Obstructive Perfectionism

One of my challenges, lately, with accomplishing decent-sized tasks has been perfectionism coupled with inadequate follow through. By that I mean, I'm

• smart enough to run far with the idea (or realize it's "breadth" potential)
  
• rather overly detail-oriented (giving it "depth" potential)
  
• not focusing well enough, or making enough time, when sitting down to do something about it

Historically, I've looked at outlining tools to help with the first two. For the last one, I've looked at task tracking and prioritization tools. Natara's Bonsai, FreeMind, flavors of GTD, and varieties of TiddlyWiki have all been attempted, with varying degrees of success.

I think I need to schedule more of my own work time, instead of letting other meeting invitations fill up my day, and improve my focus, or eliminate distractions, during that scheduled time. Why is this so hard? I have several friends who are much better about both. Why can't I imitate them more effectively?

Resuscitating Personal Weblog

I'm going to give a "general musings" blog another shot and am resuscitating "1/4 Empty." As you can see, it has been 2.75 years since I tried this. At the time, I managed a grand total of two posts within one week, and that was it.

Why try again? Life-wise, 2008 was a very good year for restoring some semblance of work-life balance:

• Not as much overtime since springtime
• Spent more time with Kathleen
  
• Got back to exercising via starting to row with Kathleen
  
• Enjoyed being outside and on the water via rowing and kayaking
• Rekindled interest in birding, hydrology, and limnology
  

What didn't get done?

• No further work on our landscaping. Although Kathleen did uproot a bunch of bushes that had become overgrown.
• No real improvement in a self-organization system. Several attempts that produced some fruit, but weren't sustained.
• In spite of several week-long "staycations," very little career-related self-study investigations got off the ground
  

And, career wise, the Wells Fargo acquisition of my employer, Wachovia, is both presenting and forcing a re-assessment of my current trajectory within information technology, really software development. First Union, then Wachovia, have been fine places to do IT - each has had it's own strengths and weaknesses. Business practices had rather greater degrees of strength and weakness. A friend and coworker has posted rather stronger opinions. Early indications are that Wells may be a "better" spot for the software segments of IT.

So, as 2009 begins, what to focus on?

1. non-development aspects of application management? monitoring, SLA's, etc
2. funding models for teams?
3. people management?
4. further blah-blah-blah regarding SOA (besides just doing it)?
   
5. architecture?
   

One reason why DST stinks

I live west of where I work. I also tend to work late.

Driving into the sun at 7pm, 8pm, or 9pm really stinks.

Because 10% Empty doesn't work

My other (inactive) blog is hobby-focused. I never really wanted to start a personal blog because I don't think too many people would find it interesting at all. Plus, I haven't had much time for a personal life, so when would I do any posting?

Podcasting has given me some reason to do this. I wanted to share what I'm listening to with family members and friends. I also thought I might try helping to produce one.

I've also tried, unsuccessfully, before to get my youngest sister into blogging. She's much more entertaining and doing interesting things now. Maybe I'll have better luck this time.

I chose "1/4 Empty" because I'm really a "10% Empty" kinda guy but the latter doesn't roll off the tongue. Nor does it connect well to the "Is the glass 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?" common term. By nature, I'm very capable at most things I try to do, but always focus on the things I could have done better. 10% sounds a bit obscure, elitest, and actually not true. I'm usually in the 95-99 percentile anyway. "1/4 Empty" seems to be the best compromise.

Later!