August 2024
What happened to summer?
Well, that was fast.
Well, that was fast.September is just a week away, and for the life of me, I can’t figure out how that is possible. Do you feel the same way?
What a whirlwind!
August has been a month of great experiences, lessons learned, and fantastic people. I am excited to share some of those moments with you now!
Feeling extra nosy? You can always see what I’m up to on my now page, an idea I adopted from Derek Sivers several years ago. You can learn more about the concept HERE.
Placing bets.
Jenelle and I are always looking for ways to support the community and invest in people who are doing cool things.
A few years ago, we repurposed the Mattis & Co. brand specifically for this purpose. Most of our investments have been small, offering time and advice as we felt appropriate. Recently, however, we decided to make a bigger bet.
Over the last several months, we have immersed ourselves in the Contrarian Thinking ecosystem, led by Codie Sanchez and her husband Chris. As a result, we've decided to make a significant investment in the Raleigh services industry by funding the development of a power washing service called “Bean’s Power Clean.” We’re excited to bring a tech-savvy perspective, strong customer focus, and team empowerment to an otherwise overlooked space. You can follow the journey on Instagram Beans.Clean.
Doing More.
On the Scaled Agile front, I’m taking on more. A lot more.
Serving in the capacity of General Manager, I am excited to help the teams overseeing the Government, Technology Alliance, and Expert Programs help our customers WIN!
It’s really cool to work with my old friends Scott and Shawn, and my new friends Chastin and Phil at DevStride as we figure out how to help those who work in government agencies improve the delivery of services that so many of us rely on.
A few extra warm and fuzzies and great peoples make the days even more enjoyable.
What I Learned in August ‘24
Being true to yourself will always draw the right people in.
If you don’t tell someone they messed up, they’ll keep messing up.
10p on a Friday when your wife works on Saturday is not the right time to have a deep conversation. Ask me how I know.
Quote of the Month
I always carry a journal so I can write down the interesting things that people say (thanks for the idea, Gene!) Here is a gem from July:
“Growth comes from time under tension.”
Reflection: Going through the motions does not lead to growth. Whether it’s reading books, conducting customer interviews, or lifting weights—none of it magically results in growth on its own.
Growth only comes from time under tension. When you read a book, take notes, reflect, and do the work suggested between the pages.
When conducting customer interviews, listen intently, ask questions, reflect, and dive deeper. You have to go beyond the surface to truly understand pain points and desires.
In the gym, don’t just move the weight; move it slowly. Keep your muscles under tension until they fail. Muscle failure doesn’t require tremendous weight—in fact, 5 pounds can be just as effective.
In short, do the hard work. Don’t just go through the motions.
Someone You Should Know
Mikaylah McCarty
So, I hired an influencer to run some experiments with Scaled Agile.
But she’s not just any influencer—she’s a super cool influencer! Mikaylah McCarty built her TikTok following by helping young women interested in tech careers prepare for and land their first Scrum Master roles. (Mikaylah is a Scrum Master at Universal Studios herself.)
In addition to helping us develop engaging and personal social content, Mikaylah will be collaborating with me and a few of my awesome teammates — Maddy, Marie, and Ezra — to organize a Meetup adjacent to the SAFe Summit in DC. This event will focus on connecting people interested in tech with those who have a ton of experience in the field.
I’m really excited to see how our experiments turn out, and I’m also thrilled to get to know Mikaylah better. I think you will be too!
Thank You.
I want to say a big THANK YOU to each of you again. I do my best to provide value each month, and if there's any way I can improve, please hit “reply” and share your advice. Feedback is a gift, and I always appreciate it.
If you know anyone else who might enjoy this content, please forward this newsletter their way. Social links are below—you know the deal.
Oh, and if you’ve made it this far, here’s an Easter egg: We’re expecting a baby boy in February! We are over the moon excited.
Until next month,
Adam