Derek Neighbors

The more I learn, the less I know.

Agile Revitalizing Legacy Code: 5 Steps to Successful Refactoring

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on March 23, 2023

Legacy code can be a challenging aspect of software development, as it's often poorly documented and has been patched over the years. It's important to understand when to rewrite or improve legacy code, and to recognize the value of working with it as a software engineer. With careful planning and a willingness to take small steps, you can gradually improve the quality and maintainability of legacy code over time. Continue Reading
Personal Flipping the Switch: How Athletes, Performers, and Intellectuals Turn On and Off Their Abilities

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on March 16, 2023

Discover the fascinating science behind how introverts can flip a switch and transform into captivating performers in sports, arts, or intellectual pursuits. Learn how achieving a 'flow state' can lead to incredible performances, and understand the importance of rest and recovery to maintain well-being. Dive into this amazing phenomenon and uncover the secrets of turning on and off one's performance abilities. Continue Reading
Productivity Reasons vs. Excuses in Software Development: The Key to Personal Responsibility and Team Success

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on March 15, 2023

Dive into the world of personal responsibility and team success in software development by distinguishing between reasons and excuses. Explore the vital role of accountability, examine real-world examples, and uncover five effective strategies designed to help you and your team conquer excuses and take command of your professional journey. Continue Reading
Productivity Boost Your Productivity with These 3 Daily Habits!

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on March 14, 2023

Looking to boost your productivity and organization? Let's exploree three popular approaches - the Scrum Daily Scrum, Classroom Morning Meeting, and Getting Things Done's Daily Review - and how they can help you stay on top of your tasks and responsibilities. By emphasizing daily reflection and planning, collaboration and communication, and backed by science, these daily habits can help individuals increase their effectiveness and productivity. Continue Reading
Agile Three Aspects of Product Management You Need To Master

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on March 13, 2023

Product managers need to be proficient in three key areas: technical skills, data analysis, and empathy for customers. Neglecting any one of these areas can lead to difficulties in successfully managing a product. However, a well-rounded product manager who excels in all three areas can drive success by delivering innovative products that meet customer needs, are technically sound, and supported by data-driven decision-making. Continue Reading
Productivity Balance Is a Great Way To Be Mediocre

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on March 12, 2023

Achieving greatness in life requires sacrifice, and the science behind it is rooted in the concept of deliberate practice. Research shows that deliberate practice, which involves setting goals, getting feedback, and pushing oneself out of the comfort zone, is the key to achieving greatness in any field. Famous figures like Michael Jordan and Steve Jobs have sacrificed their personal lives to achieve greatness. Focusing on balance may lead to mediocrity, but by engaging in deliberate practice, individuals can achieve a level of greatness that is unattainable through balance alone. Continue Reading
Personal Greatness Only Competes With Itself

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on February 28, 2023

What does it take to become truly great? Is it talent, hard work, or something else entirely? Let's look at the stories of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, two basketball legends who achieved greatness in their own unique ways. Let's explore the mindset and practices that allowed them to unlock their potential and reach the top of their game. Whether you're a sports fan or just looking for inspiration to achieve greatness in your own life, hare are valuable lessons and actionable tips to help you get there. Continue Reading
Productivity Finding Time For Innovation

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on February 26, 2023

Are you struggling to find time for innovation amidst a busy schedule? Here is my strategy for overcoming this challenge without compromising productivity. By scheduling intentional thinking time, capturing thoughts in a system, and creating a path of execution, I have been able to generate and act on great ideas. Here are my daily and weekly routines, purposeful intent, and the tools I use to capture and process my ideas. Whether you're an entrepreneur, business leader, or busy professional, this approach can help you find time for innovation and stay ahead of the game. Continue Reading
Personal Price's Law: Understanding the Power Law Distribution of Knowledge

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on February 7, 2023

Unlock the power of your team's knowledge and expertise with Price's Law! This widely accepted mathematical principle states that just a small number of individuals in your organization hold the majority of the knowledge. Learn how to identify key contributors, encourage knowledge sharing, and drive efficiency and growth in your organization by following the steps to apply Price's Law to your team. Continue Reading
Personal Fulfill Your Destiny By Performing Under Pressure

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on February 6, 2023

Eminem's lyrics in Lose Yourself inspire and motivate with a powerful message. The song encourages listeners to seize the moment and never let go of their dreams. It reminds us that we only get one shot at life, and we should make the most of it. The lyrics emphasize the importance of losing oneself in the moment and pursuing one's aspirations with determination and unwavering focus. Let Eminem's words be a reminder to never give up on what you truly want, and always strive to achieve your goals. Continue Reading
Productivity Syncing Work & Personal Calendars

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on December 29, 2022

Fantastical is a calendar application for Mac that allows users to easily manage multiple calendars from different vendors, such as Exchange and Google. It allows users to filter and group calendars and configure them at an account level to automatically show up in the mobile iOS app. It also allows users to easily copy events to appear on multiple calendars in a merged state. Continue Reading
Personal Code Smells - How To Prevent Nose Blindness In Your Code

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on December 8, 2022

Code smells are problems in software development that can be difficult to detect, especially if you are constantly working with the code. To help developers recognize these smells, it is helpful to set a standard for good code by exposing them to examples of clean and well-written code, just as a person's sense of smell can be heightened by exposure to pleasant odors. Continue Reading
Personal Push Mind Past Body Reality

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on November 3, 2022

Are you ready to push past your limits and unlock your true potential? Dive into the experience of pushing through the pain and mental barriers being able to set a new reality for yourself. Pushing yourself beyond your comfort zones and physical limitations can help you to improve your mental capacity and achieve more than you ever thought possible. But be warned, building this mental toughness isn't easy and requires discipline and support from those around you to call you out on your excuses and help you to distinguish when it's time to push harder and when it's time to rest. Continue Reading
Personal Visualizing Accountability

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on August 30, 2022

Are you ready to take accountability for your actions and results? When accountability comes knocking, how do you respond? Will you defend yourself or will you take a step back and think about how you can improve? Dive into the world of KPI's/SLA's and discover the impact accountability can have on your team and the customer experience. Learn how to look through the lens of improvement and integrity in the face of accountability. Join the conversation and discover the power of accountability. Continue Reading
Personal Buds and Sports Radically Different Than Software

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on September 13, 2021

Are you ready to push yourself to the limit? To sacrifice it all for the mission? Navy Seals, professional athletes, and even amateur sports teams all share a common drive for success, but what about software development teams? How can we create that same sense of purpose and drive within our teams? Join us as we explore the challenges and rewards of creating a 'trophy moment' for software developers, and discover how companies can foster a culture of mission-driven success. Continue Reading
Personal Environment Aids In Skill Acquisition

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on September 7, 2021

Are you struggling to build new skills? The quality of your environment may be holding you back. Discover how to create a supportive and conducive environment that can accelerate your skill acquisition. From identifying your goals and finding a supportive community, to creating a dedicated space and seeking out resources, these tips will help you succeed. Don't let a poor-quality environment stand in the way of your growth and development. Take control and create the environment you need to succeed. Continue Reading
Personal 10 Questions To Ask Ourselves Every Week to Continue Improving

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on July 9, 2020

Are you looking to make self-improvements in your life? These 10 questions can help guide your reflection and introspection to better understand your values, strengths, weaknesses, and goals. From identifying what led to your biggest achievements to examining your responses to challenges, these questions can help you better understand yourself and your path towards personal growth. Take a moment to ask yourself these questions and discover what you can learn about yourself and your journey to self-improvement. Continue Reading
Agile My Daily Stand Up Is Keeping Me From Being Awesome

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on October 15, 2018

Throw out the agile stand up! Some people love Agile. Some people hate Agile. Few people have actually experienced Agile. There is plenty of Cargo Culting of Agile out there. At the end of the day it boils down to having the ability to “inspect and adapt” for survival. Survival requires improvement. Deliberate practice is the most tested way to improve. Deliberate practice requires metrics and measurement of performance of some kind. Continue Reading
Personal Seeking Courage

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on September 24, 2015

I struggle with what level of disclosure to give in public forums, because vulnerability is a hard. I don’t care for writing and know a path to getting better at something is to do a lot of it. At least that is the excuse I hide behind when it comes to sharing more freely. A while back during a long period of seeking self awareness it became apparent that I didn’t really believe in myself very much. Other people believe in me. I believe I am able to get results, but I haven’t been able to really believe in me. I was smacked in the face on this topic looking in the mirror and seeing myself over 250 pounds and utterly out of shape and control. Continue Reading
Agile Agile Open Southwest Recap

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on December 11, 2012

Open Spaces always tend to amaze me. They really are the right people in the right place at the right time. When we kicked off Agile Open Southwest, I was a little bit nervous about what might come out. As always, I was left absolutely amazed. It was great seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Finding everyone was a different place on their journey yet still able to be find common ground and learn from one another. Continue Reading
Agile Retrospectives. When Facilitating. Facilitate. Don’t Participate.

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on November 29, 2012

As a ScrumMaster when you are “running” a retrospective it is easy to fall into the trap of actively participating in it. It is extremely difficult to do this well (if not impossible), because your role should be as a facilitator not a participant. The minute you start participating you are no longer neutral and severely impact your ability to effectively facilitate. Continue Reading
Personal Top 10 Ways To Become More Resilient

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on August 21, 2011

Resilience refers to the ability of a person to effectively cope with and recover from adversity or stress. This concept has been studied in psychology and neuroscience, and various strategies and techniques have been developed to build resilience, such as mindfulness, cognitive reframing, and social support. Building resilience can help individuals better handle life's greatest challenges and maintain their mental and emotional well-being. Here are ten ways to increase your resiliency. Continue Reading
Personal Great Service Requires Constant Attention

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on June 16, 2011

I am a fan of great service. When I see it exemplified I try to share it. For example, QuikTrip does a great job #winning. Another company that has always impressed me is Discount Tire. They always greet me right away. They fix my tires for free when repairable. They give me a free air check when my tires are low. All of this even on tires not purchased from them. WOW! They never give me problems when I need tires rotated or tires replaced under warranty that I did purchase from them. Continue Reading
Personal You Can’t Handle the Truth

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on June 14, 2011

A woman and her son were entering the Subway as my daughter and I were getting out of the car. My daughter uttered, “Hoochie Mama” under her breath. I chastised her for being inappropriate. Her response to me was, “Well she is.” Granted the woman was probably in her late forties, had on 5 inch heels, booty shorts and next to nothing for a top with her adolescent son in tote. Sadly, my daughter was right. Continue Reading
Agile Desert Code Camp 2011.1

By Derek Neighbors, Published on Published on February 3, 2011

Desert Code Camp has opened it’s call for suggestions. This is a great FREE event that brings together technologists of all kinds together at a single location to learn (while feeding them breakfast and lunch) new technologies, improve on existing technology or share your favorite technology. There has been a good dynamic languages track in addition to a strong Microsoft track. There has been a track for kids (Gangplank Jr) and even sessions on sales or running a business. Continue Reading
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