Week 5: Kicking Off – Monday Meetings and Football

Every Monday, the Rockhead team kicks the week off with a casual meeting to update and inform everyone on their work. There are only 10 of us, so we each get to talk a little bit about what we are doing. This week, I was having trouble coming up

Rockhead’s productivity approach is recognized in TECNOPUC. This week, a few guys from another company, Optix, sat in on our meeting to get a feel for how we work. We have a system centered around Post-It notes and a big board to organize them. Each member of the team has their own section on the board to keep track of his tarefas (tasks). It is essentially a log of our work in sticky notes. Throughout the week, when I start or finish a task, I let people know by writing what I’m doing on a new note or by moving the note into my “complete” section on the board. We try to keep the tasks as specific as possible so as to stay focused and productive.

Then, when we are presenting in Monday meetings, we go up to the board and use the sticky notes/tasks as talking points.

Impromptu meeting after a larger Monday meeting that lead to a Youtube-watching meeting

The system is also helpful because I can see exactly what people are working on. I can then gauge when the best time will be to talk to them. For example, when I have a question about Unity (the game software), I will wait until someone is working on a task that requires Unity.

Oftentimes, talk about specific tasks during the meeting leads to deeper discussion about the game mechanics and design. These are some of my favorite times because everyone is offering up their opinions.

I am enjoying the meetings more and more as my Portuguese improves. I’m constantly surprised by the team’s ability to balance productivity and fun. Even in meetings about important topics, people are joking and being silly. In the end, though, we accomplish what need need to get done.

Rockhead is showing me what it’s really like to work in a startup environment. In many ways, it is what I was expecting and hoping for. If I wasn’t set on working in a startup/small team before, I am now. I understand that each company is different, depending on its size, leadership, and location, but Rockhead is at least giving me a taste of the environment.

On Saturday, a small group from Casa do Campus went to a Sport Club International football game. There are two teams in Porto Alegre – Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense and Sport Club International. From what I’ve gathered, Grêmio has garnered quite of bit of support over the past few years. As most might guess, football is one of the most important cultural points in Porto Alegre and Brazil. Many conversations at lunch and in the office somehow end up back at the last Grêmio game.

The energy in the stadium was exhilarating. Inter wasn’t playing so well, but fans were persistent – whether it were in their criticism or encouragement. We joined in the chants and got wrapped up in all the excitement.

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