Category Archives: Uncategorized

Overcoming the Learning Curve

Posted on by
Something I’ve learned recently in business is no matter what product or service you may be selling, people will have their own perception of what it does and how it works.

I recently saw a girl try to work an iPod that has never owned one. It was amazing to watch her try and figure out this seemingly alien piece of technology. After chuckling to myself for a minute, I showed her how the click wheel worked and she immediately understood. It took all but 10 seconds for her to grasp the concept, but she still needed to be shown.

I’m trying to translate this experience to my work by not assuming everyone should just ‘get’ our software. Of course I know how it works, i’ve been exposed to it for over two years. I need to take that expertise and translate it to each potential customer and help them overcome the learning curve so they get the most value from our product.

This video is another great example of this concept…

via youtube.com

The first-to-market myth – (37signals)

Posted on by

Fear: “I’m going to lose because someone else is going to beat me to market (or is already there).”


Truth: In business, there can be lots of winners in any niche. Look at how many shoe makers, Italian restaurants, and furniture manufacturers succeed. You can do well in a crowded field as long as you’re doing something that sets you apart from the pack. It can be price, style, substance, personality, positioning, or storytelling. There are tons of ways to establish your company as unique.

Don’t obsess over being first-to-market either. Successful businesses show up to the party late all the time. Google wasn’t the first search engine. VHS toppled Betamax even though it was later to market. There are plenty of things that are more important than being first.

via 37signals.com

This is a great point that also reminds me of those countless hopeful entrepreneurs out there that keep their ideas close to their chest or try and make you sign an NDA to discuss an idea. I don’t care about your idea, your idea sucks if the execution isn’t right.

First experience with Google Wave

Posted on by

After a few weeks of trying to use Google Wave by myself (doesn’t seem useful without someone to Wave with you :-/ ), I finally engaged in my first realtime chat.

First thoughts… Google Wave absolutely cannot replace IM. Think about talking someone face to face in real life. Now imagine that both of you are trying to talk to each other whilst listening to the other person AND responding to what they’re saying. It’s impossible in real life thus is extremely frustrating online.

However, I do see the extreme usefulness of being able to collaboratively note take with a group of people at a meeting/class/ conference. But again, two people in a chat was frustrating. Any more than that working on one doc would be pure havoc!

I don’t think this tool will ever hit the mainstream, but people will find its useful niche and make it shine.

Photo

Test

Posted on by

<object width=”400″ height=”225″><param name=”allowfullscreen” value=”true” /><param name=”allowscriptaccess” value=”always” /><param name=”movie” value=”http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2745664&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=0&amp;show_portrait=1&amp;color=&amp;fullscreen=1&#8243; /><embed src=”http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2745664&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=0&amp;show_portrait=1&amp;color=&amp;fullscreen=1&#8243; type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” allowfullscreen=”true” allowscriptaccess=”always” width=”400″ height=”225″></embed></object><br /><a href=”http://vimeo.com/”>Highrise Case Study: Mazyar Hedayat, Attorney at Law</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/signals”>37signals</a&gt; on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a&gt;.

How to combat Russian SPAM in two easy steps

Posted on by

This is such a simple and easy to execute solution that it made my head spin. I did this in Gmail but am sure that this can be done in any mail app.

Create a new filter to search for the keyword of a letter that doesn’t exist in the English language but is common in SPAM messages. For example: ‘И’

hasthewords.jpg

Have the message skip your inbox and go straight to delete and voila!

delete.jpg

Thanks to the 37signals for this tip…

WANTED: Multi-Platform Compatible Guitar Hero III Online Play

Posted on by

Even though I know the answer to my own question, I keep Googling various keywords to try and find some glimmer of hope that Guitar Hero III fans using any supported platforms can play together.  I don’t know the specifics of the online play, but I’m suspecting that RedOctane is hosting all of them and developed the various incarnations of the game from the same core.  So can anyone tell me why this shouldn’t be possible?  Can the online play be hacked to be hosted elsewhere to support multi-platform online play?

Anybody out there?

Neglect

Posted on by

I’ve realized recently that planning on doing something and not committing even in the slightest way is a death sentence to any project.  I’ve been meaning to update this blog, finish some projects on my house, sign up for my Private Pilot’s License, clean out my closet, etc.  Making a schedule isn’t the best idea to solve this problem as you just skip over an item and say you’ll come back to it later.  I’ve found that having a to-do list that is in plain sight can work if you don’t overlook it.  The best way to complete projects is to complete one item whenever you have time (even 20 minutes).  Once you’re leaving work, are exhausted and just want to go home and watch your favorite shows, do one thing on your to-do list instead.  Go workout for 20 mins, stop by the grocery store and pick up some staples (I never go shopping and have a bad habit of eating out everyday of my life), complete that one project at home that you’ve been planning.  You’ll come to realize that ticking off items on your to-do list is like a drug, the more you do, the more you want.

When I don’t have that much to do and I lie around, I feel lazy and don’t accomplish much.  If I’ve got work coming out of my ears, I find it easier to take care of other things that need taking care of.  So keep yourself busy and take care of all those things you’ve wanted to accomplish.  If you put them off till later, later will never come.