WFH

Up at 7am. Check the outfit, the professional outfit, on the floor to make sure it still fits my mood. Adjust as necessary. Shower and put on the outfit. Consider wearing shoes, but don’t. My shoes are lonely.Upstairs. Coffee (black) and a glance at the view. Santa Cruz Mountains. No fog today. Walk into the office and appreciate the lights are already...

3w

Management via Worry and Crisis

Your manager has a default management mantra. You see it when they are not paying attention and a problem – large or small – presents itself. It’s the sound and shape of their first reaction. Their default reaction. And after a few months, everyone knows their mantra. Here are a couple of my least favorite mantras. I’m going to first explain the worst-case...

3w

Small Things, Done Well

The promotional site for Managing Humans still makes me smile. The photos were from a part of the property we call the Fairy Meadow. It’s a horse chestnut tree surrounded by a stream that only runs during the rainy season.We return to the Fairy Meadow for the third book.Thanks to my good friend Paul Campbell, we’re doing an online launch of the book...

May 2020

The One About Writing a Book, Pt. 2

In our 41st episode, we continue the discussion regarding how to write a book. Start with a clever name, find a publisher… and then write a lot. That’s about it. Ok, it’s harder than that. (Recorded on February 24th, 2020) Enjoy it now or download for later. Here’s a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes. https://traffic.libsyn.com/rands/theimportantthing0041.mp3

Apr 2020

Channels Are Free

There’s a lot of Slacking on the planet right now. The essential practices of shelter-in-place are forcing us to rethink how we get work done especially when that work is dependent on a vast amount of interconnected humans. Pre-Pandemic, one of my opening pitches to current and future customers as the VP of Engineering for Slack1 was, “How often do...

Apr 2020

The One About Networking

In our 40th episode, we are talking about the practice of networking. Who does it, why they do it, and the very expected and random value that sometimes emerges from it. (Recorded on February 24th, 2020)Enjoy it now or download for later. Here’s a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes.https://traffic.libsyn.com/rands/theimportantthing0040.mp3

Apr 2020

The Cable Situation, Pt. 1

Rands HQ continues to experience unprecedented usage. We’re in week five of shelter in place and the home office is poppin’. As described earlier, I did an intense clean of the office two weekends back and am happy to report that the tidiness remains primarily because there’s a night 15-minute cleaning window where all things are returned to their proper...

Apr 2020

The One About Verklempt

In the 39th episode, recorded in a pre-COVID world, we talk about love letters, the challenges of speaking, and the timely pause. Recorded on February 24th, 2020.Enjoy it now or download for later. Here’s a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes.https://traffic.libsyn.com/rands/theimportantthing0039.mp3

Apr 2020

The One About the Little Things

In the 38th episode, we lighten it up a bit. Not a lot. A bit. Finding solace in very strange times. Finding comfort while the world appears to be shutting down. Ok, it’s a little lighter than that. Recorded on March 18th, 2020.Enjoy it now or download for later. Here’s a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes.https://traffic.libsyn.com/rands/theimportantthing0038.mp3

Apr 2020

Weekend Project: Cave Renovations Pt. 2

The best part of a deep cleansing of the space is the next morning. You don’t get a sense of the total difference while you’re doing it because you’re there for each part of the gradual change. After a night’s sleep, you forget a bit, and the results are shocking. (click for larger versions)I’ve had this basic office layout for years, and I wasn’t planning...

Mar 2020