There’s an old saying that nothing good happens fast. Our friends on the West Coast saw that firsthand last year as wildfires swept through the region. From one moment to the next, erratic winds sent firefighters scrambling in every direction to save endangered homes, businesses, and wildlife. In just a few months, some 58,000 individual wildfires destroyed more than 10.3 million acres of forest lands.
Although experts say new growth will begin to take hold in the damaged area as soon as this spring, it will take decades before the forest will return to its full glory.
While destruction and devastation often happen swiftly, the opposite is often true about things that produce happiness and satisfaction.
In his best-selling 2003 book titled Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart, Dr. Gordon Livingston, a noted psychiatrist, and author, wrote extensively about the long and winding path to happiness. From learning new things and changing old behaviors to building satisfying relationships and even raising children, things that are important often take time.
“This is why patience and determination are among life’s primary virtues,” he wrote.
When the 17 original authors of the Agile Manifesto gathered in February 2001 to search for some common ground in the rapidly changing software industry, they couldn’t have known the enormous impact their work would ultimately have on the world of product development. There’s no doubt about it. Twenty years after it was written, the four values and 12 principles that emerged that weekend continue to influence the world around us.
In this issue of The Pragmatic, the Agile Manifesto takes center stage as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the document that set forth a revolution.
On Page 28, first-time contributor Joris Slob examines the document line-by-line and looks not only at what those guiding principles meant 20 years ago, but also at which of them still ring true today.
After all, being agile isn’t just about responding quickly. It’s also about responding deliberately and thoughtfully, with a clear goal in mind. It’s something I have learned firsthand in recent weeks as I continue to settle into my new role as Pragmatic Institute’s editorial director.
After spending the last 23 years leading successful newspaper and magazine operations in a number of different states, I stepped out of my comfort zone late last year to join the talented team of professionals that brings you this award-winning magazine and other Pragmatic Institute content, including our blogs, podcasts, webinars, and much more.
The experience thus far has been incredible. As a lifelong consumer, it has been eye-opening to catch a glimpse at the process used to bring so many incredible products to market. It also feels good to have a new learning curve after all of these years to keep me on my toes.
Personally, I can’t think of a better way to kick off the new year.
Despite the obstacles many of us faced in 2020, big things are on the horizon in the Pragmatic universe. On behalf of our entire team, I’m looking forward to tackling the year ahead with each of you.
Gustafson is the not-so-mild-mannered editorial director of The Pragmatic, a quarterly magazine published by Pragmatic Institute. He and his wife, Carly, live in South Mississippi.
P.S. If there are specific topics you would like to see us tackle in future editions of The Pragmatic, or if you have an article that you would like to submit for consideration, please reach out via email to [email protected].
To access our digital library of current and past editions of The Pragmatic and additional thought-provoking content curated by our staff, visit us online at www.pragmaticinstitute.com/features.
Ten years and counting
By Rebecca Kalogeris
This year marks the start of my tenth year here at Pragmatic. And, much like when I reflected back on the 20th anniversary of the Agile Manifesto, there is much that has changed—from the breadth of our offerings and delivery formats to our name.
But, in many ways, much has also stayed the same: our passion for the product profession, our amazing alumni base, and our commitment to providing resources you can immediately implement to improve your performance and your impact.
It is for the last point that I am particularly excited to welcome our new editorial director, David Gustafson.
David will be overseeing our editorial efforts across all of our practices and channels. He’s got decades of experience in the editorial space, but more important, he has a natural curiosity and a passion for telling stories that I know puts our editorial efforts in the best of hands.
Happy reading!
Kalogeris is the Vice President of Marketing & Product Strategy at Pragmatic Institute.
