Konstantin Tovstiadi

Socialchicks 99: We have moved!

nospam@example.com (Konstantin Tovstiadi) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:09:21 -0500

The chicks are moving to a new space - much more comfortable for them (Drupal 7 based)
Here's the new site: http://lensyoga.com/socialchicks (Alternatively, http://socialchicks.net gets you there, too)

Cartoon number 99: http://lensyoga.com/node/107

Socialchicks 98: Maturity

nospam@example.com (Konstantin Tovstiadi) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 11:42:45 -0500

Number 97 is a special edition prepared for Thanksgiving; so I am saving it for later and moving on to 98.

Socialchicks 96: Cognition

nospam@example.com (Konstantin Tovstiadi) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 09:27:24 -0500

Socialchicks 95: Service

nospam@example.com (Konstantin Tovstiadi) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 11:37:04 -0400

Socialchicks 94: Future

nospam@example.com (Konstantin Tovstiadi) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 10:52:21 -0400

Drawing the line

nospam@example.com (Konstantin Tovstiadi) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:50:28 -0400

When you are the only one in your unit with advanced computer skills, it is easy to be convinced that you are in a position of power and control. What better way to exercise the power than creating as many dependencies on your talents as possible and becoming indispensable?

But that is a very slippery slope, like all temptations of power. As you get carried away and take on more duties (run the server - update the server - install the CMS - update the CMS - run the web site - run another web site - and so on and on), the amount of time you can spend on each inevitably declines. Your time is spread thin, as is your knowledge and familiarity with the projects - a passing fix here, a quick patch there.

So when the things start breaking, you are absolutely screwed. Each demands more attention than you can spare and more knowledge than you have. It is a vicious circle - a pyramid scheme where you manage to cheat yourself out of all the advantages of your privileged knowledgeable position, and instead appear to your colleagues, at the end of all your failures, as an incompetent fraud who doesn't know how to handle the challenges and meet deadlines.

So draw the line early. If you are a one (wo)man team, take on just enough for one, not more. Focus on the projects where you know the most and delegate or kill the others. Play it like a chess game - look at every piece on the board, determine the strength of your position, and move all your pieces to strike in one place, not all over the board.

Spread yourself too thin, and you will never have enough time to focus on one thing long enough to become really good at it. And you will never truly enjoy your work if you are not good at what you do.

Socialchicks 93: Caffeine

nospam@example.com (Konstantin Tovstiadi) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 09:31:41 -0400

Socialchicks 92: Extension

nospam@example.com (Konstantin Tovstiadi) — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:46:39 -0400

Socialchicks 91: Outreach

nospam@example.com (Konstantin Tovstiadi) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:02:53 -0400

Socialchicks 90: International

nospam@example.com (Konstantin Tovstiadi) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 10:20:48 -0400

Socialchicks 89: Paradox

nospam@example.com (Konstantin Tovstiadi) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 10:16:42 -0400

Socialchicks 88: Recruitment

nospam@example.com (Konstantin Tovstiadi) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 14:43:51 -0400

Socialchicks 87: Diplomacy

nospam@example.com (Konstantin Tovstiadi) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 11:59:05 -0400

Socialchicks 86: Program

nospam@example.com (Konstantin Tovstiadi) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 08:44:56 -0400

Socialchicks 85: Overalls

nospam@example.com (Konstantin Tovstiadi) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 09:55:55 -0400

Inspired by Jaron Lanier's "You Are Not a Gadget", a very worthy read. Here's a good review of it at The Economist.