The common thread for all human pursuits is our nature. This is best exemplified in our current economic crisis and the events leading up to the dénouement. Peter Schiff is a market participant and analyst who was scorned and laughed at for his prescient conclusions on the US financial markets and economy.

Delivering software requires courage. In “Extreme Programming Explained”, Kent Beck explains, “Sometimes courage manifests as patience.” The practice of software development requires the leaders and the team to have faith in their development practices and the courage to stay with them when fear gives you doubts. Who said software development is easy?

What happened to the software industry? I hate professional certifications. It didn’t used to be this way. Many employers are looking for the certificate du jour on your resume as a filter for an interview. Having a certification means nothing. I remember as a child it was a big thing if someone had their black belt in Karate. It meant they were tough until they picked a fight with the real tough guy who knew nothing about Karate. Everyone was awed.

What’s your worst fear as a software professional? My worst fear is changing jobs and joining a team that is in crisis. You’ve probably been part of a team, heard about a team or witnessed another team in your company deliver to one of those unrealistic schedules. Often times, the project starts off right, but entropy slowly builds as changes are introduced to the schedule with the velocity of an open fire hydrant. It doesn’t start that way: it builds with a crescendo. It’s not a case of replacing the old water with new water; it’s a case of filling a pool that’s filled 98% of capacity while watching the water spill over the sides and drain into the streets.