It has been too long since I was doing this. I used to blog privately on a regular basis. It is a bit scary to think that I am going to try to do this on a regular basis again and put what is top of mind out there. So, right now I am working on a few different things at work and also getting ready for some time off. I suppose I will document some of what is going on here.
Work based stuff.
So, this week is really short. I am only working Monday/Tuesday. My biggest things this week are related to working out some contracts. Specifically looking at our Google contract and looking to understand the best options to roll our google workspace into the new licensing. I am working on the options for that and completing the review with my Database team about the go-forward plan with our hardware options for Oracle.
Other than that, I am working on some self-study on differences between GCP and AWS. I also plan to listen to Brene Brown’s podcast with Donald Sull and Charlie Sull around how toxic work cultures are driving the great resignation. Since I am taking a car trip, I need something to listen to, and between that and a few Sinek podcasts, I have enough to keep me busy both directions. Regardless, the article that started this podcast can be found here: https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/toxic-culture-is-driving-the-great-resignation/
I think that there are definitely truth here. Also, I found it striking that many of the companies thought to be on the edge of innovation like SpaceX and Tesla have much higher rates. I would also guess that from what I know about companies like Amazon and I certainly know that Nike is having some of the same issues. As someone that spent alot of time in large companies and government agencies, I can tell you that they don’t often treat their workers as well, because they often sell the company as a higher entity. I know for a fact at Nike we viewed the Brand as so critical, that we were all bought in. From what I hear from my friends still there, the place has drastically changed in just two years, where the treatment of employees hasn’t gotten better, but the brand has also lost a lot of identity and purpose.
But, I also think that this is a failure of middle management to a degree. The last 6 months teaches me a few things, and one of them was how much I can buffer the folks that work on the teams I serve. There is lots of uncertainty at higher levels as everyone is making decisions with less data, and sometimes it is our job to protect people from that uncertainty. I am not sure if this is normal or not outside of technology, but engineers specifically don’t deal well in my experience with ambiguity. It is fundamental that we need to look at people as though they are teams we are serving, and it is our job to put their mental well being and welfare first while balancing the needs of company objectives.
I think that there are micro organizations in each org, and that each leader has the opportunity to create the atmosphere for their areas, it doesn’t matter if you run a large team or a small one. They choose to make it what it is for their folks. I am pretty proud of what I am doing these days with creating a place where people are safe to speak their minds and can hopefully do their best work. I continue to strive for it, but really focus to try to make sure they have a good set of ideas of what to accomplish and that those accomplishments will lead them to success.
Lets talk about outside of work.
I have been trying out new hobbies, including the Gym and buying a video game system. I decided on the Nintendo Switch for a few reasons. It is portable, and has a ton of games. The OLED version makes me think that a new version is at least a year away, but you never know. Lastly, it has Zelda, which until Ocarina of time was the only video game I played the title series and beat them all. I fondly remember the first legend of Zelda with the gold cartridge on the old NES. It was the first game that didn’t have a whole order, and we eventually had a guide from Nintendo Power to show us the parts we missed (even though we beat the game).
I fondly remember these games, not just Zelda but final fantasy as well. Of course, no Nintendo purchase would be complete without some type of Mario purchase. Plus I bought during Mario days, so I got a $20 discount on a game. So I settled on the ever popular MarioKart 8. They are both great and will be wonderful time sucks. I have heard that the Zelda version takes at least 50 hours to leisurely go after, and can be over 120 hours of total content if you are a completionist (I am).
Beyond that, I am going to Chinook Winds to do some betting on March Madness. Looking really forward to spending some time with friends and also watching some basketball. I heard that they have re-opened their poker room, and although that sounds fun, I am also worried because it has been at least a year or more since I played live poker in a casino setting. That itself isn’t a big worry, I don’t think that I am going to start shaking or have big problems with tells. I am more just worried that I won’t be able to think the same ways as normal and it is clear I won’t be as sharp.
Regardless, plan to document how it all goes here, and I plan to write more as things come about.
-James