What company doesn’t strive to be more agile, innovate faster, and just be more? If you had a computational problem, you could throw more processors at it. But “technology scales, people don’t.” Growing the team adds considerably more complexity in managing relationships, introduces the risk of organizational dysfunction, and adds “social debt” risk when these…
HopperX1NYC Notes: Raise Your Hand with Kim Kaupe
Session Details “The hardest person to convince that you deserve something is you.” Wow, these profound words are a powerful way to start a session. Who hasn’t struggled (or is struggling) with self-worth?! As women, society encourages us to be modest and downplay our successes. It ends up becoming part of our internal narrative, and…
Me + My Favorite Dealer
While a couple of friends were busy giving life-advice to hookers, I scanned the Mandalay Bay casino floor for my favorite dealer. Earlier in the evening, inquiries about whether others had a favorite casino dealer were met with strange looks and definite no’s. You might assume that I love to gamble, but I don’t. My…
Travel Diary: Anaheim
After attending the Tech Field Day Exclusive with HPE Storage at the Nth Symposium, I ended up with two days in the Anaheim area with no car, but I desire to explore. Orange | Santa Ana | Laguna Beach Orange, CA There’s not a lot to do in this part of Orange, CA. Prior to…
Float On: Sensory Deprivation Tank Lessons
TL/DR: Anxious thoughts + period of zoning out in a tank = total zen day Wait, Is that spa music? I stand up, push the door open, and check the clock. The clock reads 1110, and sadly it’s time for my 90-minute float to end. In what felt like minutes earlier (but who knows), I…
Sabbatical Month 2: Embracing It All
When is the last time you didn’t feel broken and defeated at 7 PM? Two months ago, my answer would have been NEVER. However, my sabbatical has brought me this peace. My kids’ Taekwondo class has become one of my usual writing spots. This feeling of calm is well worth the price of not being…
INSIGHT 2019: Top Session Picks
One place in which I feel incredible certainty is in my NetApp INSIGHT session selection. You probably will notice a NetApp A-Team slant. It’s totally intentional because I love cheering on my A-Team friends. It helps that they also have great sessions this year! 1222-3 Automate ONTAP Storage Management Using RESTful APIs—Simple, Modern, Powerful. Can…
Achievement Unlocked: NetApp INSIGHT Speaker (Panel)
“Sorry I can’t. Next year, though.” This pretty much was my fear-based response when Mark Carlton (@mcarlton1983) asked if I wanted to join the panel of the A-Team Birds of a Feather (BOF) session at NetApp INSIGHT in 2018. Props to Paula Silva (@paula_maria) for being much braver than me. Fast forward to this year,…
Finding Your Strengths
Why am I sobbing over test results? At 42, aren’t I too old for this sh*t.?! These results aren’t even a matter of sickness or health. Earlier in the week, I took the Gallup’s StrengthFinder 34. Two days later, I finally looked at the sequential ranking of my 34 strengths. Except for “competition,” the bottom…
GHC19 Notes: CR229 – Exerting Influence without Authority
Leadership vs. Authority Authority — Police officer who tells what to do. Leaders — Minister. Inspires others. Action plan to build influence Establish expertise and Influence. Invite thought leaders to discuss pros and cons. It’s not who you know, but who knows WHAT you know. Accountability. Give and receive feedback. Make sure you have a…