Category: Uncategorized

Am I shy? Am I afraid to talk?
I think so. I don’t know why but whenever I have to talk, I am a bit afraid. Especially when this involves a bit larger group. If the group is new, the tension is bigger. Why is that? Can’t I talk? One of the big things I have to do is that. I have to get better in speaking freely and openly. I just have to do it and not be afraid of what I will say and what somebody else thinks of me. I said it many times… it’s not my business of what somebody else things of me

1. I am an agressive learner by the end of 2008.a. I read 1-2 hours every dayb. I read 1-2 books every day
2. I practice new technologies whenever I get a chance by the end of summer 2008.a. I create practice programs
3. I speak with confidence and energy by the end of 2008.a. I look forward to speaking up
4. I am eager to share my feelings and get into a conversation by the end of 2008.
5. I learn AJAX by the end of 2008.
6. I write a blog entry every week by the end of 2008.
7. I learn a new word every day by the end of 2008.
8. I do something out of my comfort zone every day by the end of 2008.
9. I am a plorific worker by the end of 2008.
10. I have a great attitude towards work by the end of 2008

My job here at NBCU is definetely more relaxed. Are people smart over here? I think so. Are they as technical as in other places? I don’t know. I know my manager is very technical and very smart. He’s probably the best technically I’ve worked with.
I like this job so far. It allows me to work in a more relaxed environment and I am able to do some learning on the side. That’s what I want. At Markit, I did not have any time on my own. It was work, work, and work. Here, I can go outside to grab a coffee. I can read some material on my own. I can even go browse the internet. But we’re moving by the end of the month, and I hope that we’ll have the same type of atmosphere and space. I want to be able to spend time reading and don’t feel like somebody is always watching. That’s not a good environment.
What am I looking for in a workplace? What’s required for me? I think I need to have a challenging environment. I want to have projects that use technologies and problems that I can learn something. I want to be learning on the job. Plus, the second very important aspect, is the ability to have some time to learn on my own. I want to write proejects on my own. I want to try new technologies. I want to play around with new tools.
If I have the 2 things, I think I should be happy. If not, I think I will always try to search for a place that has it.

I have been working at NBC for over a week now! How do I like it? It’s been a short period so far, but the atmosphere is much more relaxed. I like the fact that I have a project and I use PHP for it. I always wanted to work on different types of languages in a work environment. Now I get to do what I like to do personally at work! It think that’s great.
One of the challenges that I face and will have to improve in this area is my communication skills and not speaking out. In this environment, I have to be able to express things clearly so that others can understand me. I have to open my mouth more often. In order for me to do that effectively, though, I have to digg deep into the media field. I have to get more tuned in. I have to know the vocabulary. I have to know more MBA/financial type stuff. I have to know more about CMS. But I will learn this and I will be successful over here.
The commute is pretty good. I like it! It takes me roughly an hour door to door, but I get to walk a little and I get to sense a NY life. I don’t get that if I drive to work.

So how is my new job? How is NBC treaing me? So far so good, I think! I am beginning to get a feeling of what this job is going to entail. It’s going to be a lot of web development. So far, I have a fairly easy project to start. It’s a newsletter application. Easy stuff. Not much going on.
I like the more relaxed atmoshpere over here. I like my more-private place. It’s much easier to read and do personal stuff over here. I like that! This will allow me to spend a part of my day practicing new technologies, working a bit on my website, writing my blog. I think it’s going to be great! I hope.
How’s the commute? It’s not bad. I have to time it well since it does not leave to Garfield too often, but other than that, it allows me to read on the train! That’s great. I will also get some audiobooks, which will also help me acquire more knowledge.
I am hoping I can learn quite a few things here at NBC. After some time, if I don’t like it that much, I can find another job here at GE. And that’s a great benefit! I want to be here for several years. That’s my goal!

My last day here at Markit is fast approaching. Tim setup drinks for me tomorrow night. I am slowly starting to feel more and more comfortable and happy that I’m leaving. This was a hard job, and a hard lesson. I don’t want to work in such a complex environment. I don’t want to work in a GUI development, especially desktop applications. It is just so hard to make changes, make your software backwards compatible, etc. No thank you.
But I also learned, that I need to do a better job in learning the domain. I need to really dig deeper into what apps we’re working on, the environment, etc. I really need to be comfortable and expert in the domain. I have not done at Markit, nor in other places and that has hurt me.
I also need to focus on work when I’m at work! That’s the bottom line. No news, no email. Just work and dev-improvement material. Period. I need to take this seriously.

My last week at Markit! It’s not going to be an easy one, though. We have a lot of information to transfer and the problem is that I still don’t know a lot! This is exposing a big hole in my approach to professional career. I’ve never really got deep enough into company’s domain. As a result, I’m limited in terms of making suggestions and understanding the whole architecture as a whole.
We are going to Mayan Riviera soon! Next Monday, actually. It’s a 5-night, all-inclusive stay at a very nice hotel. I think we’re really going to love and I will get a chance to detach from Markit for a while. I like the fact that I was able to do it just before the start at a new place.
I got burned here at Markit. It’s overwhelming and stressing and I don’t feel like dying or putting my reputation for the product. I could fool myself for a little more, but I’m a realist, I can’t make it the product that I would want to work on. And that’s the bottom line.

A little over a week to go at Markit! I am more an more convinced that I have to go. Nothing is easy and fun here at Markit. Things break on a daily basis. To get something done, even a small thing, takes a few weeks. This is not for me! Really.
I think it should be day and night between Markit and NBC. The environment should be more relaxing and also more open. Things should be easier and faster to change. And I will get a chance to work with a pretty good manager.
It’s not going to be easy at the beginning. I am used to more of a stateful Java programming. We might have to shift to a PHP way. It’s not bad, but I think it makes it difficult at times.
I am more and more convinced that I have to modify the way I learn. I feel stupid now. I feel that I don’t learn optimally. I do read a lot, but my retention is spotty at best. To improve that, I absolutely have to practice the technology that I learn. I also have to dig deeper into the subject. If I’m reading a JSF book, I can pick another book on the subject. And then re-read the book again. And then write a practice project using that technology. I can only improve and really “get” the technology if I get a good grasp of it.
The most important things to do when I join NBC are the following… I need to establish myself right away. I need to feel comfortable with the people around, introduce myself to different people, and just really be open and comfy. The second thing, for 6-12 months, I need to get excellent knowledge about the domain, about the company, and really get comfortable. I need to prepare myself to make significant changes in the future.
I hope to stay at NBC for extended period of times, not 1-2 years, but at least 4-5.

We are going to Mexico! Mayan Riviera to be precise! I found a great deal on CheapCaribbean and booked a 5-night vacation at a nice, all-inclusive resort in Mexico. It’s an hour drive from Cancun. I think we’re going to love it!
Now that I got a chance to look at CheapCaribbean, I think maybe we should have picked something else. The resort has generally very good reviews, but some people complain as well. Hard beds are on top of the list. The transfer from the airport and maybe not getting a king bed is also on top of the list. That’s why I think that maybe I should have paid a little more and find something better. I will do that next time! CheapCarribean.com is a very good site for deals, though.
I have 2 weeks to go here at Markit! It’s very hard to motivate myself. But I don’t want to waste 2 weeks. That’s why I will try, as it is my trait, better myself as a developer. I want to prepare myself for the new job! I am going to concentrate mostly on becoming a better developer, but I also have to do some work. I shall split the two activities, but I cannot spend almost a whole day just not doing anything, as I have done today. That’s not me.
Email. If I’m not expecting anything, I should just check it during lunch time.
Personal blogs. I should not read them at work.

I am thinking… should I stay or should I go. I accepted the offer from NBC. Tim came back and offered me a position in a different group. I don’t think so! Yes, there are some risks but there are huge opportunities to learn. Learn how to create an enterprise environment, and also learn from others. I think the 2 guys there are smart. Especially the guy in charge, my manager. I came across his profile on LinkedIn today. What can I say? I got a glimpse of his detail-orientation when I talked to him the other day. He goes in deep when he interviews… just like Vadim. I also need to go deep when I interview. When somebody feels shaky, try to question him on that. Ask intelligence-type questions. If he’s smart, then he is the right fit. If not, then it’s better to search elsewhere.
I have doubts… Am I a good fit? Are we going to work on technologies that are relevant? Isn’t this a strictly web-developer position?
But I am convinced that by working with Matt, Ben, and others, we can easily answer these questions. I have no doubts about that.
I feel a little burned out here at Markit. I am not really enjoying it. I have not really been enjoying it from the day that I started here. Things are overly complex… not easy to modify. Who wants that? But I had to stay here for some time because I did not want to leave right after I joined. Hey, I stayed for a year and I think it’s enough. A happy ending after all! (I joined on Valentine’s day, so that’s great.)