I’m writing this for catharsis but also in hopes that Quickbooks solves these and I can start striking out items as remedied.

Recurring Invoicing is Passable but Greatly Lacking

This is tough as a large part of our business is monthly retainers and hosting. I’m trying to have a good attitude and also hope they fix these weak spots.

1. You can’t send a recurring invoice to specific emails

The only option for where ALL recurring invoices for a client go is to whatever the general email you’ve set for the client. You can add multiple emails there separated by commas but this is then applies to all recurring invoices you set for the client. I often need to send an invoice to Accounts Payable and CC various people. If I have multiple recurring invoices for the client, they can’t have granularity in where they send too.

2. There is no way to dynamically personalize the recurring invoices by date

In Freshbooks there is a super handy feature where in the line item descriptions you can use these dynamic merge codes like ::month:: and ::year:: – They call these Dynamic Variables and you can even do simple math with them.

I’m not sure Quickbooks is even likely to add this as their response here years ago is pretty unsympathetic.

This is a big deal for a business that sends out many automatic invoices per month and it would be incredibly inefficient to intercept and fix the descriptions on all of them. So our solution is sadly that each line item is pretty much date agnostic. So I guess we hope the client assumes the invoice is for that month’s retainer? What if the cadence is mid-month? It’s just not ideal.

3. You can’t start a recurring invoice the day-of

If you create a new recurring profile the earliest start day for it is the next day.

This is particularly annoying if you are trying to create an invoice for past work and have that sent around the same time as one for work going forward. You can’t (as far as I know) easily create a one-off invoice and have it sent on a future day.

4. Management of the recurring invoices

In general there is no place to view all your recurring profiles and see what are next up by date. You have to navigate to a client and then a tab for that client and that would of course only show the recurring profiles for that client.

It is clear with the entire system that recurring invoices just aren’t a priority feature for Quickbooks Online.

It’s not all bad with Quickbooks

I do like…

• Clients already using the Quickbooks ecosystem can more quickly connect our accounts and pay us.
• There are quite a few services and APIs that integrate with Quickbooks – as you’d expect from one of the big players.
• Our accountant loves it because it actually has very robust accounting features.

The post Moving from Freshbooks to Quickbooks Online – Struggles for a Service Business appeared first on Blake Imeson.

I do alright though. When people ask me how I’m able to get so much done or continue pushing myself entrepreneurially, I have an atypical answer.

I back myself into a corner.

Think about an animal like a raccoon, possum, or a cat – a normally skittish animal, when backed into a corner can suddenly be terrifying and capable of all kinds of energy, tenacity, and aggression.

When I think of backing myself into a corner, this doesn’t mean I’m trying to become a rabid raccoon or terrified. More like: What choices can I make that mean I have no other option than to fight forward and succeed.

Laziness and the urge to coast along is a lifelong battle. HOWEVER, you can fight (and win) by putting yourself in situations where you have NO OTHER CHOICE than to figure things out.

Going Beyond Your (Known) Capabilities

Some of our best work at LimeCuda has come from sending out proposals knowing we weren’t yet capable or didn’t yet know how to do something.

I don’t mean we were being deceptive.
I do mean, we knew we’d have to figure out some difficult things but we were confident that we could do it. Once locked in to that project, we had no choice but to up our game and get it done!

Here are some examples of how you can intentionally back yourself into a corner:

• Want to improve work skills? Send out a proposal for a project you know will require learning new things.
• Want to read more? Join a book study or commit to meeting with someone to review a book you both read.
• Want a cleaner house? Invite people over regularly.
• Want to cook more? Buy ingredients that will threaten you with growing stale.
• Want to write more? Start a competition with a friend. (with stakes!)
• Want to learn a skill? Sign up for a class or book a time to take a qualification test.

Yes, you still need to follow-through but often the risk of losing money, embarrassment, or disappointing people will be enough to jar you out of complacency. Use your own psychology as a weapon against yourself. All is fair.

Over Committing / Over Booking Your Time

Your Mileage May Vary! I hesitate to share this as it has certainly bitten me a few times over the years. For me, there is definitely an equilibrium I need to pursue. I need to have enough work load on my back that I don’t become complacent but not too much that I am overcommitted, burned out, and have no margin in my life for the unexpected.

My mom shared with me before I started college that she was most productive the semesters when she was loaded up with perhaps a few more credits than comfortable. My experience was the same and that has stuck with me into work life.

Part of keeping my back in the corner is just having enough work to keep me working hard.

This doesn’t have to be at odds with making sure you “under promise, over deliver”…if you make sure you manage others’ expectations differently than you have calibrated your own.

My questions and challenges to you:

• Are there times you can recall putting yourself in a corner? And what happened?
• Are there projects or opportunities you are shying away from that you should go for?
• Where do you want to end up and what choices can you make to “put yourself in a corner” to get there?

Would love to hear if this works for you. Drop a comment below or email me.

The post My Secret for Productivity: PUT YOUR BACK INTO THE CORNER! appeared first on Blake Imeson.

There was a (very short) golden era when I enjoyed Facebook and it added real value to my life. You could keep in touch with the goings-on of people you cared about. Interesting thoughts and content with value was shared.

What happened?

1. Notifications for everything – the little red notification endorphin kicker is used for crap not worthy of our attention.

2. Feed is filled with content you didn’t want and not even from your friends (not just ads but suggested content)

3. As circles have expanded from, just College classmates, to friends, to family, to coworkers, neighbors, etc. The amount of personal information and with substance a sane person will share has had an inverse relationship to that expanding circle.

4. Their algorithm for what gets floated to the top of your feed is broken and rewarding the wrong content production and not truly about what you want to consume but targeting base instincts (food verse cocaine)

At some point most thoughtful people tire of being treated like a hamster in a cage by the platform and abandon or remove from devices.

I struggled with having Facebook on my phone. I do have a legitimate and regular business use for it but I found myself mindlessly opening it up and wasting time with stuff that added zero value to my life.

I tried a few strategies for keeping it on my phone but the pull was too strong. I’ve removed it entirely and just visit in my browser a few times a week and go directly to my business-use-cases or the few rare spots that have content that is edifying, encouraging, and helpful.

Over the years the platform has morphed and it isn’t hard to image a 2030 where it has faded into disuse.

The post How Facebook Ruined Itself appeared first on Blake Imeson.

A few months ago my wife and I took an incredible trip to the Grand Canyon to celebrate our 9 year anniversary.

I had “grand” expectations for the infamous Grand Canyon but truly those expectations were massively exceeded. 

We ended up flying into Phoenix and stayed in both Flagstaff and Scottsdale. All-told it was way more driving than we anticipated but the scenery made it worthwhile.

Definitely want to take our boys out there for a family trip someday…

The post Grand Canyon Trip – 10x More Grand than Expected appeared first on Blake Imeson.

Solution to the SiteStripe not showing up

It was just hidden / minimized! Doh!
I can’t get it to show again but look for an orange arrow element on the left of the screen like…

How Can You Change the Settings for SiteStripe?

Amazon says: “You can control whether to view the SiteStripe or not from the Settings button on the SiteStripe or by logging in to Associate Central and then going to your Account Settings – Associates SiteStripe Options. The SiteStripe Options allow you to control the features that you see on the SiteStripe as well as turning the display of the Stripe on or off.”

The post Amazon Associates SiteStripe Not Showing up – How to Solve appeared first on Blake Imeson.

I’ve carefully watched those who are successful and those who are not…

The big make-or-break character strength or flaw  seems to be:

Do they seek counsel from others?

I truly think this character aspect determines success in a wide range of life arenas: relationships, family, church, school, health, finances, etc.

In the business realm there is an ironic stereotype of entrepreneur as the arrogant, go-it-alone, stalwart individual who plods, on ignoring what those around them are saying. Totally misguided!

The truly successful people in commerce are usually those that listen carefully to others. BUT not only that, they actively seek out counsel. They are teachable and always learning. Of course this doesn’t mean they don’t sift through and evaluate the advice. They certainly approach counsel openly and from the position of a student.

This principle applies not only to all areas of life but the full range of important to trivial. I was recently doing a small chimney brick repair and gained the “counsel” of at least  three YouTube videos talking me through the repair.

Looking at an educational path? Ask for counsel.
Making a large purchase? Ask for counsel.
Considering a new job? Ask for counsel.
Think that special someone is the “one”? Ask for counsel.

Your life will be so much smoother if you seek counsel. People you respect have likely made mistakes or seen similar mistakes and can steer you away from great difficulty.  

Guidelines for seeking counsel:

• Especially seek counsel if the subject is outside of your realm of expertise
• Build relationships with people who will be straight up with you (Proverbs 27:9)
• Don’t rely on a single voice for counsel. (Proverbs 11:14)
• If asked earnestly, gladly and humbly give your counsel to others

The post The MAIN Character Aspect to Make-or-Break Business Success appeared first on Blake Imeson.

One of the best aspects of doing the entrepreneurship life with a co-conspirator is that they provide an invaluable service in checking your attitude and discipline.

Josh gave me some pushback recently when I was whining about the economy and the general political distraction making it tough to do business.

Making Excuses Will Steal Your Drive

I’m big on making the distinction between “explanations” and “excuses”. There are absolutely some tough realities in the business world. These can be legitimate explanations for life being tough.  In fact, I recently blogged on the Hardest Things for Start Ups in the USA.

Yes, the economy is tough, the political climate can put businesses in stasis, taxes are burdensome, healthcare costly, proposals are lost for the wrong reasons – and more.

Don’t let these distract you or get even a small foothold in your brain! You can’t keep pushing forward if you keep looking back and dwelling on the tough parts.

Keep Focussed on the Positives

I’m not saying stick your head in the sand or pretend the world is all roses and unicorns. But there is something to be said for NOT focussing on the negative stuff beyond your control. Focus instead on the good aspects, the triumphs, the unexpected projects, the clients who are really wonderful, and the blessings.

This gloomy mindset is one of many potholes on the entrepreneurial journey. Check yourself! There are so many positive aspects of entrepreneurship. Resolve to stay focussed on the clear advantages.

List these for future reference:

• The successes you’ve helped win for your clients
• How long you’ve been on the journey
• The really great relationships you’ve gained
• Know-how, wisdom, and experience you’ve deposited into the bank of your head
• Business processes and structures that have slowly formed
• Great peers and experts who have fought in the trenches with you

The post Entrepreneurs: Don’t Allow Yourself Excuses! appeared first on Blake Imeson.

I am now going to (usually) put periods outside of quotes rather than inside.

Consider these two sentences:

Henry Higgins realized she had just said “the rain in Spain”.
vs.
Henry Higgins realized she had just said “the rain in Spain.”

Really, it makes little sense that the period would go within the quote as in the second example. It doesn’t properly end my sentence.
American grammar nazis are wrong and now I know why! Get the full scoop at How to Use Quotation Marks.

Why did the insanity start in the first place?

Basically, it came from a type-setting limitation wherein the little metal piece that created the period would fall off if it was at the end of a sentence. The Brits have been doing it the correct way; that is the method I am adopting.

What is that line about “be the change you want to see in the world”?  This article is a bit of fun hyperbole – I’m not super crazy.

But I’ll pull a Darth Vader and ask you to…

The post Grammar Rant: I’m Not Putting Periods Inside Quotes Anymore appeared first on Blake Imeson.

Yahoo is in the midst of sorting through the wreckage of a massive hack. Over half a billion accounts may have had their info stolen. The verdict is still out on Yahoo’s culpability: could they have prevented this, who was ultimately responsible, etc. No matter the case, Yahoo and its users will be experiencing a lot of pain!

Yahoo is even being sued for gross negligence.

I run a firm that builds websites and web tools. The repercussions for Yahoo scare me, but seem just.

The Parapet Principle

There is an wonderful, age-old, Judeo-Christian principle found in Deuteronomy 22:8called the “Parapet Principle”.

The idea is if you’re building a house you should make sure the roof has a parapet (railing) so that if you have a visitor they don’t accidentally fall due to your negligence. If they do fall because you neglected to build a parapet you are held responsible!

Organizations need to think of their websites, visitors, and data in the same way.

• A website visitor submits a form with identifying information. As the host, you must protect that information!
• A website visitor’s contact data and account login are stored on your servers; you better make sure you’ve taken every sensible precaution to secure that information!

Like it or not, people reuse passwords. If your database gets breached, it could mean your users’ bank accounts. Access is gained to an email account and the hackers have a treasure trove of mineable nuggets.

The Yahoo hack supposedly didn’t include passwords. It should also be noted that properly algorithmically hashed and salted storage of passwords means they are not easily decipherable even in the event of a breach.

Hackers can cleverly piece information together and build a profile on someone that results in devastating identity theft. This is very serious.

Everyone Should be Concerned About the Parapet

The individuals building the website should have a great deal of concern for the security of the tool they’re building.

The owner of the website should be very concerned. They should not sleep well at night if their “roof is missing a railing”.

The user should be cautious about what “houses” they visit, but they can only be so cautious. One would think a big reputable brand like Yahoo wouldn’t be a concern…

Building the Parapet is Really Hard

…especially the larger and more complicated the system. Security is built around layers that assume other layers may fail or be neglected.

The NSA spends a higher ratio of security-to-features than any other organization, and yet look at how Snowden was able to elevate privileges and steal data. If even the NSA, with all of the incredibly smart security staff and money invested could not prevent compromise, we should be somewhat understanding that breaches WILL happen.

We can’t make systems perfect, but the NSA’s saga and other big failures highlight how important it is that we spend more and care more about security.

Some might react fatalistically and say we need to spend LESS on security because even the NSA couldn’t prevent a type of breach, but that would be giving up.

Final Plea to Build the Parapet

There are plenty of great things the builders, owners, and users can do to decrease the risk of falling off the proverbial web roof: use (and force) strong passwords, encrypt your site traffic, properly secure data, have whitelists / blacklists, monitoring, etc.

The list of things that could possibly be done is never-ending. In fact, there are specialists, firms, and an entire industry that revolves around security.

What this might mean for you may be very different to the next guy.

One thing is certain…

We MUST all start caring about the parapet!

Blake Imeson runs the WordPress web firm, LimeCuda. They build strategic web presences for clients all over the world. Blake resides in East Lansing, Michigan, USA with his wife and son.

The post Your Obligation to People Visiting Your Web “House” appeared first on Blake Imeson.

These difficulties probably apply to most small businesses in the USA. Look for a follow-up post on the positive flipside.

I’ve been in the entrepreneurship game for almost 7 years now. I enjoy the unique lifestyle it has formed. If the following 3 hard things weren’t in the mix, or the pain was lessened, I would say entrepreneurship is fabulous.

Health Insurance Costs

I’m refraining from making this a political commentary but let’s just say I agree with Ringo Starr, “Everything government touches turns to crap.”

Our health insurance costs have skyrocketed over the years. Now we pay over $1100/month for a family of 3. This isn’t a negotiable expense and I can’t optimize it. And it is supposed to keep going up…

We do have a “medically demanding” child so I am grateful for insurance. However, we’re at a point where if we just paid cash for all our meds, surgeries, and specialist appointments it would be less money than we spend on insurance!

Tax Rate and Burden

It’s a discipline and cash flow problem as much as the heavy burden of the amount.

Making quarterly payments can be really hard when you’re trying to scale a business and make investments in growth. If you’re a prudent risk-taker you’ll likely purchase software that makes you more efficient or lets you scale in the short-term rather than send that same money to the government. This can burn you.

As a small business you’re in a terribly awkward position of paying a far greater actual rate than an employed individual or a larger corporation.

Cash Flow Unpredictability

This is an issue more particular to a Web Services Firms. You’re usually in feast or famine mode. It’s a tough way to live.

This has become less of an issue with retainers and providing Hosting & Caretaking plans. But it is still tricky and compounded by the first two difficulties above.

Would I Recommend Entrepreneurship?

I’ve really wrestled with this question over the years.

It surely isn’t for everyone. You (and your spouse) need a strong constitution.

In the current state of things I would recommend someone run a “traditional” employment course for a few years and make mistakes on someone else’s dime. Save up enough to live on for 6-12 months, and then start to ease into an entrepreneurial lifestyle.

Those are my thoughts, would love to hear for you. Comment below and let me know if there are other difficulties you face and if you would recommend entrepreneurship.

The post The 3 Hardest Things for Start Ups in the USA appeared first on Blake Imeson.