Hi all,
And welcome to the end of the week at www.implementingscrum.com.
I spent the day in Washington, DC today meeting with a client I worked for over a year ago. Since we last met, the staff has seen an almost complete turnover and it sounds like I may need to pop in for some inspection and adaption — and have a lot of fun with this team along the way.
Also wanted to let you know of a New YouTube Video I put up tonight. It is really a test file and I’d love your feedback.
It is a gentleman talking about his experiences in one of my recent Certified ScrumMaster Classes (it is under five minutes and chock full of fun!).
I guess you could call it a video testimonial.
There is a lot of background noise but for the little Flip Mino on a tripod, it seemed to work really well.
I am sure it will get better over time as we all learn this together!
If YOU are interested in recording either a call or video with me, please contact me and we’ll see what we can do to make it happen.
Peace Out.
Thank you!
- mike vizdos
www.michaelvizdos.com
www.implementingscrum.com
p.s. And remember… If you or your friends [or enemies] have not signed up for FREE updates to this blog, please Subscribe to Implementing Scrum via Email!
Hi.
[This is a message from the heart / full transparency "on" / and not specific to Scrum --- more of the "State of the Site at www.implementingscrum.com and, "Where do we take it in the future...."]
Last week I asked a specific question that I have received a ton of feedback as of today (thank you to everyone who responded).
For people who have been regular readers of this blog for a while, I hope you can tell that I am constantly “creating” this site using feedback from you — inspecting and adapting — eating my own dog food as it were. For new readers, please expect this trend to continue.
If you have not noticed… I have removed all google advertising from the site; per feedback from you I thought this would be best (even though it was a car payment [plus] a month in revenue!).
And, the site as it stands today (and in the future) the blog entries and comics will continue to be “free” (just your time, which I appreciate) in the future.
Please continue to tell your friends and teams around the universe about this site (thank you). If you have not done so already, now is a great time (smile).
As you may not realize, I own a company (Vizdos Enterprises, LLC) and work around the world helping clients Implement Scrum at all levels in hundreds — at this point probably over a thousand — of locations.
I am also a Certified Scrum Trainer (one of less than 50 in this great Universe) and spend a lot of time on the road doing the CSM Workshops (although it is not my main revenue stream).
I will be in more than 30 cities in the USA between now and the end of the year.
And I have some plans to head overseas too.
Lots of travel. And that is what is just currently booked.
I need to update both the Scrum Alliance site with these new dates, along with my public google calendar.
Be sure if you are in the USA I should be arriving to a city near you!
I DO have a family and one of my personal goals is to start to cut back on travel again.
My five and eight year old boys are growing up. And… for anyone who travels extensively… you know how this works. If you are interested in doing what I do, we can talk about the pros and cons anytime!
This is where I need you (sorry for the long intro… but this is like having a one way conversation!).
The results of the “voting” for more blog entries were positive. Both as they stand today and in more video/audio formats.
And, starting next week you will start to see different flavors of them being produced more often (maybe more than Dominc (my oldest son) and I doing youtube videos.
There will be other avenues and distribution channels over time.
Again… inspect and adapt.
The comic strips and blog entires about those comic strips will continue to be free.
This next part is not a sales pitch — it is to gain serious interest (although you may consider it a pitch).
I am starting a “Premium Content” area of the site.
Ah.
That means dinero/cash/euros/whatever out of your pocket (or your company or organization).
I am looking for a limited number of people who would be interested in becoming “Charter Members” of the Premium Content area of implementingscrum.com.
I will request each of the limited Charter Members pay a fee, and, in return this fee will continue to remain the same forever for you (if the price goes up, you will pay the same subscription amount as long as you are a member).
I am looking for an initial three month commitment from you (and me) to actually “test” some new features as they are developed.
So, in addition to becoming “Charter Members” you will help guide the content and delivery mechanisms for the future subscribers of the site — both “free” and “Premium”.
Are you interested in doing something like this with me?
The journey will be fun.
And — as a Charter Member — you will have a safe place as part of a new community to help yourself — and others — learn even more about Scrum and other Agile Practices.
I only want serious people who have a positive attitude and a true spirit of adventure.
Is that you?
If so, please let me know.
Who knows?
Heck, when I started this site I could not believe the impact that one person (actually two — Tony (the artist) and I) could have on an industry.
Change happens one person at a time.
And good Karma is always a good thing to possess, even if only for a millisecond of time in your life.
If you are interested, stop by www.implementingscrum.com/premium for a bit more information and sign-up to become a Charter Member for the Premium Content.
Risk free.
This is an incredibly limited opportunity and I will cut it off on or before June 30, 2008 for new Charter Members (if there is too great of a response, a waiting list will begin).
Part of this limitation is to take it in small steps and inspect and adapt along the way.
Thank you for reading all of this.
If you are not ready to sign-up as a Charter Member today, please pass this information on to others who may be interested.
I do sincerely appreciate it.
- mike vizdos
www.michaelvizdos.com
www.implementingscrum.com
PS: And remember… If you or your friends [or enemies] have not signed up for FREE updates to this blog, please Subscribe to Implementing Scrum via Email!
Hi.
[This is a message from the heart / full transparency "on" / and not specific to Scrum --- more of the "State of the Site at www.implementingscrum.com and, "Where do we take it in the future...."]
Last week I asked a specific question that I have received a ton of feedback as of today (thank you to everyone who responded).
For people who have been regular readers of this blog for a while, I hope you can tell that I am constantly “creating” this site using feedback from you — inspecting and adapting — eating my own dog food as it were. For new readers, please expect this trend to continue.
If you have not noticed… I have removed all google advertising from the site; per feedback from you I thought this would be best (even though it was a car payment [plus] a month in revenue!).
And, the site as it stands today (and in the future) the blog entries and comics will continue to be “free” (just your time, which I appreciate) in the future.
Please continue to tell your friends and teams around the universe about this site (thank you). If you have not done so already, now is a great time (smile).
As you may not realize, I own a company (Vizdos Enterprises, LLC) and work around the world helping clients Implement Scrum at all levels in hundreds — at this point probably over a thousand — of locations.
I am also a Certified Scrum Trainer (one of less than 50 in this great Universe) and spend a lot of time on the road doing the CSM Workshops (although it is not my main revenue stream).
I will be in more than 30 cities in the USA between now and the end of the year.
And I have some plans to head overseas too.
Lots of travel. And that is what is just currently booked.
I need to update both the Scrum Alliance site with these new dates, along with my public google calendar.
Be sure if you are in the USA I should be arriving to a city near you!
I DO have a family and one of my personal goals is to start to cut back on travel again.
My five and eight year old boys are growing up. And… for anyone who travels extensively… you know how this works. If you are interested in doing what I do, we can talk about the pros and cons anytime!
This is where I need you (sorry for the long intro… but this is like having a one way conversation!).
The results of the “voting” for more blog entries were positive. Both as they stand today and in more video/audio formats.
And, starting next week you will start to see different flavors of them being produced more often (maybe more than Dominc (my oldest son) and I doing youtube videos.
There will be other avenues and distribution channels over time.
Again… inspect and adapt.
The comic strips and blog entires about those comic strips will continue to be free.
This next part is not a sales pitch — it is to gain serious interest (although you may consider it a pitch).
I am starting a “Premium Content” area of the site.
Ah.
That means dinero/cash/euros/whatever out of your pocket (or your company or organization).
I am looking for a limited number of people who would be interested in becoming “Charter Members” of the Premium Content area of implementingscrum.com.
I will request each of the limited Charter Members pay a fee, and, in return this fee will continue to remain the same forever for you (if the price goes up, you will pay the same subscription amount as long as you are a member).
I am looking for an initial three month commitment from you (and me) to actually “test” some new features as they are developed.
So, in addition to becoming “Charter Members” you will help guide the content and delivery mechanisms for the future subscribers of the site — both “free” and “Premium”.
Are you interested in doing something like this with me?
The journey will be fun.
And — as a Charter Member — you will have a safe place as part of a new community to help yourself — and others — learn even more about Scrum and other Agile Practices.
I only want serious people who have a positive attitude and a true spirit of adventure.
Is that you?
If so, please let me know.
Who knows?
Heck, when I started this site I could not believe the impact that one person (actually two — Tony (the artist) and I) could have on an industry.
Change happens one person at a time.
And good Karma is always a good thing to possess, even if only for a millisecond of time in your life.
If you are interested, stop by www.implementingscrum.com/premium for a bit more information and sign-up to become a Charter Member for the Premium Content.
Risk free.
This is an incredibly limited opportunity and I will cut it off on or before June 30, 2008 for new Charter Members (if there is too great of a response, a waiting list will begin).
Part of this limitation is to take it in small steps and inspect and adapt along the way.
Thank you for reading all of this.
If you are not ready to sign-up as a Charter Member today, please pass this information on to others who may be interested.
I do sincerely appreciate it.
- mike vizdos
www.michaelvizdos.com
www.implementingscrum.com
PS: And remember… If you or your friends [or enemies] have not signed up for FREE updates to this blog, please Subscribe to Implementing Scrum via Email!
Hi all,
Well, we have done it again. The boys (Dominic - almost 8 and Kenton almost 5) spent this evening adding some audio comments to an older strip that was created last year.
If you’d like to see the original posting, please go to http://www.implementingscrum.com/blog/2007/09/04/scary-team-retrospectives-part-one/.
Remember, this is from the point of view of my children, who are awesome at talking about what daddy does in English that everyone understands.
To see the video, look below:
As usual, comments and emails are welcome.
Thank you.
- mike (and Dominic and Kenton) Vizdos
www.michaelvizdos.com
www.implementingscrum.com
Hi all.
Well, I finally had the idea to try and see if posting any information or videos on YouTube.com would help us spread the word more about Scrum.
So, tonight I had my almost-eight-year-old son (Dominic) and I record a very low-tech version of the cartoon using some audio files and the “original” Chicken an Pig cartoon. Right now, it is mainly a test.
My son and I are willing to post a version of the cartoons with commentary by myself and him on an ongoing basis.
Is this worth our time? My son loves doing this and I think this can add some very new perspectives on Scrum and all we do.
Thoughts?
I’d love to hear your feedback. Please spread the word.
Here is the link to the video:
Thank you!
- mike vizdos
www.michaelvizdos.com
www.implementingscrum.com
This week we are covering a topic near and dear to a lot of people in the Scrum Community.
Retrospectives.
[Edited April 5, 2008] I added a youtube video of this cartoon with my two sons — Dominc and Kenton. Check them out here:
I have been wanting to write about this topic since day one of this site; however, it kept sliding down my product backlog.
Why?
Mostly out of respect for this topic and the people in the Scrum Community who add to this valuable technique. Namely Esther Derby, Diana Larsen, and Norm Kerth.
This is going to be at least a two part series — maybe three.
Today’s posting looks back at the “old” way a traditional post-mortem was completed.
Think back. Or look at how you may possible be doing them today.
At the end of a project, management may have declared a project “successful.” This can take many formats, including actually delivering working software; however, many times in my own past I have attended these for one reason and one reason only — to complete a “check mark” on some project manager tick sheet. For compliance reasons.
We quickly talk about “lessons learned.” And of course they get filed away into the project notebook (or whatever you use for compliance and auditing).
NEVER to be looked at again.
Gulp.
And.
The team knows the project was a complete disaster.
Management is flying high because a date was “met”.
In the background, they are slapping high-fives with their peers because their project burned through two marriages and one person left the company because they were totally pissed off.
I have seen this happen.
And.
It makes me sad.
In the meeting, everyone gets around to sing happy camper songs and congratulatory awards are handed out.
“Congratulations. Katie worked 100 hour work weeks until the end and pulled in through for the team. And Joe, well, without him, the project would not have been where it is today.”
And them some $25.00 gift cards are handed out.
“Good job,” says the manager.
And.
The team is totally demoralized.
They know the product they delivered was not up to their own personal standards.
They know the product shipped with many bugs (but, because compliance says a product cannot ship with “severity one” bugs, mysteriously the night before all those pesky things were “downgraded” to a two or three — “Wahoo,” say the managers, “We shipped without any high severity bugs!”
Gulp.
So.
It may not be that bad where you work.
Unfortunately, I have seen this — sometimes many times.
And then people leave that project team to start a new project all over again. And guess what? They do the same thing again.
People become numb to the process.
People stop learning.
And.
It happens with both traditional waterfall teams and Scrum teams.
Today.
Is it happening with your team?
In the next part of this series, I am going to give you some solid techniques for dealing with this part of the process.
And not just “deal” with it.
But.
Make is a positive experience for everyone.
And.
Help improve your team and its interactions.
Sound like a dream?
At least it will not be a scary one.
There are things out there to help you.
Really!
You can also enter The Scrum Community to discuss this entry and other Scrum topics. Thank you!
September 4, 2007
April 6, 2008
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