Security told me that I am not to use my work assigned laptop to develop software. I am working with this company as a Software Engineer. Have been for over a decade. How am I to get work done?
@ThinkingSapien Ah, the bureaucratic catch-22. If you play your cards right, you could catch a paycheck for years while doing no work by playing each side of the bureaucracy against the other.
I am on my Windows computer so much for work that when I get off, I really just want to do something not on a computer. I realize that I now associate Windows with work and it doesn't feel like something fun or enjoyable. It doesn't feel personal to me.
I've been trying to figure out why lately I've had trouble with personal projects and perhaps this might be a small part of the answer.
Trying to work on my couch for the day. See how it goes.
I usually have two 4K monitors attached to the MacBook and have the MacBook open to use the additional space. But I usually have to manage a dev team. On Friday it’s usually much quieter and I can focus on my dev stuff.
If I work on private projects I do it often from the couch so I know it's doable in theory.
I always have the option to switch to my desk so I guess it's fine.
But the goal is to find a good workflow to only work on one screen from time to time to be more flexible with where I work. For example: I never worked in a café and would like to try this one day.
@kaiserkiwi Yeah, that's a huge downsize!
Do you have a gadget to keep the laptop off your lap? I never owned a mac so I don't know if "the device is hitting up and burning my knee-caps" would be an issue for you, but it was for me when I had to code from the sofa.
@evanesca Since Apple switched to Apple Silicon this isn't an issue. I have a M1 Pro, which is not as efficient as current processors, but it get's barely warm.
When I had an Intel MacBook it was terrible ^^" But it was also so loud I couldn't concentrate. For the M1 I never ever heard the fans once since I have it ^^
So if you need gameplay in Games Hellblade 2 isn't something for you.
If you want to have a intensive cineastic experience then you will like the game probably.
I would suggest to watch a little part of a Let's Play or try it via GamePass. If you like it buy it on Steam for full price. IMHO it's worth the full price.
@mina habe ich auch dauernd. Ich ertrinke ständig, bis ich merke, dass ich unter Wasser atmen kann.
In diesen Träumen habe ich dann aber Klamotten an. So sinnlos.
Have you ever had a coworker who smelled so bad you felt nauseous being near them? There’s now a term for that in Japan: smell harassment (スメルハラスメント), often shortened to sume-hara. Here's why it's a growing issue in the Japanese workplace.
@guffo@jake4480 I’m 50 this year and have only just realised I’m probably ND. I just know that I’ve always found life difficult, but was also kind of a high achiever.. It was after joining Mastodon and reading everyone’s experiences that the penny dropped!
@catnip@guffo oh wow that's so cool! Yeah she's on TikTok and started seeing things, I mean, a psychologist/psychiatrist is one thing but then you really need someone who will focus on that. She's in her 30s, me, my 40s. But she found someone and they did the test, so she's official. Me, I just have this hardcore depression as far as I know. ha. But more good days than bad now.
🆕 blog! “It isn't who you know - it's who knows you”
I'm terrible at networking. I forget people's names minutes after meeting them, I never have business cards and lose the ones I'm given, and I can't go five minutes without burbling some nonsense. But I recognise that networking is a skill and, like any skill, it takes practice to succeed. I've always been told that […]
I'm terrible at networking. I forget people's names minutes after meeting them, I never have business cards and lose the ones I'm given, and I can't go five minutes without burbling some nonsense. But I recognise that networking is a skill and, like any skill, it takes practice to succeed.
I've always been told that success isn't always about what you know, but more about who you know. So how does someone who is introverted, bad at small talk, and terrible at sending follow-up emails get to know people?
The answer, as always, is to let other people do the hard work.
I realise that asking lottery-winners for advice on how to pick your numbers is not a reliable method for becoming a millionaire - but I'd like to explain how I network and where it has got me.
Several years ago, I lost my job. I knew it was coming, but it still felt shitty. At midday, I rang my wife, told her what had happened and said that I was coming home.
"What about your presentation tonight?" she said. I'd forgotten that I had a Mobile Monday talk in my diary. Frankly, I couldn't think of anything worse than standing up in a room full of employed people and bleating on about my side projects.
"Nah. I'm just not up for it," I said.
"Look, you never know who is going to be there. You can enjoy your unemployment tomorrow."
So, I did the talk. I chatted with people (whose names I instantly forgot), picked up business cards (which are still in a pile somewhere), and drank a bit too much free wine. Then went home to cry.
A few days later, I had an interview with a trendy new startup! The very first thing that the CEO said to me was "Nice to meet you - I loved your talk at Mobile Monday last week!"
I got the job. Not necessarily because of how awesome a speaker I am - but it certainly helped that I received a round of applause from people in the industry.
Several months later and I was touting for work again. A casual acquaintance told me her firm was hiring. I went in to meet the manager and, again, almost the first thing she said was "We saw your talk at Mobile Monday - it was great!"
Two birds - one stone 🙂
More recently, I've got speaking gigs because people have said that they've watched my talks online. I've had more interviews where people have asked for me by name after reading one of my blog posts. I've had journalists call me up for "expert commentary" because they've seen that I've been posting on social media knowledgeably about a specific subject.
Relentless self-promotion is exhausting and - I think - off-putting to most of your audience. That's not the aim here.
So here are my vague thoughts on how to get people to know you:
Don't talk about yourself - talk about what interests you.
Don't insert yourself mindlessly into a conversation - build up a rapport with people you admire.
Don't be a "brand" - people see through that.
Do put yourself out there - go to events where you have only a vague interest in the subject.
Do ask. Tell people you'd like to present, or write a blog post, or help them organise.
Do be prepared to fail. Most people won't remember the things which go wrong; but the effort pays dividends.
Wake up, babe - a new form of workplace harassment just dropped in Japan. It may not get you fired, but many on Japanese social media say "smell harassment" lowers productivity and team collaboration.