develpreneur podcast
Posted on Interviews 2.0

Difficult Conversations With Clients

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... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on Interviews 2.0

Technology and Disruptions – Interview With Chris Davidson

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... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on Interviews 2.0

Business Lessons From Hockey

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... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on Interviews 2.0

Leverage Your Unique Skills – Interview With Tyler Foley

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... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on Interviews 2.0

Building Your Business Job By Job

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... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on Interviews 2.0

Starting A Consulting Business From Scratch – Adrienne Johnston

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... Read more