And if I'm avoiding one it's probably because I didn't break the next action down to a small enough chunk. The most important part of practicing GTD (and other organizational systems) is that it clears my head. The human brain isn't really great at maintaining lists. The only real method it has for doing this is to constantly go over the list, which keeps the pathways in the brain fresh. That takes mental capacity, whether you realize it or not, and it adds to your stress. Plus, half the time you don't even have the list in mind or complete when it needs to be. You think about the dead batteries in the flashlight when the power goes out at home, not when you're standing in Home Depot wondering what else you need to get.

22

1 Comment

Just read an excellent article that demystifies embeddings in a refreshingly approachable way! 📖 It not only simplifies the concept but also provides a solid mental model for understanding how embeddings work. Highly recommend this quick read to anyone interested in AI and natural language processing. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gRT_sCMX #AI #MachineLearning #Embeddings #NLP

11

What questions should companies be asking when evaluating software consultants? Ask about recent engagements and ongoing maintenance with clients. If they mention a lot of maintenance work, it’s likely a sign of poor documentation and code quality. They’ve created dependencies requiring constant human management, rather than a well-documented, self-sustaining system. Red flag. Also ask: How was your last conflict with a client resolved? This is crucial. A collaborative answer is a good sign they'll be a great partner. A combative answer might suggest otherwise. As a consultant, you can only see part of the bigger picture. Clients sometimes make decisions that seem odd, but they have more information than you do. Good consultants will give a response that demonstrates an empathic approach and willingness to learn, not just a technical explanation. If you hear “Our client wanted to do this. But it was a bad idea because…” RUN Consultants who think they're smarter than their clients often push their own agenda and fail to deliver the results you're looking for. And before you go interviewing consultants, here are some questions to ask yourself: 1) Do I want a solution or do I want labor? Know whether you're looking for a complete, tailored solution or just additional manpower for your team. 2) What's more important: price or getting it done right the first time? Really consider whether price is your top priority, or if quality and time matter more. Most of the time, low-cost solutions almost always end up costing more time and often money in the long run too.

6

Wrote a new blog post. 👇🏼 Here are 4 reasons why you should build your next app using low-code tools. https://lnkd.in/gJcf-Wfn After reading, share it with your friends and colleagues.

2

This is such an insightful post, and it really reflects something I keep thinking. The world of engineering today has reverted to what it was before the insanity of 0% interest rates. This is the world I grew up in as an engineer and leader. This world isn't too bad if you know how to operate in it. Rebecca's post has some good pointers.

5