My first project at Pivotal Labs was with a company called Mavenlink. Their site went live a few days ago and I've got a green light to put the word out on the blogospere, so here it is: http://www.mavenlink.com.
What is it? Think "Craigslist gigs meets legitimacy". It's aimed at contract work and is a little more tailored towards the legal/financial crowd, but works just as well with any tech jobs you may have.
How do I use it? Let's say you need some work done, like you need some tax work or you need someone to update some web content. You post your project along with what you expect to pay, and then sit back and wait for the mavens to come along. They'll make bids, tell you when they can deliver the goods. You'll make a counter bid or pick the maven that fits your needs. You can collaborate on the site,and the maven's work is reasonably secured but viewable until you fork over the cash through Paypal. Then Mavenlink releases the assets and both sides get what they want with less risk than ordinary email.
I was on the project for just over a month, and my involvement was only a small part of a larger and longer team effort. The guys on the Mavenlink side were awesome to work with, both on a business side and "getting Agile", as well as the human beings that are fun to work with side. Their goal with this release is to get a lot of feedback and continue to add the features that buyers and mavens need to do business safely and effectively, so don't hesitate to talk to them and suggest features. So go on, make a MavenBid!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Shameless Shown to Differ From Confidence
Lara pointed out that I have no shame, and while there's some overlap with being confident, it isn't the same.
I have no shame. It lets me yell in public, dance, and hump people's legs as a greeting. It keeps me from getting flustered when someone has something negative to say. Yet it isn't confidence.
I think confidence must be what it is like to have no shame, and to be suave about it. It's a certain charisma, a certain deciceiveness. It's having a plan, but being able to improvise. It's knowing everything and reacting quickly, fluidly. It is also about knowing that someone wants to talk to you, about holding their attention in a conversation.
Confidence is more than standing up straight or how you walk. There's something else to it, something I can't put my finger on... It's like a good comedian tells a joke and he knows when, where, and how the laught will come before he even starts.
I have no shame. It lets me yell in public, dance, and hump people's legs as a greeting. It keeps me from getting flustered when someone has something negative to say. Yet it isn't confidence.
I think confidence must be what it is like to have no shame, and to be suave about it. It's a certain charisma, a certain deciceiveness. It's having a plan, but being able to improvise. It's knowing everything and reacting quickly, fluidly. It is also about knowing that someone wants to talk to you, about holding their attention in a conversation.
Confidence is more than standing up straight or how you walk. There's something else to it, something I can't put my finger on... It's like a good comedian tells a joke and he knows when, where, and how the laught will come before he even starts.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Touch Type Shame
Software engineers type a lot. I kind of know how to type without looking at my hands, but I don't exercise that enough. So what I do is some crazy combo of hunt and peck and real touch typing. The result is that I have a good feel for where the keys are, but since my hand doesn't have a constant home, I don't know exactly where the keys are in relation to my hands.
Everyone at my office can touch type but me. So I've decided to learn. Now I am playing a game on the BBC's website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/. It kind of reminds me of Pa' Rappa the Rappa in a way.
This post was typed very slowly, but without looking at my hands.
Everyone at my office can touch type but me. So I've decided to learn. Now I am playing a game on the BBC's website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/. It kind of reminds me of Pa' Rappa the Rappa in a way.
This post was typed very slowly, but without looking at my hands.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Delicious Cereal
I finally found a grocery store in the Bay Area that sells Peanut Butter Cap 'n Crunch!!! It's been almost a whole year. I've missed you Cap 'n.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Ten Percent
For the 10,119 days I've been alive, I now have over 1,100 blog entries as documentation of my life. Some are one liners, some are just thoughts not tied directly to my day-to-day. On the other end, I couldn't write for the first few years of my life, and the next few after that probably aren't that interesting. My hope is to continue to increase the ratio of documentation to days.
The drawback to all this writing, is that it can be hard to go through it all. It'd be a hard sell to ask someone to read 1,000 pages of anything let alone the uncoordinated writings of someone. I guess that's why blogs work. I can generate a lot of informaiton, that you can read incrementally. It's like the newspaper meets autobiography.
The drawback to all this writing, is that it can be hard to go through it all. It'd be a hard sell to ask someone to read 1,000 pages of anything let alone the uncoordinated writings of someone. I guess that's why blogs work. I can generate a lot of informaiton, that you can read incrementally. It's like the newspaper meets autobiography.
Monday, April 6, 2009
#10118 - Rocks, Girls, and Randy
My personal climbing was at a 5.8 tonight. I tried that 5.10 I went up last time and only got a few holds up. I don't know what magic I was working before, but it was not there this time. Rosey came along, and we also picked up a stray climber, Randy. Randy grew up in Hawaii and is a life coach now. Rosey and I both agree that being a life coach would be a good job, but that you kinda have to have your own life together before you can run around doling out advice. Randy and I exchanged numbers, so hopefully I'll climb with him again.
The other thing going through my mind lately is that it's Spring. Spring is generally a bad time for me and dating. Fall is my champion, but probably because I'm trying all Spring and Summer and finally something comes through in September-ish. This go-around could be particularly frustrating since I've been without any kind of girlfriend since early November (six months). But there were some cute girls out tonight. Taking some of my own advice, I should have said "hello" instead of thinking about how to say "hello". It's easy, and if you panic, one can always say "Hi" instead and save three whole letters. But instead I rode BART quietly with my headphones in my ear holes letting life pass me by.
The other thing going through my mind lately is that it's Spring. Spring is generally a bad time for me and dating. Fall is my champion, but probably because I'm trying all Spring and Summer and finally something comes through in September-ish. This go-around could be particularly frustrating since I've been without any kind of girlfriend since early November (six months). But there were some cute girls out tonight. Taking some of my own advice, I should have said "hello" instead of thinking about how to say "hello". It's easy, and if you panic, one can always say "Hi" instead and save three whole letters. But instead I rode BART quietly with my headphones in my ear holes letting life pass me by.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Adventure for #10117: The Kindness of Friends
Yesterday, I was unexpectedly carless. My intention had been to rent a car locally when I got to the airport, but since I never made it to the airport, I never got a car. Instead I became went into the care of the Brunos. I was comfortable leaning on them because I had lived with Matt I one summer and had this seen Christina a few times. Also, like me, they weren't from Cinci, so I knew that they would be
Looking for ways to pass the time between brunch and the wedding.
Christina did a fabulous job of putting up with the Will/Bruno antics, most of which involved gang signs and call outs related to Norwood, which we passed several times. I haveno explanation for our action other than of was rediculous and funny. So I had to drop my pride a bit to depend on someone else, but it was much better experience to catch up with them than to drive alone.
At the wedding towards the end of the reception, Jess asked if I had a ride back to my hotel. I did not since the Brunos had left at that point. She offered to take me back, I took a breath.
Back story made super short: Jess and I dated back in college for over two years. We keep in touch mostly through events like this that the old fencing crew is attending. She's now seeing a great guy, Jeff, for a couple of years now and I imagine they'll tie the knot soon enough. There's no bitterness on either side, but for me, I get a bit squeemish when someone drags up a habit or memory that I shared with her. Like my friend Josh, I don't like feeling out of my place, so I try to keep my contact with her at a friendly minimum.
I did need a ride though, and Sadie was riding with, so with great hesitation I accepted. It was ok, I didn't die, I didn't put my foot in my mouth either. This morning, Jeff picked me up at the hotel, and Jess cooked breakfast for the four of us. It was delecious and more time with friends than I initially counted on.
And I was further humbled when
Jeff drove the four of us to the airport to drop me off. It's at least a thirty minute trip and they'd have to go back later to drop off Sadie who didn't leave till eight.
What I think feels uneasy about kindness like this is that it's how I expect myself to act for others. What I don't expect is to need the help of those around me. I view myself as a provider, so it goes againt my self image to accept help. I'm fortunate enough to have friends who find ways to help me anyway.
Looking for ways to pass the time between brunch and the wedding.
Christina did a fabulous job of putting up with the Will/Bruno antics, most of which involved gang signs and call outs related to Norwood, which we passed several times. I haveno explanation for our action other than of was rediculous and funny. So I had to drop my pride a bit to depend on someone else, but it was much better experience to catch up with them than to drive alone.
At the wedding towards the end of the reception, Jess asked if I had a ride back to my hotel. I did not since the Brunos had left at that point. She offered to take me back, I took a breath.
Back story made super short: Jess and I dated back in college for over two years. We keep in touch mostly through events like this that the old fencing crew is attending. She's now seeing a great guy, Jeff, for a couple of years now and I imagine they'll tie the knot soon enough. There's no bitterness on either side, but for me, I get a bit squeemish when someone drags up a habit or memory that I shared with her. Like my friend Josh, I don't like feeling out of my place, so I try to keep my contact with her at a friendly minimum.
I did need a ride though, and Sadie was riding with, so with great hesitation I accepted. It was ok, I didn't die, I didn't put my foot in my mouth either. This morning, Jeff picked me up at the hotel, and Jess cooked breakfast for the four of us. It was delecious and more time with friends than I initially counted on.
And I was further humbled when
Jeff drove the four of us to the airport to drop me off. It's at least a thirty minute trip and they'd have to go back later to drop off Sadie who didn't leave till eight.
What I think feels uneasy about kindness like this is that it's how I expect myself to act for others. What I don't expect is to need the help of those around me. I view myself as a provider, so it goes againt my self image to accept help. I'm fortunate enough to have friends who find ways to help me anyway.
Adventure for #10116: Marriage
I'm thinking about composing a short autobiography for publishing about adventures; the pretense being that if you want to have an adventure, you must leave something behind.
This Saturday, my friend Kyle, who I call Whitey, began his adventure in marriage. He left behind a certain amount of freedom, a level at which I can assume he's comfortable with at this stage of his relationship. But he also left behind lonliness. You may think, "Will, no one wants lonliness, he's not really giving that up." For Whitey that may be true. For me, it is true that I ultimatly do not want to be lonely, but at this point in my life I wonder how much of myself I define through being single.
On the up side, I can travel by the seat of my pants like I did the day before, making up life as it comes, and I don't have to worry about what anyone else wants to do. I get to have adventures like losing my hat on St. Patrick's Day. And when someone asks me if I'm happy I always have an answer that says I've got room to move up. I think it keeps me humble; if I had the trifecta: great job, great social life, and a great mate, I'd become unbearably happy with life pretty quickly. I'm not ready to be lonely, I'm not ready to manage my happiness so that I remain approachable, I'm not ready to leave that behind just yet and have the adventure that Whitey is on. I admire him and all my married friends for being able to take those steps.
This Saturday, my friend Kyle, who I call Whitey, began his adventure in marriage. He left behind a certain amount of freedom, a level at which I can assume he's comfortable with at this stage of his relationship. But he also left behind lonliness. You may think, "Will, no one wants lonliness, he's not really giving that up." For Whitey that may be true. For me, it is true that I ultimatly do not want to be lonely, but at this point in my life I wonder how much of myself I define through being single.
On the up side, I can travel by the seat of my pants like I did the day before, making up life as it comes, and I don't have to worry about what anyone else wants to do. I get to have adventures like losing my hat on St. Patrick's Day. And when someone asks me if I'm happy I always have an answer that says I've got room to move up. I think it keeps me humble; if I had the trifecta: great job, great social life, and a great mate, I'd become unbearably happy with life pretty quickly. I'm not ready to be lonely, I'm not ready to manage my happiness so that I remain approachable, I'm not ready to leave that behind just yet and have the adventure that Whitey is on. I admire him and all my married friends for being able to take those steps.
Adventures for #10115
As expected, cab rides for 100 miles are expensive. I left SFO on time and arrived in Philly only to discover that my Cinci leg had been canceled. Balls. So I find the US Airways customer service where I'm greeted by a long line of grumpy travelers. I comiserate with one manwgo was on his way home to Akron (that alone might make me grumpy), and eventually make it up to the counter.
I'm informed that the cancelation is due to "weather", but I look outside where it's sunny and clear, my iPhone claims the same for Ohio and I later discover that a plane flew to Cinci at 1pm, just 3 hours earlier. As the cause was weather, the airline was not going to compensate me at all. I was subsequently put on standby for a flight to Cinci that was already going to be late, arriving at 11pm, and was already "very overbooked".
Sooooo, am I going to make of to Cinci today?
Well, tomorrow there's a flight, but that is also over sold.
What about Dayton?
Canceled.
Indianapolis?
No more flights today?
Louisville?
Columbus?
I can put you on stand by for that too if you'd like.
Yes, please.
It's also over sold by the way.
I think this is how people come to a point where they want to kick puppies. The situation looks grim. I ask my phone how long the drive is from Philly to Cinci... 10 hours. It's four o'clock now, and my body is three hours behind, I could make that drive if I wanted. But I want to drive 10 hours as much as I want to wipe my ass with twelve grit sand paper.
I breifly entertain the idea of staying in the Philly area since Jersey Girl lives just two hours away. She called me back after a text and basically it was the worst possible weekend for her. It made me a little sad, but made my choice easy. So I went to Avis car rental who made my choice even easier: econo car, one way = $375 plus $200 damage deposit, which I didn't have.
Back to customer service. Yay. The Cinci flight is now delayed till midnight, but the Columbus flight is a lock if I want it. I take it. I assume that I can get a cheaper rental in Columbus to take me the two hours to Cinci where I have a hotel I've already paid for.
Hahaha! What a fool I am!
I land in Columbus at midnight. Here they're offering to rent me a car for $250 plus the damage deposit. Still out of range. "Are there any shuttles?" I ask. "You can take a taxi I think."
Thanks for your help, not!
So now I have my haggle pants on. It's 1am and I just want to go to bed. I'm losing $70 on my hotel room if I don't go there, and a hotel at the airport would be at least $100. Plus I'd still have to get to Cinci. The only phone number for someone in Cinci an ex girlfriend and I don't want to wake her up to drive 4 hours for my lost ass.
Taxi it is. So I ask the guy at the taxi line what a cab ride to Cinci would run me. He tells me, I choke a little bit. But we conspire together since it's the middle of the night and there's a whole line of cabs doing nothing but burning gas and waiting. The price was
High enough that I was able to _save_ a hundred bucks on the fare.
And ninty minutes later I was at my hotel. In Cincinnati. And I've sworn off travel until the next time.
I'm informed that the cancelation is due to "weather", but I look outside where it's sunny and clear, my iPhone claims the same for Ohio and I later discover that a plane flew to Cinci at 1pm, just 3 hours earlier. As the cause was weather, the airline was not going to compensate me at all. I was subsequently put on standby for a flight to Cinci that was already going to be late, arriving at 11pm, and was already "very overbooked".
Sooooo, am I going to make of to Cinci today?
Well, tomorrow there's a flight, but that is also over sold.
What about Dayton?
Canceled.
Indianapolis?
No more flights today?
Louisville?
Columbus?
I can put you on stand by for that too if you'd like.
Yes, please.
It's also over sold by the way.
I think this is how people come to a point where they want to kick puppies. The situation looks grim. I ask my phone how long the drive is from Philly to Cinci... 10 hours. It's four o'clock now, and my body is three hours behind, I could make that drive if I wanted. But I want to drive 10 hours as much as I want to wipe my ass with twelve grit sand paper.
I breifly entertain the idea of staying in the Philly area since Jersey Girl lives just two hours away. She called me back after a text and basically it was the worst possible weekend for her. It made me a little sad, but made my choice easy. So I went to Avis car rental who made my choice even easier: econo car, one way = $375 plus $200 damage deposit, which I didn't have.
Back to customer service. Yay. The Cinci flight is now delayed till midnight, but the Columbus flight is a lock if I want it. I take it. I assume that I can get a cheaper rental in Columbus to take me the two hours to Cinci where I have a hotel I've already paid for.
Hahaha! What a fool I am!
I land in Columbus at midnight. Here they're offering to rent me a car for $250 plus the damage deposit. Still out of range. "Are there any shuttles?" I ask. "You can take a taxi I think."
Thanks for your help, not!
So now I have my haggle pants on. It's 1am and I just want to go to bed. I'm losing $70 on my hotel room if I don't go there, and a hotel at the airport would be at least $100. Plus I'd still have to get to Cinci. The only phone number for someone in Cinci an ex girlfriend and I don't want to wake her up to drive 4 hours for my lost ass.
Taxi it is. So I ask the guy at the taxi line what a cab ride to Cinci would run me. He tells me, I choke a little bit. But we conspire together since it's the middle of the night and there's a whole line of cabs doing nothing but burning gas and waiting. The price was
High enough that I was able to _save_ a hundred bucks on the fare.
And ninty minutes later I was at my hotel. In Cincinnati. And I've sworn off travel until the next time.
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