FocusMinded.com

http://tinyurl.com/4du6l7 I’m a PC - Talk Like A Pirate Style

2008-09-19T19:29:41Z

Bookmarkables for 18 September 2008

2008-09-18T11:02:08Z

Here are some links I’ve found to be bookmarkable recently. These should help you as a web professional. Don’t forget if you find something to be bookmarkable this week please send it to me or add it to the comments below and I’ll be sure to check it out.

A new type of RFP (request for proposal) by Airbag Industries. This is simply fantastic, ever since I saw this last night I’ve been enamored with this RFP method. I can’t wait to rework my in similar fashion.
More than 245 Free Geometric Fractal Brushesby Share Brain. I don’t know about you, but I’m constantly needing more and more brushes.
50 Free Photoshop Pattern Setsby Emma Alvarez. A nice compilation of 50 pattern sets, we can always use more patterns.
Fixed Footers without Javascriptby Boagworld. This is a very nice solution for those sometmes needed sticky footers.
Google Calendar CalDAV support by Google. When setting up my iCal to be more efficient and to sync with my already existing Google Calendar. This how-to by Google was quite helpful. Get organized, get productive!

If you find these links helpful they why not subscribe to get email updates from me or get feed by RSS.

Present Action vs. Future Outcome

2008-09-10T11:00:55Z

“Be mindful of the link between present action and desired future outcome. Ask yourself: if I repeat today’s actions 365 times, will I be where I want to be in a year?”
-Roz Savage

Find a Web Design Mentor

2008-09-09T11:00:40Z

Building a web design business takes effort, time, and loads of TLC. If you’d like to be successful then you need a good role model. There are many successful web designers and developers out there you can craft your business after.

Find a mentor

I recommend finding a mentor to begin molding your business after. Am I suggesting copying them? No. What I am suggesting is that you take the time to really evaluate what it is you’d like to accomplish and then see who has accomplished things like that already. If you want to take your business into full time freelance, then find a full time freelancer. If your goal is to develop your own web agency, then find someone who’s running one.

What do you do once you’ve found them?

I believe this is the most critical step of all. Once you’ve found someone that fits exactly what you and your business need then it is up to you to contact them. I say this is the most critical step of all, because what I’m telling you to do is to contact them. That can be via phone, email, twitter, or even good old fashion mail. You need to open up the communication between yourself and your targeted mentor. Before you start objecting and giving excuses like, “I don’t want to bother them,” “I’m not good at networking,” or “I don’t know what to say to them” give me a chance to help you out.

It will not be a bother to them, you don’t have to be a master networker, and it’s very easy what you want to say. Let’s work in reverse order and tackle the what to say part. Here are a few things you’d like to include when contacting them:

Who you are.
Why you are contacting them. Yes be specific and tell them exactly why you’re contacting them.
Why you’ve chosen them.
Ask for additional contact information and their permission to contact them further. You are looking to develop a relationship with someone and email, instant messenger, skype, twitter, and etc.. are going to be very valuable to you — so ask for it.

The most critical step of contacting them is actually the easiest. If you contact them and get no reply (which is doubtful) then you have lost nothing. You’re out nothing and then you simply go to the next possible mentor on your list. Working through this process will actually improve your networking skills which I’ve already mentioned is key.

Additional reading: 7 tips for power networking & Master the art of business card networking in 4 easy steps

Listen to their advice

Lastly, listen to what they say. Look you’ve gone through the hard work of selecting someone and now contacting them. What they have to say, despite how odd it could sound, is worth it’s weight in gold. I can’t tell you how many odd things people I’ve contacted have said. But what I can tell you is that no matter how odd, they’re usually right. Just like your parents, the ones you thought didn’t know a thing growing up, who mysteriously get smarter once you get into your 20’s.

Don’t forget to subscribe to either email updates from me or get my RSS feed.

http://facelift.mawhorter.net/ A Possible SIFR Replacement worthy of further investigation

2008-09-02T19:25:45Z

A Possible SIFR Replacement worthy of further investigation

http://is.gd/1YYL IE8 beta available for all to test. As web designers and developers, unfortunately we should test on it too.

2008-08-29T05:26:52Z

IE8 beta available for all to test. As web designers and developers, unfortunately we should test on it too.

http://tweetremote.com Thanks to TweetRemote by Elliot Swan for solving the twitter vs. blog problem.

2008-08-28T17:52:26Z

Thanks to TweetRemote by Elliot Swan for solving the twitter vs. blog problem.

Measurable Progress

2008-03-20T16:36:23Z

In this fast moving world, several things I’ve grown quite accustomed to. Being able to easily measure progress is one of those things. Unfortunately, we are at the stage where measurable progress for Code Eight is hard to… measure. I like to see things checked off, finished, working, and ready. However, I’ve learned recently that with programming sometimes those things aren’t as easily stated.

Set something measurable

Ask any programmer and they’ll tell you that they know what needs done. Each programmed element is made up of tiny elements (those things that designers like me don’t know). They may be 90% done with one task and it’s taken them all week because of the 100 mini todo’s that make up that task. Don’t misunderstand me, designers don’t need to know all the minute details. What I am suggesting though is use some project management software to track tasks, projects, milestones, and the like. With this you’ll always be able to see some progress.

Stay on top of it

Of course, you’re going to want to frequently check in with your designers and programmers to check their progress (even if you can see it in your project management software). Not to bug them, but to stay informed. At least at this point that’s what I’ve found to be the most effective.

Don’t be afraid when you don’t see progress, because the chances are things are getting done without you knowing it. Marc Amos stated that “even immeasurable progress is progress.” He is absolutely right!

Series Sponsor:

Web Design and Development Help - The Web Squeeze

Time lines, Deadlines, Goals, and More

2008-03-04T09:01:19Z

One thing I’ve been pushing pretty hard since we started is setting up a good timeline for Code Eight. I think it is important to stay on task as much as possible. Does this mean we won’t get behind? Ha, if only that were true. It just aids us in not get too far behind.

Why bother?

It would make sense to not even worry about time lines, deadlines, or goals if you know that you’re going to fall behind. True, but how many people plan on falling behind. That sounds stupid.

Plans are nothing! Planning is everything.

Dwight Eisenhower stated that plans are nothing, planning is everything. He is quite right, the plans themselves aren’t as important as sitting down and planning. If you don’t know where you’re going, you can’t really get there.

The Best of Intentions

Even with the best of intentions, we’ve already fallen behind of my illustrious launch goal. No matter! I am sure there will parts of our plan where we can make up some time. The beauty of working on Code Eight is that we’re in charge. No pesky client is telling us when it’s due, and we’re not holding up the launch of a product/website. It is a wonderful change.

With that said, you NEED to treat yourself as a client as much as possible. If not, you’ll abuse and take advantage of yourself.

Time to go harp on my developer to get back on track…

Series Sponsor:

Web Design and Development Help - The Web Squeeze

What’s in a Name

2008-03-04T02:30:08Z

We’ve broken up the project into two distinct areas: design and development. I’m sure that sounds elementary, however there are other ways to break down an applications development (more to come on why we choose the path we did). Being charged with the design aspect and with the business end of things in my head, I tend to look at things differently. Here is how we came up with our application’s name.

What limitations did we apply and why?

With every logo, company name, or product name one has certain limitations or guidelines to follow. Since this is an internal project and not a client project we had no initial constraints. I on the other hand had several in mind. The name had to:

be marketable. (meaning could easily design a campaign around it.)
be memorable.
be catchy.
be fun.
be short in syllables (so it wouldn’t take an hour to say)
have the domain name available. (preferably the dot com, but a dot net would suffice)
have an association with the application. (preferred, but not required)

How did we start?

I always stress about coming up with a name, mainly as a designer because I’d like some idea as to what direction to start designing. So where to start coming up with a name? We started with the obvious, what did the application do. I did a web search and jotted down some interesting words. Then we listed play on words based on it and we added words that were complimentary to them that we liked. Still more lists of some words in reverse. As desperation was setting in (not really it just felt like it to me), we tried using the Top Level Domain as part of the name. At this point we didn’t really have a name we immediately felt was perfect. We had several worth keeping on the list, and exploring further.

BINGO! (almost)

This entire process took a few days of searching, making a list, bouncing ideas back & forth and off friends. Then it hit us — the perfect name was on our original list. We liked the name, the fun-ness of it, the marketability. One by one our criteria was met…. until we came to the dot com. It wasn’t available. Wouldn’t you know!

I like seeing who owns the domains I want, so I took a peak and got angry. It’s a SEDO page someone is sitting on. The dot net was available so we bought it just in case I couldn’t work out a deal for the domain. I emailed the owner of the domain to see if he’d be interested in selling it. He replied with what I expected: “sure, make me an offer.” So I made a very modest offer, expecting a counter. What I got shocked me! “Take your offer and multiply it by 30, and I might be interested,” was the reply I received. I countered with double my original offer and left the ball in their court. I was happy with the dot net domain so if we got the dot com domain - it would be icing on the cake.

And the winner is…

We’ve selected Code Eight. I know you’re thinking what on earth does this have to do with our application. The application we’re building is an innovative web-based backup utility. Code Eight is the police code for “requesting backup,” so it’s a perfect fit!

Get Notified

Head over and sign up to be notified when it’s ready to use! http://www.CodeEight.net