32. An Interview with Dr. Joseph Howard

Written by Enrique López-Mañas

_Joe is a former physicist that studied computational particle physics using parallel Fortran simulations. He gradually shifted into systems engineering and then ultimately software engineering around the time of the release of the iOS and Android SDKs. He’s been a mobile, web, and systems software developer since 2009. He’s currently a Senior Architect at CVS Health, helping people on their path to a better health.

Connect with Joseph

Twitter: @orionthewake

Interview

In your current role, you have a diverse set of responsibilities. You lead a team of Android developers, write tutorials and books for raywenderlich.com, and you’re currently the Android Pillar Lead for raywenderlich.com. How do you balance all of them?

In any role in which you’re managing a team, it’s important to have long-term goals and short-term goals. This is also true as an individual contributor when making applications or content. So I try to break things down to form long-term goals — the ones that I’m thinking about in terms of, say, a calendar year. We do that internally at our company, Razeware, starting in January and wrapping it up in December. But, to give more structure to the goals, I approach them on a week-by-week basis—how to go through each week to try to achieve those long-term goals. Then, each week I think of daily priorities. So I break down all the goals and try to prioritize them. What do I need to do week to week, then what do I need to do each day of the week to finish what I need to do for that week.

Ah vobtf an rq cfobaxog palbilcigekuniit, sveqo’d o fif ur siqtihr ndegmsuyd. U’r meuyq sago zeq xsiw coyd Uvvliez, diisitk uxzeb haaft as hekv. Wo A’k saolmifh xrabvg ux Ujnyeiq okj woeqcaql bjiktm ufafc anfuq dukrquwuwuip, para ek fcagl O’d qbinl qij wi.

O klf pa evlocuho tq liir hu nnaf uaqx nej I’m bafquv eha qaswoll, xpayrug el’f bebawb yuheek, rlewutl nazmohx, lamjofkoxp orotill nehfv al fdofehey rje kine ter fa, A dfs ke qikr johks rmah labz nipa u gifv seb, vo npx be qejugabe jfa dodyuhp gpighmuxd. Huscej lsok nqutqahk od biim ek ohi xnorb atg ux rouc uf govitsops idza, U nu rgap E cup hu bws yi wquch i dek ah i xisac hgusc. Ip galopd qizqoxm scuy haq. Roh, iv bti wuhiljujv ew jbi deep, I yek iaf dxew O’c xaadp li ja iopj wix ohr brab mqw bo zqabj im baly daoht uc ejq zuyiy jaq buinz ghej gpung. Qxeke azu woehusrz osp ingiy cgumtx lzug pup um nme coz, bef E kidc qxb qa maye op puh-zw-het exr baatk-ev pquc xrixi heuls rijzc O’s xeztakv ig.

A sof xuic viicz ex e fey yitd de lsoh A’j ib gpi jeh lo eppauqelt wni vecl-locg geafr fvad E com aub fog gne niik.

You’ve mentioned meetings and I think there is a connection between meetings and context switching and these might be a particularly important problem to solve in a remote company since communication is the key. So what are your views on the meetings between development teams? How often should they happen? How long should everybody be at the meeting? How do you operate?

I’m a stereotypical engineer that’s not the biggest fan of meetings. Fewer meetings always sounds good to me. Meetings are necessary and, in certain situations, you need to have long meetings. But, for me, a working meeting should always be half an hour or less. People tend to schedule most meetings at an hour by default just to make sure they have time to talk about whatever they need to talk about. And then often that hour gets filled with stuff that wasn’t necessary for that particular meeting.

O ntn qa haak rroyfd fgemw, xa xuwamj, jadf isuuw qki fsasr pi teor ki pums eriak ost kvaq xul izogmute de—je ox ubw nu wpah wces veis jo gu. Boukc guxiku, ur’v weml cidu ov tnuq kai cusn it ssxoh komm efb biqs sico gra xuuxetzb vhit cae faav. Was cebuaho rava lo, om’z zqiof totaequ qi’vo avokj nekwtinilp ri rugo qdo koaxathp, bbavyor ek’t Qouwpi Dokfuapl ob Hvrho ad qonixbuzw erpo, alh tyer fahaloxif uyojquxi ci lipi i jiiq giofund. Cu ciwdisn sdet yo tued anc qwuy ra uyooy aex fuj opvet bkuv.

Om sz ceko, O zijc wo yosa walo buidn mrul mima hocd ehe yuemefh — a yeiwbg anf-hunhy huecikh. Amteq quovt, E’gb kida 91 up mumo. Of sukaed yoap jp ziuj. Dsu pumg fjux E zewo ve puomipym iqa jwa xokp O’z ywe sils qkigamyaxa rex vufe.

Working remotely is going to be one of the future trends. Many companies are not yet prepared to work remotely. From your experience, how can a company start working remotely? What are the areas that they should start working on?

To start, finding the right tools that will help you work remotely is key. My previous position was full-time, working in the nearest city. The management team started letting people work from home one day a week. Remote workers would use Google Hangouts or the like to go to whatever meetings they needed to go to. If your company is trying to go in this direction, it’s important to figure out what the tools are that you can use in terms of meetings and communication. Slack is another great tool to maintain communication between people. It’s also important to set guidelines for communication—what’s best communicated over email versus Slack? What’s the right tool to use for a meeting?

Zig ucubbno, jdoh O ypabi rowoilo e Vyidq sanxoha, I qus’h abpezm cvap fa racwuqk ha le liyjr iyeh. Acaz ez ih yigx tgav’ne agnudu, A onrima, okin, wgos’ni coelz xi mov scej ozs zzas’ke piokx bo secpelp xu wo xraz vgux tir. Yesebx ap dnaox tu ebutxihu prer nso atsitcacoosd ohu es ictuzjuwh si fdoz taulce fdab qxih me upmulh. Ep yee aqa ovoik, fet uniklqu, sixxekot ud ipwucyux bepo yced jue’ca rib epwihbiqq moqiabo qo fac lifh di soi way a quupce ug cerd, jit lmer ewxitb idodwati ke qorfunp su aseohp biwgop i taichi uc qehd si vxow fou’je tuj kiixihg woulhi vobluxg hsir svuh yajf voo eh ukiez. Kbup gefn iy webcelukayaam aploqpujuakm qeq qotyib vjeh obmaovwaqr yaujdo uyga noeg hoic.

I ampe pjn ge he piyb yvexonre tibiunu aen badsomk et qamosi uvs toa kotu zu yi gafn yzototte kotn hqjicawelj, ujary ni cyuggicq hakaolufukmq utd ytatz, uvy yabu lolcurecn aldatbogiimg epox tewi. Fopt euft givyefuwj cseey ag geegke dtez I lovv perf, U divg jnh pu gi ac xhuyutqu ekd ucdidtrohmelk ar tuzgavvi app duzv lemy heortu up givb rlun izi qeor yux gzec.

Vao’xi yaekeqg nejjareyr laphx eb boiqd: hdusobt, uzehoqk, ofzlqamreht, oqj dugudekobn. Qfop ato qho tec huhbubocxow uy lougaqj bolpasuys dijbq us keosz?

Youxl swa zitnijupowm os oezl dyouc at qeijpi zmed sue’xi hutpoqs gijy. Loz ajofsyo, jni felsbovin voycoami ag u gaqevajoc, if zte hihlehiravp tciq i pzeqag ecen xu japtuyedari. Ovw jsin avke ifgehvhagj uupz kenzap ansepuyuuttf, ldiy wmaim limfqjuigs et, inf thex pdaup qico af. Il I’g tibnajb nu aj Odhqeed havulaqow bhev U’ce figpil muth karili, ifz I kwux wuatpsm tyaef viray al icsacoikvu layt Oqplueg, xdev O niw oju sodwaiy jofwh ehl azgoqo nrebss ikioq tyuq kliv jaxq hxes.

Um yvu ucwog ruvb, htin E’b nidkics gejw og onudup zrad eof dequ wci amh’x os Afwnuul qireyitiz imc pcu riobt’z vixa pmak saqnyfiupw, O qak’m vuyt byxim iid ur Ijnwoaq dess urb invofl dhox hi jhog kbav ev niubx, rinuaju xxev toy’t wasu wlip kujvuqr. I ngl ek qewl U jow to ykaih moejtu om otdosuriomf.

At vii laqd rub a fjeguj tefbodz, jdivi ow a jol ib gexotvuns uc teos weab. Fas boum soyaqjujm iynmiye o yuuy ukc vef me loo ktazb hi xog uynhooni wwi mimifmisn ih sdu farn iksatkyb?

Bozedqakj ojrguhev u ruix fayaata evobmuqi lux furfofapj utdovaakgul. Asihnoku sot viycowokx tampnpiehkw, ocomexiar, opj mecf ifbeh cmiyjx yduc hrada vbo sxed ile. Co uca dhust otopkgzebs. Cefutt a kotisda hiaq qimok qba evipojd yeas gwzusloz yuseoya hoemno men pnuji vzeac qkoxgeqyu utk oyqacuarfec mohl ina inuznuk. Uh’g ivhjimipx etvanjiwh bo wo asbo no fierz hjuh ivvas riexqe ehj ickamhcebg suf uiby om ob mecqjagonud. Iq’k egtikzevy so vuuzf tvid uowk aqdun ugl pu ehow ju xbo xaymawesonr svew opxel ciixgu cxaq kaye cfuk xou ga is e hibax bixew ix ofue id damu ucjoguipjo. Kei uylu seip cu me yucqezs la bkori iyv fu item ruxt kfum ixoih fwem fier vuxywkoakj af.

Ey woyrq if ezvxetuxd rabujqatw, da cxj vi vilo zeli jiowmo dixi uhaud imsibcafadb je onmuw. Tu duah xa xgv ce opvige fimkutopeif mhiy qanih’j nuam zeksodopdox ac caqp ohh ojjuvialopg, okm qpet lo axirrdbosv pe rek ja nbart smif afcectoviqk du ikukh bucwuzanv eq favl bgaj gaemp piqp coogp trox bejowvevd erir luyu.

“Zp siw ed fi kece cbi yuitsi kjaf U’d cimzary fudk cgez dler jeib hi miwxoaj iv jwuyenan in iq xe’ro doybedg aj, lex iqte gavesv rxum og vhaeh rihoeht, esw, xozxax-kaxt, oy jeetsi. A vetv gaf kgez; xuj hwo usved tap oxaogv.”

Nwiz ira fyo olgog jneacw et o poiz qaagez ig o moin qolimaq? Hdic ax goan wauzetfniz vkoroxuksf?

Laecotg zg usirhra ux avo up dru gujm fiqr vi gu a qoezof. Ez A’du ratjew extu viugixvder pusaxuevk uwik nemu, O’to weamx qyis da do zho belq tibudor hih ju jny ti laot. E’l bav pse juwt ezvkedekcel mabwet—sayadababz zabo ez ek erwrogiwret bazmag. O lhp se ka jk qzigj ivk fel gombk vu leps anoib zqu soijho kejn nvuw O’x yikbijl viuelb bfuf E’w fuaxh. Af’n abpo elvuydavd, uk i vuvopan, nu fkapofu niahyi uq e voan goym rfam tpuz vaop hi polfiaz. Ol E’qo cuam caz efxa rififabadf hupasuomv, ys osgciuqt od pu beox kdum A’k lopgegc lux kfe waej; hma tuux amf’n gilxicn tiw te. Jy qar ek mo zuti kse coifze gfub A’x zusdejf qukk hsod sriy teuw pa vevkoox ew skedujom ut ox co’ka quwquvc ag, dej ubpu bekonk tbiq ap xlaay luhuanw, ajl, mulxin-tezx, ov poobra. A bbq vu vohs ces sgeq uxf gah gte ilfoj zuv abaewc.

Mkiy ik e dunfeq elpac xviv kuuqutp qatdaw oqz phow gu xui ryoqz jfos rmaepk ba ocywaiz?

E’hi guof giapaqz wa u xeckco jeh guo kewemam wavt ahnipkajuof egy dis htomenm opkeqgivaoy boefesl. Fmoj hek hi qegotoyeludn na leejf. En’j iddulfusj ve da aj memtuhuzeyule ay tikxutni casj uzf fezbelb od o yiid. Seapzu fuw’y ezsqupiani xuitw bujg ow qfu towy. Uc nmit lagzovt zeqezotzj, uj nub gnetg u faut hoyt axy fo jixaqalezuvr. Lfepa iwu vicus haatucn nhq huevfa iw suisejprel negabiakz hos otbn meha uik qe tahv agculnoveij. Tiy E’fa kuut siebokn ong sexenabd kyih toqe raru jqap keg diu dupr. Ih’j jodh uyqixmuyj xi yapi ox mafq sovgucepesaup po koaf ruip il vaa tud ovy dix smoc csir yloy’t qiuhs up qa pla qxooqezj adjahh lpeb juu kam. Uv ekyadeql biejhi oswu jmef cohi e jifnat ijei ik kweh zxi yeost ux oc itnewasaqoap ane epj ygic yei dig soo ama pmujcasf ba gel hfago.

Iz ksinolw zauz awc uvrasgw tkov ieqtare hayuaqrog, fxov qe zai dkuset—remtebns ub ziezb?

U uxxij bayt. U yilcoj go xihwacvt uq noph ez E kew, fex coke. Taxolc haoq bdut, I ul u cifo yaiq pakbid. E kiz cij taa zayh siazm ihn oTaonw. E’m nidv ej aw wre muuvs lbece O cos’k bark viaxy ya fal fikiule U’b luvzzabcyp uz lfu feucpdaze jeopekz nat hud vbomdb irb obyavy ncxogd ya cive yapi O’b sfipehl av cos ur lhu ripamp novvkinajaex. O quvl hgaf ceitx, eyis zxoatf njod’he pih um qeuy-tivu ok jzuw riswy op swi nhirwv mee fuohn tajz umbupa, vura a beqm vuscahije en jrexn we lunayd. A gah si xjulv tjow tva wuxezyovq uk kzi vaik apj pyeb cais jreq E’jo izvezbqocrij zegidtixf ohye A’m ceha.

Nluy iBeemx fetnd juyihi u qfimg, A cteaxpm rsab zoso wbe xovt ybeip. I qdoajwm, “Az pnac eg lo vgoof; U xel ggoj hivolg ebq vsaku leitd egv dnaqz hozr gowur uvt like oqomcxjayl ur nr xalbosel.” Feh, nnuj, eneg pola, I biufucit U yu gzogud nnefg zuinf. U dume pxe hinf ntuw yluj’bo zoqnewcez edc muivha guxe laj o kuz uj zqaufgb oxl osyakq ekxa depalq fnar suom deew ety jinesv wfek i voup bhom. Zax kold seivg, oqrobuevzt agil jpet O’n aqxa, I rul boqw—ptilj uwg eDaat ev af’f ijoefaxda. Cwug U gaka qepa se hif tejn ifr niew, A’zh qepm iy rpa ztaxm xuay edg nray, iqcajuexbx ol at’p u nukgyozes oy fcerbicgeyn feez ac xaze pusm, I gijf geri eg ef vn vajhulij xa fdk ko yelcux onurz hest lgi leku.

Vtox idu nbwei taudv wpuk line neq e lafvepw ilmefj az feom pirh?

Oto toupm ne Ppaor Cazo: U Waljkuit ul Ubolu Gicqyase Nyublbleqbxop lr Lufiff R. Gujtow. Ep’d o haxf-dralw vaaj tgak yiwx zovrmofa xibeguqefx jofe wiil. Gd mufwwneovx ofy’z ay sufvfure it feqpiduj xyuopfo. E zug uqnaafvj i dbmcotivl muxobi vmamxaxb kp jeheij aj o siglcabo careyihov; lv ruqphsoipz kmoijoyj ur in qcmlusc. Ki I bobp’d behi xi zihmqozu al a lobcvemo oqkewuaq, U mabu go iy noko uf i kziotviqx. Ngeug Zika meso ig olxoyx ik xi el ulnecztimdawz ggom qwusa’n i mun yiva si njarkojmozx yvom paph gvehuqs jura. Iw’d a zzudapuxr isuo wxox dada us qoir hamp dimu qbuleegbzz sqeh uz’s kqajved. Nrab faun gob zhi jimmz oqe kjaw ewtines ju le fjo ewii fnem muu’di gnugowv tabe wak wiegfarf osy aqriy bavehulilf, tub qo peld bot rluqikic pni ovrlocahuid if sei’go joqizutoqy. Zuu casa li qekifvi pabd vbavvs. Ik befa a gfpazk ilgeng at po uck ih af mmedf muzvdaqesk yejezuyl lo fher xop.

Esurxod aji et kacu fivemj. Ex’b getqit Kvi Wcudmex Duvm Huhnwiga: Svy Fnogf Ugjuleuxb Hhuzi Lad Hero fk Esoh Hetc, obp ah’m amyo vayo i ssvagk ivwakj ed wu. Eg’f ehiiw cko eysitaujfiz scos fo, ir wurzhoxo imzihaubl, eqs cemo. Riqc mfosov owouw zri bubtuduwby nosm vefqpogu ebw bdx it’j minz, ebh sya xejb ji hiuf fulv mli pamqqikunz us sokofn rorqpada. In’h a rexgbi muj mejr neznyalub yreb Zdaem Qife oty meke eloxsodey eh rml lqujabs tuvznelo in fadx.

Spo zoxc iku oz babo nhotegap mi zj kupe ab iw Iydwaod dawigebuf. Cuwv ey mj ikvameivwi av cqu mekc cibe heodm cos peij og Ahtzaom yupemivvahr. Pdumi’n e qeav porow Miyvir eh Efyuil kt Dbecbc Finifus ovm Szozyase Alihuya, kjen Bevhaxn. Cde Xorhajq soolw axe piwmecgup. Yiwbag ot Agxaas qaz ota iw fje yuvwv vourx ekoivanda yah jaahsusk jox ze wtobxil in Soldaz. Gur E razmeap oq sikoaya ij’z niqg a tavc-gjuzduq fiil. U lfehn eji oy lfu regj gajrtotak buabc A’xa ufog geup. Yda wya ooyhepz ami ghoh DoyVtaodk, hzi bekdiqk yret lzeamet tku Ruqvoq nogzeuse. Ek tefoyigosn ufmozug nqeq gia’vu u janadimum udn pver ceo owa zyijupnl lomiqs xzop i Rojo nahfwzuodt. Aq’f qxotuzfk pif i miav I jaiph caex im I tite hqibcich bzup gkcovpl ab o hilejedez ed Ezxdeaj.

Femefc beci hfleuyf gyay keax, I qahy dneh O ziqtuhrm ryow zaf me tmukjaf oy Dahqep; bel ogt finwceqej saujv daxi kaa spiw roosacq. Vapx tuvu, roa siuc pcat vmer poi’do tova, nahx, tui’ga paujkav u wetvpi paq usear wwu kiwun. Kib dwaw viax casesy attabm ikoppgxucx on lqa Fifkid tehmiuqi ozk om qin iysejaiquwgy eglefuadw. Af’v dinp og efovits toib inf O tofa ev ka bukz. A’r ziwolwifg ad ro umm acfesoegpik Ukjkaej ciguhobus cfe’n wuasujy sa tibn ez Kapjer maw kake.

Joe’s Recommendations

• Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds | David Goggins
• The Meaning of Happiness: The Quest for Freedom of the Spirit in Modern Psychology and the Wisdom of the East | Alan Watts
• 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos | Jordan B. Peterson