As my previous post about the
September 23rd, I get sort of weird around this time of year. Recently, I have been thinking about what is it that I believe in.
Through my short time on this earth, I have met many people who are very passionate about things, things that they believe in. Sometimes it is a sports team, sometimes it is a way of life (vegans, hippies, yuppies, etc), religion, programming languages, ways of doing business, ways of running a department, music (country vs rock, rock vs rap, classical vs country).
I myself don't feel that I have ever really had strong beliefs. Don't get me wrong I do feel strongly about a lot of things. I have been known to even bring a few four-letter words into the conversation. In the last year or two I have figured out a few things that I believe in.
These are in no particular order.
Software
Software makes life better. I really believe that software can make office life better, properly implemented it can make regular life better too. I really like software, especially web related software. Anything is possible given enough time (and usually money).
Databases
Databases fscking rock. They are more useful than spreadsheets and way more efficient than flat files. SQL is way easier and more useful than VLOOKUP.
Limited Department Autonomy
Meaning, a department has to have room to breath and do its own thing, to a point. Forcing a department to get approval from a central figure or committee is extremely inefficient. A company should put people in charge of a department that they can trust to run it with some autonomy, but not without any sort of central oversight.
Right tool for the right job
Whenever possible you should use the right tool for the right job. This is true in construction. When putting in baseboards using an nail gun is so much better than trying to use a regular hammer. The same is true of programming or when painting a picture.
Marketing should have a dedicated programmer
Modern marketing requires a consistently updated website. At my old company we tried both ways. Using the regular programming staff to develop the marketing websites. This worked ok, until regular work crept up and took over, then the marketing websites languished. When the marketing department had a dedicated programmer the websites were well maintained and marketing projects did not have to wait or detract from the regular programming tasks.
BBQ is Brisket, Ribs and turkey
Maybe some smoked chicken and a little pulled pork. I grew up with the word barbeque/BBQ meaning hamburgers, hotdogs and grilled chicken. Since moving to Tejas I now know that BBQ is a variety of very tastey meats that are slow cooked over an indirect heat source, derived from hardwoods like mesquite or oak.
Democracy is the best for of government (so far)
I believe that giving every citizen the right to vote is one of the best things every thought of. Mind you that since most of our populace doesn't exercise that right they don't fully take advantage of being a citizen of this country. However, it is the fact that we are a democracy that allows them the right to either vote or not vote.
Golden Rule
"Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you." It sounds silly but it really is a rule that everyone should follow.
"If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all."
I would ammend this to include that constructive criticism is always invited before plain old criticism. Another oldy but goody belief.
All for now a second installment will come this weekend.
I will have to go back through and watch some movies but there was this one quote I can half-remember.
It was about the difference between ideas and beliefs.
Laterz.
