A little verbal processing here.
Lately I have been really into survival techniques. Things like fire starting, cleaning hunted animals and stuff like that. I have also been really digging deeply into the skills that I have worked over the course of a career in IT to hone – to better understand not only management strategies but to get a better feel for the engineering processes that surround successful development and deployment of software. I know, I know – yawn. But this stuff is my job and I am really uncomfortable “settling” with failing projects. I want to succeed and I’m the kind of guy that will push the buttons that need pushed in order to steer the inertia of a project into the realm of success.
The main emphasis of what I am discovering brings all the process and layers of complexity of software boiling down to one point, and I’d quote from Peopleware but their copyright forbids it so I’ll summarize: Success of a project stems from good communication by all participants, and the failures are rooted in poor communication.
Good communication, eh? That’s it?
I think you’ll find there is alot of evidence of that in life. I certainly believe it after reading How to Win Friends and Influence People
So while I used to believe that having good communication skills was just a commodity – I am beginning to realize and understand that it is A SURVIVAL SKILL. In a world of shrinking 401Ks, receding economies, imploding real estate markets and general instability – you need as many things going for you as possible. It is worth it to study up on effective communication.
Really insightful book. Glad I was introduced to it. I think Jessica and I do pretty well in the communication department. This book will make it even better.
There is alot of power tied to the understanding that wives are told to “respect” their husbands and husbands are told to “love” their wives. Why? Because those are what the other needs. It is scriptural and POWERFUL insight.
Really enjoyed this today:
6 Good rules. Love the ‘work like hell’ one. Seems to overcome a lot things – work. Out of money? Work. Not getting anywhere in your career? Work. Your paycheck will become effective when you do.
I spent about 3 years getting out of debt. During that time I listened to podcasts by Dave Ramsey on a regular basis in order to help keep me motivated. It worked. He provides many little nuggets of insight and self improvement that extend far beyond how to manage your money. How to hire motivated people. How to market your business. How to keep your marriage together. How to raise your children. It seems money touches on all these things because you put your money where your heart is. It was great. That ended in 2006 and I haven’t really plugged into many motivational/self-improvement sources since then. Ever since then I have been busy implementing all the things I learned. Well now – I feel as though I am at a crossroads and it is time to re-learn all the things that propelled me during that time before. Only this time – I hope to journal about the things that are affecting me so if someone is looking for a similar motivation – they can, at the very least, start with the places I am visiting.
Yesterday I visited Priscilla McPheeter’s Mary Kay website and plugged into her Podcast. I listened to a truly inspirational Podcast from one of her director’s, Eileen Huffman. I recommend that everyone listen to it. You will laugh. You will cry. It will remind you to find purpose in every single day, and that if you know there are things that you can do better – you will strive to do those things better. Also, great testimony about how God can work in your life. Awesome. Listen to this. Do it.
