What is the “Ballmer Peak" and what effect does it have on performance? A lot of research has been done to test how alcohol and nighttime work affect the programmer’s central nervous system and performance. Why do programmers like to work at night and is it worth it? Readers learn about this from the article.
Phenomenon
What is the "Ballmer Peak"? This is an amazing phenomenon, according to which the programmer’s performance depends on the amount of alcohol he drinks during work. Many scientists and programmers themselves confirm the positive effect of alcohol on creativity, endurance, memory, and the ability to solve complex problems in a short time. Productivity depends not only on the amount of alcohol consumed, but also on the time of day.
The so-called "peak" was opened in the eighties at Microsoft. There is still no correct explanation of why alcohol in a certain dosage has a positive effect on the programmer's performance. The correct blood alcohol concentration should be between 0.129 and 0.138%. Many wonder why, at such doses, a programmer gains superhuman abilities, and is it really so. It must be remembered that the “peak” discovered by Steve Ballmer is a rather subtle effect that requires some calibration. Work at night contributes to this effect, strengthens it many times and is even considered a necessary condition for its achievement.
True or fiction
“Ballmer Peak” - myth or reality? Some programmers still use alcohol as a positive factor for productive work at night. Solving complex problems requires a certain attitude, concentration, and endurance. After taking a certain dose of alcohol, the range of possibilities objectively sets in, the degree of perception narrows, introversion increases. The paradox is that in a relaxed (moderate) state, programmers show better results.
In some cases, there is inhibition of the central nervous system, a decrease in the spectrum of perception. Alcohol is contraindicated for people who are trying to relax while driving, but for creative it is even useful (in small doses). "Ballmer Peak" is characterized by the fact that the programmer improves concentration, reduces internal stress and the threshold of self-criticism. According to doctors, this phenomenon is explained quite simply: alcohol alone interferes with the normal functioning of the brain, dulls attention, and reduces the reaction rate.
In this situation, the brain continues to search for resources for activity, ceases to concentrate on trifles that distract from solving the problem. At some point, the programmer begins to see a solution to the problem or question, that is, the picture as a whole, and not in the details (like a sober person). This effect is also called "healthy indifference."
Who is it?
Many do not know who Steve Ballmer is. Microsoft Corporation, in which he worked for fourteen years as CEO, owes a lot to this person. Before becoming a director, he was an ordinary employee who was invited to work by Bill Gates in the 1980s. Today, Ballmer is considered one of the richest people in the world. His fortune is estimated at 15 billion dollars. While working in the corporation, he led the development of Windows and MS-DOS. During the leadership of Ballmer, the corporation increased its revenues several times. Steve Ballmer is known for his difficult, explosive character, high exactingness to the employees of the corporation. The weaknesses of the Ballmer’s leadership include Microsoft’s weak position in the Internet search field, the late (late) entry into the mobile device market, missed opportunities, and the corporation’s stock decline by more than thirty percent.
At the same time, Steve Ballmer is considered one of the most eccentric leaders in the history of Microsoft. It was he who discovered the effect of the alcohol productivity of a programmer and called it the "Ballmer Peak". We can say that Ballmer for the first time in his own body investigated the effect of a certain dose of alcohol, which had a positive effect on performance.
Study
According to a scientific study that tested the validity of the “peak,” scientists concluded that alcohol has different effects on the brain. A human programmer has certain abilities, knowledge and skills that, in a given environment, can give concrete results. The scientific study involved programmers who performed complex tasks at night under the influence of certain doses of alcohol. The study showed that some really did the job without losing concentration. Many programmers took the peak as an opportunity to drink. The negative experience of researching the "Ballmer Peak" is that speculative cocktails are speculated and even released on this topic for programmers of the same name. Scientists have come to the conclusion that the so-called "peak" is nothing but the result of a good advertising campaign.
The ideal programmer
Programming abilities are special qualities that characterize a professional in the field of IT-technologies.
- Technical skills. A good programmer has experience in developing different programming languages.
- Willingness to learn. A valuable shot is always ready for retraining, he likes to engage in self-education and not stop there.
- Debugging The programmer not only creates the code, but also quickly gets to the bottom of the problem (error in the code).
- Ability to work in any environment. The possible noise, chaos and confusion in the office, ideally, do not interfere with the concentration of the programmer who knows his job.
- Ability to quickly solve problems. A good specialist finds different ways to solve the problem and does not stop halfway.
- Passion for work. Real programmers spend their free time at the computer (play games, assemble servers, create applications). Is it good for your health? Not. But in a different way they do not know how.
- Resistance to stress. An ideal programmer can cope with any difficult situation.
- Ability to communicate with people. Despite the fact that communication with a computer is the responsibility of a programmer, it is equally important with people to find a common language.
- Understanding business processes. A good specialist knows how a business works.
- The ability to plan. A programmer is an employee from whom time planning skills are required, which positively affects work and the successful completion of tasks.
- Overcoming failures. The ability to cope with failures in work is a valuable ability of a professional.
- Teamwork. A programmer is a loner who, if necessary, can work productively in a team.
- Readiness for research. Teamwork can sometimes be the beginning of research.
- Deadlines. Ability to hand over work in a short time is a useful quality of a good professional.
How much to drink
In order to experience peak productivity, you need to know what dose of alcohol is required. Of course, we are not talking about a state of complete loss of control over oneself and the situation. The amount of alcohol depends on the build, the weight of the person. For an eighty-kilogram male programmer, the optimal dose is 0.05% (this is a liter of beer or one hundred grams of vodka). In order to reach a “peak”, you need to drink 250 grams of vodka or 2.5 liters of beer. For women, this dose is much less. Remember that alcohol is harmful to your health, therefore it is not recommended to experiment with yourself to achieve a “special” state.
Alcoholic peak
“Ballmer Peak” is a specific condition during which the brain concentrates on a specific problem under the influence of alcohol. At the "peak" you need to create if it is achieved, and not enjoy the state of intoxication. This is the difference between productive activity and the simple desire to drink. In addition, it is important to monitor blood alcohol levels. If you miss the “peak”, you will get the usual intoxication, which does not allow you to work, and even less so to think. It’s easy enough to lose control if the “peak” system is not automated and perfected.
Right time
Why do programmers work at night? One of the most objective versions is associated with the "Ballmer Peak". According to Steve Ballmer, for explanation, you should turn to the Yerkes-Dodson law, which established the relationship between the excitation of the central nervous system and working capacity. In addition, working at night may be a necessity that is not related to the desire of the programmer. In any case, among the IT people, the rule works: "Night is the right time." Given the combination of many factors, you can achieve your goal. To work at night means not to have a sufficient level of self-organization and self-control, but to have great psychological potential and resource. Night is the ideal time for the work of an IT specialist. It’s hard at night to get distracted by little things and easily concentrate on the task. Under the influence of a minimum amount of alcohol, this is even easier.
Negative experience
Needless to say, working at night in a state of mild intoxication and excitation of the central nervous system may not bring the desired results to the programmer. Some experts have expressed negative experience about the "Ballmer Peak", which can lead to loss of concentration in the initial stages and even to alcoholism. The negative experience is that in the pursuit of productivity and unlocking potential it is easy to cross the border. Work will be associated with the opportunity to drink alone, which inevitably leads to the degradation of professional and personal.
Harm
Ballmer's peak is a phenomenon that can be more harmful than giving a positive effect. As you know, alcohol is one of the ways to "let off excess steam," but it can also negatively affect the psychoemotional and physical health of a person. If you regularly use alcohol to reach the "peak of Ballmer", you can develop a negative bad habit, and the work will be perceived as an opportunity to once again drink alone. In addition, alcohol (if used uncontrollably) negatively affects one's well-being, reactions and performance. Over time, the programmer will not be able to perform even elementary tasks.
Benefit
Well-known programmers argue that success in professional activity can be achieved only through their own knowledge, the ability to independently regulate their own behavior. Limited potential is a factor in the positive effect of the "Ballmer Peak". The use of small doses of alcohol necessary to solve complex problems is not justified, as it is one way to achieve results in the shortest possible time.
Successful Persons
Many well-known programmers know what work at night is. Whether there are among them those who use alcohol to improve productivity and solve complex problems is not known for certain. Popular programming personalities include Konrad Zuse, John Kemeny, Dijkstra Edsger Vaib, Ershov Andrei Petrovich, Douglas Karl Engelbart, Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Kaspersky Evgeni Valentinovich, Evgeni Roshal, Sergey Brin, Andrew Tanenbaum, Linus Torvalds, Steve Jobs. For example, Bill Gates designed and founded the world's leading software company Microsoft. In addition, he created the operating system MS DOS, electronic program Excel and Word.