Oh my sweet Lord, and I say that not to use his name in vain, but wow, folks, just wow…we almost had to cancel Christmas. Last weekend I cleaned out our storage area in the basement. I tossed a lot of things. I didn’t see anything scurry or scamper around while down there, but I did notice quite a few decorations were destroyed. Disappointed, I swept things up. Fast forward to earlier today… While singing along to Christmas tunes playing on our Amazon device (this is not a sa

As I unpacked our Christmas decorations this year, a gentle nostalgia filled the air. Memories of Christmases past came flooding back—the year we discovered the nativity nestled in a hot pink feather boa, Baby Jesus beside a mummified mouse, and the time the new nativity figures dwarfed the tiny barn. I even found myself smiling at the memory of Baby Jesus being spirited away at a raucous Christmas party so many years ago, held captive as a playful holiday secret. But this ye

What is a SMART Goal ?  It can apply to any goal you set, not just Agile-related ones.  We write our PI Objectives in SMART goal format, but it can also be used to write better sprint goals.  A SMART Goal is scientifically proven to help teams set and achieve goals.  They excel at providing the framework to create a compelling PI Objective or Sprint Goal.  You can even use them for retrospective goals!   Let’s dive in… They give you direction.  A well-planned goal helps you m

Written for Medium.com I’ve always believed that some friendships are meant to last a lifetime, while others are only with us for a season. Each serves a purpose during a certain period, and when that time is over, it’s natural to move on. Some of my friendships date back to high school. Now, at my age, I realize how much I’ve learned from these relationships—no matter how cliché that may sound. My best friend, who is my oldest daughter’s godfather, has been in my life since

Some of you may be using Artificial Intelligence (AI) at work or in your personal life.  It’s great, isn’t it?!  We work faster by enhancing our productivity!  We’re more creative!  We can get access to real-time information super-fast!  I don’t mean to scare you, but with all good things, risks are also involved.  Let’s explore how to use AI safely and be smart about it.    AI clearly saves time.  It can assist with research and analysis.  It can help generate content quick

https://medium.com/@jencracchiola/the-universe-works-in-mysterious-ways-7095ece9c9be The day my brother proposed to his girlfriend was...

https://medium.com/@jencracchiola/scattering-ashes-is-not-always-an-easy-task-heres-my-story-e0a647db08f9 In March of 2020, we lost my...

Written for Medium.com https://medium.com/@jencracchiola/grief-is-a-journey-e04c1a87e3dc Grief is overwhelming. Grief is raw. If you do not actively confront your grief, it will consume you. Everyone has a story about their grief—the loss of a loved one, whether spouse, parent, child, or dear friend. No two stories are the same; grief is each person's own journey. With that in mind, let me share mine. My grief journey began on Leap Day 2020, just days before COVID-19 took