personal improvement

A person with writer's block struggling to write on a red typewriter The “Dear Mother” Approach to Getting Past Writer’s BlockIf you want to be a thought leader in the software community, you may want to share your expertise by getting published. But no matter how knowledgeable you are in your particular domain, writing about it is another matter entirely. If you're struck by writer's block, try writing a letter to unblock your thoughts.
An organized desk with computer, planner, calendar, and more Stress and Project Management: 5 Ways to Relieve Project PressureProject managers have many sources of stress. They are responsible for the performance of their team members, and often for whether a project is successful or fails. Keep the pressure off with these five tips for reducing your stress and ensure a smoothly functioning team.
Tortoise walking slowly through grass, photo by Luca Ambrosi Slow Down to Speed UpHave you ever heard someone say, “How is it we never have time to do it right but we always have time to do it over?” When we rush to complete work, that's often when errors happen. It may seem counterintuitive, but slowing down may be one of the best ways to get the job done quickly—and right the first time.
plastic trash on beach Celebrate Earth Day 2018: How You Can Help Reduce Plastic Pollution

Since plastics can’t efficiently be recycled as yet, it’s time to focus on reducing our own level of plastic consumption, both as individuals and businesses. How can we help? The End Plastic Pollution campaign for Earth Day 2018 encourages all of us to do our part to reduce our plastic pollution footprint.

A confident man standing with arms crossed, photo by Jonas Kakaroto 3 Keys to Gaining ConfidenceConfidence is a state of mind. Much of the advice on how to gain confidence revolves around eliminating behaviors that diminish confidence. The idea is that if you effect a confident attitude, others will perceive you as such, and eventually you will be truly confident. Here are three keys to gaining more confidence.
Signs pointing toward success one way and failure the other What You Can Learn from Failure—and from SuccessSuccess and failure teach different lessons. Lessons from failure tend to revolve around what not to do next time around, whereas lessons from success focus on what you can do again, perhaps even better. But whether you experience success or failure, the key is to take the time to learn from what happened.
Wordie Update: Merriam-Webster Adds 850 New Words

The Merriam-Webster dictionary blog noted they recently added 850 new words and definitions that come from a cross-section of our linguistic culture. It’s good to know that some of the words we’re seeing in the headlines are now being included.

Pile of books on a table, photo by Sharon McCutcheon 3 Must-Read Books for a Good Agile FoundationIf you are searching for agile knowledge, there are many books outside the current literature that may enlighten you. Some discuss the underpinnings of concepts we consider agile, while others are contemporary business books that present compelling ways to use agile effectively. Here are three Jeff Payne recommends.