7 Habits of Successful
Software Engineers
For software engineers and other talented types
Ken Nelson
President
Scitools.com [email protected]
NiftyBytes.com [email protected]
Alternately….
How to contribute
Have secure employment
And have fun.
Because being a key part of a successful venture is fun.
Why you should listen to me
 B.S. C.S. and Mathematics
 Army Enlisted, NCO, and Officer
 Serial Software Entrepreneur
 Hired … and fired… many dozens over the years
Question?
 Why did you choose computer science?
 Like video games
 Stable career, good opportunities
 Can’t imagine doing anything else
Traits of Success
 Let’s Discuss
 What makes someone succeed (in a software job/project)
 I asked my staff this… I’ll tell you what they said after we
discuss it
No substitute for elbow grease
 Work more than required
 Be positive
 Thankful for work
 Hard work is as easy as easy work
#1 problem we see in new hires
Keep focus away from people
 The problem with “YOUR” algorithm is…
 The problem with that is….
 The algorithm needs…
 It’s pretty clever, I worry about memory use.
BE POSITIVE…
DO NOT PERSONALIZE!
Most software projects are HUGE
Like learning a song…
Working Smart
Spend 5% to 10% of your time figuring out
what the problem is and how you will solve it.
DO NOT RUSH TO IMPLEMENT!
No matter what this guy says
Working smart
 Do the hardest part
(the solo at 3:54)
Or
 Do the biggest visible payoff
(the chords you can sing with)
Review Yourself
 After action reviews / self-assessment
 What went right?
 What went wrong?
 What tools?
 What people and/or training?
Love what you do
 Learn to learn
 Continue to learn
 LEARN
 LEARN
 LEARN
Learn ANYTYHING
Good programmer?
Order
Chaos
Which would you like to work on?
3 minutes
 Write a synopsis of the last big project you did for
school or work?
 Is it:




Organized?
Clear?
Concise?
Understandable?
Does anybody want to read theirs to the class?
Know what you need to do
 Russ Armstrong’s Whiteboard
Keep ToDo Lists!
2nd biggest problem we have with new hires
All projects have a first line of
code
 Why not write it now?
 Procrastination makes it worse
 Have initiative, be assertive.
 DO SOMETHING!
3rd biggest problem we see with new hires
Start here.
To Get here…
7 Habits of Successful
Software Engineers
 Work Hard
 Get Along with Others
 Work Smart
 Evaluate yourself, not others
 Keep on learning (professional and personal)
 You cannot be organized enough
 Have initiative
Questions…
 Ask freely
 As long as you like
 Technical, Business, or Personal
And later, feel free to e-mail me:
[email protected]
[email protected]