robweis's blog

Three Years

Three years is my magic number. It’s a pivotal moment in my career! I’ve now surpassed my record for longest full time employment with the same employer. I typically estimate 18 months in the IT field as a single lifetime worth of work and experience. But, going 36 months is huge!

What's a good investment these days?

 Today, there’s lots of ways you can make money. Too many ways actually. Each investment opportunity has its own set of pros and cons with varying degrees of risk and reward. However, the biggest question most financial planners tend to ask is “What is your goal?”. Duh, “To make money!” But, what does this really mean?

Double Dip Recession?

I’m doubtful that we’ll dip back into a recession for quite some time. I’m not usually one to make financial predictions, but I wanted to explore the other side of the coin from the usual doom and gloom spewed from the media.  We’ve come a long way since the Dow Jones’ lowest dip in March of 2009 to 6,626 points. The market has come back substantially since the recession bottomed out and is up approximately 68%! Now, the stock market hasn’t fully recovered to its peak in 2007. But, it’s getting closer each month!

Organization Skillz (Part 1)

I rarely drop the ball. Yes, that’s a bold statement. I’ve spent a significant amount of time trying to manage my own “to do” list and work priority efficiently. This has helped build my reputation as someone who gets the job done and is dependable. So, here’s what I’ve learned over the last seven years of working in the “real world”.

Published in AITProfiles

 I was recently published by AITProfiles! This article reviews one of our latest project successes. Enjoy!
 
http://aitprofiles.wordpress.com/2010/09/01/north-wind/
 
 

Project Portfolio Management

One of the most critical management items in IT is to manage work priority. But, how does this unfold into reality and how does an IT leader actually manage it? Lately, I keep hearing the buzzword "IT Governance", which basically equates to managing your project portfolio with the business. So, let's dive into some of the detailed steps to manage a project portfolio.
 

Nuclear Energy as a Long Term Investment

Ever since Obama mentioned the word "Nuclear" in his last State of the Union address, I've been looking for ways to invest in Nuclear energy. All through my career in IT I've worked for companies and government agencies that have been involved in the nuclear industry industry. Until recently, nuclear energy always had a public image problem. Over the last 30 years the industry has had several advancements in reducing the waste, reusing the spent fuel, and operating safely. Now with a cleaner public image, nuclear energy is center stage as a real energy solution.
 

IT Road Maps

Humans love maps! I'm no exception. Whether its a google map or something sketched on a napkin. Life just seems to be a lot easier when you have a map guiding you through your journey. IT is also no exception. Having an IT road map is one of the best tools an IT leader can have in his or her toolbox.

1st Blog Post using Drupal

This is my 1st blog post! And yes this qualifies as the first Tech Life posting!