FIVE LESSONS LEARNEDMarkus Kobler

Since graduating Computer Science 2003

Going over some of the ups...

...and some of the downs

Its been interesting asking others about their five

FIVE LESSONS LEARNEDMarkus Kobler

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Finally I’m academically finished!

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I didn’t have a job sorted yet so now what?

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Short term contracting at a startup

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Gave me a chance to find longer term work in London

Lesson 1 Is it best to go with the Big brand or the unknown startup?

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so I decided to go with the small guys

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3 1/2 years and 6 fold growth laterthere was something wrong however...

Lesson 2 Some times you need to move on to keep learning

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So I decided to move to a consultancy

which really meant working for

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Lesson 3 Indepth understanding of domains (little ironic in the banking industry?)

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Unfortunately I was still on the same project after a yearthe opposite reason I joined a consultancy

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Its around this time that Taglab where looking for a new Technical Director

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So I agreed to join the board of directors as CTOand take a stake in the company

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It was not quite as great as it seemed...

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My predecessor had left for a reason

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We had problems...

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Some we created

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actually quite a few

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but also plenty we didn’t

Lesson 4 Communication & Teamwork

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So we rolled up our sleeves

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Introduced agile techniques like XP, Kanban andDomain Driven Design

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there was also the controversial pirate and fez hat theory

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The was will one big problem we had not solved...

Lesson 5 Be passionate about what you do

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Which brings me to here and now

So now what?

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Summarising

Don’t feel you have to work at a big brand to be a big fish

In this industry you (must) never stop learning

Creating great software requires deep understanding of its domain

Great business’ depend on communication & teamwork

Be passionate about what you do

Don't be afraid of taking risks and aiming high

Image Credits

Cellar, 2008, Nick Mobbs - http://www.nickmobbs.co.uk/

Fork in the road - http://www.flickr.com/photos/tunruh/233316674/

30/365: January 30, 2010 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurenfarmer/4317277721/

The Deep: 1 of 8 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefharris/2616806578/

Bora Bora -- sunset champagne on our deck at Hotel Bora Bora - http://www.flickr.com/photos/gog/71962113/

Reserved 666 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixelthing/190875121/

Bad Parking - http://www.flickr.com/photos/xlibber/3870106899/

Admire my parking skills - http://www.flickr.com/photos/enigmatic/345431689/

Crushed Celica - http://www.flickr.com/photos/rudiriet/231524995

LIP's ice climb - http://www.flickr.com/photos/mankitho/418398749/

Crown Jewel Ice Climb - http://www.flickr.com/photos/aaroneus/3123532091/

Ice climbing in Cogne - http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanwinkeljan/3260275442/

ice climbing on perito moreno - http://www.flickr.com/photos/22491205@N04/2520272951/

Ice climbing - http://www.flickr.com/photos/razzumitos/4125689785/

La vitesse à ski, c'est dangereux ! - http://www.flickr.com/photos/popov/3293177333/

Thank you for listening

Markus Kobler

Email: markus@markuskobler.com

Twitter : @markuskobler