I listened to the Seth Godin video, called This is broken three times in a row today. I found it to be so true, and so thought provoking I actually used the link as a tagline for an instant messaging application that I use at work.
I am a big fan of Mr. Godin, his work is something that makes me think differently and gives me insights into things that I might not see if someone else did not shine a light on it.
In the talk, Mr. Godin points out 7 kinds of broken (broken things appeal to my QA/Software Testing hat)....
1. Not my job
2. Selfish jerks
3. The world changed
4. I didn't know
5. I'm not a fish
6. Contradictions
7. Broken on purpose
I find I can apply all of these to what I see daily in my career as a software tester...
I challenge you to watch and listen to this video on TED and not come up with some ways you can relate what you have seen in your testing career.
Oh... and I challenge you not to find humor in all of it...
Followers
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
An Ordinary Pocket Knife...
I had a conversation with a co-worker the other day that went something like this…
She said, “We should be able to do that with all the new technology available.”
My reply, “It is not the tools that matter; but it is the hands that hold them.”
I proceeded to talk to her about an ordinary pocket knife. In one person's hands, it is a simple tool they use to cut things with. In another person's hands, it produces works of art. Check out these Civil War Soldiers, carved "mostly with a pocket knife".
While doing some research on whittling, I found that the majority of the folks who do it, do it because they simply love it. They have a passion for doing it. Like Lawrence Spinak who notes on his site, "I whittle for fun, not for money. I don't sell any of my works, nor do I work on commission. Please don't ask." Be sure to check out some of his stuff by clicking on the My Work button. They are amazing peices of art.
I also found whittler0507's channel on You Tube. This fellow has oodles of videos where he shares his knowledge about how to carve things. He doesn't just have a passion to carve, but a passion to teach others as well.
The BEST do what they do because they cannot help it. They have a love/passion for what they do. They willingly share their knowledge. They constantly build their skills. They don't rely on A tool, they rely on the insight they have developed throughout their lives. By practicing what they love, they become the Outliers in their field. They become craftsmen/women.
It's not about the technology, it is about the people that use it. I have no doubt that "we should be able to do that", but it is the "we" that will do it, not the technology.
She said, “We should be able to do that with all the new technology available.”
My reply, “It is not the tools that matter; but it is the hands that hold them.”
I proceeded to talk to her about an ordinary pocket knife. In one person's hands, it is a simple tool they use to cut things with. In another person's hands, it produces works of art. Check out these Civil War Soldiers, carved "mostly with a pocket knife".
While doing some research on whittling, I found that the majority of the folks who do it, do it because they simply love it. They have a passion for doing it. Like Lawrence Spinak who notes on his site, "I whittle for fun, not for money. I don't sell any of my works, nor do I work on commission. Please don't ask." Be sure to check out some of his stuff by clicking on the My Work button. They are amazing peices of art.
I also found whittler0507's channel on You Tube. This fellow has oodles of videos where he shares his knowledge about how to carve things. He doesn't just have a passion to carve, but a passion to teach others as well.
The BEST do what they do because they cannot help it. They have a love/passion for what they do. They willingly share their knowledge. They constantly build their skills. They don't rely on A tool, they rely on the insight they have developed throughout their lives. By practicing what they love, they become the Outliers in their field. They become craftsmen/women.
It's not about the technology, it is about the people that use it. I have no doubt that "we should be able to do that", but it is the "we" that will do it, not the technology.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Mind Stretch...
The human nature in me can cause me to be "stuck" in places, so I try to avoid this by reading blogs and newsletters on innovation and creativity. One of the emails I recieve comes from destination innovation.
The recent email newsletter contained this video:
When I first watched it I thought it was cool and creepy at the same time - who really likes clowns?...
But when I watched the "making of" video that is linked to it... I realized I "again" missed something... so it stretched my mind to think differently...
The recent email newsletter contained this video:
When I first watched it I thought it was cool and creepy at the same time - who really likes clowns?...
But when I watched the "making of" video that is linked to it... I realized I "again" missed something... so it stretched my mind to think differently...
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