Consultants always want to do the coolest projects. The most innovative ones. Challenging ones. For the hippest customers. Everybody wants to try the newest technologies. Use the hottest frameworks / methodologies. Develop from the scratch. Attend the most abroad conference at the … Continue reading #65: Do what is required

“Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.” Mark Twain is often credited this quote. There might be doubts whether he’s the originator or not. But there are no doubts at all: There’s a lot … Continue reading #64: Never argue with an idiot

Elimination of waste is the number one principle in lean manufacturing and lean software development. Essentially, lean focusses on adding value and reducing everything else which does not contribute to create value. Consultants produce a considerable amount of rubbish. No … Continue reading #63: Eliminate waste

“In writing, you must kill your darlings” is a key advice to upcoming authors from William Faulkner, an American writer and nobel prize winner in literature. In consulting, you must kill your darlings too. At least sometimes. Why too often, consultants get … Continue reading #62: Kill your darlings

Kids do it. Always. Constantly. Without mercy. They ask why. Follow-up with a next why. And a next why. And a next why. Consultants can learn a lot from kids. To find the root cause to any problem or defect, … Continue reading #60: Ask 5 times why

Every consultant should at least once visit Lisbon to see and listen to Fado in one of the traditional restaurants. Fado is a Portuguese folk music featuring a singer and two guitarists. Mournful style. Mournful tunes. Mournful lyrics about loss and sadness. Performed … Continue reading #59: Live your story