PowerPoint Presentation

Soft Skills Hard DataDaniel Judge@DanielWJudgeDanielWJudge.comhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/harrypotts/14516541552

Imagine its 5 years from now. Would you be ok with your life if nothing has changed?

This presentation is about the non-technical parts of our job. 1

http://www.elementem.com/collections/fun-canvas-prints/products/where-the-magic-happens

About 10 years ago, I was in a rut. I wasnt advancing. I was doing the same thing over and over each day.

I noticed that the people that got ahead werent always the ones with the best technical skills.

Pushed myself outside of the comfort zone2

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rochephoto/2940983659/Do the dirty jobs

Mike's story:

* joined the Baltimore Opera on a bet to meet girls* auditioned and was given the job on the spot for QVC as a host; on another bet* narrator for deadliest catch* host for Dirty Jobs* exterminator* landfill* linemen replacing power poles* horse breeder

"I can say the willingness to get dirty has always defined us as an nation, and it's a hallmark of hard work and a hallmark of fun, and dirt is not the enemy."

TRANSITION: as developers, we need to do the dirty jobs in programming - TESTING3

if the guys from Office Space had done developer testing, they wouldn't have had the problems 4

THAT WAS EASY

TRANSITION: we need to improve our documentation and writing skills

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We all have seen poor documentation

Heres how to make your documentation better:

Humanize your work. Add more

http://stevelosh.com/blog/2013/09/teach-dont-tell/http://blog.screensteps.com/14-examples-of-bad-documentation

TRANSITION: use more images and examples

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Use more imagesScreenshots and examples are easier to follow

TRANSITION: dirty job #2 is to be a finisher

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/ilike/3707503212/

Think before you start"Short-cuts lead to long delays. Mike Rowe

Work until you finishWhen looking at a resume and references, if someone is described as a finisher then we want them on the team."Rather than rockstars we should look for composers and song writers." Phil HaackRockstars dont get along with other people, they only do their own thingStudio musicians are the unheralded foundation of the music world

TRANSITION: sometimes we find that doing the dirty work isnt enough, we have to do things we didnt expect to do

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Dont be a rockstarhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/rogeriotomazjr/4418822630/

Show up lateAct bored and disinterestedDemand special treatmentWhile talented, are moody10

https://www.flickr.com/photos/shannonmary/187131727/

Sometimes we have to do things we didnt think we could doStory about Leroy moving to Niceville and winning employee of the yearStory about me switching to euphonium

TRANSITION: to do that, we need to constantly looking to improve other parts of our life.

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Read to growhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/romanboed/13356494013/

The average millionaire reads 1 non-fiction book a monthMillionaire next door by Dr. Thomas Stanley

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Have trouble reading? Use Audible like Al Letson!

TRANSITION: another way we can improve is through pluralsight. A proud sponsor of code on the beach14

These are a sample of the soft-skill courses I found on pluralsight

TRANSITION: A lot of those pluralsight courses deal with communication. Its a fundamental part of the job.

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/davepinter/4831088889/Speak to be heard

If you cant communicate well, you wont get or keep the job!

Get in front of customersStory about how ActiGraph sends developers to trade shows and get them in front of customers

Learn how to talk to your boss* Story about how I approached my dad about attending Virginia Tech and helping them save money

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Communicate with coworkershttps://www.flickr.com/photos/hand-nor-glove/563304745/

Toastmastershttps://www.flickr.com/photos/brisbanecitycouncil/7607531178/

Do toastmastersStory about Bett Correa and how her presentation last year blew me awayI joined because of BettIve spent the last 6 months practicing portions of this speechGives you the opportunity to practice in a safe environmentProvides you with feedbackPractice leadership skillsIt will also show you how efficient meetings should be

TRANSITION: time for an activity on communication

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/ronmacphotos/14871539338/

Show me your Oh face

Presentation:

Introduce the activity by emphasizing just how important the way we say things is to the meaning that is communicated to others.It has been shown that this dimension of voice inflections comprises approximately 38% of the message received.It becomes obvious that what we say isnt nearly as important as how we say it. However, we dont typically focus on this dimension of communications as much as we should.Too often we are much more concerned about what we are going to say rather than how we are going to deliver the message. However, paying closer attention to how people communicate can provide extremely valuable information about how they really feel.

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ShockPleasureQuestioningDoubtDispleasureDetachmentResentmentAnticipationSurpriseThe letter in the alphabet between n and pOhSay the word oh differently, giving it the following interpretation or meaning each time:

Purpose: To emphasize just how important voice inflections are to the meaning of words

Debrief: Reflect on how differently this same tiny word could be interpreted by the way participants said it each time. Acknowledge that these differences may be very subtle at times, but in these subtleties lies the difference between understanding what someone really means and missing what their message is entirely.

TRANSITION: another good way to improve our communication is spend time with other people20

Get a life!http://explosm.net/comics/2898/

If you dont have 3 hobbies, you dont have a life!

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Family

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Pets

TRANSITION: story about playing at the Kennedy Center because I got back into band24

Get back into band -story about tuba Christmas in DC

TRANSITION: once you find stuff to do, you need to make sure you get your job done25

https://www.flickr.com/photos/smemon/4556099850/

DO YOUR WORK!

Pomodoro

Why do this?Immerse yourself in programming, confining emailing to one or two Pomodoros a day.Break large, demanding tasks into shorter steps.Separate time they spend developing and refactoring.

TRANSITION: now that you know how to get things done, what should you do during those tomatoes?

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1. Choose a task you'd like to get done:2. Set the pomodoro for 25 minutes:3. Work on the task until the pomodoro rings4. When the pomodoro rings, put a checkmark on a paper5. Take a short break6. Every 4 pomodoros, take a longer break

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/atomicshed/144104308/Gooooooooooals

Goals

the best way to predict your future is to create it

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ResolutionI want to lose weight

Why Goals and not Resolutions- resolutions are generic ideas and difficult to measure- resolutions can't be adjusted based on events- resolutions don't have a time barrier29

GoalI want to lose 15 pounds by December 31st

- goals are specific and easily measured.at the end of the year (month, day) they can be evaluated- goals are adjustable based on what's happened. Did you set a goal to lose 15 pounds by December and have already lost it at the end of november? Change that goal to lose 20 pounds!- goals have a clear defined time window

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Now that they're set what do you do?- write them down. this will make them easier to remember and help remind you of what you want to accomplish.- make a list of things that you can do TODAY that will help accomplish the goals- let other people know what your goals are! this helps bring accountability- evaluate them once a month. this will help you determine if they need to be adjusteduse a site like stickk.com to help you

TRANSITION: one of the most challenging goals people have keeping to deals with a taboo subject - MONEY

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/cooperweb/8363161216/Act your wage

Story about me and Dave RamseyPaid off $12k in debt in 5 months

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/cooperweb/8363161216/Act your wage

Story about me and Dave RamseyPaid off $12k in debt in 5 months

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/luxurydesigner/18932875311/Luxury is an illusion

Many people who live in expensive homes and drive luxury cars do not actually have much wealth. Then, we discovered something even odder: Many people who have a great deal of wealth do not even live in upscale neighborhoods.Eighty-six percent of prestige/luxury cars are bought by non-millionaires

TRANSITION: the #1 goal set by people relates to diet and health. Programmers are stereotypically unhealthy and overweight

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Programmers are getting fatter - Linux t-shirt size

Standing desks

Working outStory about how I was making this presentation and realized I was going to be hypocriticalFind accountability partner from workAt ActiGraph one of mine is my boss

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Before

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BeforeAfter

TRANSITION: were all just trying to be Chris Pratt37

https://www.flickr.com/photos/postmemes/16181058949/

TRANSITION: another area that developers are stereotypically bad at is dressing well

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Dress for the job you want joke

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The Blunder Years

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The Blunder Years

Typical Perl dev

Stereotypical developer

TRANSITION: here are several suggestions on how to step up. Starting with the #1 offender - pants

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Wear this:Not this:Flat-frontPleats

Your mom bought you those pleated Khakis. And unless youre wearing these pants Urkle style, half way up to your chin, the pleats will bulge out and give you a cotton accordion spare tire.

add poofiness to your lower midsection that isn't flattering. Pleats make you look fat43

Wear this:Not this:Cap toeSquare toe

they make your feet look small and are unflattering

Other items:Slip on shoes (not loafers or boat shoes) - you're one step away from Velcro. Step up and get some laces!Baggy or boot cut jeans - if you're skinny, I recommend slim fit jeans, other wise go with a straight legCargo pants/shorts - add a lot of bagginess to your legsWrap around sunglasses - unless you're on a boat or playing a sport, they look cheesy

TRANSITION: heres what an easy outfit looks like that is still jeans and a t-shirt

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Jeans and t-shirt upgrade

$25

$40

$10

You can go to Target right now and buy a v-neck t-shirt, darker jeans, and a shoe similar to the one shown for $75

TRANSITION: once youve improved your style, your confidence will shoot up. People will compliment how you look. The challenge is to make sure you keep that positive attitude up!

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https://www.shopbop.com/ci/3/ww/workwear-ultimate-closet.html

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Are you positive?https://www.flickr.com/photos/rustyparts/2228318101/

Golf and how it relates to attitude

Respond, dont react

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Negative self talkhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/ungaio/3717667612/

Negative self talkStory about Shari talking about what she doesnt want to happenStory about me quitting golf and coming back to the game

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/psd/3542944126/

When things go bad, your positive attitude will keep you moving forward

Respond, dont reactStory about doctor and medicationStory about Buster and how I reactStory about getting interrupted and how I make it clear when Im working

TRANSITION: how are you going to respond when something bad happens

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Questions?https://www.flickr.com/photos/harrypotts/14516541552

TRANSITION: wrap up

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/rochephoto/2940983659/Thank you!Daniel Judge@DanielWJudgeDanielWJudge.com

Just like you, I was lied to and told that the only way to advance in the technical field was through technical skills. Hopefully, you see that theres more to work than coding.54

3/18/2005 - Daniel is debt freDave RamseyThe Dave Ramsey Show2005Other72197.56