Joshua Talley

Half A Dozen Years Later...

2024-07-20T07:44:00.006-05:00

Been a while.

After a tumultuous half-decade of a pandemic, a new job, moving, raising young kids, some significant family losses and a few dives into old habits and back, I am here and moving forward.

Some highlights:

NEW JOB

In 2019, I moved from a largely commercial excellence / PowerBI development role to a new project that would operate globally. Its goal was to transform our customer support centers to a new model that aligns with what I now call the most significant organizational transformation I have ever experienced.

We call it OtP ("Organise to Pioneer"), and it was basically a splitting of the company into divisions that are verticals (domestic building, commercial buildings, industrial, and water utilities (municipal / groundwater)). Teased in 2020, and implemented in 2021, we are still feeling the effects of it and the general sentiment is lukewarm, up from "this is terrible."

Due to the pandemic, many employees now work remotely or in hybrid roles. Fortunately for me, mine is 100% remote and I love it. More on that later.

After the transformation project was "finished," I was asked to fill a role vacated by a lady I had worked with a fair amount who moved to another company. Still in that role, I am leading a small team of engineers who maintain product data in a selection and configuration tool.

The company also has started a number of large projects (with similar impact to the org change) that will update our digital platforms - long overdue - to more modern systems. Some of this will effectively obsolete the tool my team manages, so we are also looking to significantly change our working environment in the next two years. It's an interesting and challenging adventure.
MOVING

With our kids attending school across town (the opposite way for me to go to work), my wife going the same direction for work, and a desire for a different space, we started looking for something new. Finally decided on one in May 2019, and were in the door at the end of June.

It has suited us well - it's almost literally next door to the kids' elementary school, so it's a breeze for me to walk them there and back. It is a split-level, which was not exactly what we wanted, and has presented some issues with older family members and pets, but there's so much more we love about it, the compromise was acceptable.

In the last couple of years, the value has shot up by 50%, which is nice in some ways, but so has everywhere else. If only we could sell and move somewhere less expensive to trade in some of that equity towards a mostly paid-off home.
KIDS

I have an almost 10-year old now. So crazy. Both kids are reading well and according to other parents and teachers are behaving pretty well, too. My son is a math whiz, and my daughter is not far behind. They are both very creative, and have very distinct personalities and interests.

Parenting feels like coaching a game with infinite quarters.

Snaptacles

2018-07-11T18:00:00.001-05:00

I bought some Snaptacles.

At least that's what I think they should have been called, but what do I know. Well, I do know that I want a face camera. I had the opportunity to try out Google Glass when it was launched. Wasn't an explorer, but a co-worker bought a pair and let me try them for a while. Feels like that's what I'm doing with these, just at a tenth of the price and a tenth of the functionality.

Essentially, they're a camera for Snapchat, whose parent company, Snap, claims is "a camera company." I've been on there since, well, a long time. I stopped using it at first when no one I knew was on the platform. Picked it back up when some family members urged me to add them (thanks cuz peeps). Despite what people hear in the media, and purported user backlash (not from me) due to interface changes, Snapchat is a good platform overall. If you've heard of Instagram, it's very much like that, only more private, and only view-able on a phone. The difference is subtle, but Snap's CEO, Evan Spiegel, articulates its appeal to me well:

“I think that’s why traditional social media feels threatened. Because fundamentally people realize that competing with their friends for ‘Likes’ and attention is kind of unpleasant and really not that great.”

Here's an extended quote from that interview: https://youtu.be/SQYBLeV6sbM?t=22m17s

Spectacles are an interesting take on the camera, and a way to create on the platform. The images and videos are circular, in a sort of fish eye lens style. When viewed in the app, the display stays "level" as you rotate the screen, which allows for seeing the full image...just not all at once. Clever.

A selfie snap using spectacles

My wife says they aren't a flattering look. They've enabled some nice captures that would have been very awkward with a phone. Snaps can be exported in original, circular form (above), square, or "widescreen" (which is actually 4:3, a.k.a CRT tube format). Works for still images and video. The photos are a bit blown out, but the videos are pretty solid, if a bit muted.

It's now been two months since the purchase. I don't use them as much as I did at first, but I look for good opportunities all the time. I can already see the progression they need to take (VR180) and some minor upgrades needed (resolution, time limits, photo processing, button press and exporting options).

I've started a playlist on YouTube for videos I've taken with these. Done some editing with GoPro's Slice app for iOS to make them 16:9 and stitch together. See below:

What do you think? Are face cameras freaky or too gimmicky? I say, bring them on more!

Wordy Hiatus And Techie Stuff Update Post

2018-05-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

Now that Blogger finally decided to upgrade to https, I thought it was time to come back for a visit.

So much has happened since I last posted. Job changes, family changes, ups and downs, the usual. I pulled all my old posts, since they had no real focus - other than perhaps showcasing daily life via images with occasional descriptions. Most of them were automatic reposts of stuff from Instagram via IFTTT. If you really wanna see that stuff, it's still there.

I was contemplating posting more often here. My wife has done #The100DayProject before. However, I soon discovered that there is no longer a functioning Blogger app on iOS. After all these years in the Googleverse, I'm not sure why I am surprised.

So I need to figure out where to post stuff. I dislike Facebook, and have all but deactivated my account there. Still on Instagram, though. Google+ was fun from the start, but hasn't held my attention for some time. I love Twitter, so much of what I want to say online is there, and will continue to be, as long as it remains relatively independent. Snapchat...is, well...yeah. Not sure about Snapchat. Maybe the new Snaptacles will help me do more videos.

Speaking of videos, I've been thinking a lot more about YouTube, since I get the feeling Google is about to redirect all its social energy there. That, and I'm verified despite having way fewer subs than the threshold of 100k. I may begin to post regular videos, since my channel is still too small for the Community content tab (as of this writing, I need 10k subs. I'm 9970 short). Guess it's time to start making vids.

If you're reading this, here are a few topics of current interest:

Bible theme study, via The Bible Project (a near-daily podcast/video activity for me).
Here's one of my faves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbipxLDtY8c
Church, theology, leadership, and moving humanity forward with and through love.
AI for customer support - based on a current pet project.
CRM and sales management - my daily work.
Humor. We all need to laugh. I'll do my best to help you.
Tech. The industry, the politics, the news...I love it all. I will talk about it.
Photos. I'll post ones I take that are good.Maybe a "This Week in Pictures" slideshow of some sort.

Feel free to suggest or encourage more. Stay tuned.

Time for Some Good Energy Solutions

2015-05-11T10:16:00.001-05:00

This is my next...

For the last couple of weeks, I've been "volunteering" as a novice solar panel system installer. Some of you may have seen a picture or two I've posted of the results elsewhere. Well, it is now official: I am employed at Good Energy Solutions, Inc.

My role is primarily commercial sales, seasoned with lighting consultation, energy auditing, and system analysis. In short, I'm going to help businesses invest in solar and lighting systems that will generate revenue for the next 25+ years. We have leasing options that in many cases will be less than current monthly energy costs, and will have a return on investment between 3-6 years.

The challenge will be making it happen before subsidies, rebates, and tax benefits expire (2015 for residential and 2016 for commercial). Hopefully many of them are extended, but that's not looking like a sure thing.

So, if you or someone you know wants to get into solar (for a home or business), let's talk.

Four Years and Three Letters Later

2015-04-27T10:00:00.000-05:00

Last night I turned in my final assignment for my final class as an MBA student. It's all but official.

My cap, gown, and drab (as in, "beige") MBA hood.

I started the program in August 2011 for a few particular reasons (I'll explain shortly), and after a year took a break to save up for adopting. If you've read other posts here, you know how that story unfolded. After we hit our target, I picked it back up just before the kids we fostered went home. Two kids, a long break, and a class with a reputation of being tough made the jump back in more difficult than I expected; it was my only B in the program. At least I've improved since my first go at college: last time I ended with a 3.12 GPA; this time, I grazed perfection with a 3.93.

The decision to start the program came from a mixture of opportunity and personal desire. At the time, I felt like my mind was getting a bit dull. Work was a bit too easy, but I knew there was much to learn about the areas of business outside the engineering team. Having worked as an engineer doing CAD, FEA, DFM and several other acronyms, it is very clear where my strengths and weaknesses are doing that sort of work. I understand it. I can do it. I see the challenges and respect the balancing act of costs and scope, deadlines and quality, feasibility and features.

Working with design, business development, value propositions, personas, insights, and proposals alongside project and product managers, my appreciation for organizational dynamics has evolved tremendously. The additional perspective offered throughout my coursework combined with very real, practical examples while on the job has proved to be a very effective method for enhanced learning. While in school for engineering, there was limited practical exposure to reality (though it was relatively similar enough), this time around there were ample opportunities for direct application. It was really a fantastic experience.

Now that the coursework is finished, it is evident that my eyes have been opened, my mind sharpened and expanded, and I have a much clearer picture of my capabilities and interests for the future. I am also much more aware of what I have to offer my next employer (for whom I am still searching). Like the engineering program before it, the MBA degree is only part of the learning. The application of knowledge is the true test for education, and I can't wait for that challenge.

Embracing the Dark Side (or Why I Bought an iPhone)

2015-02-25T01:13:00.002-06:00

This week, I did something that I considered close to blasphemy for the past five years: I bought an iPhone for myself. Fair warning: geekiness and first world problems ahead.

TL;DR version: Lollipop made my Moto gogo so slow. For baby photos, that's a no-no.

I've been an Android user, as well as a proponent/fanboy/enthusiast since 2010, when I bought my first - a Nexus One. I loved that phone...and I cut my teeth on what can be done with a good Android device. So much versatility! I rooted and ROM'd it regularly. It survived nearly three years of use without so much as a scratch, and then a one foot drop cracked the screen (which I replaced). I also managed to convince my wife to get a G2 (she wanted the keyboard). Not long after that, Android had evolved, and it was time to enjoy some Ice Cream Sandwich, via the Galaxy Nexus.

I had some experience with tablets in between, in the form of a Galaxy Tab (8.9 & 10.1) that left a bad taste in my mouth for Samsung.From what I can tell, the abomination called TouchWiz hasn't improved significantly. Then there's the issue of size. I liked the 8.9, but it was just a bit too big. The 7-inchers available were too small (and entirely unimpressive). The original iPad was just...no. Its second generation won me over, however. We still have two, their age on full display. Still, it was heavy and cumbersome to carry around casually. More on this later.

Back to phones. Galaxy Nexus. Android evolved. Had to have it - but really? A 4.7 inch display? That's huge! I didn't think I could bring myself to use it, but it grew on me - which is good, because as we all know, you can't find a phone with a smaller screen than that unless you get a cheap one. All the flagships are at least that size, and usually larger. I liked my G-Nex, but it got slow after a few months, and there was a shiny new Nexus to be had for only $299!

I bought my wife the Nexus 4 first, since she was due for an update. The G2 was still OK, but the keyboard was rarely used, and it was bulky and outdated. After a couple of months, I decided the N4 was much better than my current model, so to Swappa I went. About this same time, I attended Mobile World Congress in Barcelona for work. It's happening again this coming week. For the outing, I bought a 32GB iPod touch (5th gen). I had a Blackberry (Torch...ugh...such an awful device) for work, and decided that the iPod would capture better pictures, videos, and notes with far better battery life than anything else I had on hand...and it did! It also made me wish that my Nexus 4 camera was as good, even though the Nexus was a rocket in comparison.

Later that year, the Moto X arrived. There was so much to like! The size (still a 4.7 inch screen, but with svelte packaging), the customization, the voice control! Had to have it. Had to wait...thanks to AT&T exclusivity (a most unfortunate marketing decision). During this time, my former employer finally realized that Blackberrys were not smart phones, and allowed me to get a real one, but they only allowed iPhones. The 5S had just been released, so I opted for that in Space Grey, 64GB (I took a lot of pictures and videos for work activity; I needed the space). I also acquired a Nexus 7 LTE (2013 model) that I still have today.

Finally, by Cyber Monday, the X was available on other carriers, so I Swappa'd my 4 and acquired this new Google-approved device, and I was happy - very happy. There were cases, and docks, and screen protectors, and skips aplenty.

After having the two devices for several months, I could finally say that neither Android or iOS was better, they were just different. That is still true, in my opinion. What began to be apparent, however, was the difference in hardware execution. I still like the Moto X, because at half the price of an iPhone, it performed admirably. Until it didn't.

I noticed it occasionally for a few months, but it didn't really bother me until after our son was born. Sometimes I wanted a moment captured, so out came the phone, which proceeded to stutter, slow down, and often crash. Motorola support is great on the front end; you can easily access them, and they can be pretty helpful. After a couple of tries, their suggestions weren't working, so it was time for the phone to go into service. That was around October 18.

A month later, I still didn't have a phone. Well, I had my iPhone from work, but the replacement device I was promised in a week never arrived. After a few calls, finally, I had an answer, but my reaction was mixed. They were giving me a new phone, but since they had no stock of the older model, I was getting a new Moto X (2014 version) at no charge. Hurray! Except I knew before it arrived that I wasn't going to like it as much. Yes, it had better hardware, higher resolution screen, improved camera, and it was free(ish)! Remember that screen size thing? Yeah, 5.2 inches on this one. Sure, it's in some slim packaging, but that's phablet territory.

I tried to like it. I just couldn't bring myself to do it, when the previous one was much of what I wanted. Plus, the 5S was doing everything I needed. Or, it was, until I lost my job and had to give it back. There was a period when I didn't have either one, and I ended up using my Nexus 7 to make and receive calls over LTE (thank you Hangouts!) but I didn't want to do that forever. Then Lollipop arrived. If you didn't know, major Android versions are named after desserts, in alphabetical order. This is very well documented.

Lollipop (5.0) was supposed to usher in a new design language (it did, and it's quite impressive) along with lots of other niceties (it did, some long overdue, others are arguably a step backward). What it wasn't supposed to do was make your devices less usable, and make you want to launch them into orbit (it did, at least for me, and maybe a couple of other people). It made my phone's camera barely usable. Videos were constantly out of focus, and the camera app was so slow - if it opened at all (oh, the crashes)! At this point, I was done. Done with big phones, done with waiting for fixes, done with "your software is up to date (no it isn't)" and "sign up for the Android waiting list" and the revelation by a Garmin engineer that Bluetooth stacks are different on every Android device, hence the spotty compatibility with other devices.

Swappa, here I come again. Sold the new X, and for the same price, bought a brand new 5S with double the storage. I've had it for a couple of days now, and it's a much better device than many other ones out there. Here it is next to my trusty old Nexus One:

Here's the caveat: I'm deeply invested in the Android ecosystem. I've spent hundreds of dollars on apps. I have a Moto 360 watch (that only pairs with Android devices), and my desk drawers are full of micro USB cables. I'm not done with Android, and I'm not going all-in with iOS. I just needed a break from this avalanche of poorly executed launched devices that are competing for my pocket space. I really hope Google reigns themselves in towards the users like they claim. People like me don't want 6-inch smartphones (or 5-inch ones either!), and they definitely don't want ones that lag and take crappy pictures.

I'll keep dreaming of my 4.3-inch Nexus phone, 8-inch Nexus tablet, and 12-inch Nexus laptop, all running Android apps on top of Chrome OS. Maybe next year they'll finally get it right.

Onto My Next

2014-11-18T14:00:00.000-06:00

It's official: I'm leaving Grundfos.

Today, the two departments where I have worked for the last several years were dissolved in full in one case and in part for the other. While it is of course sad to say goodbye to hundreds of colleagues and friends, I can say truthfully that I am grateful for the experiences I've had, and am very much looking forward to what is coming next.

For the moment, I'm going to enjoy the time at home with my wife and our son. Like I've been telling my colleagues today, I'm easy to find, so if you want to say hi, consider this your invitation.

See you again!

Happy Smurfoween!

2013-10-31T09:37:00.001-05:00

Think this will get me a date with Smurfette?