Developer on Fire
Developer on Fire
Episode 051 | Wendy Closson - Whole Person
Guest:
Wendy Closson talks with Dave Rael about adversity bringing out the best in people, objectivity and spirituality, extreme experiences and the value of the whole person, and authenticity
Wendy Closson is an expert software developer with over a decade of experience immersed in development and championing agile practices. After a run in with cancer, she gathered a unique toolset to overcome overwhelm, create clear communication, and increase influence. Fusing her expertise together, Wendy coaches senior technologists through their mid-career crisis. Additionally, she teaches yoga, researches meditation, blogs for mothering.com, and hacks away on side projects. She lives on Long Island with her husband and two children.
Chapters:
- - Dave introduces the show and Wendy Closson
- - Wendy and parenting and how her experiences have shaped her
- - The "mid-career crisis"
- - Wendy's definition of value
- - The things that "light Wendy up"
- - "Agile saves me from getting into my own head."
- - Wendy's experience of cancer and how that changed her outlook
- - The rational and the irrational
- - Applying lessons from life to software and lessons from software to life
- - How Wendy got started in software
- - The value and joy of having a mentor
- - Wendy's story of failure - experiencing cancer
- - Wendy's greatest success - Trusting in what was best, prioritizing life, making it happen
- - How Wendy stays current with what he needs to know
- - Wendy's book recommendation
- - The things about which Wendy is most excited
- - Wendy's prediction for the future of software
- - Wendy's top 3 tips for delivering more value
- - Keeping up with Wendy
- - Farewell
Resources:
- Wendy's Home Site
- Wendy's Coaching Business
- In Action: Technology, Strategy, Leadership, Community - Wendy's Podcast
- Christian Trinity
- Aleph, Mem, Shin
- Rama, Krishna and Shiva
- Shark Wheel - Reinventing the wheel
- "Doc" Norton on Developer on Fire
Wendy's book recommendations:
- Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships (Nonviolent Communication Guides) - Marshall B. Rosenberg PhD, Deepak Chopra
- The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business - Charles Duhigg
- Unconditional Parenting: Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason - Alfie Kohn
Wendy's top 3 tips for delivering more value:
1. Ask yourself: "What small thing can shift that I can go on another day?"
2. It's helpful to be honest about your feelings
3. There's a difference between being nice and being kind
