Link? I remember there was a kickstarter.
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I got the Cherry MX Blue switches on this one, and, er, I also have a Cherry MX Green set on my work machine. I didn’t want to admit that I’ve spent that much on something so… pedestrian as a keyboard but I write! a lot! You’ll hear all about that next week!
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Hey, just wanted to say I saw this question, been thinking about it, but haven’t had sufficiently long break to respond properly to it. To respond quickly & improperly: software engineering typically hires based on algorithms, which have surprisingly little practical application in the production of modern software. One of the effects of this is to create a relatively high (intellectual & educational) barrier to entry and to undervalue more day-to-day aspects of being a good software engineer.
As to what the alternatives are, I remember an old carpenter roommate pursuing his journeyman, a kind of thing that probably better reflects a wide range of skills, dedication, and history in his work. It’s unclear why software wouldn’t pursue similar forms of accreditation, other than established interests (like myself) having formed long careers where the particular, whiteboard-quiz-like interviews have played to their strengths.
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Hi Everybody. I’m mdh. I’m an Environmental Scientist. Been at it for… sheesh. since 1996 at least.
Wonder. If I ever lost my sense of wonder I’d be screwed. It humbles me, and lets me see my part in a much larger industry, and know that -collectively- we’re making the world a safer place for all of us. It’s the bridge between the daily grind and the credit I’d probably like to get for single-handedly saving the world. None of us can save the world, but together we can push back and solve the problems. That’s a real source of wonder for me, it’s one of the few things in this world I have faith in.
The challenge to learn new things. I’m a learner.
I’m one who tries to add to my personal toolkit, so after all these years I am as comfortable working in a labcoat and glasses in a gas chromatography lab as I am on a roof cutting cores to look for hazmat as I am in waders electrofishing, as I am behind a computer putting together the budget for a 150K project to solve a problem I’ve never laid my own eyes on (see communication and trust, above), as I am in a boardroom giving a technical presentation to people in 5,000 dollar suits.
I’m a socially anxious person who has had some low self esteem - I have an awful stutter sometimes - but I just push myself into these situations by saying yes I can do that - and I must be good enough as I keep moving up the ladder. It’s a perk to be recognized as skilled at something I’ve worked to get good at. I don;t count the compliments from other people, I look at the body of my work.
Another perk is the local travel. I’ve been in nearly every town hall in my state, and met local government public safety officials across my region - and those are good people. It really is a huge perk, to meet so many people with similar motivation to me, all part of the solution.
Ask me anything!
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This AMA starts 11//17
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I work professionally as an instructional designer at a major engineering company. I write online courses about barcode scanning devices for the sales people and technical people who support these complicated sales. I have worked professionally as a technical writer prior to this, for many software and engineering companies, including 3 startups that were bought out by larger companies during the time I worked there.
For the past two years I have been starting my own online company combining my love of yoga with my tech skills. My company is called Sadhana. I realized there were a lot of yoga teachers who wanted to get into business online but were overwhelmed by the techie parts and the business parts, and that I liked the idea of helping my friends make money doing the thing they love.
I started this company up while I was in grad school for engineering management. The school I was at is also an entrepreneurship incubator.
It’s taken me a little while to work out my business idea and I’m still in the process of figuring it out, but right now what I’m working on, and what I think will stick, is developing online courses and membership sites.
I have four courses in development. I have two instructional designers working with me to put these courses together. I have my own course about linking the movements of yoga to the movements you are always making as you breathe (in other words, how to go from a beginner to an intermediate level yogi), one called 8 Minutes to Inner Peace which teaches a sequence of 8 yoga breathing techniques to help balance your energy, one in Coherent Breathing - slowing your breathing to 5 breaths per minute, and another on Nonviolent Communications. All by expert teachers. We just split the profits 3 ways. The designers and subject matter experts have done the work for free for me in exchange for us reaping the profits down the road.
I’ve been learning about online marketing and promotion, and about the software that is out there for entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs don’t use the stuff professionals use. Instead of Adobe products they create graphics in Canva. Instead of Skype they use Zoom. Instead of custom learning servers they use a few platforms. I use Invanto, which I’ll talk about more if people are interested.
What is the one skill that is indispensable to your work?
Making friends and relying on them. It is a really really long haul to go into business. I cannot tell you have many times I have felt like it was time to give it up. Always at those moments someone came along and helped me keep moving forward.
Also the legal and business things I have had to learn and having friends with those skills who have also given me a lot of help for free has been so so useful.
The first step in getting started was realizing how much support I have and being willing to use it.
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The AMA for me was always scheduled at 11/11 and @mdh was always set for 11/17. I haven’t modified the wiki. You can look at the history of the edits.
He seems to have misread the dates - either the 1 and 7 look similar in his browser or just looked down one line on the lineup list.
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