Florian Henninger – SCN Member of the Month July 2014
Florian Henninger is an ABAP Developer based in Bavaria, Germany, and the SCN Member of the Month for July. He is active in numerous SCN spaces, posting informative blogs and answering questions. It was my pleasure to learn more about how he finds time to make such valuable contributions to the SCN, the type of work he does, and his advice to new SCN members. Some highlights from our conversation:
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Can you tell us a bit about yourself, where you live, who you work for, and other things you would like to share with the community (hobbies, fun facts)?
I live near Würzburg where I work for the FIS Informationssysteme und Consulting GmbH. We are a SAP one-stop provider. Our focus is in the German, Austrian and Swiss technical wholesale sector, but we also have some industry-independent solutions. But I don’t want to advertise my company here, so if you are interested in more details visit our website.
I’m a member of the technical innovation team. My job is divided in 3 parts. I’m part of the SAP-team where I spend most of my time implementing new systems. Additional I’m discovering new technologies and such that are new to the market, for example at the moment all things UI5 or HANA are big. Last but not least I’m responsible for quality management. This means I help my head of department to prepare presentations and more and provide new employees in our department with the information they need.
I already told you in my BIF entry how I became a developer. If you read through some of my status updates you will see that I’m a fisher. I love to be outside without a cell phone ringing. I know, very hard for most of us but in my opinion it is important to unplug every now and then. The people around you will get used to it over time.
Other hobbies are my motorcycle and the motor home. A fun fact about me is that I kept my first computer, an Amiga 500, and use it from time to time. My favorite game is Infogrames North and South.
You are just back from a vacation in Italy. Can you share some highlights about your travels? How did you like it without Internet access?
Oh yes, there are a lot. We traveled with the motor home to Rome, Pompeii, Nepal and a short visit to the Amalfi-coast. I just focus on Rome here because it would be too much to tell everything. Rome is awesome. There is a lot to see and it is very impressive what people could build that long ago. We were looking for the Spanish Steps and (according to my wife ๐ we got lost somewhere in between, but at least we found two impressive buildings and we have no idea what they are because we couldn’t find them in our travel guide. The lesson I took away from it: sometimes getting lost can bring you somewhere worthwhile. We also visited the museum of modern art and I wondered why I became a developer if you can earn money by placing a toilet seat upside down on the floor and calling it “art”…
Like I mentioned before I like to unplug every now and then so it wasn’t hard to be without Internet access and spend the time sightseeing with my wife.
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When did you become a member of SCN and what brought you to this community?
I became a member in 2009 when I started with ABAP. First I was just searching for solutions or trying to find improvements to my ideas. Additional to that I read a lot to learn new things and to see what was happening in the community. At one point I thought I should give something back and that was when I started my first blog.
Now I’m pretty happy about contributing my knowledge. There are always interesting discussions. Also, I was able to organize a Codejam which was an awesome experience!
Can you tell us in which areas of SCN you are active in?
ABAP in Eclipse, Output_Management, SAP_Interactive Forms by Adobe, SAP Lumira and of course ABAP Development.
These are my main areas but I also make time to read about other spaces and see what’s going on there. For example SD or MM spaces are also very interesting.
How do you find the time to contribute on SCN?
I try to spend less time watching bad (in the eyes of my wife) television shows. It is a win-win situation. I earn free time and can use it to learn something new. I try to learn something new every day.
Note from Caroleigh: I’d like to thank Florian’s wife for encouraging Florian!
Is there a particular contribution that you’re most proud of?
Yes, there is. I think it is Be a Better Developer. And not just because it was a featured content.
I read in your Blog it Forward post that your army-mate Major Grießbaum helped you understand how to get your dreams to come true. Can you share more about that?
He was my commander during my time in the Bundeswehr and always had a lot of things to do, but for some mysterious reason he always had enough time to learn new things and make time for every single soldier. Once while we were in the field during a maneuver I asked him how he managed all his duties without forgetting anything. Afterwards he visited me once a week in my office and taught me how to organize my day and how to use time management to free up time for evening classes. He also taught me how to learn content using a whiteboard. All this helped me to shape my future and end up where I am today.
Is there an SCN member you admire (OK… you can name a few)? And for what reason?
Susan Keohan for inviting me to the BIF-Chain and the DWB mission
Tammy Powlas, for spending so much time sharing her knowledge
Thomas Fiedler I just say ABAP in Eclipse…
Matthew Billingham he put a book under my pillow…*haha*
Bruno Esperança his Github made my day a few weeks ago
And lots of others, but you said I can only name a few… so I just named a few
Easy question: Mac/iOS or Windows? Or Android?
Windows, I need to use it at work and I also own a windows phone. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t prefer Mac, I also have a macbook, but I only use it from time to time. And I am pretty jealous of my wife who gets to use iMacs at work all the time.
Are you on Twitter?
Yes, I am, but I’m not overly active. I just do not know what to tweet about. I like to use Twitter for information purposes and use it to direct me to new topics
@flohen_for_sap
Florian and I enjoyed an extended conversation following the recorded interview. We talked a lot about the benefits of un-plugging from time to time, for adults and children. We are both looking forward to watching the World Cup Championship on Sunday – Florian is predicting a victory for Germany. Congratulations Florian, and thanks from the SCN Community for your valued contributions!
Every month, a member of the SAP Community Network is recognized for exemplary behavior: sharing knowledge with peers, being helpful and taking on additional tasks to support community engagement. See the list of previous SCN Members of the Month.
Congratulations Florian,
You really deserve to be listed, very well done.
Regards,
Naveen
Finally we have #MoM for this month. Enjoyed watching interview video. really interesting.
Caroleigh Deneen must say you have done an incredible job and good choice for selecting Florian. We all welcome him to #MoM club.
Regards,
JK
Congrats Florian for being SCN Member of the Month! Good to know about you ๐
Keep going..
Best Regards,
Kiran
Hi Florian Henninger, Caroleigh Deneen,
I was very surprised and honored to be mentioned as one of the members Florian admires the most. I appreciate it very much, thank you.
I was also pleasantly surprised to know that Florian and I are neighbors ๐ Unfortunately the weather is awful right now, but maybe sometime we could plan for something together? Speaking of which, I might watch this Sunday's match somewhere in Würzburg ๐
Best regards and thanks again,
Bruno
Hi Bruno,
we will find a date to have a meetup.. Sunday sounds not that bad ๐
~Florian
Congrats, Florian!
We have not a lot in common technical-wise, as your main areas are different to mine, but since we bump into eachother in other spaces and via status updates from time to time, I came to know you a bit and am pretty happy for you to be chosen as MotM July! ๐
Rooome. Rome is awesome. I was there myself twice now and still need to go back to see the stuff I have missed yet. And I'm really jealous about Pompeji, because I only got to spent an hour there myself. ๐ฅ Another place to visit (again) on my big, big list!
Yep, absolutly! Never underestimate the power of coincidence. *g*
Thank you Steffi,
yes your right, we do not got technical areas together, but we both like dr. horrible ๐
~Florian
Greetings from former July MoM!! ๐
Pass the MoM baton in montly Basis is usual. Hard to see a passing a baton in year basis! ๐
I appreciate your mentioned blog post Be a Better Developer.
You make me remind a funny situation in my current position. last week an ABAPer have done your point: introduce yourself to the consultants.
And he was dressed like you in Rome!!! ๐ I told him that he was perfect dressed. I can't trust in a ABAPer wearing like functional Consultants!! ๐
Congratulations!
Wow, thank you ver much. I really appriciate to be a club-member right now.
A developer needs to be in a way casual, you know the mind has to be in a comfort zone ๐ but I'm not sure if I will be dressed that casual next week when back at work.
~Florian
Many congrats Florian. Good to know more about you.
Hope Germany will win the worldcup finals, they are favorites to many after 7-1 drubbing of Brazil ๐ .
Caroleigh , right selection. Great writing, thanks for the blog.
Midhun VP
Well done Caroleigh Deneen for choosing Florian Henninger as a MoM. I loved his blog Be a Better Developer and have enjoyed reading about Florian.
I wish Florian could spend time with me to share some of his time management techniques... hmmm, I bet *that* would be an interesting blog ๐
And Florian, thank you for the kind words about the Doctors Without Borders challenge.
Cheers,
Sue
Hi Susan,
the DWB-Challange is so important. Thank you for bringing this to our mind and I hope we/you will reach the goal stretch it.
To name it here is such a small part and hopefully some will spend because he/she get directed.
~Florian
Congrats Florian...well deserved.. Please keep doing all the good work.
Congrats! Florian..
Congratulations!!!! Florian......
Florian - I am super happy that you are SCN member of the month - so well deserved given your past SCN contributions.
I am intrigued by your trip to Rome in a van. Sounds like fun - and you even made fishing sound like fun, something I have never done.
Congratulations!
Hi Tammy,
you should give both a try.. Vacation with a motorhome and also fishin'. IT is really a lot of fun. One important thing is to bear in mind - leave your cellphone at home ๐
~Florian
Congratulations Florian !!!
Congrats Florian Henninger !!!
Hi Florian,
Congratulation ! World Champion and member of the month. Awesome.
Big Thanks for supporting AIE.
Regards,
Thomas.
Hi Florian, nearly everytime I'm looking accross the SCN spaces I find your contributions. They are marked out to with a high quality level and a very high degree of helpfulness. Thus I am very happy to see your membership of the month - you really deserved it ๐ Thank you for inspiring me and all the others. Best regards Martin
Congrats Florian Henninger !
Congratulations Florian; Good recognition for your ABAP knowledge share ๐ . Keep it up and help many people in scn way.
Congratulation Florian ๐
Congratulations Florian !!
Congratulations Florian! Thank you for sharing your story and for being a great member of SCN. Sharing knowledge is a great way to pay it forward.
Also, good job to Caroleigh! One of your first assignments and you hit the ground running. So glad to have you on the team.
Best,
Jeanne
Congrats Florian, for being this month's MoM! Well deserved, and what a great time for you as Germany just won the World Cup!
Great job with your first post in this series Caroleigh! ๐
Laure
Hi Laure,
I was so excited. But Caroleigh done a great job...
~Florian
Congratulations Florian,
HI Florian Henninger,
Good to know more about you.
Caroleigh , right selection. Great writing, thanks for the blog.
Mohana
Congratulation Florian...
Congratulation Florian
Regards,
Suvonkar
Congrats Florian Henninger!
you are deserved it.
Regards,
Siva kumar
Congratulation Florian! Keep going.
Regards,
Quan.
Congrats Florian for being SCN member of the month,
Nice to know about you.
BR/Himayat
Dear Florian:
Congratulations, well deserved. ๐
We will continue following your great contribution in SCN.
Regards
Jose Antonio Martinez
Florian Henninger
Congratulations. You are the lucky guy for this month.
Thank$
Florian Henninger - Many Congratulations!!!
๐
Congratulations
yes
Dear Mr.Waqas,
What you mean by yes?
I mean I agree with u ๐ .............U can understand since this is common in Pakistan ๐
In any case, thank you very much ๐
Congratulations... ๐
Congrats Florian Henninger
Hi Florian,
First of all, congratulations on becoming Member of the Month. Not a simple achievement!
I was intrigued to see that you are a fellow motorcyclist. May I ask what you currently ride?
--Audrey
Hi Audrey,
thank you very much.
Currently I'm riding a Yamaha FZS600 Fazer build 2002. It isn't that young and I'm thinking to switch to a younger modell, not because it isn't beautiful, moreover to have an ABS available. So if I switch it will be a decision between an Yamaha FZ1 or a touring enduro (not sure what model).
~Florian
Thanks for sharing that. I'm (still) in love with my old-ish (in motorcycle years!) BMW R1150RT; it's a 2004 model, and I still love touring on it when I get the chance. I have several friends who are FZ1 enthusiasts. ๐
Hi Caroleigh,
I need to add this one of the referee (which is printed on the back of the shirt) to complete the picture ๐
~Florian
PS: Took some time to get my shirt back from laundry and to remember the missing part ๐
Hi Florian,
Congrats for MOM.
Hi Florian Henninger ,
Congratulations. You are the deserving person for this month.
@Caroleigh Deneen Thanks for giving brief intro about Florian Henninger
Regards,
J.Sakthikumar
Congratulations Florian !!