Develpreneur: Become A Better Developer And Entrepreneur

We continue our discussion with Andrew Murdoch and delve into how you will grow best when you know your audience. He mentions the well-known avatar approach. However, he mentions the level of detail we need to have. This is not a synopsis of a few sentences. Instead, it is a multi-page character and lifestyle assessment. Once we know our avatar enough to write a short biography (or e-book), we are ready to work with him. The growth will be worth the effort. Our Target Grows Once We Know Our Audience Our focus on our best or ideal customer forms the bull's eye of our target. However, that is not our sole focus. Like a game of darts, we are happy to hit near the bull's eye regularly. That is where the YouTube algorithms kick in and form a type of magnet that draws in the audience we truly need. Think of it as a funnel that draws our customers to that center spot. There is no coincidence that sales often refer to a funnel. About Andrew Andrew founded YT Era, a full-service YouTube marketing solutio

We fill much of our free time with projects and side hustles that can be tasks for career growth. However, they require us to be intentional. We should have a career roadmap to guide us through the skills and experiences we see as important to us. The fun tasks will often be on our list of things to do. Nevertheless, there are tasks we need to see as stepping stones to success that should be in the back of our minds when choosing that next project. The Best Tasks For Career Growth In the world of marketing and excitement, people often throw around the "10X your blah" phrase. While advancement may not be that fast, there are activities we can pursue that contribute more to our career growth than others. The tasks gain us experience and credibility, knowledge, and do so in more than one area. The world of software development is full of these. It is rare for us to have a situation where we are learning a new technology and not also solving a problem. While the problem may be similar to one we have so

It is Thanksgiving in the States and a good time to talk about the benefit of being thankful over worry. This may seem like just another positivity pile of crap. However, it is not. There is a lot to be gained by taking this approach, and it has more to do with overall health than confirmation bias. Real Benefits of Choosing Thankful Over Worry We can all point to how anything we think becomes what we are more attuned to. A simple test of thinking of a blue car and then suddenly feeling like they are everywhere can confirm it. Of course, there is also research on attention that caused people to miss a dancing gorilla. It is sort of like the difference between a frown and a smile. More than either of those is the momentum we have, whether from a negative or a positive situation. Whichever result we last experienced, we will be more likely to expect that the next time. If you doubt that, it is worth spending a little of your Holiday time searching some of the research around our attitudes. A Day Wil

It is time once again for our Thanksgiving special. Yes, it is that time of year when we pause and reflect a bit on how to prepare for your retrospective. This year, we will start the week with an admonition to assess the year gone by. We are dwindling down to the end of 2023 and now is the best time to review what we accomplished during that span of time. Thankful For A Retrospective? You may ask why we would use the week of Thanksgiving to talk about how to prepare for your retrospective of the year. It comes down to one thing, Holidays and travelling are perfect for such times. We have some time where we can allow our mind to drift a bit while going over the year gone by. That is an excellent way to address the hard facts of what was accomplished while dreaming (as it were) about what we can do better in the year ahead. This is an activity that requires a little freedom of thought rather than a hard list of bullet points to asddress. Look Back To Look Forward Retrospectives have a lot of be

We start a new discussion in this episode and look at how Andrew Murdoch teaches us to leverage YouTube for marketing and brand growth. This is a channel for content that can not be ignored. It is too big and too valuable for our pursuit of customers. It is built to draw in like-minded viewers. Therefore, a consistent message and useful content from us can skyrocket our growth. Lessons Learned About Using YouTube For Marketing And Brand Growth Andrew has personal experience as a user of YouTube that led to his focus. He walks us through how the algorithms work in the favor of those who create entertaining content. Likewise, he experienced how the platform guides viewers to similar material and products. It is a marketeer's dream. Once we build a brand and draw a few people to it, we can grow it exponentially. This does not require ads. However, it does require high-quality content that keeps people coming back for more. About Andrew Andrew founded YT Era, a full-service YouTube marketing solutio

In this special topic episode, we examine how consistency and momentum are foundational attributes for success. Neither of these items is listed at the top of the keys to success. However, we see them pop up time and again in examples and processes to march towards success. Therefore, it is worth exploring how we can get them in place for our project, brand, or company. A One-Two Punch Of Consistency And Momentum Expectations are an essential part of any relationship. We have discussed in the past how that can build trust and lead to a lifelong customer. Consistency and momentum work together to get us there. Those early steps in a consistent manner have a momentum that helps us build habits and other critical processes. The things that seem big and insurmountable early on become second nature as momentum builds, and they become a part of the daily routine. One Step At A Time It all comes down to one step at a time. We can not magically jump to the end and have a big success with the stability t

We continue our discussion with Ali Abassi and dig into the value of better AI prompts and how they helped him turn a toy into a tool. Chat GPT is something many have experimented with. Ali did the same and used it to help him generate copy for his marketing blurbs. However, it was not much help. He still spent roughly the same amount of time putting his content together. Better AI Prompts Improve Your Results That is where he started to work on building better AI prompts and asking for refined results. His process helped him turn Chat GPT into a useful tool rather than an avenue for entertainment. He has used that knowledge and experience to map up numerous solutions for business. Whether you are a pastor needing a sermon or a developer that needs a code snippet, he has a series of steps to help you get the most out of your AI experience. These uses and so many more are available on his site for free and more than worth your time to see how AI can work for you. About Ali He is the founder of AI

We look at how commitment and consistency are critical factors in the eventual success of your product, service or brand. It is not uncommon for someone to start on a new endeavor only to bail out before they see any of it pay off. That is the same whether you are embarking on a new diet or a new business. There have been discussions on past episodes that highlight the kind of time and planning that must go into your side hustle and business launch to give them a chance of success. Avoid Being A One Hit Wonder Through Commitment And Consistency We can all think of a one hit wonder we have come across. However, our memory is often vague and fuzzy. We may not remember the artist, author, or other details. There is some catchy part of the experience that makes it a one hit wonder or fad and then it faded. That may be suitable for some people but a business needs to be more sustainable. We are not looking for one successful month or quarter and then let it die. That is the same for a product or a servic

This interview has a focus on using AI for work. We chat with the founder of the site, aiforwork.co, Ali Abassi, and cover the latest hot topic. The story begins with how he got the idea for the site. It is a classic story of someone who had an itch they scratched. They then turn that solution into something others can benefit from. The Genesis Of AI For Work The beginnings of his site can be found in the common use of AI for content generation. He used it to help build copy for his marketing job. However, the time savings did not come right away. Ali had to craft his prompts better. That is where the value started to show. However, he did not stop there. He saw how smart prompt usage could provide a benefit to anyone who wants to leverage the Chat GPT service. About Ali He is the founder of AI for Work. That is a platform that helps knowledge workers use Chat GPT to work smarter, faster, and perform better at their jobs. He created AI for Work to share his passion and vision for the future of w

This episode of the podcast turns to how we approach our customers and whether we are providing an answer or solution. There are important differences between these two. In the first case, we are just providing a starting point. There can be many answers and even correct answers may not be feasible. That means they are not useful to your customer. Are You Providing An Answer Or A Solution A solution is more than an answer. It is an answer that the customer can use to solve their problem. That should always be our focus. Not only should we aim for a solution, we should seek the best solution for their situation. An answer is not enough. Thus, we need to dig into the problem and the questions they ask. When we accept their definition and descriptions at face value we do them a disservice. Instead, we should ensure we have a clear view of the problem, the context, the constraints, and any other details that can help us offer a true solution. That includes when we determine the best solution is somethin

We dig deep into customer satisfaction as we continue a discussion with Drake Nightenhelser and look at why we should master fulfillment. When you think about it, that is the step that is most critical.  That is where we deliver on our promise, whether it is a product or a service. The customer will be most attuned to how they feel at that moment or at that time. Master Fulfillment And Find Success It is surprising how often a business or vendor ignores this critical moment. How would you react to a wedding where the moment they say I do, they mess it up? Likewise, what tone is set if the first kiss is botched? The fulfillment moment is what the customer has been waiting for. It is when we can most emphasize the positives of delivery or negate the happiness. Look no further than Apple for this mastery in their approach to the unboxing experience. About Drake Drake is a Client Quality Consultant who helps business owners land better clients and level up their business to be more attractive to high-quality peo

Of the many tools we have discussed, one that can not be overlooked is how to use coaching to advance your career. This option is one where we must sometimes embrace how little we know. Likewise, use a coach as a way to find guidance and someone to walk with us through our career journey. They provide a second viewpoint and one that is experienced and critical in the best way. Invest In Coaching To Advance Your Career We can not learn if we do not put ourselves in a learning environment and mindset. Thus, you will not stumble into coaching to advance your career. Instead, you need to be intentional in your decision to work with a coach. You may have a mentor guide you, but a coach is much more focused and direct. They will be there to push you and point you to how you can grow. It is a much more active relationship than most mentors. However, there are some cases where it is impossible to distinguish between the two. Useful Interviews We have had more than a few guests talk about their stories as coaches or h

We start a conversation with Drake Nightenhelser to offer timeless advice about avatars and best buyers and their role in an ideal business. Every business has a niche of ideal customers and does best when those are the ones it serves. However, we can get side-tracked by a desire to increase revenue without fully considering the consequences. Avatars And Best Buyers There are several names for the process of defining who our target market is. That often is limited to avatars and best buyers or a similar name. However, we must look further out than these ideal customers to land them. Our net will be rather broad, and then we must learn how to say no to the prospects that will not be a good fit. The best companies look for ways to refine their message to attract the best customers and turn away the "window shoppers." When we achieve that goal, we can best use our resources. The customers we retain get better service from us. Likewise, those turned away can find a better fit for their needs. About Drake Drake is

Every story of success often appears to have a point where overcoming adversity was a key to that eventual success. In this episode, we review lessons learned through past interviews and how we can all become that story of success despite the obstacles. Perspective is critical when we try to compare the challenges faced by ourselves to those seen by others. Overcoming Adversity Is Something We All Do We can be a glass half-full or glass half-empty person. That attitude can be the difference between overcoming adversity and curling up in a ball, waiting for the world to end. Okay, that may seem a bit extreme. However, the right attitude and the desire to succeed even through difficulties is a common thread through the stories we have heard. Yes, they had some significant setbacks. Yet, they still found a way to put one foot in front of the other on the way to a story of success. Opportunity Instead Of Obstacle There is an old trick to wording adversity that has almost become cliche. We can view obstacles and c

We continue our discussion with fractional CTO Brian Childress and dig into his career journey for tips on ramping up your skills. He did not start out with that goal. However, his journey included several key positions and roles (as well as decisions) that helped him advance. We look at how sometimes that step into the uncomfortable is the one you need to advance to the next level. Quick Paths For Ramping Up Your Skills If there is one, the shortcut for advancement is to push yourself continually. That includes taking some risks and getting out of your comfort zone. Yes, those sound like just a bunch of buzzwords. However, they broadly describe his journey. There will be jobs and roles that are new and a bit scary. They are not beyond your ability. On the contrary, these are the opportunities to grow skills and experience. About Brian Brian is a husband, father, technologist, and avid adventurer. As a technical advisor with a strong background in software engineering, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, he i

This episode is a look back at some of the best advice for being successful, and we focus on taking your first step. The best plans are still just plans until you execute them. Therefore, every project and goal must move from the planning to the implementation phase. Yes, thinking about your steps can be a step in itself. However, one must ensure that an action is progressing towards the goal, not simply marching in place. Determine Your First Step When you are unsure of how to proceed and struggle with writer's block, work on an outline. Examine the problem and the solution or the starting point and the goal. The next step is to break down the "from A to B" into milestones or progress that will need to be made. This may include organizing thoughts, designing a solution, building a foundation, bringing in helpers, or other tasks you know need to be done. These low-hanging fruit tasks can give you things to do when you are struggling for specifics to make progress. The Title Page There is a joke about writers

We start a new interview and sit down with Brian Childress to answer the question, what is a fractional CTO? Well, we cover far more than that. However, we start at the beginning and look at what he does as a fractional CTO, why it matters, and the benefit of bringing one aboard Sounds Great! What Is A Fractional CTO? In short, a fractional CTO (or any fractional position) is not much different from being part-time. The benefits of bringing on a C-suite role part-time are covered in our discussion. However, cost, political capital, and practicality can all factor in. There are many things a fractional can do that are difficult and costly for one in the position full-time. You can even leverage a fractional to vet and hire for the permanent job. About Brian Brian is a husband, father, technologist, and avid adventurer. As a technical advisor with a strong background in software engineering, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, he is experienced in helping CTOs and CEOs make the right technical decisions for the

We start a new season and format with a look back at the interviews where we discussed your "why" and its importance. That has been a theme in several podcasts and blog articles over the years. However, it is one that we need to keep in mind at the beginning, middle, and end of our pursuits. We need to answer this question about our products, careers, brands, and relationships. Your Why Is Essential To Almost Every Decision It can seem so simple. However, we often skip ahead or forget this crucial step. A journey is not the travel from point A to point B. It also involves why you want to go to that destination in the first place. When the route becomes difficult or a detour is required, we must keep our goal (the  "why") in mind. Otherwise, we can end up drastically off course or even fail to reach our destination. The question is not just a general thing we need to answer. We need to examine it and understand it at a deep level. That intimate knowledge will serve us when we must alter course or tackle an unf

The second part of our discussion with Phil Alves takes us into designing an environment where we embrace feedback and use it for growth. Communication is often key to successful teamwork, and feedback is the most important thing we can communicate. That is how we learn that our approach is wrong or can be improved. We can sit back and watch others. However, the active participation of feedback takes out the guesswork. Improvement Follows When We Embrace Feedback Our discussion takes us through improving as a developer and as a team. We can improve in both areas when we embrace feedback and build a culture that desires that level of communication. A close look at high-performing cultures and organizations almost always shows that the members are comfortable with communicating and receiving feedback. It is almost like learning on the job. Our co-workers instruct us, and we provide the same for them. This interaction not only helps us learn faster but it also builds trust within the team. The members become mor

We start a conversation in this episode with Phil Alves and cover a lot of ground, including why code reviews make better developers. Phil has a unique development approach as a self-made developer who grew a software development company. His experience and personal growth, as well as translating that to a company, provide us with many improvement gems. This is one of those episodes where it is helpful to take notes. Code Reviews Make Better Developers We can always start with a statement like code reviews make better developers and find ways to defend it. However, this discussion digs into why these actions improve us as developers and as a team. Phil breaks down some of the key benefits of working in a team and how that can help our career whether we stay with the organization. About Phil Phil is a product and engineering leader. He has led the build of 100+ software products, working closely with hundreds of SaaS Founders. The list includes SaaS products for his use, bootstrapping founders, VC-funded fast-