Anyhow, that said, I read his article on hiring programmers which says in essence that you want two things from your programmers: they need to be smart and they need to get things done. If you hire smart people who don't get things done, they won't build your business. If you hire people who get things done, but who aren't smart they'll be actively destroying your business with their stupid mistakes.
That was interesting, in and of itself, but it left me without a strong sense of which thing I am or could be. Smart, busy, both, neither? The relation to my life and my work history that struck me was this: Not all companies are actually interested in allowing people to BE smart and get things done. I've only ever worked in one that appreciated both. Other places I've worked wanted you to be smart and do nothing. Some wanted you to be active and wouldn't allow you the control to do things right. I think I now actually work in a place that will permit people to do good work, and it's an interesting feeling. Alot like having jumped off a cliff. Both exhilerating and terrifying. I can do good stuff here.
Now, am I smart? Do I get things done? We shall see, and seeing will feel a lot like personal growth. It does already, in fact.
Posted by karen at January 4, 2002 12:00 AM