Joe Sweeney

Joe Sweeney is an independent publisher and author, recently retired from a career in software development. He spends his days writing, leading writing workshops, and teaching beginner ballroom dance. In this collection of prompt-based stories written between April 2010 and May 2017, you will find an array of adventures in the realms of science fiction, fantasy, alternate worlds and universes, and some general fiction thrown in for good fun. Most of the prompts came from contests on the Fanstory and NYC Midnight websites. For some, a picture or the first line would be given. For others, any combination of genre, location, action, or object would be given.

A Tester's Guide to .NET Programming focuses solely on applied programming techniques for testers. You will learn how to write simple automated tests, enabling you to test tools and utilities. You will also learn about the important concepts driving modern programming today, like multitier applications and object-oriented programming. More businesses are adopting .NET technologies, and this book will equip you to assess software robustness and performance. Whether you're an experienced programmer who's unfamiliar with testing concepts, or you're an experienced tester versed in VB .NET and C#, the included real-world tips and example code will help you start your projects. Also included are review questions and hands-on exercises to help you retain knowledge. Additionally, the book features examples and quick language tutorials for both C# and VB .NET.

A detailed system that will help you achieve your professional and personal goals Moving the Needle provides both the "kick in the pants" and the game plan many of us need to break out of the rut and get moving to achieve our goals. CEOs, vice presidents, professionals, military personnel, and even college students frequently express frustration at the entrenched status quo, in which initiating progress feels like moving mountains. This book lights a path toward continual improvement, helping readers first find a direction, then make the key transitions that jumpstart forward progress. This highly practical guide outlines a change process that can be applied to professional or personal goals, giving readers a concrete plan for making big things happen. Rather than blindly shooting for the moon, readers will formulate a solid, systematic, actionable plan that can only result in progress. In today's tenuous business climate, employers and employees alike can be glued to the ground, unsure of the path they should take, or whether they have the freedom to move forward. Moving the Needle helps readers clarify their current position, identify their optimum position, and formulate a workable strategy for getting from here to there. Find what "moving forward" means for your career and lifeShake off the doldrums of routine and establish a culture of innovationImprove performance on a consistent basis, at every levelBreak the inertia and get moving in the right direction Stagnation is diametrically opposed to progress. Moving forward requires a vision, a plan, and the impetus to get things done. Those who sense that big things can happen need to get clear, get free, and start Moving the Needle.

How did Joe Sweeney...get Bob Costas to come to Milwaukee (in the middle of winter)? ...become the "wingman" to the archbishop of New York City? ...take Brett Favre's off-the-field income from $65,000 to more than $4 million? The answer is simple. Networking. In this New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestseller, master networker Joe Sweeney shares his networking secrets from a long and successful career as a business owner, sports agent and executive and investment banking consultant. His first secret: master networkers are focused on giving, not getting. With today's difficult economy and uncertain workplace, networking has never been more important. Sweeney's simple but effective 5/10/15 networking plan will give you a leg up in the current job market, help you stay employed, or, if you've been laid off, find your next job. The cliche that who you know is more important than what you know has never been truer. Sweeney illustrates his insights with dozens of helpful examples from his own life (along with a few fascinating insider sports stories). With special sections on networking for women and minorities, insights into the usefulness (and handicaps) of social networking sites, how to get (and why you need) a wingman and profiles of other master networkers, Networking Is a Contact Sport is a practical and essential guide for anyone who wants to get ahead in today's economy.

A Tester's Guide to .NET Programming focuses solely on applied programming techniques for testers. You will learn how to write simple automated tests, enabling you to test tools and utilities. You will also learn about the important concepts driving modern programming today, like multitier applications and object-oriented programming. More businesses are adopting .NET technologies, and this book will equip you to assess software robustness and performance. Whether you're an experienced programmer who's unfamiliar with testing concepts, or you're an experienced tester versed in VB .NET and C#, the included real-world tips and example code will help you start your projects. Also included are review questions and hands-on exercises to help you retain knowledge. Additionally, the book features examples and quick language tutorials for both C# and VB .NET.

The only book that covers Visual Basic for software testing, a large and very critical industry. Most testers need to know some programming to enhance their job abilities; but the problem is that all of the trade books textbooks, and courses are directed towards developers. Mary Sweeney's book responds to a huge unmet need. This book is easy to read and understand and isn't intended to be a high-level technical reference. Rather, it's a practical guide with many examples provided by real testers with real world experience in writing Visual Basic test code. It's useful for those considering a career in testing and wondering just what the difference is between writing code for testing and writing code for software development.