Develpreneur: Become A Better Developer And Entrepreneur

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-

We continue our discussion with Anne Laffin and cover big-picture topics like online communities and marketing. The suggestions and impact often blur into building a brand. However, that is an essential step in getting your message to the correct people. She shares her experience with us so we can reach our ideal customers and those who most need our product or service. The Value Of Online Communities And Marketing Consistency and message are critical pieces of the brand establishment puzzle. These factors of our approach can go a long way in establishing us in the way we desire. In a similar fashion, the establishment of online communities and marketing go hand-in-hand. We can build a form of captive audience but one that has self-selected their way in. About Anne She is a marketing problem solver, strategist, and content creator who helps entrepreneurs and founders grow and amplify the inspiring work they bring to the world. Her 'in the trenches' mentality comes from a 20-year marketing career working with

This episode is an interview that is also an introduction to market research. Anne Laffin takes us through several recommendations and common misconceptions. We start our discussion with some background and then quickly get into the meat of the conversation. She has an extensive experience with start-ups that is a perfect match for your next venture. An Introduction To Market Research For Non-Marketeers Our discussion is not only an introduction to market research but one that anyone can follow. She breaks down standard marketing approaches into steps that are easily understood. Thus, you can take her advice and map it to your current strategy to examine your next steps. That can help you find the best approach to getting your product or service in front of the customers best suited for the offering. About Anne She is a marketing problem solver, strategist, and content creator who helps entrepreneurs and founders grow and amplify the inspiring work they bring to the world. Her 'in the trenches' mentality come

In this episode, the conversation with Evgenihy Kharam continues into more detail, and he offers several security tips. You can often take these actions today, personally, or in your organization. They are easy-to-understand recommendations that will probably sound familiar. That is the frustrating part of cybersecurity. The most effective ways to approach security are well-known and quick to enact. Security Tips That Are Easy To Enact We have a larger footprint than we generally think in the modern world of technology. Even people with little to do with technical solutions can have dozens of passwords and secure websites they interact with. That can add up to a time-consuming amount of work for these security tips. However, we can start with a step in the right direction today and soon will find ourselves following all of the best practices and feeling far more secure online. About Evgeniy Evgeniy is a cybersecurity professional who has had the opportunity to spend more than 40,000 hours providing pre and po

We start a new conversation with Evgenihy Kharam and look at how to secure your organization. He has spent decades refining his approach to security and counseled countless others in that area. We start with his journey to his current position and then discuss how he has seen security awareness and the related areas change over the years. Use Common Sense To Secure Your Organization There are many ways for hackers to go after your organization. However, it does not require technical genius to secure your organization. Most steps you can take that will have a substantial impact are well-known and common-sensical. For example, we all know we should avoid simple and repetitive passwords. Yes, it may take some effort to track random passwords for all of your accounts. However, there are easily accessible tools to make that a non-issue. About Evgeniy Evgeniy is a cybersecurity professional who has had the opportunity to spend more than 40,000 hours providing pre and post-sales support as an architect and principal

We continue our discussion with Shaunna Lee and self-care by diving into her morning routine and how it helps her start the day right. Her morning tasks are not surprising when you look at high-performing individuals. However, we explore them and how to embrace them as our own. In particular, we talk about journaling and how to start that daily writing habit. These activities have many benefits, and we touch on them as well. Start The Day With A Strong Morning Routine Each day, we get to start the day. That means we can work on our morning routine daily and adjust as needed. Everyone is different in their rhythms and how they are most productive. Therefore, it is helpful to start with a plan and then assess how it impacts your day so you can change as it suits you. For example, you might not be an early riser or find writing too stressful. You might also find some tasks are better off at the end of the day. A common variable is when a person puts together a daily task list. Some like to do it first thing in t

Our interview with Shuanna Lee explores her story and touches on self-care for high performers. However, the self-care tips and suggestions work for anyone. You need not be a high performer to benefit from this discussion. On the other hand, Shaunna's story is an excellent example of how even someone "too busy" can (and should) take time for self-care. Self-Care For High Performers Is Critical It is no secret that higher-performing people and machines must focus on the details. A slight change in the right place can make a big difference. For example, a high-performance race car can win or lose a race based on the quality of the tires. Likewise, self-care for high performers is even more critical than for those who are "average" in their pursuits. The human body can only take so much, and when you push its limits, you must treat it right. The consequences can reduce performance and stop you dead in your tracks. About Shaunna She is here to leave the world prettier than she found it - one heart at a time. Thus

We continue our interview with Tanika De Souza of High Octane Teams and discuss how she has created a high-performing culture. Meanwhile, she provides many excellent ideas that have served her well in building out an organization comprised primarily of remote and off-shore workers. Some say culture is impossible in such a situation. However, she proves them wrong and gives us examples we can follow. Building A High-Performing Culture The core piece of Tanika's approach is respect for those who work for her. She treats them well, provides them with useful training, and they develop into excellent employees. Her approach brings the best back to her, and her reputation precedes her. However, the best part about how she built a high-performing culture is that there is nothing complicated. You can take some of these steps today and build your team or organization into one that people want to work for and with. About Tanika Tanika is the CEO of High Octane Teams (HOT) - She started her first business in 2009 and gr

Our focus shifts to using offshore teams and resources as we start a new interview with Tanika De Souza of High Octane Teams. The first part of our discussion goes into how one can embrace offshoring. Then, we follow her journey into creating a company that specializes in that. We talk about some of the concerns, and she answers questions often asked about whether offshoring is good for you. Using Offshore Teams and Resources - A Crash Course Tanika takes us quickly through the pros and cons of using offshore teams and resources. Anyone considering (or that has considered) using these types of resources must go into it with a plan and understanding of your part in the partnership. She outlines a lot of great positives in these relationships while offering caution to ensure you get the most out of it. On the other hand, you can always reach out to her for expertise and guidance in building your remote team. About Tanika Tanika is the CEO of High Octane Teams (HOT) - She started her first business in 2009 and g

We wrap up our discussion with Jay Aigner with a deep dive into how you can build the life you want. Yes, it is within reach. His schedule is packed with what he wants to pursue and a full-time job. However, the secret to all of this is managing time so the full-time job does not eat up every minute of every day. Thus, there is intention required as well as an understanding of your likes and dislikes. Build The Life You Want Starting Today There are activities in everyone's life that can be curtailed, outsourced, or even skipped. That is where the true changes begin. For example, Jay talks about the life-changing choice of hiring a COO and realizing he could connect customers to technicians rather than do the job himself. Subsequently, those steps freed him up and pushed him to focus on areas where he brings the most value. However, this is not some magic only a few can master. Jay shows us we can follow his lead and do the same. About Jay Jay is the CEO of JDAQA, a software testing agency with around $2M ARR

We start a new interview with Jay Aigner about launching a project-based business. He started with a need to earn some extra money and grew into a multi-million dollar organization. A form of modern-day rags-to-riches story. Except, it is real life and not some children's story. A Project-Based Business From Scratch The promise of using a site like Guru.com or Upwork.com to build a business instead of just a side hustle may not seem achievable. However, Jay walks through his early days and how he grew from one project at a time into a steady income and finally a business with employees. If you pay attention, there are also several time-management tricks and suggestions he touches on. About Jay Jay is the CEO of JDAQA, a software testing agency with around $2M ARR. He is a father of 5, a student pilot, and an amateur astrophotographer. His 5 for 5 (5 am wake up, workout, stretch, meditate, and journal) has been something friends, family members, and fans of his podcast have keyed on as something they really ap

We wrap up the interview with Beate Chelette by discussing how to grow a business and her five-star success blueprint. The discussion explains why you should have a system and how it can make you more likely to win clients. There is more than having a system. You also want it to be seen as valuable. Your System And The 5-Star Success Blueprint We can create very complex systems and solutions. Those can even land us in the territory of "geekspeak." That is where we provide too many technical or specialized jargon words that the customer does not really understand. The success blueprint we have can be complex. However, we can simplify it and call it "our system." Therefore, you can think of it as not needing to tell people how the sausage is made. About Beate Beate Chelette is the Growth Architect and Founder of The Women’s Code. She provides visionaries and leaders with proven strategies, blueprints, and growth maps that provide clear steps to improve business systems and strengthen leadership skills and teams

We start a new conversation with the growth architect, Beate Chelette. We dive right into reasons to launch a business, and she shoots down traditional fears for taking that step. This is not an episode for those that want to rest on their fears. We quickly show how your biggest fear should be staying where you are instead of pursuing that dream. Wisdom From The Growth Architect Beate offers us several reasons why we should launch a business and the values it brings us. This is more of a setup for why she can step in as a growth architect and ensure those key goals are met. We want to build a business in a way that delivers on a promise of freedom and self-direction. That is in contrast to poor planning that can have us chained to a job of our own design. About Beate Beate Chelette is the Growth Architect and Founder of The Women’s Code. She provides visionaries and leaders with proven strategies, blueprints, and growth maps that provide clear steps to improve business systems,  strengthen leadership skills a

We wrap up our discussion with Naomi Gora with a look at how multiple founders can make it a chore to find the voice of your brand. Each founder may have a strong personality type or a presence that makes it hard to pick which one truly leads the company in this area. It is not likely to be a mix of the personality types and instead will gravitate towards one of the founders and their style. Finding The Voice Of Your Brand We started the discussion by focusing on matching a business personality type to a founder. When we have multiple founders, we need to determine the loudest voice in the bunch. That is most likely the voice of your brand. It is hopefully compatible with everyone on the team. When it is not, then things can be difficult or uncomfortable for those that have a different personality type. About Naomi Identifying as a ‘Torchbearer’ Business Personality Type, Naomi spent years trying to find her place in the world of media and advertising agencies. Often feeling like an outsider in the more extro

We start a new conversation with Naomi Gora about how your business personality type needs to be a match for the founder or founders. Everyone has a personality type, and we talk about how businesses and brands do as well. This can be challenging when your business has a personality that does not match yours. Even success can lead to discomfort and a sense of being trapped rather than joy and contentment. Yes, There Is A Business Personality Type When you hear an advertisement or announcement from some businesses, it feels or sounds exactly like how you expect them to communicate. That is due to the personality type of the brand or business. It is similar to detecting who wrote a note or email by tone and other contextual clues. We do not think of brands or businesses as a person, but they definitely have personalities. About Naomi Identifying as a ‘Torchbearer’ Business Personality Type, Naomi spent years trying to find her place in the world of media and advertising agencies. Often feeling like an outsider