Working Up

Working Up in Project Management, Systems Engineering, Technology, and Writing

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Do We Have a Reputation?

December 6th, 2018 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips We each have a reputation, something about us that others “know.” What is it? What do I want it to be? I go to a coffee shop on Saturday mornings to view the Internet and write blog posts. On a recent Saturday I found car keys in the bathroom (shows how old […]

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Tags: Choose · Communication · Influence

Last In, Most Important

October 4th, 2018 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips We often use a simple yet silly algorithm for ranking requirements. It is easy. I guess that is why we use it. We have a lot of work to do. We have more work than resources. Hence, we have to rank requirements to work the more important ones first. Well, maybe we […]

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Tags: Accountability · Choose · Decide · Requirements

Choosing What We will Attempt

July 12th, 2018 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips You can’t win a vomiting contest with a buzzard. The attempt will be harmful, too. Buzzards are professionals when it comes to vomiting. They practice it daily. I can’t beat them at it. You can’t beat them at it. The trouble is, we think you can. We are educated, smart, capable, and […]

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Tags: Choose · Uncategorized

Freedom of Choice and Excuses

September 7th, 2017 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Freedom of choice robs us of excuses. Of course we are free to choose to ignore this. Most of us live in a world of abundance and wealth. Come on folks, admit this is true. We have the freedom to choose much of what we do. It is unfortunate, but we often […]

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Tags: Adults · Choose

Forward to the Past

August 10th, 2017 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Once again, our new “technology” brings us back to where we started a few decades ago. Recently… I walk into Starbucks. And there is a long line. So I sit in my usual spot and start my Internet work. I order my coffee and bagel on my phone. Five minutes into work […]

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Tags: Change · Childhood · Choose · Technology

The Tides and Decisions

August 3rd, 2017 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Sometimes people decide simply on what washes in and out with the tide. It works sometimes, but I don’t recommend it. The tide comes in. It carries things, deposits them on the beach, and it goes out. The tide comes in. It picks up what is on the beach, and carries it […]

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Tags: Choose · Decide · Management

In the Mirror

March 20th, 2017 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips I have seen this in people often, especially when looking in the mirror. Not off to a good start, but let’s try to pull something useful from this. We all tend to do what we like and avoid what we don’t like. Not surprising. I like ice cream. I hate paper cuts. […]

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Tags: Adults · Change · Choose · Employment

The Present and the Future

March 16th, 2017 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Here we are in the present. We can decide how we create the future. Things are the way they are because they got that way. Let’s try that again…The present is a natural result of all past circumstances. There are people, capabilities, technology, budget, outside forces, and a host of other things […]

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Tags: Choose · Design · Excuses · Expectations

How would I Act if I were a…?

January 9th, 2017 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Want to be something? Ask a simple question and live the answer. Twenty something years ago, Robin Williams was in the movie “Mrs. Doubtfire.” He impersonates a woman and gets a job as a nanny to his former wife so he can be near his children. He is the best, most fun, […]

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Tags: Change · Choose · Questions

Neither Nor—Another Legitimate Choice

August 1st, 2016 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Sometimes the better choice among two alternatives is neither, nor. We have two alternatives—this, that. The most well known choice is either this or that One of them must be better than the other. Let’s decide which is better and go with it. Aha, but we grow smarter with the years and […]

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Tags: Choose · Clarity · Communication