Linchpin

In reading Seth Godin's Linchpin I ran across several thoughts that really resonated with me.

In the chapter "The Resistance" Seth discusses many of the ways we sabotage our own success. In the section "This Might Work" he points out that often our problem is not fear of failure, but rather success. "Consider the argument that it's just as likely you hold back out of fear that something might work." As bizarre as this may sound to some, I admit that I have sometimes found myself captive to this very fear. Change is uncomfortable, even if it is for the better.

In the chapter "The Powerful Culture of Gifts" Seth compares giving gifts without v. with the expectation of getting. One statement really hit home with me, because I have thought much the same thing myself: "Consider the the family that exchanges cash at Christmas. If everyone is giving and getting the same amount, there's not much happening, is there?" I am getting more and more uncomfortable with the "I got you something so you owe me"/"You got me something so I owe you" way of doing things.

After finishing the book, I was considering how to summarize the book. My first thought was something along the lines of 'how to be a valuable commodity to whoever your employer may be.' Then I had to laugh at myself at how totally wrong that summary was. The very fact that I would use the word 'commodity' in the description bears witness to Seth's premise that we have marginalized employees to mere cogs in a factory. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say the point is to be 'invaluable' and NOT just another 'valuable commodity.'

Is Linux a Good Choice, Part 1

I recently read this response to someone advocating Linux in the comments for an article about Microsoft adding a rental option for Office and Windows:

"Linux is good for SOME PEOPLE (mainly extremely literate techies). For everyone else however, which is 90% of the people using computers, Windows is the best choice for them."

I realize many people probably think this, so I felt it a good opportunity to articulate some of my thoughts on this.

First, I am what some may call an 'extremely literate techie', and Linux is very good for me. But what about for those 'other 90%'? Am I being naive to believe that it would work well for many of them as well? Hear me out and let me know what you think.

What many of the arguments I have seen come down to is this: "What is the 'technically illiterate' Linux user going to do when they encounter roadblocks? They will encounter them." Yes, all systems are going to confound their users from time to time, so let's consider what the Windows user does when tackling issues.

1) Google it. They must be somewhat computer and/or Windows literate to perform a good search and wade through the results. There is not that much more to learn to perform similar good searches and wade through the results for Linux. Note that many 'extremely literate techies' do this, they have just gotten really good at it.

2) Ask a friend considered more technically literate. As long as they know one or two that are Linux literate, they should be good-to-go. Without this support, I can appreciate that getting started with Linux could be a little nerve-racking for some people.

3) Contact tech support. First, there are some companies that provide paid tech support for Linux. There are also many message boards that provide very helpful volunteer tech support, many of which are frequented by true Linux experts. Probably the biggest hurdle here is identifying the good message boards (refer to 1-2 for help with that).

4) Contact IT (if this is a computer used for work). Sometimes IT policy will not allow Linux, ergo Linux is not an option. Sometimes policy allows Linux, but the IT folks will not support it. In this case, refer to options 1-3. While there is almost always a way to make it work, sometimes the difficulty in making Linux work in these settings really can make it not worth the effort. You do still have a job to perform.

So the major issues we arrive at with this train of thought are social. They boil down to having an adequate support system, whether it be friends and/or an IT department. Soon I plan to post about some of the more technical issues that a Linux user may encounter.

Books 2009

At the beginning of 2009, I set a goal to finish reading 24 books in the year. Well, the 'deadline' has passed, and I am in the middle of what was to be #23.

While I didn't hit the goal, I am not discouraged, as I still read more than I would have if I had not set the goal. Also, I read a dozen non-fiction books, which is the same number I had read in the previous five years put together.

Though I have not set a specific goal for 2010, I believe I have really got the ball rolling with reading. I am currently working on Lee Strobel's Case for Faith. I also have a few books in mind already, such as Ted Dekker's Green, possibly one of John Eldredge's books, and a couple of books relating to software development. If you have any suggestions, feel free to share.

King of the Hill: Firefox 3.5

According to one web-stat site, Firefox 3.5 has surpassed Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) 7 and IE 8 as the most widely-used browser by version. However, Firefox use as a whole still has a long way to go versus IE use as a whole. So why all the fuss?

Some web apps and such have long been developed and maintained for IE exclusively. However, supporting IE at this point really means supporting three browsers: IE 8, IE 7, and IE 6. They are different enough to need individual tweaking and testing. If Firefox 3.5 has surpassed all three, even briefly, it has become very hard to argue that anyone involved in web development in any capacity can reasonably ignore Firefox any longer.

First Things First

The primary author of First Things First is Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which I completed earlier in the year. The book is co-authored by husband and wife A. Roger Merrill and Rebecca R. Merrill.

This book does have a lot in common with 7 Habits, but it focuses and elaborates on different points. One focus is on four human needs: to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy. Another major focus is how we can use our four special human endowments: self-awareness, creative imagination, conscience, and independent will. Also elaborated on is weekly planning with a "Quadrant II" mentality, that is making sure we make time for the things that are not pressing and urgent, but are important none-the-less.

The four interdependent needs are required for continuing growth. "To live" is about the needs of our body, exercise, eating right and all that. "To love" is about our need for relationships with friends and family. "To learn" is about our need for keeping our mind active. "To leave a legacy" is about our need to connect with a higher power, and the deeper meaning of life.

The four endowments differentiate us as human. Self-awareness is the ability to step back and look at what we're doing. Creative imagination allows us to see many possibilities, other courses of action. Conscience is our connection to the deep principles and truths of this world. Independent will gives us the ability to act on the course of action we choose.

Quadrant II activities are those that are important, but not urgent. Consider preventative maintenance on a vehicle, so that it doesn't break down catastrophically later (requiring important AND urgent repairs). The same concept applies to all our life roles (spouse, parent, employee, etc.). A major aspect of Quadrant II planning is looking at the week ahead a setting aside times for quadrant II activities in each of our roles within that week. As an aside, someone has recreated the weekly planning form described in the book, in the form of a zip'd PDF.

While many of the pieces of this book are similar to those in 7 Habits, they have been put together into a rather different book. This is a worthwhile book, either by itself, or in addition to 7 Habits. Applying even a portion of this material could greatly increase one's effectiveness.

"Who Moved My Cheese?"

I was getting behind on my book-reading goal, so I decided to read a shorter book a few days ago. I read all of Spencer Johnson's "Who Moved My Cheese?" in a single day. A lot better than the last book I finished, that I had been reading on and off since 2006!

SPOILER ALERT
It is essentially a parable about two mice and two 'little people' in a big maze looking for cheese. The people became too accustomed to finding cheese in one place, until it disappeared. While the mice head off immediately in search of new cheese, the little people just sulk. One finally gets over it and starts looking for new cheese, and makes several important revelations along the way. This parable is couched within the story of a class reunion where the parable is discussed.

I would say the main moral of the story is 'change happens, go with it.' There are some other related lessons, though some of them feel a little 'psych-up', that attitude is everything. It emphasizes that change is good, but only gives lip service to the thought that some things really should not change. For instance, change away from a foundation of sound principles is something that should be resisted. I admit, the intended audience of this book is someone paralysed by the fear of change in employment or job description, not someone looking for their moral compass. For the intended audience, it is probably a good read, and is short enough to not be too intimidating.

While the author is no Aesop, it is fairly well written. Thankfully this book only cost me $1 at a book sale. The list price of $20 seems a little much, but the market price of $12 is perhaps fair.

Finding & Keeping Good Friends

I have often lamented at how hard it is to find and keep lasting friends. A few months ago, I read one book in hopes that it would help. But Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends & Influence People" was really not what I was searching for. It was more a manual of tools and tactics, which could be used "for good or for evil." While I did learn a few things from it, I was looking for something deeper.

I believe I have found what I wanted in the book I just completed. Stephen R. Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" really hits to the heart of the matter. The section between habits 3 & 4 especially hit home with me:

We can often live for years with the chronic pain of our lack of vision, leadership or management in our personal lives.

Covey also speaks to those who would rely solely on tools such as Dale Carnegie's book:

That's when we try to treat the symptoms with quick fixes and techniques — the band-aids of the Personality Ethic.

While it is something far easier said than done, I will work on implementing the seven habits in my own life, to be come better independent and interdependent.