Hello!
Each year seems to steadily wind-up until September, for me.
But post-conference season (though, I do admit I have one more gig to go in December) is always a time of conscious reflection. Yes, sure, the year’s not quite done yet, however, I start to make some space for thinking about how things are going and what’s next.
And gauging whether something is going good or ‘must try harder’ is a personal viewpoint, which leads us to my question for you this week…
(An open question seeking open answers: Position? Earnings? Qualifications? Meaningful work? Some other result? Something else entirely?)
Hit reply, and let me know—I’m genuinely curious for your answer (and would like to learn more about you and what makes your career tick)
One you’ve done that, you can move onto this weeks What? Who? Where? When? Why? and How?.
WHAT about those of us who prevent problems in the first place?
Organizations are constantly handling short-term urgent problems and thanking the people who show up to save the day. Instead of being drawn to the response to restore things to normal, analysts can achieve greater impact if they adopt the habit of looking for ways to stop problems from happening.
Are you known for saving the day, or for keeping the day from needing saving? | Adriana Beale (Text at Modern Analyst)
WHO wouldn’t have given up by their fiftieth attempt?
Six years after developing more than fifty mobile games that failed to make an impact, Rovio’s 52nd game showed up in various Top 10 Apps and Game Charts. More than four million downloads after it was first released, Angry Birds is the hit game that was an unexpected success.
Angry birds—More than one way to the box office | Joe Newbert (Text at Newbert’s Blog)
WHERE can you reuse your requirements?
Reuse is an eternal grail for those who seek increased software productivity. People think most often in terms of code reuse, but many other software project components also have reuse potential. Reusing requirements can increase productivity, improve quality, and lead to greater consistency between related systems.
Reuse Software Requirements to Save Time and Money | Karl Wiegers (Text at Medium)
WHEN will the business understand just how I can help?
If I had a dollar for every time I heard somebody complain about how business analysis just isn’t understood in their organization, I’d probably be very rich indeed. But, by turning a mirror on our own practice, and by analysing our discipline as a business we can start to focus on the value that our stakeholders are seeking.
The Business of Business Analysis | Adrian Reed (Text at BA Times)
WHY aren’t my ideas being met with enthusiasm?
Storytelling can make or break any initiative. A poor storyteller can butcher even the best ideas, while a strong storyteller can present a daunting concept with care and compassion for their audience.It will take practice, but when done well, good storytelling can make a major impact.
Storytelling Can Make or Break Your Leadership | Jeff Gothelf (Text at Harvard Business Review)
HOW can I better handle my personal fears?
In the chapter on “Nerves,” the discussion turned to the kinds of anxieties that I face, and I think most people face, even if they aren’t auditioning for an acting role. Because if we aren’t “auditioning” for an acting role, we find ourselves in many situations that are auditions of some sort, in all areas of our lives.
From the World of Acting Auditions, Advice About How to Deal with Nerves, Anxiety, and Self-Doubt | Gretchen Rubin (Text at Gretchen Rubin)
Until next Sunday, keep growing,
— Joe
Chief Training Officer at the Business Change Academy
Editor for Inter-View Report and Podcast Host on OneSixEight FM.
P.S. What does success look like for you?