Sunwapta Blog

Sunwapta Blog2020-06-10T21:41:48-06:00
24May 2011

The “Real” World Doesn’t Exist

By |May 24th, 2011|

Ok, the real world does exist… sort of.

The problem is that there is no truly objective way for people to observe it.

We all see the world through our senses which are interpreted by our brains and rationalized through our view of the world.

My reality is different than your reality. Nothing is real and everything is real. If your brain says it is real, for you it is real.

Say I'm riding public transit and see some drunk men acting obnoxiously and see them as slightly dangerous. My interpretation. The person sitting beside me sees the same men out having fun and […]

19May 2011

Getting Better, Every Day

By |May 19th, 2011|

Imagine if everyone in your organization got a little better everyday. If you learned something or practiced something to make you a little smarter or faster or more efficient or… better.

In a business with 10 people, that would amount to 3650 steps to a better team every year.

Imagine if everyone in the business did something to make the business a little better everyday. Improved a process, went out of their way to connect with a customer, worked on building a stronger team, found a way to save a bit of money, found a better tool…

In the same sized business (working a […]

5May 2011

Flow – The Ultimate State of Effectiveness

By |May 5th, 2011|

I just spent some time reflecting on the last 12 months of running and working in Sunwapta Solutions. This wasn't just daydreaming. My goal was to look at:

  • Where I spent my time versus where I should have spent my time?
  • When I was the most effective (getting results on important outcomes) versus just being really busy?
  • What can I stop doing or delegate?
  • Where can I focus my effort to get maximum results in the future?
  • What did I do well and what could I do more of?
  • What can I do better?
  • How can I remove any obstacles to getting results?

This is the process of […]

20Apr 2011

You Gotta Want It: New Skill Mastery

By |April 20th, 2011|

Apparently, when you start off to learn a new skill, your commitment level determines your chances of success more than the time spent practicing ("The Talent Code" by Daniel Coyle).

If you are passionately committed to becoming good at something over the long-term, you will likely do better at it than less committed people (or short-term committed people), even with less practicing.

This has to do with the urgency your brain associates with paving the superhighways that connect the neurons in your grey matter… something called myelin. That commitment plus the practicing ends up generating more and better superhighways than […]

18Apr 2011

Run Like a Gazelle – Agile for Small Business

By |April 18th, 2011|

Most software developers have heard of agile development. Scrum, Extreme Programming (XP), Test Driven Development (TDD), etc.

Other business books such as "The E-Myth" talk about working "on" the business versus working "in" the business; and treating your business as a franchise prototype.

As a small or mid-sized business owner, you need to balance off:

  • Finding and servicing your customers,
  • Planning and executing your strategy,
  • Working on your business (making it better),
  • Working in the business (keeping it all running).

The problem is, every day you have a gazillion things to take care of. The world is getting more complex and faster paced by the minute. Your world is getting […]

14Apr 2011

The Gap Between Intention and Reality

By |April 14th, 2011|

Most business owners see a gap between what they intend and where they really are.

You may have an intention to have a certain culture and live by certain values.

You may have an intention to follow a certain higher mission.

You may have an intention to implement a new vision and achieve certain goals.

This is all fine.

The gap between intention and reality creates movement; hopefully towards your ideal state. The larger the gap, the more movement (or change) required.

The Problems Start When…

The problems start when you sell the intent and not the reality.

You sell the intent to your customers but that is not what […]

7Apr 2011

Did God Give Developers Brains?

By |April 7th, 2011|

I just saw a tweet from @UncleBobMartin

"If programmers were meant to test everything, God would have given them brains."

Perhaps a little non-diplomatic. Maybe evoking religion into development discussions. Funny and thought provoking though.

Another person I know is facing the task of moving his organization to agile and meeting some resistance from the fabled "crusty old C++ developer".

How do you get others to move to what you consider is a better method of programming?

Persistence? Wear them down over time? The best religion wins?

The problem is developers tend to form camps, often with religious overtones. It is very hard […]

1Apr 2011

Science Proves It – Calgarians Are More “Manly”

By |April 1st, 2011|

Fishing 20921941_m
I was recently reading an article in the Okotoks Western Wheel titled "Alberta's fish are on drugs". When put together with other information I have come across I came to a startling realization.

Calgarians (actually western Albertans) are manlier for a scientific reason; and it has nothing to do with the Calgary Stampede.

The Facts About Fish

People take birth control pills and other medications in large quantities. Our kidneys are very efficient at removing these chemicals from our bodies. People then use the um, ah, well facilities and […]

28Mar 2011

Rejoicing in the Success of Others

By |March 28th, 2011|

"Rather than being unhappy and hateful, we should rejoice in the success of others." Dalai Lama

This quote showed up courtesy of a Twitter feed. Whether or not the Dalia Lama actually said it is not point. This point hit home for me for three main reasons.

1. Personal Fulfillment

It is unlikely you will ever be truly happy if don't find happiness in seeing others grow and be happy.

This one is truly hard; especially if you are competitive or insecure by nature.

It is one thing to see your friends succeed and cheer them on, if you are doing just as […]

22Mar 2011

Is Building A New Product A Dream?

By |March 22nd, 2011|

Is it your dream to launch a new product into the market? Are you looking for your dream job? Dream house? Are you dreaming of running a successful business?

Stop dreaming!

Actually, don't stop dreaming. Dreaming is good.

Stop "stopping" at dreaming.

Make your dreams real.

Dream, plan and take the action require to manifest it.

On two levels that is what our Manifast vision is about:

  1. Building and shipping a useful software product (us),
  2. Helping business owners manifest their dreams (us helping others).

It is not a just a dream. It is happening.

What is your dream?