The Most Important Optimization: Happiness (Big Ruby)

Closing presentation at Big Ruby Conf 2013 in Dallas, TX.

Metaprogramming. It's awesome, right? Powerful? Maybe a little scary?

Let's kick things up a notch. If writing code that writes code is powerful, what's hacking the life of the programmer writing the code? That's got to be an 11 on the meta-meter. *At least.* We'll talk about some of the bad assumptions we've made, lies we've bought into, and why we have the most awesome job ever.

Transcript

1. The Most Important Optimization: HAPPINESS
3. we’re hiring.* * “we’re hiring” is not part of the LivingSocial brand, but totally should be
4. HOW’S YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION GOING? (mine’s just dandy)
6. “You’re interesting to listen to.” ― Mom
7. IS THIS REALLY NECESSARY?
14. PROTIP: IN ORDER TO POWER ON A DESKTOP COMPUTER
15. PROTIP: IN ORDER TO POWER ON A DESKTOP COMPUTER YOU MUST FIRST PLUG IT IN.
16. SOMETIMES...
17. I AM AN IDIOT.
18. WE MAKE BAD ASSUMPTIONS.
19. WE SKIP STEPS.
20. TDD
21. RED GREEN REFACTOR
22. describe Life do it { should be_awesome } end
23. require 'minitest/autorun' class LifeTest < MiniTest::Unit::TestCase def setup @life = Life.new end def test_that_it_is_awesome assert @life.awesome?, 'Sucks to be you.' end end
24. RED GREEN REFACTOR
25. RED GREEN REFACTOR make it clear
26. RED GREEN REFACTOR make it clear make it real
27. RED GREEN REFACTOR make it clear make it real make it better
28. The Most Important Optimization: HAPPINESS
29. HAPPINESS?
31. Dr. Martin Seligman
32. Dr. Martin Seligman P E R M A ositive Emotions ngagement elationships eaning chievement
39. RESOURCES TO DO STUFF
40. STUFF TO DO
41. PEOPLE
42. PEOPLE TO DO STUFF WITH
43. FACT: ACRONYMS AND PICTURES HELP US REMEMBER THINGS
44. CAR
45. C A R CTIVITIES APACITY ELATIONSHIPS
46. C A R CTIVITIES APACITY ELATIONSHIPS
47. C A R CTIVITIES APACITY ELATIONSHIPS
48. CAPACITY Time Money Physical Mental
49. ACTIVITIES Fun Challenging Meaningful Beneficial
50. RELATIONSHIPS Family Friends Romantic Professional
51. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
52. BE INTENTIONAL RED GREEN REFACTOR ==
53. RED GREEN REFACTOR
54. RUN YOUR SPECS! RED GREEN REFACTOR
55. exercise, nutrition, and sleep.
56. EXERCISE, NUTRITION, and SLEEP.
57. EXERCISE, NUTRITION, and SLEEP. (see what I did there?)
58. CAPACITY RELATIONSHIPS ACTIVITIES
59. CAPACITY RELATIONSHIPS ACTIVITIES
60. SPOT THE DIFFERENCE!
61. SPOT THE DIFFERENCE! class Greeting def initialize(greetable) @greetable = greetable end def to_s "Hello, #{@greetable}!" end end class Greeting def initialize(greetable) @greetable = greetable end def to_s "Hello, #{@greetable}!" end end
62. SPOT THE DIFFERENCE! class Greeting def initialize(greetable) @greetable = greetable end def to_s "Hello, #{@greetable}!" end end class Greeting def initialize(greetable) @greetable = greetable end def to_s "Hello, #{@greetable}!" end end Coded in Louisville Coded in San Francisco
63. SPOT THE DIFFERENCE! Source: Sperling’s Best Places - http://www.bestplaces.net/col/
64. SPOT THE DIFFERENCE! Source: Sperling’s Best Places - http://www.bestplaces.net/col/
65. Capacity Activities Relationships Time Fun Family Money Challenging Friends Physical Beneficial Romantic Mental Meaningful Professional IMPACT OF PHYSICAL LOCATION ON YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE
66. Capacity Activities Relationships Time Fun Family Money Challenging Friends Physical Beneficial Romantic Mental Meaningful Professional IMPACT OF PHYSICAL LOCATION ON YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE
67. IMPACT OF PHYSICAL LOCATION ON YOUR VALUE TO AN EMPLOYER
68. IMPACT OF PHYSICAL LOCATION ON YOUR VALUE TO AN EMPLOYER * for qualified employers *
69. Time (one-way) People (x1,000) % < 10 min 18,565 13.4 10 - 14 min 19,328 13.9 15 - 19 min 20,775 15.0 20 - 24 min 19,559 14.1 25 - 29 min 8,040 5.8 30 - 34 min 17,874 12.9 35 - 44 min 8,321 6.0 45 - 59 min 9,834 7.1 60 - 89 min 7,160 5.2 90+ min 3,218 2.3 TIME SPENT COMMUTING TO WORK Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey - http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/acs-15.pdf
70. Time (one-way) People (x1,000) % < 10 min 18,565 13.4 10 - 14 min 19,328 13.9 15 - 19 min 20,775 15.0 20 - 24 min 19,559 14.1 25 - 29 min 8,040 5.8 30 - 34 min 17,874 12.9 35 - 44 min 8,321 6.0 45 - 59 min 9,834 7.1 60 - 89 min 7,160 5.2 90+ min 3,218 2.3 TIME SPENT COMMUTING TO WORK Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey - http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/acs-15.pdf 33.5%
71. WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE?
73. LIFE’S TOO short TO SPEND SO MUCH OF IT IN BETWEEN THE PLACES YOU TRULY WANT TO BE.
74. Hacker News
75. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that you have to be excellent at a lot of things that don't matter when you're on site. And since your energy is a zero sum game, being excellent at these things steals energy from building. You need to expend time and energy on: “ • Preparing precise specs instead of explaining and interacting • Interpreting precise specs instead of questioning and interacting • Writing precise e-mails • Interpreting precise e-mails • Guessing body language and tonality from written communication • Dealing with conference calls and web-based meetings • Building relationships without benefit of breaks and meals • Understanding the human terrain without benefit of gossip and the water cooler • Being noticed and recognized for who you really are by new people • Being included when you’re “out of sight, out of mind” You kinda get the idea. If you can be excellent at these things, great. Otherwise, be prepared to see your work suffer. — edw519
76. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that you have to be excellent at a lot of things that don't matter when you're on site. “ • Being noticed and recognized for who you really are by new people • Being included when you’re “out of sight, out of mind” — edw519 • Preparing precise specs instead of explaining and interacting • Interpreting precise specs instead of questioning and interacting • Writing precise e-mails • Interpreting precise e-mails • Guessing body language and tonality from written communication • Dealing with conference calls and web-based meetings • Building relationships without benefit of breaks and meals • Understanding the human terrain without benefit of gossip and the water cooler
77. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that you have to be excellent at a lot of things that don't matter when you're on site. “ • Being noticed and recognized for who you really are by new people • Being included when you’re “out of sight, out of mind” — edw519 • Preparing precise specs instead of explaining and interacting • Interpreting precise specs instead of questioning and interacting • Writing precise e-mails • Interpreting precise e-mails • Guessing body language and tonality from written communication WRONG • Dealing with conference calls and web-based meetings • Building relationships without benefit of breaks and meals • Understanding the human terrain without benefit of gossip and the water cooler
78. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that you have to be excellent at a lot of things that don't matter when you're on site. “ • Being noticed and recognized for who you really are by new people • Being included when you’re “out of sight, out of mind” — edw519 • Preparing precise specs instead of explaining and interacting • Interpreting precise specs instead of questioning and interacting • Writing precise e-mails • Interpreting precise e-mails • Guessing body language and tonality from written communication WRONG WHAT IS THIS I DON’T EVEN • Dealing with conference calls and web-based meetings • Building relationships without benefit of breaks and meals • Understanding the human terrain without benefit of gossip and the water cooler
79. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that you have to be excellent at a lot of things that don't matter when you're on site. “ • Being noticed and recognized for who you really are by new people • Being included when you’re “out of sight, out of mind” — edw519 • Preparing precise specs instead of explaining and interacting • Interpreting precise specs instead of questioning and interacting • Writing precise e-mails • Interpreting precise e-mails • Guessing body language and tonality from written communication WRONG WHAT IS THIS I DON’T EVEN • Building relationships without benefit of breaks and meals • Understanding the human terrain without benefit of gossip and the water cooler
80. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that you have to be excellent at a lot of things that don't matter when you're on site. “ • Being noticed and recognized for who you really are by new people • Being included when you’re “out of sight, out of mind” — edw519 • Preparing precise specs instead of explaining and interacting • Interpreting precise specs instead of questioning and interacting • Writing precise e-mails • Interpreting precise e-mails • Guessing body language and tonality from written communication WRONG WHAT IS THIS I DON’T EVEN POLITICS
81. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that you have to be excellent at a lot of things that don't matter when you're on site. “ — edw519 • Preparing precise specs instead of explaining and interacting • Interpreting precise specs instead of questioning and interacting • Writing precise e-mails • Interpreting precise e-mails • Guessing body language and tonality from written communication WRONG WHAT IS THIS I DON’T EVEN POLITICS INSECURITY
82. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that you have to be excellent at a lot of things that don't matter when you're on site. “ — edw519 WRONG WHAT IS THIS I DON’T EVEN POLITICS INSECURITY WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
83. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that you have to be excellent at a lot of things that don't matter when you're on site. “ — edw519 WRONG WHAT IS THIS I DON’T EVEN POLITICS INSECURITY WRITTEN COMMUNICATION ?!
84. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that you have to be excellent “ — edw519 at a lot of things that don't matter when you're on site. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
85. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that you have to be excellent “ at a lot of things that don't matter when you're on site. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION PROGRAMMING IS
86. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that you have to be excellent “ WRITTEN COMMUNICATION PROGRAMMING IS .
87. “ BE EXCELLENT.
88. “ — me BE EXCELLENT.
89. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, MGM,1989
91. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, MGM,1989
92. CODE ≠ YOUR PRODUCT
93. YOUR PRODUCT YOU =
94. YOUR PRODUCT MANAGER YOU =
95. Painstakingly assembled at the Cartoon Doll Emporium: http://www.cartoondollemporium.com/scene_hemanandshera.html
96. US National Archives and Records Administration
97. US National Archives and Records Administration
98. US National Archives and Records Administration
99. US National Archives and Records Administration
100. JOB SECURITY
101. JOB SECURITY “ ” is a myth propagated by big companies to keep you trapped in an unchallenging and unfulfilling job.
102. STRIVE TO FEEL STUPID
103. STRIVE TO FEEL STUPID
104. Q. What’s it like to always be the smartest person in the room?
105. Q. A. What’s it like to always be the smartest person in the room? It sucks. It means you’re in the wrong room. Source: http://www.quora.com/What-is-it-like-to-always-be-the-smartest-person-in-the-room/answers/201107
106. IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BENJAMINS
107. IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BENJAMINS
108. IT’S NOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE
109. IT’S NOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE
112. DON’T FORGET TO PLUG IN.
113. THANKS! Ernie Miller / @erniemiller Recommended reading: