I Want To Write, I Really Do
No, seriously. I open up the "Write Post" page at least twice a week, usually typing something into the box, and then end up either saving it as a draft and never actually posting it or just deleting it.
Why? Because I'm self-critical. Especially when it comes to writing. When we had those stupid exercises in high school where you were supposed to freewrite whatever came to mind without correcting yourself, I would always, well, correct myself. I just can't help it, I see the words on the screen and I just know that it's supposed to be a certain way and I just can't leave it without it being that way.
Of course, as I get a little older and have more responsibilities, I've begun to break that habit in emails at work. For instance, years ago, if I had gotten an email saying:
Dave, We're having a problem where our widget-builder is getting corrupted by the goobershwank. We looked into it and we think it's the foshizzlenizzle. Can you fix it? Mr. OtherCoder
I would have responded with something like:
Mr. OtherCoder, I see where you would think that the foshizzlenizzle is to blame, but I put together a sample program which clearly shows that the problem is in your widget-builder, and not the foshizzlenizzle. Take a look at line 231 of your WidgetBuilder.C file and make sure it's capturing the googlybits. Thanks, dave
Now, My response looks like:
googlybits need capturing, look at the wiki and fix yer shit
Maybe I'm just getting crabbier as I approach senility. Or maybe, just maybe, there's a method to my madness. See, if I'm nice and respond with complete sentences and clear answers, then the next time this idiot has a problem that has nothing to do with me, I'll also get an email, which I then need to respond to. So not only have I wasted my time writing the first email, I have also proactively wasted MORE time on MORE emails to come. If I write a terse response which clearly shows my, um, lack of enthusiasm for this person's troubleshooting skills, then not only have I saved multiple minutes of email-writing time today, I have also effectively lowered the chances of getting another email from this person, as they'll try the sucker in the cube over who's nice first.
And that, my friends, is how you boost efficiency.
March 26th, 2008 - 20:07
Dude, just open it up -n- let -r- rip.
For serious. Who gives a shit if it’s perfect? I assure you that NO ONE will fault you for an error. Read my blog FOR ONCE and you’ll know that people don’t care THAT much.
[Reply]