As humans, we have a tendency to dream and to worry about what we don’t have, and it can be easy to lose sight of the really wonderful things that are present in our lives. Many of us are lucky enough to have a job, access to clean water, and the freedom of knowing where … Continued
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or you have a problem that feels too big to solve, pause for a moment and take a deep breath. It won’t melt all stress away at once, but it will still help you confront your problems with clarity. Scientific studies have found that breathing exercises helps in dealing with stress, … Continued
It happens to all of us. No matter how good your intentions and aspirations for the day, somewhere it sours. When you reach the end, you realize you’ve had a bad day. Maybe this means you didn’t meet your exercise goal for the day or you didn’t adhere to your diet. It could be that you … Continued
I’ve been reflecting a lot on on sacrifice lately and how I can use the concept to improve myself. I try to remember the example of a seed. From the outside, a seed has a very hard shell that can protect what’s inside from harsh weather, getting kicked around or stepped on, and even the passage … Continued
A guest post by the FTC Rubies. Hello! We are the Rubies, an all-girls robotics team from Minneapolis, MN. Our team participates in FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), a robotics program for middle and high schoolers. In this program, our team builds an 18 x 18 x 18 inch robot and programs it to do specific … Continued
We live in a world of constant distraction. We’re always reachable. We feel the need to connect, even when we take time off, to check in and make sure the office isn’t burning down. In a lot of ways, this attitude can help ensure the success of our work and our ability to ‘get stuff … Continued
Spring in Minnesota means flowers blooming, leaves sprouting, and the overall green of plants coming back to life after a long, cold winter. With anticipation, my family plans which fruits and vegetables we’ll grow in our garden. When the days get longer and the sun shines more, I’m filled with excitement for what the summer will … Continued
We all have our ideas about making society better. There are those who believe it is strictly tied to job creation and the state of the economy. Others blame politicians and the government, and suggest electing new officials. I personally do not have a solution to all of society’s problems, but I strongly believe in … Continued
This week, apply the self-determination theory to help a friend or colleague find the motivation they need to do something! The self-determination theory of motivation states that there are three necessary elements to motivation: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Without one of these pillars, it is difficult to find the motivation to get something done or … Continued
Minnesota United won their first match as a Major League Soccer team this past Saturday. Of the four goals that helped the Loons secure their first victory, two were made possible by an assist from midfielder Kevin Molino. Assists in soccer are one of the things that make me love the sport the most. Sometimes they’re … Continued
One of the perks of working in tech is our ability to work any time, anywhere. A number of us work from home a day or two a week. A few are 100% remote. Even those of us who are here in the office spend a good portion of the day heads down, headphones on. It’s no … Continued
Where there’s muck, there’s brass. Maybe you’ve heard this saying, maybe you haven’t. Either way, here’s the gist: there’s money—or something equally valuable—to be made in doing the dirty work. It might not be glamorous or exciting (or even pleasant), but dirty work has its perks—whether or not you can see them at the start. For example, taking … Continued
It seems there comes a point in every work day when I dig into the source code of the open source library or framework on which I’m building. This is an incredibly powerful thing to have available. Sure, I could just search the web to find the answer I need—after sifting through a dozen possibly … Continued
This week, find an opportunity to conduct a field test, and then test something. Too often, we build and create and overthink when we could have done a simple field test first. Complexity, however warranted you might believe it to be, may not be necessary after some additional thought. I have a new hobby—ultralight backpack camping and hiking. And … Continued
Technology moves fast. As technologists, we constantly push ourselves beyond our comfort zones to stay up on the latest tech thing. It’s not an easy task, but we are happy to do it because we know the extra effort will make us, and our work, better. As humans, however, we often find ourselves reluctant to move … Continued