Category : Blog

Entrepreneurs and Family

Posted by Deborah Fike at 3:27 pm

I just finished reading Steve Jobs’ biography, and man, what a page turner.  Having worked at several start-ups, it was amazing to see that some problems we faced, Apple did too in its early days: disorganization, growing pains, and defining company identity.  It was also gripping knowing what I know now – that Steve Jobs would die in 2011 – that made the ending go so fast.  What would Steve, the most iconic entrepreneur of our generation, accomplish before his death?  How would his legacy live on?

Definitely worth a read

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Leaders Don’t Have All the Info

Posted by Deborah Fike at 11:06 pm

If you’ve never been a decision maker for a project or team, you might think the decision makers always have all the information.  I’m here to tell you it just isn’t true.  First, taking the time to gather “all” the information necessary to make a nuanced decision would take way more time than you have, period.  Second, gathering information can lead to “analysis paralysis,” where you spend so much time gathering info that you don’t actually do anything.

So no, managers and leaders, just like the guys on the front line, often have to use their experience, intuition, and just plain common sense to make decisions on a day-to-day basis.

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Project Manager for a Day

Posted by Deborah Fike at 7:33 pm

Hey, project managers, does this sound like you?

Snickers aside, there was some accurate stuff in there. Some of it revealed frustration from a project manager’s point of view (changing deliverables, hard to wrangle team members). Some of it showed how frustrating it can be to work with a project manager (condescending tone, not listening to ideas).

Stereotypes abound for a reason. If you don’t like yours, why not consider a change? You might not be able to completely eliminate these kinds of interactions, but you might be able to find a better way to get things done.

For starters, how about less meetings?

-Deborah Fike

The W’s That Define You

Posted by Deborah Fike at 7:14 am

You are best defined by:

• Who you endorse in your private life.
• What you do online.
• Where you spend your personal time.
• When you choose (or not choose) to help others.
• Why you get up in the morning.
• How you act when you think no one cares.

Life Doesn’t Run on 9-to-5

Posted by Deborah Fike at 10:56 pm

I’ve worked enough 9-to-5 (and later) jobs in the past to know that the world does not accommodate the 9-to-5er.  Many banks aren’t open late and have limited, if any, weekend hours.  Doctors won’t see you after work.  Packages you need to sign for at home always arrive the minute you leave home. Lots of the things you need are only available while you’re supposed to be at a desk.

It’s like he’s waiting for you to leave home before he delivers.  (Photo by var resa)

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