Engineer2Entrepreneur

Political Calculations: The Carnival of the Capitalists

Link: Political Calculations: The Carnival of the Capitalists.

CotC has a neat new dynamic format this week which I rather like.
Check out some really good posts like Steve Pavlina, Dan Melson, Bev Landfair, David Foster, and David St. Lawrence.

Seth's Blog: Advice for authors

Link: Seth's Blog: Advice for authors.

To think about. The hardest thing in the world is building a list. A blog helps but it takes time, a very big issue in itself. It is like networking, if you need it it is too late to start one.

The Business of Software - What Are Developers Looking For in a Job?

Link: The Business of Software - What Are Developers Looking For in a Job?.

We are a great company to work for but we want te be even better, the top choice for top developers. We want to know: What are developers looking for in a job?

Before answering though, some ground rules please:

#1 - Do not say you need a top salary. We don't have the money and quite frankly you're not worth it any way because, well, you are a developer and that is menial labor.

#2 - Do not say you need a private office with a door that closes. We value TEAMWORK and MANAGEMENT here. If your immediate supervisor can't see you at all times, then how will he know if you are working?

#3 - Do not say you require a training or book budget. We are looking for PROFESSIONALS who know their field and not students and amateurs who require books and additional training just to do the job we hired for.

#4 - Do not say you want 9-5, weekends off, flex time, and/or more than 1 week vacation. This job requires DEDICATION and COMMITMENT, which lazy people who want short work hours don't seem to understand. It's time to pull togetehr to get the task done at crunch time and we have so many clients that crunch time is everyday, something a TRUE PROFFESSIONAL understands.

So tell me seriously so that we can get those top notch people we keep hearing about: What are developers looking for in a job?

And they wonder why good help is so hard to find...

I keep getting advice along the lines of fine a good company to work for and then go after them. Even though this post was in jest, the problem is that all the companies that I have investigated seem to have these underlying suppositions.

#1 You are a cog, easily replaced when you burn out, which we acknowledge you will, so we'll set up the job so you can be.

#2 You don't need to actually get things done, you just need to look like you are, but if you don't get done the things we didn't tell you to get done, you're fired.

#3 You are hired because you are omniscient and are fully qualified to do any job whatsoever, and are full versed in the most arcane and bleeding edge technologies that exist so when the Boss reads about it in the latest issue of his favorite money magazine we can change everything over to it right away without any lose of productivity.

#4 You don't have a life outside work, you are not even as valuable as a slave, since property can be depreciated on the books but we can just outsource you if you get too uppity.

I wonder if I might do better in a startup or small business that would care about things other then these?

[print version] Driven to distraction by technology | CNET News.com

Link: [print version] Driven to distraction by technology | CNET News.com.

"Technology has kind of turned the tables on us," Honore said. "We move to its speed and its rhythm."

And in addition to sapping our creativity, some studies suggest that we may not even be getting anywhere by trying to send an e-mail, talk to a co-worker and send instant messages to our boss at the same time. Russell says humans just aren't that good at doing many things at once.

The problem, Russell said, is that there are only certain types of tasks that humans are good at doing simultaneously. Cooking and talking on the phone go together fine, as does walking and chewing gum (for most people). But try and do three math problems at once, and you are sure to have a problem.

"The paradox of modern life is that multitasking is, in most cases, counterproductive," Russell said.

Sadly this is not new. This was pointed out in PeopleWare and Mythical Man-month 20 years ago. 3 minute interruptions are a bit faster then back then but it is still the same problem. More interrupts then thinking time.

While he says 8 minutes i the time to get into creative state, that is pretty close to the Flow measurement of 15 minutes so that is close enough and that is how long it takes just to get started thinking. So a 5 second question you can look up will lose 8+ minutes of someone else's productivity.

People who don't study history are doomed to repeat it.

Harry Potter is this generations Star Wars

We have just finished Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. My wife was shaking through the climax of this book, and there are news reports that it has had a strong effect on children everywhere.

J.K. Rowlings has created a phenomenon in Harry Potter, in many respects it is very similar to what Star Wars was like when I was a kid. I was the perfect age when Star Wars came out, 10. While I am much older many of the same feelings have come up in reading Harry Potter.

I fully expect Harry Potter to be around in 30 years. It is a classic like few others. I would not be surprised if Rowlings will be up there with Shakespeare in 100 years. It is so incredible to be a witness to history like this.

She writes about strong archetypes, with clear good guys and bad guys. A smart villain and a resourceful hero. Even great role models for girls.

This is a touchstone books series for this generation and it is going to be a bigger effect then she ever could have imagined.

Besides any writer who can write a good sight gag is a really good writer in my book. She has also captured some of the feeling of running a business in Fred and George, though they are more successful then average.

The last book should be a blast. I can't wait.

MacDevCenter.com: What Is Preview? (and Why You Should Use It)

Link: MacDevCenter.com: What Is Preview? (and Why You Should Use It).

I am saving this for myself as a reminder. The power underlying OSX is remarkable, but somehow Apple doesn't want to shout it from the rooftops.

iPod Garage : iPod, iTunes, and Music : News, Commentary, and Reviews : Switch to the iPod Garage - The iPod video rumors

Link: iPod Garage : iPod, iTunes, and Music : News, Commentary, and Reviews : Switch to the iPod Garage - The iPod video rumors.

My latest take on the iPod rumor scene.

Answers to Interview Questions

Link: Answers to Interview Questions.

This is a really funny post. The answers you really want to give to all those inane interview questions that have no bearing on anything. I have actually thought the one from the "5 years" question, which is rather funny since corporate life-spans are only 14.7 years.

HBS Working Knowledge: Entrepreneurship: The $16 Billion Opportunity in%u2014Tchotchkes?

Link: HBS Working Knowledge: Entrepreneurship: The $16 Billion Opportunity in%u2014Tchotchkes?.

Tchotchkes. So that's how they spell it?

Very interesting. Could be useful in the near future.

The Club For Growth - The Club for Growth Blog: Carnival of the Capitalist -- July 18, 2005

Link: The Club For Growth - The Club for Growth Blog: Carnival of the Capitalist -- July 18, 2005.

More to learn everyday.