I've been at my new job for seven months now. The best indicator of how it's going is probably the several boxes of work stuff that are still in my car that I expected to make its way from my old desk to my new one. I suppose that I feel that taking them in is a waste of time.
I took a purely technical software development job, since most of the management positions available were hybrid positions—half management, half technical—and some of my tech skills were a bit outdated. I figured I'd take a step back to get up to speed.
The technical part is going fairly well. I'm learning stuff and gaining experience—exactly what I expected. What I didn't expect was how frustrating it is to be a manager in a technical role working for a management team that doesn't seem to really get software development in a culture that's designed for failure.
With the domain knowledge needed here, it probably takes a year just to have any idea what you're talking about (notice I'm not there), yet the turnover rate is astounding. We lost three really good developers—cool people who were great to work with—within two months of my arrival—and the guy who interviewed me was gone before I got here. One new hire lasted a week. This week we're losing another developer, so of the four of us that remain, only one has been here longer than me, and the other two are plotting their escape.
It was the right job at the right time. That time is quickly fading.
If anyone is looking for a software development manager... <sigh>
20 May 2008
13 May 2008
2.6 Larry, Moe, and Curly
It doesn't really matter what's printed on my ballot. Given the current choices, I'm writing in Ron Paul.
The time for R3VOLUTION is now.
The time for R3VOLUTION is now.
11 May 2008
1.6 ...and ye shall find.
Topic #1 has become a problem for me lately. I tend to stall out when I get to it—in this case for almost two months. It's not for lack of material or lack of interest. It's because the things I want to write about tend to induce others to label me a "seeker," and frankly that is tremendously annoying.
When it comes to God, the "who," "what," "where," and "when" are the easy parts. Even the "how" isn't really a stretch when your God is as big as mine. This leaves "why" as the only truly interesting question. The first four questions are answered in Sunday School, when we learn all the Bible stories. "How" seems to be a study of the attributes of God. "Why" is huge—and largely unanswered.
Sure there are some decent answers to some of the "why" questions, but most of those lead to more "why" questions. The stock answers to the big "why" questions are lame, and usually come with the added "God's ways are above our ways..." line. I don't like that one bit.
Being the nerd that I am, everything always ends up in some kind of bad car analogy, so here goes...
Some drivers know enough about their car to get from point A to point B and generally keep their car running pretty well. Generally speaking, if it ain't broke, they don't fix it, but if things start to go poorly with their car they go to someone who knows more about their car than they do, and they get it fixed. If these drivers ask why the car was not working and how it was fixed, the answer they get doesn't necessarily make much sense to them, but they nod and pay and go back to their motoring ways. These people also seem to have a certain disdain for backyard mechanics.
I think many people look at their religion the same way, and they expect the same behavior out of me. They get offended if I ask tough questions, and they question my faith if I want to know "why." Does it really indicate a lack of faith in my car if I look under the hood? How is it offensive if I want to understand why my car works as it does, when that understanding can make me a better driver? Should I really apply the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mantra to my religion? Billions of people do, and they certainly don't agree with each other. Most of them are wrong—they have to be. They only think their religion ain't broke.
As we are created in God's image—and armed with the knowledge of good and evil—answers must be within reach.
The search for "why" is the greatest undertaking of mankind and is the source of most of the adventure in life. If I must take on the label of "seeker" to explore the question, then I will wear it proudly.
May I never cease seeking out answers wherever they may be found.
When it comes to God, the "who," "what," "where," and "when" are the easy parts. Even the "how" isn't really a stretch when your God is as big as mine. This leaves "why" as the only truly interesting question. The first four questions are answered in Sunday School, when we learn all the Bible stories. "How" seems to be a study of the attributes of God. "Why" is huge—and largely unanswered.
Sure there are some decent answers to some of the "why" questions, but most of those lead to more "why" questions. The stock answers to the big "why" questions are lame, and usually come with the added "God's ways are above our ways..." line. I don't like that one bit.
Being the nerd that I am, everything always ends up in some kind of bad car analogy, so here goes...
Some drivers know enough about their car to get from point A to point B and generally keep their car running pretty well. Generally speaking, if it ain't broke, they don't fix it, but if things start to go poorly with their car they go to someone who knows more about their car than they do, and they get it fixed. If these drivers ask why the car was not working and how it was fixed, the answer they get doesn't necessarily make much sense to them, but they nod and pay and go back to their motoring ways. These people also seem to have a certain disdain for backyard mechanics.
I think many people look at their religion the same way, and they expect the same behavior out of me. They get offended if I ask tough questions, and they question my faith if I want to know "why." Does it really indicate a lack of faith in my car if I look under the hood? How is it offensive if I want to understand why my car works as it does, when that understanding can make me a better driver? Should I really apply the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mantra to my religion? Billions of people do, and they certainly don't agree with each other. Most of them are wrong—they have to be. They only think their religion ain't broke.
As we are created in God's image—and armed with the knowledge of good and evil—answers must be within reach.
The search for "why" is the greatest undertaking of mankind and is the source of most of the adventure in life. If I must take on the label of "seeker" to explore the question, then I will wear it proudly.
May I never cease seeking out answers wherever they may be found.
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