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Work at the edge of your range

blog.ayjay.org

11–20 of 44 posts

Re: Work at the edge of your range

#11
This is, for programmers at any rate, terrible advice and something many noob programmers do. If some code is right at the edge of your range then you are not bright enough to refactor it later. I can't say it is a good idea for singers either although I wouldn't know really. Even the best professional sports persons play 'within themselves' only rarely having to super-extend.

Re: Work at the edge of your range

#12

"Unless, of course you ruin your voice, but let's not think about that possibility." Yeah, of course. Let's not think about it. Except for we should. Here is my view. Introduce balance in your life - push yourself for a limited amount of time per day, pursuing a specific goal, and do it intelligently. Like when you are in the gym - lift more than you should for longer than you should and get to enjoy 6 months of tend…

This holds true for nearly all physical activities. Was mountain biking in Whistler a couple weekends ago, and my riding mate broke his collarbone due to riding a trail that was at the edge of his range.

Re: Work at the edge of your range

#14
post #12

"Unless, of course you ruin your voice, but let's not think about that possibility." Yeah, of course. Let's not think about it. Except for we should. Here is my view. Introduce balance in your life - push yourself for a limited amount of time per day, pursuing a specific goal, and do it intelligently. Like when you are in the gym - lift more than you should for longer than you should and get to enjoy 6 months of tend…

This holds true for nearly all physical activities. Was mountain biking in Whistler a couple weekends ago, and my riding mate broke his collarbone due to riding a trail that was at the edge of his range.

But glory...

Re: Work at the edge of your range

#15

"Resource Limit Is Reached"... Wow, this guy really practices what he preaches. But, seriously, why not use Blogger. Operates at Google scale, absolutely free.

This got a chuckle out of me.

Really though, what does this mean for people who work in Software?

Take a more complicated project than you think you can handle?

More speaking engagements (assuming you don't do that regularly?) Asking people out to lunch?

Hard to say.

Re: Work at the edge of your range

#17
post #15

"Resource Limit Is Reached"... Wow, this guy really practices what he preaches. But, seriously, why not use Blogger. Operates at Google scale, absolutely free.

This got a chuckle out of me. Really though, what does this mean for people who work in Software? Take a more complicated project than you think you can handle? More speaking engagements (assuming you don't do that regularly?) Asking people out to lunch? Hard to say.

I think you have the right idea. Here are my interpretations:

- never take a job for which you meet all of the "required skills and experience" (e.g. look for jobs in which there is at least one new technology in the stack)

- never take on a project that's a rehash of one you've done before

It's never bad idea to get paid to learn something new.

Re: Work at the edge of your range

#18
post #15

"Resource Limit Is Reached"... Wow, this guy really practices what he preaches. But, seriously, why not use Blogger. Operates at Google scale, absolutely free.

This got a chuckle out of me. Really though, what does this mean for people who work in Software? Take a more complicated project than you think you can handle? More speaking engagements (assuming you don't do that regularly?) Asking people out to lunch? Hard to say.

It's basically the tried and true idea that progress and growth comes from difficult exertion of one form or another. If the muscle isn't ever tired, it probably isn't getting stronger. If there is no uncertainty in how to solve any parts of the problem, one won't learn as much.

Fortunately, difficulty is often correlated with interestingness (not always though).

Re: Work at the edge of your range

#19
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This got a chuckle out of me. Really though, what does this mean for people who work in Software? Take a more complicated project than you think you can handle? More speaking engagements (assuming you don't do that regularly?) Asking people out to lunch? Hard to say.

I think you have the right idea. Here are my interpretations: - never take a job for which you meet all of the "required skills and experience" (e.g. look for jobs in which there is at least one new technology in the stack) - never take on a project that's a rehash of one you've done before It's never bad idea to get paid to learn something new.

Take a software job that requires you to change roles from those you know, or take the lead, adding responsibility in one or more ways:

- technical expertise (esp a subject new to you)

- project time management

- project cost estimating

- writing up and publishing your work

- coordinating resources for new contracts

- writing proposals for new projects

- speaking publicly in promotion of what you will do or in explanation of what you have done

- exploring / growing a new business area

There are many ways in software to expand your range.

Re: Work at the edge of your range

#20

"Unless, of course you ruin your voice, but let's not think about that possibility." Yeah, of course. Let's not think about it. Except for we should. Here is my view. Introduce balance in your life - push yourself for a limited amount of time per day, pursuing a specific goal, and do it intelligently. Like when you are in the gym - lift more than you should for longer than you should and get to enjoy 6 months of tend…

Waaaay back when I was in AIESEC (fervent sort of student sales-training / exchange organization) someone drew a fantastically simple little diagram. It was three circles, one inside the other.

The inner-most was labeled "comfort zone." The second was labeled "discomfort zone." The third was "panic zone." Outside the third was "the universe."

The presenter argued that you never got rid of your "discomfort zone" or your "panic zone," but you could slowly expand your "comfort zone" by venturing into your "discomfort zone," essentially making things comfortable that used to be uncomfortable to you, and stretching your boundaries. As long as you don't stray into panic zone, you'd be ok. And as long as you keep doing this, your little circles would encompass more and more of the universe.

So an example - you're trying to learn guitar. You are extremely uncomfortable about playing in front of other people, so first you force yourself to play in front of your romantic partner. That eventually becomes comfortable, and so you play in front of some close friends. Over time, you're finally comfortable enough to play an open mic night... and so on.

But, if you had gone straight from beginner to open mic night, with nothing in between, you might have gone into a full blown panic, and permanently associated guitar playing with the sheer panic scenario of open mic night with no prior context, and forever ruined the hobby for you.

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