Author Archives: Jeffrey

A Different Diversity

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Jeffrey

Diversity in the workplace isn’t just about people, backgrounds, ideas and knowledge. Nor is it also just about inclusion. Let’s talk about server operating systems (OS). We all know that having multiple server operating systems (Windows, Solaris, RedHat, AIX, SCO,… (read more)

Posted in System Administration | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

A case for condensing fix/test cycles

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Jeffrey

A while back I posted on the strategy of changing only one variable at a time when working to resolve an incident and determine root cause. I’m amazed at how much discipline it takes to implement this simple strategy. If… (read more)

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Top Posts and Commenters for April 2011

Posted on May 1, 2011 by Jeffrey

In case you missed one or more of these, here are this blog’s top ten posts based on traffic during the month of April 2011. Much to my surprise, the Emacs versus vi post remains on the top. The longest… (read more)

Posted in Other Thoughts | Comments Off on Top Posts and Commenters for April 2011

Virtual Lunches?

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Jeffrey

Joel Spolsky takes on an important topic in his post today on lunches and I share with him a firm belief in the value of intentionally sharing a meal. It can be an important tool in your work-life balancing act. It can… (read more)

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Connect in some way

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Jeffrey

I’d already been heavily involved in Unix/Linux for nearly twenty years by the time I found myself assigned as the leader/manager of the Windows Engineering team. Even some of my closest colleagues scoffed when they heard the news. How could… (read more)

Posted in Leadership, Management | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Work-life balance

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Jeffrey

Work-life balance may not always be completely obtainable. But it will never start to tip the way you want unless you take charge of making some changes yourself. The graphic I chose for today shows a teeter totter wobbling in… (read more)

Posted in Other Thoughts | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Top Posts and Commenters for March 2011

Posted on April 1, 2011 by Jeffrey

In case you missed one or more of these, here are this blog’s top ten posts based on traffic during the month of March 2011. I didn’t blog as much in March as I did in February, but I was… (read more)

Posted in Other Thoughts | 4 Comments

In their cube

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Jeffrey

Seth Godin’s post on Empathy sat me down to pound out this post on something I did frequently while managing IT Teams at a previous employer. Very simple but unconventional. I’d sit at their desks. That might sound creepy, so… (read more)

Posted in Management | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Innovation within the boundaries

Posted on March 11, 2011 by Jeffrey

Did you know that Steve Martin plays the banjo? He’s releasing his second bluegrass album and starts a concert tour next week. In his WSJ interview with John Jurgensen, he gives us this moment to think about innovating within the… (read more)

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All I Really Need to Know (about management) I Learned From my Toddler

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Jeffrey

Over the years I’ve learned quite a lot from being my toddler’s Dad. Here are some of the things I’ve been able to adopt and put into practice in my role as a leader and manager of technical people. Ask… (read more)

Posted in Management | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on All I Really Need to Know (about management) I Learned From my Toddler