A few people I am compelled to thank right now (the truth is, it has been a rotten week so this is a way to turn that frown upside down by focusing on the good):
1. “Agile Bob” – Bob Hartman (his site) @agileforall (Twitter)
Bob has done everything he could to help me professionally which is for me, hard to distinguish between helping me personally. Maybe it is not that hard for him, but I struggle with it. He is a friend in my mind, and a good person. Good people are rare these days, it seems, so it is important to recognize them when you come across them. I always like to be around people who are smarter than I am. Important to recognize them when you meet them. Important to recognize altruism. Bob is not only a fantastic Scrum Coach and Trainer, but a human being who not only recognizes the value of communication, but the right kind of communication. I learn from him all the time and am in his debt. I am the first to admit I am not perfect, but Bob has a way of harnessing his passion even when it inspires dissatisfaction that I try to adopt. I am, however, still a bit emotional about my work and do not lose my temper, but from time to time have stayed up for 48 hours working for free to the intense dismay of my wife and dog. Don’t tell anyone. Again, where the line between work and life is drawn is something I have not mastered the concept of. It is what I will say is my weakness when an interviewer asks because it is the 15th question on their list of questions. Bob is one of a kind and a great person to know. A coach’s coach. A good person’s person. There is a lot more to say about Mr. Hartman.
2. Giora Morein - www.BigVisbile.com (his blog) @gmorein (Twitter)
Another person who is smarter than me; Giora has practically paved the way for me in my professional certifications and is another Scrum Coach and Trainer that I recommend without a moment’s hesitation. Completely. He is not simply someone who cares about making money or accelerating Scrum / Agile, but he also truly cares about the people who are involved in that effort and the people outside that effort. He wants to see you win. I love that. Confident and skilled. My next post will be in regard to the Kano Table (it will be sexy as heck) and something he inspired in regard to how I think about Agile Estimation and Prioritization. Anything that finds it’s way into my toolbox is worth mentioning in case someone else might find it useful. I wish Giora fit into my toolbox. I owe him a lot. He is a positive person like Bob is. He has a way of teaching more than the subject matter at hand with an ease and grace (yes, grace) that can only come with experience. He will tell you if you are wrong (sometimes even using those words if he can wrap it in a joke or something palpable), and you do not mind because you get it and it makes sense. You were not wrong – it was that in this case another way was closer to what you were truly getting at and wanted to achieve. Who is afraid of the truth? I obviously have no issue pointing out my flaws, because they are my flaws. I admit it. Giora helped me be okay with critique that explores and reveals – professionally and personally. He is also amazingly willing to share knowledge that is not in books but learned through experience. He will teach you more than what is on the page even if you are reading a book, specifically, with seemingly limitless anecdotes. There is a lot more to say about Mr. Morein.
And as far as people being smarter than me is concerned, it is true; Shaggy from Scooby Doo was smarter than me. Still, this blog article is within the context of software. Shaggy couldn’t even draw the Iron Triangle. Dummy. Oh, wait… do we even agree on the Iron Triangle anymore? Time, Scope, Cost were the sides, but Customer Satisfaction snuck in there somewhere and Quality did, also. Okay, maybe Shaggy and I am close in intellectual depth.
But maybe not. He got a dog to talk. He did get those girls and that talking dog on the Funky Bus, didn’t he? Better: he got them to stay and think it was their idea. Brilliant. Context, people. Context. Lesson learned: no communication is sometimes a very effective way of saying something.
(Because this posts needs a sassy graphic, that’s why)
3. My wife, Lara Milane - www.LaraMilane.com (she is not a Tweeter)
My passion and love for what I do only exists because Lara gives me a world where love and passion is possible.
There are more, but this needs to be said now.
Just as I do not agree with many of my older (or some recent) posts anymore, I like to keep things here raw. Visceral. This is one way in which I try to contain my passion. I make cupcakes, too. I am like Clint Eastwood with that frosting gun. Ka-pow! This cupcake will blow your head clean off…
Thank you,
Josh
Okay, so I make them disappear. Close enough.