Develpreneur: Become A Better Developer And Entrepreneur

We start a new discussion with Bastien Siebman and how to grow your passion into a business. He started with productivity and grew from there. His journey is one that you may find familiar. He started by doing side hustle work. As he grew his clients and had to hustle more, productivity and related tools became a critical piece of his success. It was not long before he found how he used Asana to be more productive as a business avenue in itself. Grow Your Passion - Find True Joy It is easy to see how Bastien is energized by productivity discussions, getting things done, and of course, Asana. While you might have different goals, the process he provides can be used to grow your passion as well. This story is a classic case of starting a product or service by scratching your own itch. If nothing else, you know you have at least one dedicated customer. About Bastien Bastien Siebman uses Asana as his secret tool. He is an Asana Certified pro who helps clients worldwide. Also, he is the Asana Community #1 contribu

.The interview with Robert Cooke wraps up with a discussion about code performance and tuning. These appear to have gone out of style but have not. There is a value in building tighter code that performs well even while we see more powerful systems. Likewise, we have seen the amount of data processed increase exponentially. That offsets the power of systems as minor improvements are multiplied by the number of iterations. Incremental Code Performance And Tuning There is value in taking an incremental approach to code performance and tuning. We get to work from a known point that is functionally correct and a basis for metrics. These combine to provide us not only a test bed for comparing results. They also provide a scoring mechanism that tells us if and how much improvement has been made.  About Robert With over 100,000 hours of software development, Robert has cemented himself as a thought leader in the computer science space. He is the Founder and CTO of 3Forge, a tech company incorporating preventative to

We start a new conversation, and this time we are back to technology and how to start a developer career. The discussion with Robert Cooke is more than starting a career. However, we provide several key points as you move from movie coder to advanced developer. The problems get more complicated. But, on the other hand, they become more fun and exciting as well. Start A Developer Career We flash back a few decades to travel the path Robert took. His story began when he decided to start a developer career. It quickly grew into several intersections of data, coding, and business to show how to move problem-solving from the specific to the generic and cross industries. His focus often drifts back to the world of money and finance. Nevertheless, he brings up pieces of knowledge that can be used in other areas. About Robert With over 100,000 hours of software development, Robert has cemented himself as a thought leader in the computer science space. He is the Founder and CTO of 3Forge, a tech company incorporating

Our interview with Chris Davidson concludes with a look at the difficult conversations we have with our clients. These include those times when we need to provide a technical reality check to their wants and needs. They know their business and the problems they want to solve. However, we (as technical experts) understand how technology can be leveraged for their solution. In fact, they are counting on us to help them navigate what is real and what is realistic, given the constraints they have. Embracing Difficult Conversations With Clients It is hard to talk to a customer in a manner that can cause you to lose business or cause them to walk away. However, that is often the best approach to take. Honesty and being a sounding board that helps a customer decide on project feasibility before you even start are valuable skills. A customer that you turn away for the right reasons will always lead to better matches and big wins in the future. That is where those of us steeped in IT knowledge can shine. We provide a

This episode starts a new discussion with author and technologist Chris Davidson as we dive into technology and disruptions. We look at how IT has evolved and the recent big steps that emerged from disruptive times. He has a few decades of experience in the IT world and a unique perspective on how we got here and where we are going. Technology and Disruptions - Pandemic Lessons The recent pandemic launched several software platforms, including Zoom. There is a link between the growth of technology and disruptions that was made very clear during that time. Of course, it is not all smooth sailing. There are bumps and sometimes even canyons along the way. Chris shares some stories about what he witnessed and some incredibly public "ah-ha" moments for technology companies. Pervasive technology also often needs tight security. About Chris He started working in IT 40 years ago. That was before the term 'information technology' existed. As IT developed rapidly, he became deeply interested in how businesses used it t

We continue and wrap up the Tyler Foley Interview with stories that guide us to business lessons from hockey experiences. His time as a goalie points out the universal law that a puck will find the gap in your protection. This truism holds for business as well. The places where you leave gaps in your strategy are often quickly highlighted. There is no such thing as being overly prepared or protected. Yes, We Can Learn Business Lessons From Hockey There are many ways to learn business lessons from hockey. We touch on a couple in this discussion before returning to sharing Tyler's wisdom. His life story of overcoming challenges provides many examples to keep our spirits bright even during our tougher trials. It is much like the obstacles thrown at players in a hockey game. However, victory is possible and worth the work that goes into it. About Tyler Sean Tyler Foley is an accomplished film and stage performer and has been acting in film and television since he was six years old. This started after his father p

Our interview with Tyler Foley explores his amazing and entertaining story while guiding you to leverage your unique skills. Obviously, we do not all have a story like his. However, we each have our own unique story, experience, and combination of skills. These make us invaluable in certain situations. The challenge is often finding where we fit best. That gap that calls for the one-of-a-kind puzzle piece that we are. Own Your Past To Leverage Your Unique Skills Part of finding a way to leverage your unique skills is embracing who you are. That includes knowing what you bring to the table. There are situations where you may be asked to set aside some of what makes you who you are. Likewise, there may be time and place considerations. For example, if you are a world-class pole dancer, then you might need to leave those skills behind for your job as an accountant. The goal should be to find your place, not force yourself into one that is not a good fit. About Tyler Sean Tyler Foley is an accomplished film and s

We continue our discussion with Adrienne Johnston and her story with suggestions for building your business. She guides us through several of the steps she has taken, and these can be applied to your situation as well. We cover several areas of business that apply to far more than consulting companies and are tools for growth. A Stepwise Approach To Building Your Business There are many ways of building your business. These include adjusting prices, increasing the number of customers, and reducing the time per project. Adrienne touches on all of these as we talk about her growth and current approach to daily business. We even talk about things like setting expectations, delivery times, and managing schedules.  About Adrienne Adrienne Johnston is a presentation designer specializing in helping clients visualize their content in PowerPoint to land new clients, educate existing internal or external clients, or secure investment capital. Adrienne's current clients include Meta, Microsoft, Samsung, and Marriott. A

We return to one of our core topics and tips for starting a consulting business from scratch. This episode begins a discussion with designer Adrienne Johnston. Her primary focus is presentations. However, her story is a lesson in how to niche down as well as build momentum and a clientele for your business. Key Steps To Starting A Consulting Business Adrienne started her self-employment path by using Upwork.com. Her story of building from nothing is an excellent example of starting a consulting business. We walk through her first jobs and how she grew those into the thriving business that she has today. While her business is focused on skills and a niche you might not relate to, there is a lot to learn. As we talk about her steps from small jobs used to build a track record and references through to pricing changes, there are ideas for any business. There are many things we can do that mimic here approach, no matter what consulting business we are building. About Adrienne Adrienne Johnston is a presentation d

We conclude our interview with Tim Branyan with a discussion to answer the question, why build a mobile application? There are options to leave your solution web-only, make it mobile-friendly, or build a native mobile application. Tim goes into some pros and cons and how they influenced his approach to building the TrueFanz solution and its growth. Why Build A Mobile Application? The question is more about how rather than why build a mobile application. There are simply too many mobile devices and users that want to use your application. While mobile-first is not uncommon, it is also expensive and risky. Even more so for a full-featured solution such as TrueFanz. Tim provides us with a logical approach to your end goals that can help limit costs and risks. About Tim Tim is a tech industry leader and entrepreneur who has been at the forefront of successful projects since 2010. After starting his career in the United States Air Force, he pursued his passion for software development and launched his first projec

We start a new interview series talking to Tim Branyan of TrueFanz about his journey toward building a SAAS solution and growing it. The discussion touches on many topics and stays high-level more than a technical deep-dive. Tim is entertaining and shares many lessons learned from his successes and failures. Building A SAAS Solution - This Is The Way There is a lot of buzz around building a SAAS solution, and many reasons why. Tim touches on some key concepts, such as scaling up and keeping initial costs low. We also look at some of his steps to build his team. Likewise, there is a parallel between his story of building his user base and the resulting community. About Tim Tim is a tech industry leader and entrepreneur who has been at the forefront of successful projects since 2010. After starting his career in the United States Air Force, he pursued his passion for software development and launched his first project with just $6,241.56 and no formal education. Since then, he has launched hundreds of apps, dev

Part 2 of our interview with Deanna Keumpel focuses on growing your brand and business. She has done this a few times and has plenty of advice. The discussion covers various topics, such as finding the right staff, taking chances, and pouring yourself into a venture. Be ready to take notes as she drops several suggestions along the way. Growing Your Brand and Business - It is What We Do We create a business because we enjoy doing that. There is a solution or service we want to share with the world, and that drives us. However, we also want to reach everyone that can benefit from our offering. Therefore, growing your brand and business is a skill you want to have in your quiver. Those are steps we take on the path to success. About Deanna From a high-level overview, she is a human trafficking survivor, a widow, a former C-Level executive, a fashion designer, and a bodybuilder expert. Currently, she is Ms. Chicago America Nation 2021 and host for the Label-Free podcast. She has lived a very big life with lots o

We start a new interview and dive into the benefits of taking risks. The host of the label-free podcast sits down to share her story. Deanna is recently married (hence the name change) and is living her best life, as her tagline suggests. However, it has not been an easy road. Our discussion reviews numerous challenges she faced and how she overcame them. Spoiler alert, she took risks and avoided playing it safe. Benefits Of Taking Risks The idea of risks is one of those half-full or half-empty ways to examine a subject. One can focus on the upsides of a risk paying off or avoiding the loss of a risk that does not. We are naturally biased to prevent pain and loss, so taking the safe route is more common than embracing risk. While you may see some of Deanna's story as a back-against-the-wall situation, it is still hard to consider her anything but a risk-taker. That embrace of risk has led her to an exciting and enjoyable life. The hope is that her story will motivate you to do the same. About Deanna From a hi

Part two of our interview with Douglas Squirrel delves into building real world software. This topic takes us into finding ways to meet a customer's needs rather than deliver something that gets an "A" grade in academia. We also tackle the challenge of a technologist with a different view from the business customer. It is more focused on building relationships and trusts than it is asserting one's opinion. Real World Software Is Messy There are almost always trade-offs when we talk about building a solution for business. We are not given the luxury of a perfect world and building a flawless solution. There is even a thing called "known bugs"  included with many releases. We know at our core that perfect is not truly obtainable, so why stop a release to achieve that lofty objective? There is a better way to build software that accepts it as a work in progress and focuses on what can be delivered rather than perfection. About Squirrel Squirrel​ has been coding for forty years and has led software teams for twen

There are many things to take away from our discussion with Douglas Squirrel. However, one major point is that we should learn from coworkers. Technology workers are not immune to seeing other departments as less important than they are. We look at how "suits", marketing, and other groups should be partnered with and not ignored. We will find our job easier and more successful when we build relationships and trust instead. Expand Your Influence When You Learn From Coworkers Some would love to be able to walk into a company and tell everyone how things should be. Fortunately, a company only has one such person, and they are called CEO. The rest must work together and use their diverse skills and talents to provide customers with the best products and services. That is how a business succeeds. When customers are not happy, the organization suffers. About Squirrel Squirrel​ has been coding for forty years and has led software teams for twenty. He uses the power of conversations to create dramatic productivity ga

We go deeper in the second part of this interview to discuss how we can link success to happiness. These are not mutually exclusive goals. Pranay has built a story that guides us through his process as he went from simple success to factoring in what he wanted from life. The "why" that had eluded and blocked him from a full life became his focus. Once he did that, things started to fall into place. Link Success To Happiness And Win At Life We do not have to choose either professional success or happiness. We can have both when we are intentional about the work and options we choose. However, that does not come without risk. We need to embrace risk and try out new opportunities. This approach works whether we are trying a professional role or testing our thoughts about the taste of snails. About Pranay He is a medical doctor, serial entrepreneur, and podcast host. His unconventional journey to medicine helped him learn the skills to excel in entrepreneurship and real estate. Over the past two years, he has bou

Pranay Parikh is an MD that has taken a journey to entrepreneur and tells us how to keep a focus on the important things as we pursue our goals. He shares his stories of hard work and determination that led him to question why he should stay the course. These include some lessons we can take away and use to craft our story and entrepreneurial journey. Focus On The Important Things - The Key To Happiness This episode gives insight into someone who has worked hard and seen some setbacks. However, he kept moving forward and found success. That is where the story truly begins. He looked at his success and what he enjoys and found some mismatches. Those findings led him to start an entrepreneurial journey that coincided with living his best life. He has found a way to keep a focus on the important things while fully embracing the life he has wanted.  About Pranay He is a medical doctor, serial entrepreneur, and podcast host. His unconventional journey to medicine helped him learn the skills to excel in entrepreneu

Our discussion with Kyler Nixon wraps up with a focus on audience building and assessment. The assessment part of the equation is where he provides details on what we should be looking for as we launch a course. That is an important bit of information. Particularly, when you are at the point where you are trying to make a decision. He gives some excellent rules of thumb for where you should see your content and interactions before taking the course creation step. Audience Building And Reaching Out The other part of this discussion is an important look at the idea of audience size. Likewise, what you are providing them. There are many problems that we can solve. However, the number of competing solutions must be a factor in your decision to monetize one into a course. A problem with many solutions may have a wider appeal.  On the other hand, it may have less opportunity or value per customer. Likewise, a complex problem that only you have solved will be more likely to have less application but a higher value p

We start a new interview and switch gears to focus on course creation. Kyler Nixon sits down to share his thoughts on what one can do to get their content into course form. This starts with us looking at what should lead one to create a course in the first place. In the same vein, we see that nearly everyone has something they can share and use to launch their side hustle. Course Creation - Where Do I Start? Course creation differs from other content creation and offering platforms we have discussed. At the same time, there are many ways to approach a class. The first step is the content itself. Fortunately, our lives lead us to create expertise of some sort. We might have something complex like heart surgery or something mundane like cooking a quick meal. Both of those, and all points in between, are a foundation for a course. That is where Kyler comes in. He uses his expertise to recommend a path that helps get your content in front of the people that can benefit most. That is the key to success. You can ha

We continue our interview with Jason Skeesick and delve into the key to happiness in work and life. It is almost a true key to match against our goals. Once we have a complete understanding of what makes us tick, we can use a form of key to see what will work for us and what will drain us. Amazingly, that simple calculation is the first step toward true happiness. The Key To Happiness Is a Good Fit Jason covers a lot of ground that does not directly get labeled as the key to happiness. For example, we talk about mindset, strengths and weaknesses, goals, and the environments that suit us best. Nevertheless, while these factors impact our productivity and odds for success, they also can be distilled into bringing us joy.  Each of us has a certain way that best fits us in life. Jason lays out the edges of this key to happiness and what we need to do to craft it for ourselves. Once it has been refined, we can use it to match against our objectives and opportunities. Then we can determine the path that will bring