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The closing keynote, titled "Ease at Work," presented by Kent Beck at RailsConf 2015, delves into the themes of comfort and satisfaction in one's professional life. Beck begins with a humorous introduction, discussing his private journey from technical topics to exploring personal discomfort at work, encouraged by a challenge from his wife. He emphasizes that true comfort at work stems from self-approval and mastery of one's tasks, which he encapsulates in the phrase "ease at work."

### Key Points:
- **Understanding "Ease":** Beck clarifies that he does not mean ease in terms of lack of effort or risk, but rather a state where one feels aligned with their responsibilities and free from anxiety about their contributions.
- **Comfort from Confidence:** He explores the tension between work and self-doubt, sharing personal experiences of feeling anxious about the significance of his work. He stresses the importance of confirming the relevance of one’s contributions through questioning and experimenting.
- **Cultivating Ease Through Habits:** Beck identifies several practices that contribute to achieving a sense of ease:
  - Engaging in testing methodologies to ensure confidence in the quality of work before it is shared.
  - Pursuing pride in one’s work and avoiding a culture of mediocrity, which he encountered in his early career.
  - Encouraging curiosity and fostering new ideas, illustrating this with an example of exploring a technical connection in his field.
  - Making public commitments towards shared goals to enhance focus and accountability.
  - Interpreting feedback constructively while managing emotions associated with criticism and praise.
  - Embracing the role of a beginner in new areas, highlighting the growth that comes from stepping outside one’s comfort zone.
  - Practicing meditation to maintain emotional steadiness and well-being.
  - Engaging in acts of service, enhancing personal fulfillment through altruism.
- **Anecdotal Illustrations:** Beck shares a compelling metaphor about a farmer and a young helper, illustrating the tranquility that comes from assurance in one's responsibilities—"I can sleep when the wind blows"—closing the talk with the idea that achieving ease is a journey worth undertaking.

### Conclusion and Takeaways:
Beck emphasizes the transformative power of creating habits that nurture comfort and confidence at work. He proposes that by focusing on one’s own contribution, fostering creativity, and engaging with work purposefully, individuals can achieve a state of ease that enhances both productivity and personal satisfaction. He invites the audience to explore these strategies collectively to discover what works best for them in cultivating ease in their professional lives.

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