The Applebee's of Software Development
The good folks at Applebee’s have made a pretty good name for themselves in the casual dining business as “your neighborhood grill and bar”. Their website details the myriad ways they think of themselves as a good neighbor. I haven’t been in an Applebee’s in a while, but I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad experience in one (and I’ve certainly had some good/excellent experiences there). So, I guess I’m on board with their “neighborhood” marketing.
What would “your neighborhood software developers” look like?
I think they’d care. They’d care about solving problems. They’d care about solving the right problems. They’d care about solving problems in new and innovative ways. They’d care about solving problems in sustainable ways. They’d care about making damned sure the problems are actually solved. They’d care about following up to make sure the problems stay solved. They’d care about staying ahead of the crowd and learning ways to solve the problems you won’t even bring up until next year. They’d care about solving problems for people who desperately need help, but can’t find it.
I think they’d be fun. They’d be fun to work with. They’d be fun to solve problems with. They’d be fun as individuals and as a group. They’d be fun in their community. They’d be fun just to hang out and have a beer with.
I think they’d be good at what they do and know when to lean on other neighbors.
I think they’d be curious and willing to share openly. They’d go to conferences. They’d speak at conferences. They’d host outside speakers. They’d seek out the best in the industry and learn from them. They’d devour books and magazines (and blogs and podcasts and…) looking for any nugget that could make them better in the sort-term and the long-term.
I think they’d be nearby when needed. They’d establish working and learning relationships with others in their neighborhood. They’d figure out ways to seem nearby even when they’re not. They’d come visit and sit right down next to you if that’s what it takes to get the job done.
I’m sure there are another 1.21 gigaways that your neighborhood software developers would be good neighbors. Some are more important than others, some are more achievable than others. These are just the ones that come to my mind first. Let’s go out and try to do these and any others that come up.