Started in 2011 as my outlet to share my experiences on personal life and work topics. My handle is khanmjk. My friends & colleagues call me "Mo". This blog is an experiment, work-in-progress. Life: Self-awareness, personal development, growth hacking (quantified self). Work: Software and Systems Engineering, Leadership, Management, New Ideas and OpEds.
Monday 8 August 2016
On mapping your realities
Sunday 14 August 2022
My 2022 mid-year review of Life/Work streams
- Work hours is down 28%
- Spirituality is up 53%
- Family time is up 27%
- Social time is up 75%
- Overall "Me Time" is up 16%
Tuesday 1 January 2019
Am I hunting antelope or field mice?
Am I hunting antelope or field mice?
Newt Gingrich is one of the most successful political leaders of our time...Now that he's in the private sector, Newt uses a brilliant illustration to explain the need to focus on the big things and let the little stuff slide: the analogy of the field mice and the antelope.
A lion is fully capable of capturing, killing, and eating a field mouse. But it turns out that the energy required to do so exceeds the caloric content of the mouse itself. So a lion that spent its day hunting and eating field mice would slowly starve to death. A lion can't live on field mice. A lion needs antelope. Antelope are big animals. They take more speed and strength to capture and kill, and once killed, they provide a feast for the lion and her pride. A lion can live a long and happy life on a diet of antelope.
The distinction is important. Are you spending all your time and exhausting all your energy catching field mice? In the short term it might give out a nice, rewarding feeling. But in the long run you're going to die. So ask yourself at the end of the day, "Did I spend today chasing mice or hunting antelope?"
Initial Thoughts?
Courtesy |
Then having spent enough time consulting, it felt more and more that I ended up hunting field mice again (consultants were excluded from big meaty execution decisions and did not have a seat at the table), so I went back into permanent with the same company...I am getting my share of antelopes now with a seat at the table, but more often I find myself being dragged into field mice problems. My solution to this problem is through effective delegation and empowering my people, the challenge is that my peers and bosses have trouble appreciating this tactic...what I view as field mice problems is not always seen in the same light by the people that further up in the food chain - so maybe I'm not a lion after-all ;-) or maybe I need to find another pride of lions with the same mindset as I...??
It might well be that my current job is not the antelope I'm searching for...that my real antelope is still out there evading me, and could it be that my fear is the only thing that is holding me back??
So that's thoughts on professional life...in terms of family life, this story could also be applied as well. Being a husband and a father to three children, whilst very rewarding on levels that can't really be measured or quantified well, is probably the most challenging experience one can have...in my case it's about letting go of being a control-freak, not sweating the small stuff (field mice) and focus on the bigger important stuff...whilst I'm an expert project manager in the professional world, the project of a family and raising children is THE most intense project to manage in life...
2019 must be the year I either bag an antelope or at least make strides in identifying bigger game...My RAGE model and my focus on the 80/20 principle in all aspects of my work and life are tools that are helping me on this journey - and if I were to assess my progress since starting with my RAGE model tracking, then things don't look bad at all.
My gut tells me that 2019 is going to be an interesting year for me professionally...
Saturday 20 May 2017
The Golden Circle
The Golden Circle
Starting from the outside in, Sinek describes the terns:
WHAT: Every single company and organisation on the planet knows WHAT they do. This is true no matter or big or small, not matter what the industry. Everyone is able to describe the products or services a company sells or the job function they have within that system. WHATs are easy to identify.
HOW: Some companies and people know HOW they do WHAT they do. Whether you call them a "differentiating value proposition", "proprietary process" or "unique selling proposition," HOWs are often given to explain how something is different or better. Not as obvious as WHATs, many think these are the differentiating or motivating factors in a decision. It would be false to assume that's all that is required. There is one missing detail:
WHY: Very few people or companies can clearly articulate WHY they do WHAT they do. When I say WHY, I don't mean to make money - that's a result. By WHY I mean what is your purpose, cause or belief? WHY does your company exist? WHY do you get out of bed every morning? And WHY should anyone care?
When most organisations or people think, act or communicate they do so from the outside in, from WHAT to WHY. And for good reason - they go from the clearest thing to the fuzziest thing. We say WHAT we do, we sometimes say HOW we do it, but we rarely say WHY we do WHAT we do.
But not the inspired companies. No the inspired leaders. Every single one of them, regardless of their size or their industry, thinks, acts and communicates from the inside out. They start with WHY...
Sunday 12 May 2013
So you think writing a Set-Top-Box Middleware is easy? Think again!
PayTV operator, sick and tired of being locked into expensive and time-consuming Middleware vendors that you decide it is time to write your own software stack, be in control of your destiny and deliver cool products to market faster, cheaper and on-time?
Or you figured there is a quick and easy way of making some money, since just about every country in the world is going to switch off analog TV and turn to digital, where you can provide a very cheap and cost-effective software stack?
Just how serious are you about competing in this marketplace? Is there any room for you to compete in this arena? Where do you see your software stack in the marketplace: low-tier, middle-tier or top tier? Who are your competitors? Are you big enough, flexible-enough, savvy-enough, innovative-enough or unique-enough to displace your competitors? Or do you even wish to displace your competitors? What relationships do you have with the big technology players? What is the compelling value proposition that you're offering that your competitor's aren't? Do you stick to one large customer that can finance your operation? Do you seek out other customers to monetize on your product's offering? Do you keep a common product that can service multiple customers at relatively low cost? Do you feel the market is big enough to support many divergent offerings? Are you a small fish in a small pond, big fish in a small pond, or are you swimming with the sharks and you just don't know it yet? Do you rely on hope that everything goes well, or have mountains of cash so as not to notice you're burning fast, but don't realise it? Have you been sold vaporware, demoware, software that's far from being fit-for-purpose for real world mass production use?? Etc, Etc, Etc...
My rambling in this post covers the following:
- Typical Challenges for New Middleware Players
- Securing support from Chipset Vendors
- Choosing the Application / Interactive Engine / API for EPG
- Integrating with Conditional Access Vendors
- Competitive Costing / Pricing Model
- Overall Middleware Strategy
- Advice for PayTV Operators
- Conclusions - Middleware/EPG business is hard work
- Last Point: If I entered the Middleware/EPG Market today, what would I do?
Wednesday 10 January 2024
Personametry 2023 - Wheel of life streams, hours logged
It's that time of the year when I sit down and review my time tracking data for the year. This time round, playing around with ChatGPT (whilst still maintaining my AWS Quicksight dashboards). I was quite looking forward to continuing to use Noteable's AI/Data tools, sadly the service shut down :-(
- Rest and Sleep (Individual): A substantial 2,856.11 hours, akin to the restorative power of a long, rejuvenating sleep every night.
- Professional Work: Impressively, 2,051.20 hours were dedicated to your professional life, showing a solid commitment to career growth and achievements.
- Family Time (Family-Man): A heartwarming 1,398.79 hours spent with family, which is like embarking on a year-long road trip with your loved ones, filled with bonding and cherished memories.
- Spirituality (Individual): A profound 1,106.44 hours in spiritual pursuits, reflecting a journey akin to a spiritual retreat, deepening your inner peace and understanding.
- Personal Time (Individual): 467.55 hours of 'Me Time', ensuring a healthy balance of personal space and activities, like taking a short, refreshing break each day.
- Marital/Wife (Husband): 451.91 hours dedicated to marital life, resonating with the quality time spent in building a strong, supportive partnership.
- Knowledge and Learning (Individual): 202.88 hours of enriching your mind, like attending a series of insightful lectures throughout the year.
- Health and Fitness (Individual): 145.07 hours, a commitment to staying active and healthy, similar to a consistent routine of short, daily workouts.
- Social (Friend): 117.06 hours, akin to enjoying meaningful social gatherings, reinforcing bonds and making memories.
Wednesday 29 March 2023
ChatGPT as my new research assistant
Sunday 5 March 2023
How I switched from Program Manager to CTO
Prior to VOD Wars, I'd further strengthened my exposure to all domains of the media Video Entertainment business, by being the chief program director for launching a new video streaming business "Showmax" to Africa, in 2015. This too, was a wonderful experience, launching a business start-up from zero to launch in under ten months, co-ordinating every business (legal, finance, marketing, strategy), technology (buying a new tech stack, integrating new offshore development team, building & customising product features, integrating payment vendors, 3rd party integrators, etc.) and operations (content workflows, infrastructure & customer support).
And before Showmax, I'd been leading major group-wide initiatives for advanced and internet-connected devices (I was lead end-to-end program manager for DStv Explora, for a small stint delved with the then nascent DStv Mobile), and before that, spent my time as technical program & product manager for advanced set top box middleware software, NDS Mediahighway/Videoguard platforms.
In fact, the last time I was engineering-focused, strictly speaking was in 2010 - when I'd taken up the role of Principal Engineer after inventing a Speaking TV/EPG - a role change, after being involved in project, program and product management before then. And the years 2011-2013, when I'd helped transform the consumer devices division of Multichoice, to use modern software engineering methods of planning, product development and end-to-end systems integration, in getting them to launch their first version of DStv Explora.
Being a rock-star program manager consultant in a niche industry in Africa, did come with its perks! I billed by the hour, and was mostly in control of my time. I had back then in 2014-2017, experimented with 4-day work-weeks, I took personal time off (PTO) for long periods of time (sometimes 2 months unpaid or more). It was around this time that I had started working on my RAGE model for personal development. As I dived deeper into my professional self-reflections, the following realisations about my aspirations started to really gnaw at me:
- I was getting bored of being a program manager, I felt there was no challenge left and I was no learning anything new any more. I'd been reading, studying, applying and mastering the many forms of project & program management since 2008 and by 2017, I think I'd arrived and was feeling satisfied with my craft, as an expert program manager, a project leader at the top of PM hierarchy as explained here.
- I felt I reached my goals of understanding how to run a full blown video entertainment business as I had experienced by then, every single aspect of business, technology & operations of the Pay-TV value chain.
- I had my program management work mechanics down to an art form: I had a repeatable process, had built templates for structuring program charters, communicating progress, etc. There wasn't much more I could learn from the mechanisms needed in program management and was operating at the highest level of project leadership. A lot came naturally to me, operating on instinct most of the time.
- I felt could run a Project Management Office (PMO) with my eyes closed. I'd started mentoring and coaching other project & program managers but I was not interested in specialising in PMOs.
- I learnt the secrets of engaging and managing high-powered senior executives, I was confident in discussions, meetings, presentations and contractual negotiations.
- I was not sure I could continue being a consultant without having skin-in-the-game, or having a seat-at-the-table.
- I had failed to land other consulting engagements outside the scope of Video / Media - so my "business" AS3 (Africa Systems & Software Services) was a one-man show, tied to one big corporate without hope of branching out of video - so why remain a consultant when I could have a seat at the table if I wanted to?
- As a consultant, I'd developed my own prime directives of knowing when to offer advice, opinion or put a proposal together. Consultants serve a purpose, they can lead through indirect influence but also need to remain humble and fully aware, that they don't really have any clout or say in strategic decision making. Something, if I'm completely honest with myself, I wanted to influence directly, I wanted my ideas to be heard, I wanted to be directly responsible for change, and influence strategy and change the status quo, if given the chance. I could sit on the sides and offer advice and witness slower pace of change, or get in the ring, get my hands dirty and experience true ownership, accountability and responsibility. I yearned for an opportunity to experience being a senior executive, responsible for a big organisation.
- I felt I'd drifted too far from the technology domain - and needed to get back to the core. After all, I built software myself in the early days, and have degrees in Engineering and a masters in Computer Science. I wanted to get closer to the tech teams building modern apps, internet scale.
- I wondered if a Program Manager could switch back to being a Technology Leader - looking at people around me in executive roles, I felt I had more than the requisite experience and technical know-how to adapt and do the job.
- I needed to experience what it meant to be a manager with direct responsibility for people and bottom-line P&L. No more assisting from the sides.
Monday 23 January 2017
Applying the 80/20 rule to my personal RAGE model
- What activities were consuming the most amount of time?
- How did reality (of actual time consumed) compare against my wish-list of aspirations (desires, wishes, fancies)
- Find a way of relating my time spent on activities relative to the value / happiness gained from such activities
In this post I will examine 2016 under this 80/20 lens and share my revisions for 2017 year ahead. The experiment continues ...
Inspirational Quotes
"Finding out what you love to do is a great feat in and of itself" – Derek Dolin
“There is no satisfaction that can compare with looking back across the years and finding you’ve grown in self-control, judgement, generosity, and unselfishness.” – Ella Wheeler Wilcox
2016 under 80/20 lens
Richard Koch's 80/20 Principle is a book that everyone should read. I'm not going to rehash the 80/20 principle, except state in the general terms of the greatest output / reward (80%) is achieved through 20% of the input (vital few), the law of non linearity and unbalanced systems; that 80% of success results from 20% of input.Saturday 11 March 2023
My first 100 days as CTO: Resetting the Mental Model
The Situation - VUCA !
My 100 day plan
Fri 11-May: Morning Paper
This DDM role is seemingly chaotic, need to find a balance and a way of prioritising and managing my work in progress. I can't be working every day long hours, need to find the balance and time for my other interests. Officially my days start from Monday, of which I will enter a countdown from 90 days! I must set myself something to achieve in the first 90 days.
First stab: By the end of 90 days, we should have:
- settled with product management on a common backlog that drives the work
- delivered at least one release of DStv Now
- kicked off a stream and have a concrete plan of action for a Platform SDK API
- have a realistic plan for the platforms improvements
- agreed on roles and responsibilities between the various customers and my teams
Within the first 30 days, I need to:
- workshops with product & planning team
- complete handover with R (1st week of june)
- complete a 360 review based on feedback from DDM & External customers
- complete view of all the people in the division
- a full view of people by skills, competency and career aspirations
- a view of the vision and strategy for the group - Why do we exist, What are our outputs, how we go about it?
- agree reporting from all lines - Architecture / Dev / Platforms
- set clear objectives on delivery
- agree a way of working/transitioning VOD Wars program
Within the second 30 days:
- town hall with full tech team
- objectives, pds, measurements of performance clearly defined and agreed by all
Within the third 30 days:
- publish approved strategy & objectives
- must have delivered some feature increment
- reporting & dashboards in place
- improved working relationships with customers
- platform network optimisation plan executing in full swing
- vod wars program transitioned out
Tuesday, 2 May 2017
Ideas for DDM-GM role
Here's some topics to note if you take the GM role:
- Workshop retrospective - aim is to get people to understand the current reality. Timeline of company showing where they started, turning points and current period
- Map out worlds of interaction of teams - micro and macro worlds. Showing customer relationships and where DDM teams fit within this world.
- Talk through the trust curve and get people to vote into areas of the curve. Where do they think they sit? Need to draw quadrant map.
- Talk about RAGE model. Do a workshop mapping out current reality, aspirations, goals n expectations.
- For each line manager, draw a job card mapped to rage, split by work worlds (DDM, VET, customers, etc.) career and personal categories. For each apply the RAGE model
- Self Assessment. Create survey based on Agile Good Ugly book. Get leaders to rate themselves according to criteria of systems engineering practices.
- Workshop with team to define what "world class" means
- Develop vision and mission for group. Tie back to company objectives. The Why golden circle. Why, How, What. Why does DDM exists? How do we behave to reach the Why? What actions or results to we produce that speaks to the Why?
- Get to know everyone. Radical candor. Review CV, skills and experience. Growth/Performance matrix - who are the rockstars? Who are the superstars? Who likes stability? Who wants to grow fast?
- Discuss the Cynefin model.
- Teach the Dreyfus model.
- Team self-assessment down to each last person (identify gaps, growth, training, etc.)
- Career Ladder - does DDM have one?
- Build authentic relationships
- Build trust from outset
- Do not dictate - listen, embrace collaboration & welcome criticism
- Implement Personal Kanban - time management - teach it?
My first All Hands / Townhall - Reset Mental Model of 150+ People
More Flux thrown into the mix for fun
Did I deliver on my 90 day plan then?
Saturday 20 March 2021
Book Review: To God through money, by Mohamed Geraldez
Goodreads Review
Useful Self Reflection Points for Life/Story Mapping
- According to your parents, what was a particular characteristic you had as a child?
- What did you accomplish as a kid that made you proud of yourself?
- Did your parents' love story have an effect on your upbringing?
- What trait from your childhood has stayed with you until now?
- Do you think your early years had a massive effect on your current relationship with money?
- What events from your youth indicated the type of person you would become?
- Who were the major figures in your child rearing?
- Did you grow up in an environment where you felt like you belonged, or did you feel like an outsider?
- Has any death in your life affected you so much that you made a permanent change?
- What are some of the biggest adjustments your parents had to make because of your birth? If they did not have to, why not?
- Were you a bully or were you bullied as a child? If either, does this still bother you?
- Is there something you regretfully did during your youth that you are embarrassed to think about now?
- Were you exposed to an assortment of cultures growing up?
- Did you yearn to belong to a group or were you content with those around you?
- Did you grow up in a religious home?
- How would you describe yourself in regard to religion? Atheist? Spiritual? Literal? Other?
- What period in your life did you start questioning long-standing beliefs? How do you resolve them?
- Are you still close to your best friend from childhood / high school?
- Is there one person in your life who totally altered your life's trajectory?
- How would you describe your relationship with your parents?
- What is one thing you have done in your entire life that you wish you could take back? How have you dealt with it?
- Are there people other than family members who helped raise you? If possible, give them a call to say, 'Thank You.'
- Have you ever failed in starting a company? What were the lessons you learned?
- Have you ever met a person or people that truly amazed you? What was it about them?
- Have you ever conquered a great fear? What did you learn about yourself in the process?
- Have you ever been culture-shocked? Where did this occur and why?
- What has been the most transformative phase in your life?
- Have you ever had a 'happiest day in my life'? If so, what caused it?
- Have you ever had someone like 'Brother, Sisyer, Father, etc. I never had'? What made that person special to you?
- What is one thing or event that if you did it, your life would be complete? What is preventing you?
- Do you work well under stressful conditions? What helps you?
- What are the different periods in your life that you learned a lot about yourself and the world?
- Is there a dream or something of significance that you passed on in life because of barriers or difficulties?
- Have you ever worked so hard at a job that you became sick? What kept you going?
- What was one of the lowest points in your life? How were you able to bounce back?
- What was the most fulfilling job you have ever had? What did you learn from the experience?
- Have you ever been laid off or fired from your job? How did you deal with it?
- What is the most expensive mistake you have made in your life?
- Have you ever taken a risk, and it paid off? When did it not work out?
- Has there ever been an instance where you went against your gut and regretted it? What about a time that you went with it and worked out?
- Have you ever had mentors in your life? What did they assist you with?
- Why is your best friend, your best friend?
- Do you have any personal finance rules you live by? What are they?
- From the list of The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, which one(s) resonates with you the most? Why?
- What are your "happy moments" in life?
- Have you ever given any though about your legacy? If so, what you you want it to say about you?
- What is your Happy Money monthly amount?
- Has there ever been a time when you refused someone's advice, but later acted upon it? What changed your mind?
- What helps you in making important decisions?
- What habits or practices do you have for continuous self-improvement?
- What events or decisions were not in your favour, but with time, you were actually glad they were not? Why?
- When you think about the fisherman and the banker story, what things come to your mind about your own life?
- What blameworthy personality traits do you have that you would like to rid yourself of?
- Is there a particular friendship you no longer have, but wish it would return? What is holding you back?
- What is your love language? If you are still blessed with one or both of them, what are your parents' love languages?
- Who has had the greatest impact on your life?
- Have you ever felt that pursuing success in this world meant jeopardising your success in the next world? If so, why?
- Was it ever in your spiritual practice to think about your death? If not, do you think you will now incorporate it?
- What spiritual program do you have in place to reconnect with your Lord and regain perspective in life?
- What charity is dear to your heart? When was the last time you donated to it?
- Are you debt-free? If not, is it your top financial goal?