Jul 04, 2011 in Technology
Those who know me, know that I’m all over any technological gadget you can find. Here’s a recent Dilbert strip that some would say describes me to the letter. Seriously.
View the original Dilbert June 30, 2011 strip. © Scott Adams Inc.
Nov 25, 2010 in Productivity
Image credit: http://pomodoro.ugolandini.com/
I started work in a new technical communications role at a different company last week. To help me navigate the change, I also started experimenting with a time and task management method called the Pomodoro Technique. My new teammate has used it successfully to keep himself on track, and I look forward to experiencing the same improvements in my own personal and professional productivity.
This post lists helpful resources for the Pomodoro Technique, a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s.
Feb 10, 2010 in Technology
This post is a little old, since I gave up on Windows PCs in general and switched to a MacBook Pro last October. Essentially, I grew tired of combating hassles with my laptop hardware, uncooperative Windows updates, and—the piece de la resistance—Trend Micro Internet Security randomly deciding to cut off one Internet service or another, even when the firewall program wasn’t enabled.
I figured that I should still complete this post for the benefit of those who may still be suffering through the Windows XP/Trend Micro Internet Security hassles. I still run a similar setup in a Virtual Box on my Mac, so the solution on the next page is still valid to me.
Apr 13, 2009 in Technology
It astounds me that a company as large as Microsoft can’t develop better help systems to accompany their products. While most people complain that Microsoft merely releases lousy products, I am one of the faithful who believe that the products are fine, but badly, poorly, confusingly, terribly supported.
Case in point: MS Word’s string Replace() function, not discussed in any official VBA reference.
Mar 14, 2009 in Strategy
One day, while out with my wife for our weekly coffee date, I read the quote on her grande white mocha two-bag refresh tea soy misto. I thought to myself, how poignant; it made so much sense. The next day, as I slowly enjoyed my triple-venti peppermint soy caramel drizzle latte macchiato, I was surprised to receive the same quote. That was simply too odd.
Still later, while out for lunch with my friend, a Starbucks shift supervisor, I told this story, and referred to the quote on the cup that I kept encountering. As if on cue, the sleeve from my grande sized beverage fell to the table, revealing the same quote on that cup as well.
I have since seen that quote several times in the past six months.
The way I see it #26: Failure’s hard, but success is far more dangerous. If you’re successful at the wrong thing, the mix of praise and money and opportunity can lock you in forever. ~ Po Bronson
Dec 18, 2008 in Personality
Hot on the heels of Trevor Linden’s jersey retirement ceremony, the Vancouver Canucks signed Mats Sundin for a reported $10mil/year (pro-rated for the mid-season start). You know, I’m so glad that when I sign a new contract, the newspapers aren’t obligated to report what the companies pay me. One day they just might pay me $10mil/year. And nobody would ever know!
Jun 27, 2008 in Philosophy, Productivity, Strategy
The Service Canada Centre for Youth (SCCY) program, under a different name, helped me find my first summer job in 1986. All my friends were working at McDonald’s; I was a junior “professional”. This job paid me enough to explore Expo 86 in Vancouver, buy new clothes, and date the receptionist. Job hunting had never been easier in my life.
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