I’m pretty sure that people universally despise clutter yet almost all of us let it invade most parts of our life. (My brother-in-law is one exception as he keeps the cleanest house you have ever seen which is quite a feat with two children.) There is always something more urgent to do than cleaning. But… Continue reading Three places clutter kills concentration
Category: business
Talk about your idea as much as possible
Creating something from nothing is a special process. Inspiration becomes an idea. An idea gets refined, work is put in, and eventually out comes something that creates value for yourself or others. Whether you are creating something for others or something just for yourself, I strongly urge you to talk to as many people as… Continue reading Talk about your idea as much as possible
The Worst Product Meeting Ever
The title might be some hyperbole but a while ago I listened in on a product meeting that was eye opening in the sense that the bureaucracy explains why the product is in the state it is in after investing substantial amount of time in developing it. It was also a cautionary tale for every… Continue reading The Worst Product Meeting Ever
How to set business goals for the new year
It is the time of year to set goals for your business. Some people are not the type to actually set goals. They have “wants” but those are different than goals. Wants typically are uninspired and very unactionable whereas goals are concrete and can be measured. You are a business superhero so you produce results… Continue reading How to set business goals for the new year
Building a Product vs. Building a Business
Today is the launch day of StartOpz (!) which is my new app that adds premade processes to business tasks such as expense reports, time off management, and invoicing. I hope to grow it into a sustainable business. I had some thoughts on that process that I am sharing here along with the wisdom of… Continue reading Building a Product vs. Building a Business
National Entrepreneurship Month
National Entrepreneurship Month just ended but I believe that every day is a great day to start, build, and grow a business. With that in mind PersonalOpz is extending entrepreneurship month through December! (Gotta make money to pay for all of that holiday shopping right?) Look for a lot of content posted every day. I… Continue reading National Entrepreneurship Month
“Software Eating the World” is about demographics
Five years ago Marc Andreessen wrote a famous essay titled, “Why Software is Eating the World.” In it he states that “More and more major businesses and industries are being run on software and delivered as online services—from movies to agriculture to national defense.” The reasoning behind that are that the cost of running servers… Continue reading “Software Eating the World” is about demographics
Join the Conversation
You might, like many of us, have some goals or dreams, personally or professionally, that you have yet to fulfill. Sometimes you feel stuck in a rut and wanting more. Often the feeling is one that is self-perpetuating as you lose enthusiasm and the energy to get out of it. Sometimes without taking action to… Continue reading Join the Conversation
Set business goals based on industry outlook
The last thirteen years of my working life have been spent in the financial services industry. A good deal of the last two or three years of that has been spent vainly trying to convince the management of the firm that software is the future. For a few reasons I have been met with resistance.… Continue reading Set business goals based on industry outlook
Reduce busy work. Increase luck surface area.
There is a concept known as luck surface area that suggests that the more you do, and the more you tell people about it, the greater your chance for success. Spend your time creating and communicating with your peers and you will be recognized for it. The idea that being busy lowers your chances for… Continue reading Reduce busy work. Increase luck surface area.