Tag: basecamp

Categories
Blog Post

Setting Up Basecamp – What I’ve learned – January 2018

Take a second

When we take on an important project, we need to take a second to think about:

  • What are the stakes involved
  • How do we measure success
  • The difference between positive and negative conflict, and how we handle it
  • What are the incentives
  • Who do we need
  • Why we are doing this

And if even if we can’t a definitive answer (actually, it may be better not to), we have to get a general sense of what they are.

Why?

Projects are messy and humans are complicated. Messy in the sense that when we are pushed to the edge of our competence, things get “weird,” stuff breaks, and nothing goes to plan. Complicated in the sense that we are illogical, emotional, and environment changes everything.

That is a good thing, because that is where innovation lives. With a good base camp, we get processes to catch the errors and reframe them into the usable.

So take a second and think it through.

Categories
Blog Post

Base Camp – The Theme of January 2018

What is base camp?

A mountain climber starts their climb at a base camp.

What they do while they are there is critical to the probability of the success of their climb.

Great climbers take the time to rest, eat well, read maps, prepare supplies, and anything else that will make the trip up the mountain worth it.

On the other hand, the amateur wants to just “get started.” They are in a rush because they came here to climb a mountain. They do the bare minimum and proceed.

They don’t think about the foundation or how they start, and for that, they risk their chance of success.

Funny, I think this is an excellent metaphor for our work.

Think about how often we do that in life. How often we rush in, just focused on the hustle of “getting things done” without considering the consequences?

It is the start of the year, and it seems like it a great time to think about my base camp, which is why it is the theme for January 2017.

This month’s theme ties into “self-awareness.”

At the end of last year, I wrote a newsletter highlighting the “three tenets of leadership.”  Each month, I take a topic related to one of the three tenets and write about my ideas and experience around the subject.

 

 

Categories
Blog Post

Every Step Matters – Be Like Water

Be a Drop

“Pressure works, every drip counts. Be a drop.”

 David Heinemeier Hansson  (@DHH)

This quote stands out to me. While it focused on Uber’s various miscarriages of justice, it works elsewhere.

When we focus on one thing, even the smallest effort creates change.

Persistance wins, even on those days when you:

  • Do 5 push ups instead of going to the gym
  • Write a few sentences on your latest blog post
  • Send a thank you email instead of calling

Each of those options are a drop, yet, they keep the streak alive.

Keep working.

 

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started