A few months ago I switched to using Redmine for all my company’s project management needs. I had used it before for s short stint while working on another project but never really thought too much about it. After adding additional developers to my team – I really needed something more powerful than what I […]
There has been a lot of talk about contracts in my field in the last few months, especially after the F*CK You, Pay Me talk/video. I have used a contract for 100% of my work now for a few years – after getting into a few situations where I did not get paid and had […]
Everyone gets burned out now and again with what they do. When you are busy working on all kinds of projects it is easy to get lost in the mix, get caught up in all the switching tasks/taking calls/staying on top of email/feeling like you are just chasing yourself in circles, which can bring on […]
Awhile back I changed banks (bank buyout/name change) and have been fighting with Quickbooks (2010) when I do my web connect imports. When I go yo “Online Banking” > Import within QuickBooks – I have the account I want to use open, but when the .qbo file opens, it goes to my old account (previous […]
It is unbelievable how some people act on a conference call or even a business related call. From my experience here are some pointers on how NOT to impress your colleagues/clients/developers. (All based on actual things I have experienced) Make a business call while in the drive-thru at McDonanlds…and then ask me to hold while […]
I spent a few hours this past week thinking about “the big picture” for my company. I decided to focus a good chunk of time this month on improving workflow and streamlining certain tasks and processes. One process that I am going to tackle is asset management. Our designers/clients send a barrage of email with […]
I love having the opportunity working with a number of diverse clients from very diverse backgrounds. There are certain clients though that you can – right from the initial contact – that are going to be “iffy” v. “ideal”. I have learned over the years how to easily spot the “iffy” clients. They clients are […]
There are many lessons to learn out there as a designer, and please let this be at the top of your list: when designing something – whether it be a business card, a brochure, or a web site – use real content. Lately – when doing any design work for a client – we always […]
Over the past year – I have been really trying to tighten down a lot of processes/functions in my company – and wanted to talk a little bit about managing what I call “pre-contract” time. When potential clients first contact us – I generally spend thrity minutes to an hour getting the initial project information. […]
We all work at different paces. Some like to try and do everything really quickly so they can relax later. Others wait until the last moment and race to get things done (they find energy and excitement in the challenge to finish). Still others prefer to keep a grueling pace throughout the entire project in […]
Over the last few years I have, like most other business owners, struggled with a good work/life balance. While I do not feel like I am at an optimal balance yet – I know and I a lot closer than I once was. This can be tricky – but here are some tips that will […]
Whether working on projects with a fast change cycle or something that has not been changed recently – it is always a good idea to step back and review your code from time to time. Generally most people put it off for when “things slow down” or do not do it because “if it works […]
