From "Cheesebag" to "Insights" - How I Took Control of My Team's Progress

More years ago than I care to think of, I started gathering useful snippets of code and stand-alone procedures into a repository I called "Cheesebag" (don't ask me why - it seemed funny back in the 80s. What can I say ? I was young and foolish !).

Over the years, this "bag" of handy procedures followed me from company to company. At first, it was just a personal stash of quick solutions, but slowly I began to realize that what I was collecting had real value. Colleagues at work began to ask if they could "borrow the bag" and even volunteered suggestions for additions to my little bag of cheesy goodness.

As I moved into leadership roles, my responsibilities shifted. Instead of just writing code, I found myself spending an ever-increasing amount of time preparing reports on my team's progress for mid-level and senior managers. Before I knew it, these reports consumed my workdays, leaving little time for anything else. I was managing the team, but I wasn't actually leading them.

The Birth of Insights

Having a very patient wife and a plentiful supply of red wine, I began to spend my spare time building something better. I started putting together a front end that allowed me to access all my little "cheese-nibbles" more easily and in a structured way. What began as a personal tool to keep track of code snippets soon evolved into something much bigger.

Insights was born out of necessity - an attempt to free myself from the endless time-consuming tasks that bogged me down. Instead of manually compiling updates, tracking Jira tickets, and pulling status reports, I built a solution that did it all for me.

How Insights Made My Life Easier

With Insights, my workflow changed dramatically:

• One Dashboard to Rule Them All - Instead of jumping between emails, spreadsheets, and tracking tools, I now had a single, easy-to-use interface that pulled everything together.
• Real-Time Updates - I no longer had to chase developers for status reports. Insights automatically compiled progress updates, keeping me informed at a glance.
• Smart Notifications - Instead of drowning in endless alerts, I only got notified when something truly required my attention.
• Time Saved = Productivity Gained - By eliminating the busywork, I was able to focus on guiding my team, solving problems, and driving innovation.

The Bottom Line

Insights transformed how I manage my team. What started in the dim and distant past as a personal project became an essential tool that saved me from administrative overload and allowed me to focus on what really matters - helping my team succeed.

If you're drowning in project updates and feel like you spend more time compiling reports than actually leading, give Insights a try. Trust me, your future self (and your sanity) will thank you.