Bryan Adams’ Post

Your mind is a powerful stage director. The last thing you think is the first thing you do. Think about that. We often underestimate the impact of our thoughts on our actions. But in reality, the final thought that crosses our minds before we embark on a task, influences the course of our actions more than we realize. Consider your important meetings. The last thought before entering the room - confidence or apprehension - sets the stage for your performance. The human brain is wired to follow the path of least resistance. Our thoughts, loaded with emotions, create that path. Make the last thought count. Make it powerful. Make it positive. Remember, the last thing you think is the first thing you do.

Cloud resource optimization. It's the secret weapon to taming unruly cloud bills. It's the secret sauce for wrangling big data and controlling costs. One of the controls to your cloud expenses lies in selecting the perfect VM instance type. However, making these decisions is not as simple as it may sound. It can feel like you’re deep in specs like: - CPU counts - Architecture types - Memory - Storage - Network bandwidth All flashing their own pros and cons at you, leaving you hoping for a beacon of light in this array of complexities. 🌀 But here’s the good news: There’s light at the end of the tunnel. And it's not a single beam. It's an entire playbook of pricing models for you to explore: - On-demand - Reserved instances - Savings plans - Spot instances - Dedicated hosts It's about finding the right fit for your unique needs, striking the balance between 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁, 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, and 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. It's not a one-size-fits-all game - it’s about customizing your infrastructure to best serve your specific use case. In this journey of cloud cost optimization, a good option you might want to dive into is dynamic offerings by Google Cloud Platform (GCP) - shared-core VMs with bursting capabilities. This is one example of cloud offerings commitment to giving its consumers the flexibility and control they seek. More about this topic next week!

Developers seem to be constantly under pressure to release code at impossible speed.   Now they're also expected to be a finance guru, navigating the complex waters of cloud costs and budgets?🧐 There's a growing sentiment that developers should manage their service's total cost. Some suggest that “good practices by developers - such as turning things off when not in use” - can eliminate the need for FinOps. But here's a different perspective. Why put the weight of financial management onto developers? They already shoulder the responsibility of quick and efficient releases. Adding cost optimization is an unnecessary complication. Consider this: What if companies invested in AI and tools designed to take action rather than merely providing insight? These tools could help manage production while cutting costs, eliminating the need for FinOps. If your tech stack isn't equipped with such tools, maybe it's time for a re-evaluation? Shifting the blame to developers for soaring costs seems like a convenient way out. But in the long run, it's a move that could stifle innovation and productivity. Let's not complicate things unnecessarily. Let developers focus on what they do best - developing. And let AI and action-based tools handle the financial side of things. Engage, don't burden. Invest in tools that empower your team to do more, not less. Ready to rethink your approach? It's time to put your tech stack under the microscope. #DevOps #FinOps #AI #SRE #Developers

You're coaching Steph Curry. Would you tell him to quit shooting 3's? Of course not! That's his strength. This analogy fits perfectly when we talk about companies urging employees to return to the office. Built over years, these companies have robust departments and organizations supporting their growth and infrastructure in-office, going beyond mere real estate and free lunches. So you argue for them to adapt. But why should they? Would you tell Steph Curry to adapt? Yes, COVID required a shift, but it was temporary. For those preferring remote or hybrid work, there's a myriad of companies out there built from the ground up to be fully remote or hybrid. Their systems and infrastructure are designed to support that. Don't demand companies to adapt when they've found a formula that fuels their success. Adaptation has been necessary to some degree, but it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. If the ask of your current employer doesn't align with your expectations, perhaps it's time to look elsewhere. As someone who has experienced both remote and in-office work in my career, I see both sides. However, it doesn't mean your employer has to.

Don't worry about what others are doing, the only race is against yourself.

Overpromising and underdelivering is not just a business mistake, it's a ticket to mediocrity. Picture this: Your customer is expecting a F1 race car, but you deliver a bicycle. The disappointment is not just about the bicycle, it's about the shattered trust and broken expectations. Often, businesses get caught in the tantalizing trap of overpromising to attract customers. But what happens when they can't keep up with these inflated expectations? You guessed it—disgruntled customers and a dwindling reputation. Success is not just about making grandiose promises but about exceeding expectations, about delivering a little more than what was promised. By under promising and over delivering, we can build a foundation of trust that is unshakeable and a reputation that is impeccable. Remember, it's better to surprise with an unexpected bonus than disappoint with an unmet promise.

The power of impossible thinking. Let’s say your goal is to close $10M in revenue this year. It's a tough climb. But, what would it take to close $50M? Knee jerk reaction everyone will say is it’s impossible, right? But indulge me. Every leader, every team, every company should have the audacity of dreams that seem too big to achieve. Take a moment, step outside the realm of usual, and let your mind wander to the land of '𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗲' 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀. Every month, pick one and brainstorm with your team on how to make it a reality. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲? 𝗡𝗼 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Think about it. 💡How many people would you need to hire? 💡How many networking events do you need to attend? 💡How many blogs need to get published? 💡How many meetings need to be completed in the year? You might just surprise yourself, by turning the impossible into reality. Let's not just dream big, let's plan big. Because it's not simply about achieving the goal, it's about the journey, the lessons, and the growth along the way. In your next team meeting, I invite you to share an 'impossible' goal and the roadmap to achieve it. Let's transform the impossible into the achievable, together.

Breaking stereotypes, one sales pitch at a time. While in essence, I am indeed a salesperson, I bring an unconventional approach to the table. My sales pitches don't just revolve around benefits and numbers. They dive deep into the technicalities, the underlying infrastructure, the migration to the cloud, the tech stack most suitable for your business, and the impact it will bring. My understanding extends beyond the surface. I can walk you through cloud operations, developer deployments, CI/CD integrations, and the inner workings of APIs. I can bring to light how these elements interact within your existing infrastructure, and how they will shape your production environment. Moving forward, I am introducing 'Technical Tuesdays'. A day dedicated to sharing insights about technology trends, recommended solutions, and their potential impact on your business. Expect to see AI featured in these discussions as well. Yes, I am a sales guy. But I am a 'technical' sales guy, proficient in the language of technology and business alike. I invite you to challenge my technical acumen based on the recommendations I provide, and let's engage in a constructive dialogue about how we see the future unfolding. Ready to redefine the role of 'sales'? Let's embrace the fusion of sales and tech every 'Technical Tuesday'.