Paul May

A talk I gave at Barcamp Belfast 2008. A very early draft of something I might develop in the future. 20 mins talk + 10 mins q&a

Hypothesis: There are some incredibly talented people working in technology, design, business - and I’ve often wondered, how do these people stay so fresh, so highly skilled and so motivated when the nature of their industry and their business changes so quickly and so often. So I asked them. And what they told me was very interesting. For some people it’s a strategy, but In most cases these just happen to be some things that really great people seem to have in common. So, what are these traits, these strategies?

Introduction

• My name is Paul May
• I have been working in technology for a little over 10 years
• I have worked for web agencies in Dublin
• I spend 2 years working with the High Tech Consulting division of Accenture
• I now work with FRONT, a web development agency based in Belfast FRONT designs and develop online applications, UX design, consulting services
• My contact details and information on how you can get notes and slides will be at the end of the talk

What is This All About

• This is not a talk about technology
• This is not a talk about design
• This is hopefully something that will be useful for you in whatever part of the technology industry you happen to work in.

Hypothesis

• I have worked and studied with some very talented people over the years.
• I’ve met and talked to people from many really great companies
• Incredibly talented people; far smarter than I.
• I’ve often wondered, how do these people stay so fresh, so highly skilled and so motivated when the nature of their industry and their business changes so quickly and so often.
• So I asked them. And what they told me was very interesting.
• For some people it’s a strategy, a plan
• In most cases these just happen to be some things that really great people seem to have in common.
• So, what are these traits, these strategies?

Talented people understand the fundamentals of what they do

• One of the common traits I found was that really good people apply the same behaviours, attitides and core insights to whatever they happen to be working on
• For most people, technology is about what is “now”, but in most cases what is “now” will be irrlevant in 5 years.
• Technologies are useful in and of themselves, but also to expose the fundamentals of what you’re trying to do.
• The basic premise is that most technologies rely on the same fundamental concepts
• Skills are transient, knowledge and perspective are timeless
  • Fundamental Concepts of Your Vocation
  • Problem Solving
  • Logical Thinking
  • Teamworking
  • Communication
  • Commercial Awareness

They live outside of their box

• Specialism is great, if you are a heart surgeon or a bomb disposal I am perfectly happy for you to geek out to hearts or bombs and have nothing else going on in your life and to not care about the before and after
• The problem is also that if all you do is focus on what *you* do, all you can ever be is a shiny cog in a bigger machine.
• For the rest of us, having an insight into the people who influence the things you work on, and the people who work on or consume them seems to be a very good thing
• Being excellent at what you do is great, but to be able to put your work in a context that is relevant for others is incredibly powerful. Having a basic understanding of the challenges that face other people is hugely valuable.
• Understanding what other people value and the way in which they communicate is really really useful.
• The main message here is “Don’t be the shiny cog”

They are not vending machines

• We come across this all the time
• I want a website, I need it done next week, I have X to spend (where X is not a lot of money)
• There is nothing wrong with this
• This is a transactional model or doing business - like putting coins into a machine and getting a generic product
• So long as you understand that this is the model you are working in, you can be incredibly successful at it
• Cost is likely to be the key differentiator - Consistent, reliable, cheap (price based)
• If this does not sound like the model you want to follow, then you have to find a way to articulate what you do in a way that goes beyond merely transactional
• Really successful people are able to articulate their skills/services/products in a way that is strategic for them. This could be transactional, but a lot of the time it isn’t.

They solve problems and “add value” alongside others

• IDEO and Adaptive Path talk about using design to solve both human and business problems
• This is all the rage now; the idea of asking users and clients to help design the services they will eventually go on to use and consume
• It sounds a bit cheeky, but it works and it’s actually a very old idea
• Model: Open design session, ethnographic research, puma customised runners, nike +, Flickr, practically any social networking site. The customer adds the critical insight, content and value; the “experts” provide a framework or a product which makes this relevant for other people.
• The most successful businesses happen to be partnerships between both sides, consumers and producers
• It moves the debate away from a buyer, seller model, away from the vending machine
• It lets you become an advisor, not just a cog.

They are able to identify and evaluate trends

• Easy to get caught up, Easy to be a cheerleader
• Difficult to say what is different, special, unique and worthwhile about a new trend or technology
• If you are able to articulate the merits, demerits of a new trend/technology and communicate that you are immediately demonstrating why you understand the fundamentals of what you do, and that you are not an unthinking vending machine
• Critical thinking is not the same as being a jackass/the devil’s advocate

They can write or communicate in some other way, very effectively

• The ability to clearly and effectively communicate sets apart every designer, developer, other I have ever met
• The most useful classes I have ever taken have been on writing and public speaking
• The skills you use to write are the same skills you will use to structure design, code
• Being able to talk about your work, defend it, get ideas, give ideas to others means that you can never and will never become irrelevant

Summary

Summary of the main points.

That is All

• paul dot may at design by front dot com
• anythingyoulikeatall (then that symbol) paulmay dot org
• http://paulmay.org
• http://www.designbyfront.com

This entry was posted on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 at 9:23 am and is filed under Featured, Miscellany, Technology.