I apologize for the funky audio.  I was experimenting with a new microphone and the gain was set way too high.

Related Links:

Minuteur
Pomodoro Technique

Automating the enforcement of laws by non-humans is dangerous ground. It starts to set in motion the erosion of “due process” we often take for granted. Increased revenue and more conscience drivers are wonderful, but not at the expense of eroding our liberties.

1. Non republican candidates

2. People under the age of 50

I find nothing wrong with people over 50 or republicans.  However, when you have a singular voice representing a diverse group of people you have a recipe for failure.  We have no one to blame but ourselves.

Arizona Town Hall is putting on “It’s Up To Me AZ: A Day of Civic Action” September 23rd.  I can’t say I agree with picking the “old guard” to lead the conversation, but I will give them credit for trying to get people involved.  If you have been frustrated with government and want a chance to be a part of the conversation this is a good starting point.  You won’t change the world here.  You won’t solve problems.  You will connect with people that can lead to both of those things.

Please remember the last day to register to vote in the primary is July 26th.  If you are not registered, please do so now.  It’s EASY.  Not even sure who is on your ballot?  Candidates can be found online.

Retrospective #29232

Background:

The team has been struggling with making hard commitments and hitting them.   Additionally, there have been a few projects seeing a higher than normal number of defects.  The team has been short staffed and just moved into a new building.  Team Members 8.

Constraints:

Being in a new building meant no whiteboards and an unconventional conference room setting.  All exercises had to be adjusted accordingly.

I like to give the team a schedule to keep me honest and from preventing overage.

Setting The Stage (5 Mins)

Asked each member of the team member to state whether they hit their commitment with a simple yes or no?  Followed by a single word that summed up their week.

• Bugs
• Productive
• Provisioning
• Defects
• Advisor TLC
• Frustrating
• WiFi

Gather Data (30 Mins)

Had the team do Triple Nickels.  Created 3 items influenced from what prevented meeting commitments from setting the stage and ask them to talk candidly about them. Note: 3 minutes and then pass (24 minutes plus setup time)

Three items were Defects, Commitment, Pace

Asked the following…

What did we notice?  What surprised us?  What met expectations?  What is missing?  What needs more examination?

Generate Insights (15 Mins)

Took the top three things listed from the what needs more examination.  Then split teams in two groups of 4 to brain storm items for things that they could do to address the issues.

• Where is time going and what are the consequences
• Where defects come from and how to deal with them better
• Simplest Solution Possible

Decide What To Do (30 Mins)

Had teams take their ideas and write them in the form of stories on index cards as part of the planning game.  Had each team prioritize their stories.  Then each team read off stories in alternating fashion to eliminate any duplicates.  Each team then was asked to task out what was necessary to complete the story for the top three stories and provide a “next action” for any remaining stories.

All stories and tasks were entered in Basecamp Todo list to be executed during next iteration.

Close (10 Mins)

Appreciations were made around the room.

Total Time (90 Mins)

Quick and dirty.  Less than optimal, but better than not having a retrospective because there was not a “good place” to execute it.

First, start booking quality, relevant shows in the performing arts centers.  It’s okay to step outside the family friendly box on occasion.   Second,  there is still a need for smaller venues to allow local artists to take root.  Third, get out and support the arts, you might be surprised what you find.

Background, if needed: http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2010/07/02/20100702mesa-theaters-arts.html

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
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The first ten amendments, better known as the bill of rights.  Many of the founding fathers including James Madison and Thomas Jefferson argued that the Constitution should not be ratified because it failed to protect the fundamental principles of human liberty.  It is acknowledgment of those human liberties that continues to set the United States of America from the rest of the world.

The best medicine for a fiasco like this is to be so damn good that it doesn’t matter.  Doesn’t make sense?  Let me give you some examples.

• Kobe Bryant – Accused rape
• Donald Trump – Multiple bankruptcies
• Chris Brown – Accused of hitting Rhianna
• Michael Vick – Convicted of animal abuse

All of these people were boycotted and shunned by society immediately following their misdeeds.  Their approach?  Lay low, let the dust blow over and come back as strong as ever.  SB1070 is a political matter.  The best thing any business can do to weather the storm of this bad press is to be better than the rest of the competition.  If you do that as a business the rest just doesn’t matter.  Time heals all wounds.

Some day the economic organizations in Arizona will be more focused on companies that perform at the highest level instead of trying to attract the hot date of the year.  So while all these groups spend their time trying to clean up the mess created by the state legislature; Arizona’s best companies will keep doing what they have always done.  Perform at the highest level.

If you are blaming SB1070 on how your company is performing, maybe you’re not the best at what you do?

[1] – http://blog.opportunitygreaterphoenix.com/?p=1910

Recently, I was listening to famed economist Richard Florida talk about what he sees in store for us in 2050.  He ends with “But I think by 2050, we’ll have a much more urban, a faster-paced world, a hopefully a more diverse world, and a world that I think at the bottom not only treats the natural resources and natural environment better, but really for the first time in history, really values human creativity and human beings.  And, you know, if we can leave that kind of world for our kids and grandkids, we’ll all be better off.”

I am excited for the day where we celebrate the human spirit and all that it encompasses, seeing every person not as a cog or a stepping stone, but as a person that should be valued for their uniqueness.  I hope that is the world that my grand kids are able to enjoy.