Apr 12
Now I’m sure Mickelson has plenty of flaws outside of golf, but it was good to see a man reaping what he sowed with his wife. I think he knows what it means to balance work and home life.
Mar 19
We’ve tried with mixed success to roll out SharePoint in our company to give everyone access to important files, contacts, etc. where ever they are.
Couple of problems with SharePoint
- Out of the box it doesn’t work with BlackBerry’s
- The interface can be terribly slow to work with
- Extending takes a real computer programmer
To solve the issue we’re switching to a Mac Mini Server running their wiki and blog functionality. I can see this becoming my marketing teams best friend!
It’s everything SharePoint is not, simple, limited features, clean interface, loads lightning fast, and is collaborative. It doesn’t do a lot, but it does what we need which is disseminate info and encourage feedback.
I think the differences the two technologies are a clash of cultures. Keeping it fresh and relevant is important for our key product categories.
Mar 17
http://37signals.com/svn/posts/2207-method-picks-a-fight-with-the-jug
There are two kinds of companies I really like. One that ignores the competition entirely. And one that picks a fight. Method, and their newlaundry detergent line, is a great example of the latter.
Nov 26
I found this in an email newsletter I receive and thought it was appropriate:
Regardless of where you live on planet Earth, let me leave you with a list of things to think about. This is not my list. When we’ve published it before in this space with attribution to “Anonymous,” some of my readers have attributed it to Mother (Saint) Theresa, which suits be just fine. I’m thankful I found it and have the ability to pass it along.
Be thankful for the clothes that fit a little too snug, because 
it means you have enough to eat.
Be thankful for the mess you clean up after a party, because it means you have been surrounded by friends.
Be thankful for the taxes you pay, because it means you’re employed.
Be thankful that your lawn needs mowing and your windows need fixing, because it means you have a home.
Be thankful for your heating bill, because it means you are warm.
Be thankful for the laundry, because it means you have clothes to wear.
Be thankful for the space you find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means you can walk.
Be thankful for the lady who sings off key behind you in church, because it means you can hear.
Be thankful for the alarm that goes off in the early morning, because it means you are alive.
Feb 12
I’ve enjoyed reading the musings of the folks at 37 signals on their product development strategy…..or lack thereof. It’s ultra-agile and 100% focused on the customer. I picked up this list of suggestions from: Carl Knibbs Blog – I think it’s a good summary of what it takes to be successful or fail in developing web-based products.
* Above all. Remember. It’s just a website.
* Understand who your audience is.
* Understand who you want your audience to be.
* Research and write personas.
* Constantly refer to your personas. Know them better than your colleagues.
* Know your colleagues. Be visible. Evangilising your ideas is your number one goal.
* Constantly talk, survey, analyse feedback from your audience.
* Listen openly to your colleagues ideas (then ignore them, the customer is your main concern.)
* Find designers and engineers who share your passion (and it has to be passion. There’s no place for politics in steering successful products.)
* Don’t listen to cynics. There’s enough of those to stop us all doing anything.
* Don’t get bogged down in requirements that nobody will ever read. Make sure at least one of your counterparts in design and engineering understand what you want.
* Work on the solution in a small group. Create quick mocks to visualise your idea. (It’s ok it’s not your idea. It’s not about you.)
* Evangilise, evangilise, evangilise.
* Create a prototype for your idea as quickly as possible. (It doesn’t matter how.)
* Test. Take your idea on to the street if needs be. Ask people outside your organisation what they think.
* Colour IS important. everything is. You probably want people to use this product frequently, if not every day. This stuff is important to your CUSTOMERS.
* Listen to what feedback you get. Iterate your product accordingly.
* Guess what? It’s almost ready to release….so RELEASE.
* What’s the usage? Monitor feedback.
* Give it a bit of time.
* Is this thing losing you money? Not making you money? If it is, it’s back to the drawing board. (Its code and .jpg’s, not your child. Be a big boy/girl. End it.)
* People like it? Makes you money? You did good. Start again.
* Worried about innovation? Don’t be. Innovation isn’t a ready formula in my book, it’s a journey (in most cases a very long one.)
Sep 02
After searching through a dozen blog posts about the iPod, I’m convinced my iPod died. The scroll wheel does not work and that relegates you to listening to each song in order because you can only click Music > Artists >
It’s a 20gb 2nd or 3rd generation, monochrome screen. It was a workhorse, I listened to it everyday for four years. I’m surprised the wheel died before the hard drive or screen.
To iPhone, Touch, Nano or Classic that is the question…
Aug 06
I spent a very brief stint working for a contractor in a prison. It’s a terrible place devoid of hope. Yes, the inmates have done terrible crimes to be placed in prison, but you could never remove their humanity. Some still deserved a chance, but those chances are incredibly difficult.
State/federal prison lacks the kind of personal accountability needed to lift out of the cycle of crime. This is where churches and non-profits can step-in. Behavior takes a long time to change, sometimes it’s easier to jump back in to the same crowd after leaving the system.
I came across this program and really think it’s a great idea. The results have been stellar.
http://www.prisonentrepreneurship.org/
