Chasing your Dream...

I had a chance to attend a free conference last night. Unfortunately, it was not what I expected it to be, but I did pick up a lesson or two, which has made all the difference.

Overall, the conference was a sales pitch for additional training (which of course was not free), but they promised that the training was going to open the doors that would allow you to achieve your dreams. There was a part of the conference where we were asked to visualize our dreams and what we wanted to achieve in life. For me, this part of the conference was the most valuable.

How many of us actually take the time to think about our dreams / goals? Are we able to visualize them? Are we able to verbalize what it is that we want to accomplish? How many of us have settled for the status quo? How many of us have gotten so wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of our lives that we have lost sight of our dreams? How many of us have actually forgotten what it is that we want to accomplish?

Here is my challenge to you. Take time for yourself today and think about your dreams and your goals. Take a walk over lunch, or turn the radio / mp3 player off during your commute to work, and remember what it is that you would like to achieve. Develop a statement, a few sentences that becomes your mantra. Do whatever it takes to get excited and start chasing your dream.

Eclipse RCP Presentation

I am just completing a tour where I presented Eclipse SWT / JFace and RCP to both the Grand Rapids Java User Group (GRJUG), and the Ann Arbor Java User Group (AAJUG).There are a few items that I am going to change in the content, but overall, the impression the audience gave me was that they were pleased.

I have been fascinated with Eclipse and Eclipse RCP for many years now, but never really had an opportunity to learn more about it. At one point, I tried to teach myself the framework for a contract, but was intimidated and decided to put it on the shelf for later. (For that contract, I just used SWT directly instead of using the Rich Client Platform.) After recently attending a training session on Eclipse RCP, I have found new confidence in the technology, and I am looking for opportunities to gain more experience.

Are you currently doing thick client application development? If so, what kind of technologies are you using? Are you using a Rich Client Platform? Eclipse or Netbeans or other???