Singular XQ 3.24 Wiring the Winning Organization with Gene Kim
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jennifer-pierce28/episodes/Wiring-the-Winning-Organization-with-Gene-Kim-e2bvjst
“We read to know we aren’t alone.” — T.S. Eliot
T.S. Eliot nailed the spirit of our latest episodes on the Singular XQ podcast. In these episodes, we explore what happens when passionate minds connect over shared interests; in this case, I’m talking about our Singular Advisor Kai Brunner, and me, Stanning for Gene Kim. Our mutual admiration for Gene Kim’s Agile DevOps novels, The Phoenix Project and The Unicorn Project, launched this whole two-part episode into existence.
In his early episode, Kai and I delved into our shared enthusiasm for these novels, which, while undeniably geeky, are far from dull. They possess all the qualities of great literature, particularly for those of us engaged in cross-functional software development or part of large-scale digital transformations. The recognition and understanding these books provide is nothing short of delightful.
“The goal of good art is to teach and to please.” — -Horace
A few years before the pandemic, I returned to hands-on team involvement after a stint in theory, consulting, and advising. Agile DevOps had evolved significantly by then, and despite my past experience, there was a plethora of new terminology and processes to learn. Kim’s novels didn’t just educate me; they instilled a confident understanding, enabling me to actively solution on teams, not as a know-it-all PhD, but as a co-equal contributor.
(Well, I’m always a little bit know-it-all, to be honest. I think I’ve earned it. Getting those three letters takes a lot of grit, and you withstand abuse as other know-it-alls haze the fudge out of you. In exchange for being an academic whipping post, I get to be a little supercilious every now and then. I try to reserve it for good causes.)
"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'" - C.S. Lewis
After shooting the breeze with Kai on the SXQ Podcast, I reached out to Gene, who was working on a new management book at the time. His response was not only warm and welcoming, it led to an invitation to be a reader of his manuscript, a privilege I eagerly accepted. For those who decide to read his latest work (and I strongly recommend you do), you’ll find little ole JP’s name in the acknowledgments (a gesture I am profoundly grateful for, Gene). This experience reinforces Eliot’s wisdom: reading doesn’t just lead to feeling more connected. It can actually propel that connection.
"Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly." - Unknown
Our latest podcast episodes delve into themes like solipsism, success, team dynamics, learning from failure, blameless post-mortems, psychological safety, and my favorite concept, SLOWIFICATION. In an industry often driven by the need for speed, we champion the counter-cultural idea of slowing down, embracing the marathon, not the sprint, philosophy in Agile Dev-Ops. As we say here, we want to slow down and repair things. We were happy Gene feels the same way.
Whether it’s through reading, engaging in enlightening conversations, or participating in collaborative projects, it’s clear that we break free from intellectual and professional silos and the melancholy they inevitably produce by connecting with others. As Eliot rightly pointed out, in our quest for knowledge and understanding, we discover we are not alone.
What’s the upshot? Read. Might we suggest Gene’s new book?
We also want to thank our listeners, like Charles, Sarah, and Alfie, who recently reached out to share their appreciation for our content. Your feedback is invaluable and reminds us of the power of connection and community.
For more insights and discussions, tune into the Singular XQ podcast and join us on this journey of curiosity and connection.
