7 Habits of Successful Software Engineers

For software engineers and other talented types

Ken NelsonPresident

Scitools.com nelson@scitools.comNiftyBytes.com nelson@niftybytes.com

Alternately….

How to contribute

Have secure employment

And have fun.

Because being a key part of a successful venture is fun.

Why you should listen to me

B.S. C.S. and Mathematics

Army Enlisted, NCO, and Officer

Serial Software Entrepreneur

Hired … and fired… many dozens over the years

Question?

Why did you choose computer science?

Like video gamesStable career, good opportunitiesCan’t imagine doing anything else

Let’s DiscussWhat makes someone succeed (in a software

job/project) I asked my staff this… I’ll tell you what they said

after we discuss it

Traits of Success

Work hard…or fail you will

No substitute for elbow grease

Work more than required

Be positive

Thankful for work

Hard work is as easy as easy work

#1 problem we see in new hires

Others…get along with you must.

Keep focus away from people

The problem with “YOUR” algorithm is…

The problem with that is….

The algorithm needs…

It’s pretty clever, I worry about memory use.

BE POSITIVE…

DO NOT PERSONALIZE!

Work dumb not.Smart work, only work is.

Most software projects are HUGE

Like learning a song…

Working Smart

Spend 5% to 10% of your time figuring out what the problem is and how you will solve it.

DO NOT RUSH TO IMPLEMENT!

No matter what this guy says

Working smart

Do the hardest part(the solo at 3:54)

Or

Do the biggest visible payoff(the chords you can sing with)

Know yourself. The mirror

you must look.

Review Yourself

After action reviews / self-assessment

What went right?

What went wrong?

What tools?

What people and/or training?

Look in that mirror

Learn…forever must you.

Love what you do

Learn to learn

Continue to learn

LEARN

LEARN

LEARN

Learn ANYTYHING

Beware Chaos…The dark side it is.

Good programmer?

Order

Chaos

Which would you like to work on?

3 minutes

Write a synopsis of the last big project you did for school or work?

Is it:Organized?Clear?Concise?Understandable?

Does anybody want to read theirs to the class?

Know what you need to do

Russ Armstrong’s Whiteboard

Keep ToDo Lists!

2nd biggest problem we have with new hires

Begin…you must to reach end.

All projects have a first line of code

Why not write it now?

Procrastination makes it worse

Have initiative, be assertive.

DO SOMETHING!

3rd biggest problem we see with new hires

To Get here…

Start here.

7 Habits of Successful Software Engineers

Work Hard

Get Along with Others

Work Smart

Evaluate yourself, not others

Keep on learning (professional and personal)

You cannot be organized enough

Have initiative

Questions…

Ask freely

As long as you like

Technical, Business, or Personal

And later, feel free to e-mail me:

nelson@scitools.comnelson@niftybytes.com