“I got the answer!”
How many times have you heard one of your friends, colleagues, or maybe even you shout this after working way too hard to solve a problem? We often spend too much time and energy solving problems that have a) already been solved or b) is extremely easy to answer by someone else.
Wasting Time
I recently worked with a group on formulating a set of metrics to accurately report their office’s performance. We all crouched around a computer, staring at the screen, scratching our heads as we attempted to learn SQL coding by sorting through ambiguous manuals and multiple repetitions of trial and error. But alas, a couple phone calls later to an expert in the system and we finally had the answer. Phew, on to the next challenge.
STOP! End the cycle of re-inventing the wheel and wasting your time. Do your friend, or your colleague, or your colleague’s friend that you don’t even know a favor and share you work. Put it somewhere! On a blog, MilSuite, Community of Practice, or worst case, in an email to a group of your colleagues. I can guarantee you that someone will have the same question. Maybe not today, tomorrow, or next month, but eventually they will.
Share It
Placing your hard work and solutions out where they are easily accessible allows everyone to benefit and not loose such valuable time as you had to. Lets do hard work once and only once!
