Mark

Are you taking a risk or putting yourself at risk? They’re very different things on the risk spectrum.

Entrepreneurs love to view risk as binary. The more you put on the line, the greater the potential for reward. Go on, take that second mortgage so you can pour more cash into your business. Mine your life savings for a few more months of runway. The thrill, the adrenaline, the glory come from being at the precipice of either winning or losing it all.

That’s a terrible way to navigate your company. It’s misguided, toxic, and, unfortunately, all too common. It’s what happens when the notion of risk is dis­torted — compressed from a spectrum to a single, indivisible point.

The reality is, risk is variable. Those in the financial world know it. They define it in terms of beta. A beta of 1 tracks the market. If a stock’s beta is 1.3, then it’s theoretically 30 percent more volatile than the market as a whole. If it’s 0.6, then it’s 40 percent less volatile. You can take on a little more risk, moving your beta up, without having to go all in.

But when you run in entrepreneurial circles, attend entrepreneurial conferences, and read the entrepreneurial press, you rarely see risk portrayed as something that’s incremental. It’s winner takes all! Take the risk, reap the reward!

I’ve never looked at risk that way. I’m generally risk averse, and most great entrepreneurs I know are as well. We take risks occasionally, but we rarely bet the farm on something unless there’s no other choice. We ease in, we don’t rush in. I’ll admit it now: I’m an entrepreneur, and I don’t like big risks.

At Basecamp, we take comfortable risks all the time. This means trying something new without fear. Taking a leap, but knowing that if it doesn’t work, no one’s going to miss a meal over it.

For example, we’re currently working on some­thing that from the outside appears incredibly risky: We’re about to triple the price of one of our offerings.

We’re making some significant improvements to the product at the same time. And the new price won’t apply to everyone — existing Basecamp customers will be grandfathered in at their current prices. But new customers signing up for Basecamp will see the new prices.

Now, ask your fellow entrepreneurs if they think tripling prices is risky. I bet they say yes. Or more specifically: “Are you crazy?”

In reality, we’re boringly sane.

Did we test it? No. Did we ask people if they’d be willing to pay more? No. Are we sure it’ll work? Absolutely not. Sounds risky!

But I don’t think those are actually the right questions. Better to ask: Will we go out of business if it doesn’t work? No. Will the business be materially affected if people won’t pay more for Basecamp? No. Will we have to lay people off if this wild experiment falls flat? No. Why not? Because we already have a massive base of over 100,000 customers paying us what they were before.

We’ll give it six months and see how it turns out. We’ll tweak along the way. A big step first, and then small steps as we go. And we can always walk it back if we need to. That’s managed, calculated risk.

The next time you decide to make what seems like a radical change, don’t fool yourself into believing you’re being brave and bold. Instead, ask yourself the right questions. Figure out where the bet falls on the risk spectrum, along with the consequences if it doesn’t work out. Then you’ll know whether to take that leap.

This article appears in the October issue of Inc. Magazine.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisk was originally published in Signal v. Noise on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

3 strategies that have been crucial to the longevity of my programming career

For a while now, interest in programming has been skyrocketing. So there are a lot of beginners out there starting their careers — and that’s a wonderful thing!

If you’re one of those beginners, eventually you may start thinking about the long-term prospects of your new skills: How do I take a new skill like programming, grow it, shape it, and tune it over time so I can achieve longevity in the industry?

I asked myself that same question early on in my career. Now, a mere 15 years into it, I’m hoping I can give you some answers.

Below are a few general strategies that have helped me become (and stay) a successful programmer over the long haul.

1. I surround myself with programmers who are way better than me

Over the course of my career, I’ve always tried to pick work where the people I’d be working with are exceptionally talented. To put it more bluntly, I put myself in the company of programmers who were way better than me.

This is crucial, because the best way to improve (at anything) is to learn from people better than you. It might be a nice ego boost if you know more than everyone around you, but you’re otherwise just flat lining your actual progress.

When I’m around these talented programmers, I constantly keep my eyes and ears open for nuggets of wisdom. I watch how my fellow programmers carry themselves, how they breakdown a problem, how they talk to each other. I look at their code for patterns and style choices that I can mimic. I remind myself to talk less and to listen more.

Unless you’re the Michael Jordan (or dare I say the LeBron) of your respective field, there should always be someone better than you — this is a good thing!

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain in such a situation. Take advantage of it. 🚀

2. I occasionally leave my comfort zone

I’ve found it beneficial to leave my programming comfort zone once in a while. It helps me think differently by challenging a bunch of established ideas I already have.

For sure, you don’t want to do this constantly because it can be hard to get into a rhythm with your normal area of work. But in moderation it can really open your mind to new ways of thinking.

For example, my comfort zone is Java and Android. But over the last year, I’ve taken on stuff well outside that zone:

• I helped build an open-source framework. Turbolinks Android was the first time I’d ever worked seriously with Turbolinks (new tech to me), it was my first open-source project ever (new process for me), and it was a cornerstone for Basecamp 3 for Android (a new product for the company). It was one of the hardest projects of my career!
• I started writing Kotlin instead of Java. I’d been writing Java for over a decade, so picking up a new langauge was no trivial task. Not to mention I’d never written a single line of Kotlin previously! But before I knew it I jumped in head first and am now writing Kotlin most of the time. (Incidentally, I’m completely in love with the language!)
• I’m learning the underpinnings of our open source rich text editor. By learning the ins and outs of Trix, our Android team will be able to better utilize its capabilities now and in the future. But as someone who isn’t totally up to speed on advanced Coffeescript and DOM manipulation, this has more or less melted my brain. But I shall prevail!

Here’s what’s important to remember — none of this stuff was particularly easy or comfortable for me. In fact much of it was downright uncomfortable, nerve-wracking, and filled with doubt. At times I literally felt like I had no idea what I was doing.

But as challenging as they were, I did them anyway because I knew how valuable those experiences would be . They gave me the opportunity to work with a variety of the programmers, let me reacquaint myself with technologies I’d fallen behind with, and let me learn brand new stuff that few others in the company got to. All of that made me a better programmer.

So find a programming task that takes you out of your comfort zone and make it your next project. Then watch it pay off in spades. 💰

3. I value being independent

When you’re just starting out, you’re going to have a lot of questions. That’s OK!

What’s most important is how you choose to find the answers to your questions.

One philosophy that’s always served me well is to be independent. Usually this means that I’ll try to do most things myself first, and only when I really get stuck, I’ll ask for help.

Being independent has tons of benefits, but to name just a few…

• You learn how to be resourceful. Finding answers may just be one Google result away, or it might take a dozen different queries. You might have to patch together 5 different solutions that you’ve found to work together. Who knows. Finding the answers you need on your own is a skill that’ll serve you well for years.
• You earn respect by being courteous of other people’s time and work. When you prioritize your independence, working with other programmers is easier. They’ll appreciate that you’ve done a lot on your own and have taken it as far as you can before asking for help. By respecting other people’s time and work, you’ll earn respect back. And mutual respect is the cornerstone for trust and solid teamwork.
• You start developing your creativity. When you need to come up with answers, you’ll find yourself coming up with creative solutions you hadn’t considered. You’ll try things that seem crazy and out of the realm of possibility. Some will work and some won’t, but you’ll begin to develop a palette of creative solutions that you can draw from many times down the road.

The next time you have a burning question, see if you can answer it yourself, even if it takes a little longer than asking someone. It’ll be worth it.🔥❓✔️

Becoming a successful programmer is, like anything worthwhile, hard work. But these strategies have always served me well in the long run — after all, I ended up getting my dream job working at Basecamp. I hope they can help you get to where you want to be, too. 😀

I hope this article was helpful to you! If so, please do hit the heart button below and let me know on Twitter.

We’ve been working really hard to make the all-new Basecamp 3 and its Android app as great as they can be. Check ’em out, we hope you love them.

How I became (and stayed) a successful programmer was originally published in Signal v. Noise on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Read the responses to this story on Medium.

There are so many awesome pint-sized outdoor products for kids these days. If I spend more than a few minutes wandering the kids’ section at REI, it’s enough to make me drool. Snowsports, apparel, camping gear, outerwear, footwear, you name it. The adult version is just downsized for a kiddo. So why isn’t the same true for bicycles?

We’ve bought our share of relatively expensive kids bike products by Raleigh, Burly, Specialized, and Trek–but the story is always the same. Heavy, crappy components, cramped cockpits, giant mustache handlebar, unreasonably high stand over height etc. It’s miraculous that somehow children still love to ride despite such inferior bikes!

Eva is four in this picture. Note the near chin-level handlebars.

Last fall I was in the market for a new 24″ wheel bike for Eva so she could hand down her 20″ Raleigh to Clara. I came across Elle’s Tiny Helmets blog about Islabike. High quality, lightweight children’s bicycles that we could actually get in the States? I had to know more.

A few delightful conversations with Tim Goodall of Islabike’s stateside headquarters in Portland later, and I bit the bullet on two Islabikes. A BEINN 24″ for Eva and a BEINN 20″ Large for Clara. We pushed the size boundaries for both girls, buying slightly larger bikes than Isla recommended. Emmett nearly got one too, but we decided to wait until he crashed with a little less frequency.

The bikes arrived in time for Christmas. Donning bows on the handlebars, the bikes were under the tree and a huge surprise Christmas morning. After listening to the girls complain all summer that they wished they could ride their own bikes on tour, Santa delivered big.

BEINN 24 and BEINN 20 large, equipped for adventure

Pulling the bikes out of the box on the night of the 24th, Mark was immediately impressed. The components were superior, the bike was noticeably lighter, and the whole package–bike, rear rack, fenders, water bottle cage, bell and all was beautifully assembled and ready to ride. The Islabikes will accommodate any riding style, urban, mountain, cyclocross, and our favorite, tour! 

Eva is in the middle on her Islabike

Being no expert on components, my gauge of quality was how easy these bikes handled on their very first ride. The shifting was effortless for both of my girls. That doesn’t sound like much to ask, but the grip shift on the Burly Piccolo trailer bike we took on tour was too difficult for the girls to operate without using both hands. Very safe indeed.

The Isla hand brakes were also well assembled. The action was softer and the brake levers were within a reachable distance for a child’s hand. Eva’s first bike with handbrakes, a Raleigh Rowdy, had an adult-sized reach. As shipped, she had to brake with her wrists on the handlebars. Mark rebuilt the brakes, and eventually replaced the handlebars to accommodate a more comfortable riding position. Instead of being cocked and ready to shred, I’m more interested in my daughter sitting up where she can see oncoming cars. The Islabike has a very natural and upright riding position.

Maybe it’s the dress, but the riding position looks Dutch

As you might expect, Islabikes are not the cheapest kids bikes, but they are comparable to most major brands. Tim of Islabike explained that they keep costs as low as possible. Instead of artificially inflating their prices and then discounting them during a sale, they keep the price constant. I’m not sure I trust a salesman, but it seemed about right. When we bought Eva’s Raleigh 20″ it was on sale, but the retail price was roughly the same cost as Clara’s Islabike. In terms of quality, ridability and equip-ability there is no comparison. These Islabikes are for recreation and transportation, so we justify the extra cost.

Riding to school

Mark and I pride ourselves on owning quality, useful bicycles–and Islabike is the tot equivalent. We’ve equipped the girls’ Islabikes with fenders, racks, lights, kickstands and bells and these bikes are the go-to school commuting machine. For their birthdays, we purchased panniers for each of the bikes. A standard rear pannier like the Ortlieb Backroller Classic fits perfectly on Eva’s 24-inch BEINN. Clara’s 20-inch Islabike has a smaller rack, so she inherited our Ortlieb Sport Packer Plus panniers. Both girls are really proud to have such bomber-looking rigs. They are hoping to ride on their own two wheels for our next self-supported tour. I can’t wait for them carry some of their own clothes and equipment. Not only are they moving under their own power, but they can carry what they need on their bike. What a wonderful feeling of independence and self-sufficiency. 

Eva and Clara sporting panniers on their Islabikes

If you are considering a new bicycle for your child, I strongly recommend you research Islabike. Most local bike shops will not have anything that even remotely compares. The childrens bicycle market is ripe for improvement. Have a product? We’d love to hear about it! 

Something a bit off-brand today, so don’t let it throw you. The beauty of true theology is that it is at home anywhere, applicable in any situation, and has something to say in the most mundane, most visceral, most public, and least abstract, situations.

The Saddest Dilemma

Firstly, a thoughtful and compassionate online friend posted an article which calls our attention to the need for more funding of government services for children who are at risk.

It does need priority, but that would just be a bandaid. This simply is not government’s role, and government cannot do any better regardless of funding levels. It is the role of the Church in each of its parishes/communities to evaluate and help out on a personal level. The society which rejected the Church and its care is suffering the consequences, and as it always turns out, those who suffer most are the children.

If we banish the Church from our hearts and homes, the vacuum will be filled by the State, which was not created or ordained to fulfill this type of ministry. As long as we think this is a government problem rather than a community problem, it will only get worse. This applies to Church institutions to some degree as well. Those who work tirelessly in the system are to be admired, but a system is a machine. The Church is a living body. The first man was tested to qualify him as a tree of righteousness, that is, food and shelter. There is no true shelter without prior reference to and submission to God.

Big Bang Theory Ratings Fall

A possible Nobel-prize winning discovery is the existence of a signal left in the sky by the super rapid expansion of space just after the Big Bang. I ridiculed a Christian friend’s posting of this and copped it (probably rightly) but an integrated worldview means that nothing escapes its attention. Every statement must be rightly discerned.

It’s a terrible thing for Christians to succumb to dogma which blatantly contradicts the Bible and supports a worldview which is quite directly tearing our society apart. This is not a side issue for the Church. I can understand the pressure upon people, especially academics, but it isn’t that hard to sort the empirical science from the dogma. Yes, they have discovered something, but they immediately  take it as evidence for a theory which is losing ratings even among the ranks of secular scientists, and conveniently leave out all the problems with the theory because it doesn’t fit their godless narrative. This stuff matters.

Refugee Support

Another friend posted a speech given recently by a senior local man who spends a lot of his time helping refugees. His charity is admirable and a great example but his accusations against Australia’s new government and their policy concerning “boat people” are lacking some understanding. As usual, this has to do with focussing only on individuals, beginning with his own story as a refugee from the Holocaust.

Governments have to make big picture decisions. Do we help out the local single mum? Yep. Do we subsidize single mums with taxpayer money so single motherhood becomes an epidemic, which leads to much greater levels of delinquency, further societal breakdown and even greater costs? No. Helping the single mother is the responsibility of the community. As above, this is a personal ministry. Welfare is not generosity. Too often it is enablement and even encouragement. This gentleman might change his mind if he spent a week in government faced with the tough decisions rulers have to make. A view of the big picture might help him to see the difference between the sovereign responsibility of government and the responsibility of a community to be gracious. It’s not a simple issue because these two issues are related. Should we do more to help asylum seekers? Yes. Should we encourage people to risk their lives to get here through lax border protection? No. It will make things worse, a lot worse. Most of this confusion is the result of deluded secularists (usually working in public education) putting the responsibility of the state in the place of the Church, which it despises. The problem is that they will never understand how indispensable the Church’s role in community is. And the products of public education, even many Christians, are too often sucked in by the well-meaning but short-sighted compassion of unwitting statists.

Thou art the man

And finally, a lot of Christians are saying even nastier things about Mark Driscoll, now that he has publicly repented of things which other “celebrity pastors” will never repent of. Imagine if God was like that. Thank God He isn’t.

A message of grace will attract people but only a culture of grace will keep them, and a culture of grace includes repentance and forgiveness. This sort of apology by Driscoll is exactly what is missing from just about any authority you can name in our culture.

Regarding Driscoll himself, he might go off the tracks with a passion, but he gets back on them just as passionately. It seems to me most people fail to realize that his obvious weaknesses are the flipside of his obvious strengths. In other words, he has a spine, and he’s passionate, things which many of his Christian critics will never understand. God has done more through this flawed man than He could ever do with the armies of cowardly pastors who hide in their churches, never take any risks for the sake of the Gospel, and are not willing to be bold for the sake of the truth. And I’m not talking about sizes of churches here. There are many courageous men who have small churches. But there are many cowards who do nothing but hide and criticize.

Driscoll has stumbled numerous times but he just keeps getting back up again. God asked Adam what he did wrong and he blamed everyone else. So did King Saul. Driscoll is taking the blame, and it disempowers the devil every time. His critics really ought to start reading the Bible. The narrative concerning King David might be good start. Driscoll is a real man of God, like David, and he has the faults and the faith to prove it.

One of my favorite maxims is “The person who says it can’t be done often gets run over by the person doing it.”

Over the next few weeks, the Confession our Hope podcast, the podcast of Greenville Seminary, will focus on the 2014 Spring Theology Conference.

In the first interview, William Hill interviews James Anderson on the topic “Calvinism and the Origin of Sin.” To listen to the interview Click here

James’ paper, which as been updated from an earlier vision, is located online here. This paper is a work in progress and will be published in the near future. And by the time our conference rolls around, this paper will be perfected (with all the right answers).

Don’t forget to purchase Dr. Anderson’s new book What’s Your Worldview?: An Interactive Approach to Life’s Big Questions