Posted on Podcast

The Product Launch – A Todo List

The journey to a product launch can seem incredibly long.  However, the final steps in polishing a product for commercial availability cannot be ignored.  Doing so risks sinking the product or at least slowing its adoption. Commercial Products are Different A key point of this episode is that commercial software carries higher expectations than other types.  Whether it feels that way or not, there is far less selling required for other applications.  Bugs are part of any application, but workarounds and delays to fixes are easier to forgive for personal and internal applications.  A customer that paid money for your product is not going to be happy to hear that they need to “outsmart” a bug rather than it being... Read more

it career
Posted on Become a Better Developer

The Pros and Cons of an IT Career

The path of becoming a better developer must be intentional.  This is not a goal that one achieves without effort and planning.  Advancing an IT career is not different from any other.  You need a plan, and then you need to execute it.  Before embarking on our quest to be better developers let’s look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of the path we have chosen.   The Downside of IT I want to end on a positive note, so that leaves us to start with the negatives.  An IT career has some down-sides.  I think that this is not a career for the faint of heart.  The most significant challenge is the speed at which it moves. ... Read more

Posted on Podcast

A Team Victory Brings Great Joy

One of the most valuable lessons I have learned is the joy of a team victory.  We can celebrate and be proud of individual accomplishments.  However, it is better when you can share the joy with others that were part of the struggle.  We can do a lot to improve our lives, but the way to make the most impact is to find others to share your journey. A Team Victory Can Come At Any Time In sports a team is well-defined.  There are players, coaches, managers, etc. that contribute in various ways.  We also see this in business.  If you have a paycheck signed by the same person, then you are on the same team.  Of course, politics and self-interest can... Read more

Posted on Podcast

Business Networking For Introverts

A challenge for many IT workers is business networking.  We chose out career often as a desire to avoid dealing with people more than we have to.  We are often introverts and not very comfortable in a crowd.  That makes it even harder for us to find our way to a useful discussion in a networking environment. Business Networking Is Critical The problem is, of course, that we have to network to build a customer list and become successful.  The good news is that we do not have to suffer through these situations.  A good script and routine can help us avoid the uncomfortable “winging it” situation.  Instead of having to grope for words, we can recite a message we... Read more

better developers
Posted on Become a Better Developer Overview

What is a Develpreneur

The Develpreneur site focuses on building better developers.  It may seem obvious that the name comes from a mashup of developer and entrepreneur.  Thus, it is logical to ask how that mashup is related to building better developers.  Before we go very far, I think it is essential to address that question. The Power Of Entrepreneurship The label “entrepreneur” is almost a meaningless buzzword in the modern world.  It is thrown around a lot like a path to a life of ease.  The TV shows like “Shark Tank” highlight entrepreneurs of all sizes and bookshelves are full of stories of those that “made it.”  The success of silicon valley companies has fed this concept as well.  There are countless stories... Read more

Posted on Podcast

Problem-Solving With Friends and Associates (or Google)

One of the reasons for an enjoying an IT career is problem-solving.  We get to face a challenge of varying levels every day.  That can lead to us spending more time working on a problem than we need to.  Thus, we need to keep in mind schedules and resources we have to meet our deadlines. Problem-Solving as a Team Sport There is a reason we find many developer offices set up in a way that lends itself to interaction.  Yes, cubicles can be a cheap way to create an “office.”  However, they also tend to lead us to communicate with our coworkers more than a real office with walls and a door.  Some managers claim their door is always open, but... Read more