Data Dreamer

Feb 28
81km 🏃 in February 2021
February 2021 was one of my worst months regarding running. Even though I kept the running spirit after a break, I didn’t run a lot this month. Compared to the previous month I ran less than half of the distance and only 11 running activities. Nevertheless, one positive thing is that the pace was quite stable: on average I’m still below 6 min/km. Month February 2021 Activities 11 Total Distance 80.
Feb 27
Reading Habits
As a child I was reading plenty of books. Sometimes 2-3 books in a week as I’m a fast reader and I was soaking up the stories like a sponge. In recent years I read less and less books. It’s a bit sad as there is a lot of knowledge in books and I have plenty of them on my to-do list. But somehow, I never manage to get through my stack or finish a book.
Feb 26
Rent Revisited
20 days ago I already wrote about how much we should spend on rent. The flat we we’re keeping an eye on is still available. With the current price it’s advertised we would pay € 13.84 per m² (in total around € 15.50 including utilities). As I wrote back then I feel a bit uncomfortable with such an amount. But today I saw that it’s still online and I’m thinking about proposing the owner/ the real estate agent a lower price.
Feb 25
Losses leave me Cold
Within the last 10 days my portfolio shrunk by almost € 5k. Mostly because of Tesla and a slight correction for the little amount of crypto (Ethereum) I own. I’m not happy about that obviously. But I’m happy about my feelings: the (fictional, not realized) losses leave me cold. Back when I started investing - end of 2016/ beginning of 2017 - I was afraid to become the typical private investor.
Feb 24
I sold my first Project 🤑
Seems that I sold my first project these days. The ink has yet to dry but I’m fairly confident it will be underwritten within the next week. As you know I’m working in a big IT consulting company. Selling projects (which in the end means selling people) is basically the core of our business model. It’s a bit like prostitution or more accurately described pimping: selling people for an hourly (daily) rate to somebody else 😉
Feb 23
Great Leaders have deep-seated Curiosity
Today I saw an interesting thread on twitter (see tweet below) regarding the similarities between Jeff Bezos (Amazon) and Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) “that make them both generational leaders”, and one point stuck to my brain: “They would ask endless questions…. Great leaders have deep-seated curiosity." They were both incredibly deep thinkers and read voraciously. I’ve participated in small group conversations with each of them (eg on airplanes) lasting hours where they would ask endless questions and have more stamina than anyone else.
Feb 22
Roles in a Data Team
This week I was asked which roles a (high-performing) data team should have. And instead of an answer my mind was coming up with more questions: Do you call the people interacting with the business business analyst or data analyst? Do you differentiate between Data Engineers and Data Warehouse Engineers (as it’s a slightly different skill-set) or is it close enough? Do you need a Data Architect? Or can it be done by a distinguished Data Engineer on the side?
Feb 21
Home Office Table
What I forgot in my post yesterday was the table. I like to work standing and I plan to buy a standing/height-adjustable desk somewhen. What I still need to decide: does it need to be electrically adjustable or is a hand crank enough? The price difference is not inconsiderable. Pro electrically: I’d be more likely to adjust and adapt it to my need. Pro hand crank: I’ll probably use it 95% standing anyway so it could be sufficient.
Feb 20
Perfect Video Setup?
I’m curious about your setup for video calls. Which camera are you using? External or from your laptop? Do you have special lighting? Front- and/or back-lighting? Microphone/sound? Anything I missed? I’m trying to work out a proper setup for my video calls - after being one year in my home office 😅 - and just researching how to improve it. Audio With my audio - currently using a Jabra Speak 510 - I’m quite satisfied.
Feb 19
I didn't run much this Month
A week ago I wrote that I’m keeping the running spirit. It’s true: I still would like to go running but in February two things stopped me from accumulating some distance: The 5-days of mandatory quarantine in the beginning of February. My recent encounter with icy conditions. I’m not seriously injured but everything hurts a bit: my back, my ankle, my knee, my arm. Summing it up, I was running once this week and in total I probably had 5 running workouts in February so far.