http://www.jesrush.com Jason Smith... Sat, 18 Oct 2008 01:54:26 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The traditional mojito recipe is good, but lately I'm beginning to prefer an Americanized alternative.  Not only does it taste better (IMO), but it's faster to make -- because you don't have to warm up any simple syrup.  Courtesy of my friend Scott: 2oz Bacardi Lemon Rum half-cup sprite one whole lime, quartered, ... http://www.jesrush.com/a-better-mojito-recipie/ The other day I witnessed a major misstep when a vendor serving my own employer recommended a solution to us which was incompatible with one of our key business constraints.  Fortunately we caught the problem, and the proposal was scraped. But not everyone is so lucky.  Insane sums are spent on ... http://www.jesrush.com/better-solutions-understanding-the-business/ I recently slogged through an underrated little number called, 'Advanced Project Portfolio Management and the PMO: Multiplying ROI at Warp Speed' by Kendall & Rollins.  Despite the fact that it reads (and sounds) like a whitepaper, it's a good book which makes two points incredibly well: 1) Too many organizations try ... http://www.jesrush.com/book-review-advanced-project-portfolio-management-and-the-pmo/   As traffic and sprawl continue to sicken suburbia, more and more suburbanites are throwing in the towel and moving into neighborhoods which are highly walkable.  A highly walkable neighborhood is one where groceries, parks, schools, restaurants, and shopping are within a mile or two.  According to WalkScore, the benefits are ... http://www.jesrush.com/walkscore-how-walkable-is-your-hood/ Project managers are usually thought of as analytical types and as people who execute things.  In their analytical moments, they survey a field of options, risks, and opportunities, determining the optimum path through the landscape.  When they execute, they move mountains to get things done. But there is a third archetype ... http://www.jesrush.com/product-service-innovation-the-creative-project-manager-part-1/ I've slowly been eating my way through Bon Appetit's list of the best barbecue joints in the US.  Last stop was at Stamey's in Greensboro, NC.  Stamey's -- like most good BBQ outfits -- doesn't look like much on the outside, but it doesn't matter:  The food was incredible.  Everything ... http://www.jesrush.com/the-best-bbq-in-the-carolinas/ I finally got around to reading another one of Patrick Lencioni's business "fables":   The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.  This one involves an elaborate fictional scenario in which a new CEO rescues a splintering senior leadership team.  Presumably, the lessons are just as applicable down the org chart.  The ... http://www.jesrush.com/book-review-the-five-dysfunctions-of-a-team/ My wife and I recently went to Italy and spent a lot of time studying the life and work of Michaelangelo. For a legendary genius, his day-to-day life was surprisingly tumultuous. If you thought he quietly tolled away on the world's greatest art without interruption, you would be ... http://www.jesrush.com/software-project-lessons-from-michaelangelo/ Our favorite experience on our recent trip to Italy was undoubtedly staying at a little bed & breakfast called Locanda Rosati in the Umbrian countryside. LR is situated a few minutes outside Orvieto, which is located about 1.5 hours north of Rome. LR is a kind of hybrid: ... http://www.jesrush.com/the-italian-countryside-locanda-rosati/ I hate voicemail, but until I saw the iPhone commercials I could never fully explain why. The commercials nailed it: regular voicemail is irritating because you have no control ("Press 1 to hear the next message") and no visibility (Where in the seven message queue is the message ... http://www.jesrush.com/phonetag-voicemail-as-email/