Well it’s the last Friday of FY ’07, which brings another fiscal year to a close. Looking back…it’s been a challenging year for many of us in IT. Many things have been done to help Conservation employees do their jobs: from repairing broken computers to improving applications, all these tasks help Conservation employees address resource issues. You are typically unsung heroes in this fight to improve and provide for Fish, Forest, and Wildlife Management.

Not much of what you do ever makes the big news for this Org. and yet I consider technology at the very heart and soul of what this org. accomplishes on a daily basis and will only be more critical moving forward. We are like that internal organ of the human body….few (if anyone) ever see it, and yet without it the body wouldn’t/couldn’t function. Your efforts are appreciated even if rarely spoken!

As we jump right into a new Fiscal Year, the challenges only continue to mount. I think that is a good thing! The opportunity to bring new solutions to Conservation is exciting. Being a part of a Team that understands the Conservation Mission and who work hard to provide solutions to business problems is rewarding. Thank you! …and I look forward to continued success in the coming year.
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Because I was asked….here is my “meme” (List 8 Random Facts/Habits About Me) and I will not propagate it further…
1) I was born on Thanksgiving Day….after the main meal was complete.
2) I love to weight train, (provides an opp for competition with nobody as a loser).
3) I love NHRA type races, especially Funny Cars.
4) I moved to MO from Nebraska when I was 13.
5) I am James Edward the 3rd….and no there were no plans to have one named the 4th.
6) My favorite meal: Roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, fresh corn, sweet rice and bread (Mom’s is the best)
7) Best car I ever owned: 69 Chevelle
8) I have no musical ability, but do have a keen ear for music (volume, pitch, harmony, etc)

TAFN

A New Dawn...

New beginnings….

What’s not to like about the sound of those two words together? To most people, when they use or hear those words, it is truly a positive thing. No different in the case I will use today. I believe we are on the initial edge of a “New Beginning” within the Technical Services Group (TSG). Recent changes both programmatic and personnel wise (and with more changes promised,) have opened some doors to changing the way the TSG conducts its work.

The most recent news of a Development Staffer relocating to a work place that more closely fits his individual needs, serves as yet another opportunity to bring about some positive change. This vacant position will be re-evaluated on a larger scale to determine where and how is the best way to proceed. Rest assured that there are a number of opportunities that will present themselves during the review process of that position, from a simple refill to perhaps more creative solutions. I tend to be more excited about the “creative solutions”…but we’ll have to wait and see what appears to be the best solution. Stay tuned…

With the advent of the Team concept for Application Development, new beginnings are underway to improving work flow and delivery of product. A perfect example of how effectual this process can be is through the Ag Crop development process. The Lead Developer experienced an unplanned; extended absence…another team member was redirected to continue the work in the program to help ensure the release date was met. Even though the Lead was out for weeks…the application development continued and will certainly meet the original promised release date. THAT is a perfect example of new beginnings that pay dividends. Without that change, the application would have laid dormant until the Lead returned to resume work. I happen to believe the change is positive.

Drop shipping on the Desktop Technology side will likely add significant value and opportunity for change within this group too. Last FY years’ numbers reflect that Desktop group spent one FTE in the seat of a vehicle traveling to conduct PC replacements. That’s a lot of seat time and as you might guess…non productive time. All of the hard work that this group has put into developing a plan to drop ship PC’s to our customers and conduct remote builds/configurations will no doubt add great value. The time savings from this task alone will enable Technical Staff to focus on other projects, including R&D which is sorely needed in this Org.

Another first….CI-IT! This change brings about a method to ensure that the entire Agency’s view of what is important to writing software is in place. We are an Agency resource and focusing on smaller projects or allowing the distractions of the “squeaky wheel” detract from the work that move the entire Agency forward. Our efforts should be broad brushed and concentrated on what Leadership determines to be the most important thing to Conservation. Who wouldn’t want to be part of a project that the Agency’s Leadership says: “This is our number one priority for Conservation.” That direction will help focus our limited resource on the important things. Another good move….

I could go on for pages here talking about other new beginnings/changes that have taken place…some more subtle than others….but the point is:

Change is needed;
Change is happening and
Change will continue.

Attitude and acceptance of these changes will be crucial to our success. While change isn’t always simple or easy…it can be very beneficial. Those who have the ability to recognize the need for change and the desire to ensure its success are as one with our new direction. On the other hand, it’s easier to sit back and be critical….frankly my opinion is that is a Cowards way of doing business… Lying in wait for any new idea to jump on and criticize. I think if you will take notice and analyze this person…likely you will see that they are the ones who have no ideas of their own, they don’t offer suggestions on how to improve anything. They are almost like a cancer of sorts….feeding on the good and causing destruction in their path.

But of course we don’t have those types of folks working here, so we have the added advantage of high quality staff with a professional mentality. It’s all about the people….You reap what you sow…your efforts are rewarded to the extent of the energy you exert…the good outweighs the bad. We have much work to do in the future and many new opportunities will arise. Professionalism, high energy, commitment and support will ensure those goals are met…..for everyone.

I look forward to the new challenges that await the TSG. Yes, there will be bumps and there may even be some growth pains…but if we all focus on the goal---Which is to move Conservation forward from a Technology standpoint---then those efforts AND results will be positive.

TAFN

Facts of Life...

“…sometimes, your best just ain’t good enough…” Ever heard those words? I have…and they have guided me and my actions for many years. While on the surface the quote likely sounds quite harsh and knowing that it came from my father may seem even worse. No, my father is not a harsh uncaring man, rather just the opposite.

Those words were spoken to me when I was a teenager and in the middle of a “life lesson” where I was acting, (as my Mother would say), “a little too big for my britches.” My father and I were having a discussion about some family tasks that needed to be completed before I took the family car to town. He was pointing out that I was neglecting some of the chores around the farm that I was responsible for and driving the family car required that I pull my weight too. Never missing many opportunities to open my mouth….I lashed out in true teenager style about how unfair life was to a young man, namely me. I ranted on about how hard I worked and how much effort I put into EVERYTHING I do…..I yelled at him that I was doing “the best I can…” His calm reply to me… “Well, if this is your best effort…It’s time you learned that, sometimes, your best ain’t good enough.”

Those words have stuck with me to this day….while some may interpret other meanings…I knew my Dad and I KNEW what he meant. He was dead on…as usual. Although I really didn’t know the meaning of the word back then and likely didn’t care too much…I had experienced a Paradigm Shift. The moment had arrived for my –“fundamental change in approach or assumptions.”

Those words opened my eyes to a new way of thinking…My thoughts prior to the event, were that I was doing everything I could possibly do and as such nothing more was needed ….and yet the reality was that: It wasn’t good enough for someone! Wow!! My eyes were opened! It wasn’t all about me. There were others to consider and my value wasn’t just based upon what I thought of myself. My value was measured in different terms than just my own…so just because I “thought” I was doing everything I could….in reality it didn’t appear that way to others. Hmmmm

The fundamental shift for me included the realization that I must grow even further…because it was obvious that my standards of best or good enough, etc. just wasn’t going to get it. So the process began where the value of Jim Garr wasn’t just being based upon a self perception. I realized that sometimes my view of myself was biased…no in fact it was clouded, muddied if you will by my own blindness. I wanted my efforts, as great or as slight as they may be….to be good enough. My father kindly pointed out…it’s not that way junior.

I look around today and I feel I meet people in the world who didn’t have the type of father that I did. It is obvious to me that no one taught them the same lesson in their life. Some have no clue about the need to grow…the need to stretch mind, body, and soul. They are missing a basic understanding that not everyone’s view of who and what you are is the same as yours. I believe it related to understanding a bigger picture of things….not staying in your own little shallow corner of existence. An understanding of when we think we have it all…. that is generally the first clue we are missing something.

My takeaway…never assume you are doing all you can possibly do. Look for other ways, better ways, quicker ways, less costly ways, etc. An old saying I used to use in my Collegiate Basketball days to gauge whether or not I had any more to give is:”If you left your guts on the floor, then you’ve done all you can…” If you haven’t done that…then you haven‘t given it your best effort. I often wonder how different work and family life would be if everyone put that much effort into it.

Yes, I did get to use the family car….after promising to make up for less than 100% effort.

To this day, my measure of success IS NOT based upon my criteria alone…that would be too shallow. I thank my Dad for the education to help me understand, it is bigger than me… Why would anyone settle for something less than best effort?

TAFN