Be ready for the future!

So, here we are, on a normal day, staring once again at legacy code and wondering how to wrap a new feature around it. I know you've been there, because I have. And I'm surely not unique. And if you haven't, you'll turn out to stare the same way to the code as I did.
That's when the questions come and they come naturally, because it is not the first time you encountered such a mess. How on earth could a developer implement this software into our application? Look at the dependencies, look at the design!
And the memories of former similar projects unintended pop up into your head, giving you the scrupulous feeling of a dejá vu. And that's not all. It makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck. You know what is going to happen and you live with it, because there is nothing you can do about it. You just have to go with the flow, like you always did and everybody does.

Johnny Raw

Now that's the problem you have, right there. When someone comes up to you and says 'Hi, let's do continues delivery!' Al those memories and feelings about the code, gluing, aftermath, struggling, wrapping, trying to make the best out of it, the bugs which eventually will come because you unavoidably broke something, all those feelings are coming back. Especially when someone who's been at the company for a very short period says it!

Biases

And then the discussion comes on how 'we' should become a company with fully integrated continues delivery. And what are you doing then? You are trying to disapprove or refute every suggestion he or she is making. It's not your intention, I know. But it will happen. Why? Because, the common feelings of trying implementing something beautiful which always end up in a disaster, are embedded into you head. And they are easy to trigger. In fact, there are the watermark of your thinking, you cannot think without it. They become one with you. Inseparably. They are called 'preconceived biases'.

Stuck?

Well, that's splendid! Stuck with legacy code and your own legacy thoughts. What do we do now? Can you free yourself from your subconsciousness?
If you are ever willing to free yourself from this you must avoid these things during a conversation,

• rationalizing, 
• being constructive,
• thinking relative,
• justify your feelings about possible solutions that come into you head or come from others,
• bring upcoming thoughts or comments into perspective.

The moment you get negative feelings about something, you have to ignore it. This way you can free your mind. Especially if you are in a group, with everyone speaking their thoughts up loud and with someone who interrupts a conversation when things are getting negative and guides the group towards solutions again. If you allow rationalizing, justification and perspective, you will never get to good ideas. Don't let those negative thoughts control your group. They will come eventually by themselves after the meeting, or when you're trying to define actions. All comes later! And, if you try to do those sessions more often, you get used to it and it becomes more natural. 

Good luck doing so!