Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

This podcast is for aspiring entrepreneurs and those that want to become a designer and implementor of great software solutions. We look at the whole skill set that makes a great developer. This includes tech skills, business and entrepreneurial skills, and life-hacking so you have the time to get the job done while still enjoying life,

Sam McNeill - Difficult Conversations and Building a Culture of Teamwork 09/16/2021

Sam McNeill - Difficult Conversations and Building a Culture of Teamwork We wrap up the main part of the conversation with Sam McNeill as we mention difficult conversations. That is a perfect start for his stories about building a team and maintaining high morale. Next, we discuss roles and cross-training in the wild without getting into the academic terms and suggestions. Take notes as this is a valuable conversation. Difficult Conversations Sam mentions the book about dysfunctional teams and difficult conversations. There is a link below to learn more about this book from Patrick Lencioni. We move forward from there to see how Sam has managed to sort of avoid difficult conversations. Yes, they still exist. However, they are not so difficult when everyone is on the same team and shares goals. People can self-select themselves out of places they don't feel comfortable and would not be very productive. Leadership is still required, but it tends to be more player-coach in its approach, and everyone feels valued. Cross-Training We wrap up this episode talking about how he has grown his team. First, he found areas where he needed help. Then he found people that could provide the needed skills. Of course, there is always overlap and a need to avoid people falling into ruts. Nevertheless, filling skill and experience gaps are important steps during the early growth of a team. The unmentioned part of all of this is chemistry. It may seem hard to find someone that does not get along with a personality like Sam, but we all get on each other's nerves at times. The important part of building a team is finding people that generally gel while still being comfortable and different enough to raise questions. We want to row the same way while keeping a lookout that we are not rowing in the wrong direction. A Little Background Voted as a Top Five Speaker in Spice Magazine’s Hot 100, Sam McNeill - SongDivision GM for UK & Europe - is an in-demand Corporate MC and accredited DiSC Facilitators. Sam has hosted over 600 interactive face-2-face and online experiences. These include musical team-building workshops, gala awards events, and product launches on five continents. Sam’s accolades include winning ‘Future Leader’ awards for Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). Sam is also a member of Connect Corporate’s esteemed list of ’40 under 40’ industry professionals. Sam’s professionalism and energy have made him a favorite among some of the biggest brands in the world, including Coca- Cola, Microsoft, McDonald’s, Spotify, and Fujitsu, and Virgin. Sam earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Studies (Classical Voice) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Learn More You can learn more about Sam's work and the organization he loves by visiting the Song Division website. If you think they might be able to help you, then give him a call. Another Useful Link: /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/20463800

Sam NcNeill - When Things Go Wrong , Great Leaders Step Up 09/14/2021

Sam NcNeill - When Things Go Wrong , Great Leaders Step Up We continue our multi-part series of interviews with Sam McNeill with a look at when things go wrong and an examination of leaders. There are times that we go a little off the rails and times where things go completely awry. The way you respond can help keep the former from stumbling into the latter. When Things Go Wrong, And They Will Sam has a history of being the "guy with the microphone." That can be the best way to handle challenges or the worst. You are in the position to impact the situation. Therefore, it is best if you enjoy being in that role. One can either run the show or delegate. Sam enjoys the former and gives us insight into one of the things that make him tick. He feels most comfortable being on the stage as if that is what he is meant to do. While we skimmed over that in the interview, that is something we should all know and pursue. You will always be happiest when you are doing what you were meant to do. Build Your Team It helps to have a solid and reliable team when things go wrong. The story and details Sam provides at this point of the interview are worth noting. He mentions the idea of matching strengths to roles and also how to focus on a team as such. Even when there is a team leader, the team is the most important part. They do the work and share responsibilities. This may be best summarized by the Song Division values of excitement, energy, and a willingness to work hard. A Little Background Voted as a Top Five Speaker in Spice Magazine’s Hot 100, Sam McNeill - SongDivision GM for UK & Europe - is an in-demand Corporate MC and accredited DiSC Facilitators. Sam has hosted over 600 interactive face-2-face and online experiences. These include musical team-building workshops, gala awards events, and product launches on five continents. Sam’s accolades include winning ‘Future Leader’ awards for Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). Sam is also a member of Connect Corporate’s esteemed list of ’40 under 40’ industry professionals. Sam’s professionalism and energy have made him a favorite among some of the biggest brands in the world, including Coca- Cola, Microsoft, McDonald’s, Spotify, and Fujitsu, and Virgin. Sam earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Studies (Classical Voice) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Learn More You can learn more about the work Sam is doing and the organization he loves by visiting the Song Division website. If you think they might be able to help you, then give him a call. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/20392409

Sam McNeill Part 2 - Win Customers With Excitement and Professionalism 09/09/2021

Sam McNeill Part 2 - Win Customers With Excitement and Professionalism We continue our interview with Sam with a deeper dive into enthusiasm. He describes how his love of his job helps him to win customers. However, that is just the beginning. He then goes into some excellent examples of how professionalism leads to customer success. There is more to winning over customers than simply getting that sale. He walks us through how to ensure each customer is satisfied. Know Your Role The musical band and recording session examples are highly relatable to the IT world. We can see many of the personalities he describes among studio musicians and "the talent" in our technical teams. The key to success is understanding your role as much as it is clear on the roles themselves. For example, if you are playing background for Sir Elton John, your role should be obvious. However, what role John Elton plays on your development team may not be so clear. Win Customers Then Keep Them Sam has dealt with and customers over the years. All of those little projects have provided him a pattern for what works and what does not. The success he has had at Song Division comes from traits the organization espouses and executes. These include professionalism, consistency, understanding the needs of the customer, and focusing on success. That last item can be tough when things go haywire. Nevertheless, success can still be possible and must be pursued. That is how you not only win customers but also keep them. A Little Background Voted as a Top Five Speaker in Spice Magazine’s Hot 100, Sam McNeill - SongDivision GM for UK & Europe - is an in-demand Corporate MC and accredited DiSC Facilitators. Sam has hosted over 600 interactive face-2-face and online experiences. These include musical team-building workshops, gala awards events, and product launches on five continents. Sam’s accolades include winning ‘Future Leader’ awards for Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). Sam is also a member of Connect Corporate’s esteemed list of ’40 under 40’ industry professionals. Sam’s professionalism and energy have made him a favorite among some of the biggest brands in the world, including Coca- Cola, Microsoft, McDonald’s, Spotify, and Fujitsu, and Virgin. Sam earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Studies (Classical Voice) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Learn More You can learn more about the work Sam is doing and the organization he loves by visiting the Song Division website. If you think they might be able to help you, then give him a call. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/20382062

Sam McNeill Interview - Love Your Job And Find Success 09/07/2021

Sam McNeill Interview - Love Your Job And Find Success We start our next series of interviews with an example of what happens when you love your job. Sam McNeill is highly successful and entertaining because of the energy he brings. You will see that as we go through a discussion of his background, his challenges, and becoming a key part of the success of a company he loves, . A Natural Talent Sam is one of those people that is born with plenty of natural talent. He started as an aspiring musician and actor. He briefly describes that childhood and his early loves. This sets the table for his career. The two worlds of childhood and his future meet up at a Microsoft event as he is introduced to SongDivision. Love Your Job = Success We almost start at the end as Sam points out how much he enjoyed working with SongDivision and the people in the organization. This enthusiasm put him on track to join the company and see a lot of success. The important point for us to learn is that success took work. However, he enjoyed every minute and was even more effective at his job because he had found what he loved to do. Optimism and excitement are contagious. When you exude these, you will find success following close behind. A Little Background Voted as a Top Five Speaker in Spice Magazine’s Hot 100, Sam McNeill - SongDivision GM for UK & Europe - is an in-demand Corporate MC and accredited DiSC Facilitators. Sam has hosted over 600 interactive face-2-face, and online experiences. These include musical team-building workshops, gala awards events, and product launches on five continents. Sam’s accolades include winning ‘Future Leader’ awards for Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). Sam is also a member of Connect Corporate’s esteemed list of ’40 under 40’ industry professionals. Sam’s professionalism and energy have made him a favorite among some of the biggest brands in the world, including Coca- Cola, Microsoft, McDonald’s, Spotify, and Fujitsu, and Virgin. Sam earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Studies (Classical Voice) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Learn More You can learn a lot more about the work Sam is doing and the organization he loves by visiting the Song Division website. If you think they might be able to help you then give him a call. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/20382047

Style Stages - Find the platform that works for you (DP Knudten Part 4) 09/02/2021

Style Stages - Find the platform that works for you (DP Knudten Part 4) We jump into a discussion about repetition as key to your brand success. However, the next topic of style stages is just as critical. Then, we touch on several nuggets and suggestions to wrap up our interview with DP. He provides a few challenges and valuable insight to leave you with plenty of food for thought. Style Stages A key concept for this episode is the idea of style stages. There are numerous (maybe countless) social media platforms available today. We should take advantage of many of those, if possible. On the other hand, some provide a better stage for our presentation content and style than others. These style stages vary from written form to audio to long or short-form videos. Therefore, we have a range of options to embrace and find what works best for us. For example, if you have a face for radio, then go the audio route. When your content makes more sense, and you are comfortable writing, then use those tools. Building The Connection We should balance our comfort zone with how these style stages impact the audience. DP provides a quote about how people interact as blog readers, video viewers, or audio listeners. These are important to consider. Where possible, audio is one of the best formats as it builds a personal connection due to being in the listener's head. A Little Background DP’s worked on some of the biggest brands in the business, including Coca-Cola®, The Athlete’s Foot®, and ClosetMaid®, during tenures at DDB Needham (Chicago), McCann Erickson (Atlanta), and creative shops in Denver, Sarasota, and Madison, WI. He is the author of and co-author of and the creator-host of the popular podcasts, The ROTOMA Podcast and NONFICTION BRAND. He is also a keynote speaker and clinician in branding, social media, creativity, and culture for groups throughout the United States. Contacting DP You can learn from DP directly or as a student of his experience. First, DP has a podcast called Non-Fictions Brands. I highly recommend you give it a listen. However, you might desire other ways to follow him or send a message. You can do that through his personal website. Check out the links below. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/20258075

Niche Brands - Personal Or Otherwise - DP Knudten Part 3 08/31/2021

Niche Brands - Personal Or Otherwise - DP Knudten Part 3 This episode starts right away with a continuation of the niche brands discussion. We then move to DP's thoughts on social media and using those tools. He even moves into examples of live-streaming and ways to use these tools no matter your strengths. Niche Brands - Livestream Anything DP dropped a couple of examples that are highly niche right out of the gate. First, he talks about who uses twitch to lifestream software coding. Then he shifts right into mentioning he live-streamed writing his book. How can you get more niche than that? However, these have followers and are ways to build a community. These tools can build relationships in ways marketing never used to be able to touch. Even a podcast interview can build a relationship among the participants. Influencers All of that brings us into a discussion of influencers and personal brands. The people that like to label themselves an "influencer" are not highly praised by DP. However, he does point out that all of us are influencers. The niche of our audience may be small. Nevertheless, we bring influence to those people, which could potentially be highly valuable to some sellers. We should never underestimate what we can do for others. A Little Background DP’s worked on some of the biggest brands in the business, including Coca-Cola®, The Athlete’s Foot®, and ClosetMaid®, during tenures at DDB Needham (Chicago), McCann Erickson (Atlanta), and creative shops in Denver, Sarasota, and Madison, WI. He is the author of and co-author of and the creator-host of the popular podcasts, The ROTOMA Podcast and NONFICTION BRAND. He is also a keynote speaker and clinician in branding, social media, creativity, and culture for groups throughout the United States. Contacting DP You can learn from DP directly or as a student of his experience. First, DP has a podcast called Non-Fictions Brands. I highly recommend you give it a listen. However, you might desire other ways to follow him or send a message. You can do that through his personal website. Check out the links below. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/20257871

Brand First Principles, A Foundation In Truth - DP Knudten Part 2 08/26/2021

Brand First Principles, A Foundation In Truth - DP Knudten Part 2 We dig into the ways to build a non-fiction brand in episode two. The focus is on brand first principles and sticking to truth in building upon it. DP starts with his "a-ha" moment that took years to develop. Then he weaves a series of points to help us build a brand, personal or otherwise. Write Some Stuff The non-fiction idea started with a simple statement, "write some stuff." He was working on advertising content and had only those instructions. That caused him to halt and note that he is not a fiction writer. His advertising process required facts and truth so he could present them. It was not sufficient to simply make up a story for a product or brand. Brand First Principles DP highlights his personal brand first principles and gives us a foundation for ours. We need to stick to our first principles and build on those. That is the case whether you are building a brand or selling a product (including your resume). These are the traits that make you special or unique. They are your strengths and should be the basis of your value to customers. However, you might want to review what you want to be as well as your strengths. The goal might be to pick up diamonds instead of potatoes. A Little Background DP’s worked on some of the biggest brands in the business, including Coca-Cola®, The Athlete’s Foot®, and ClosetMaid®, during tenures at DDB Needham (Chicago), McCann Erickson (Atlanta), and creative shops in Denver, Sarasota, and Madison, WI. He is the author of and co-author of and the creator-host of the popular podcasts, The ROTOMA Podcast and NONFICTION BRAND. He is also a keynote speaker and clinician in branding, social media, creativity, and culture for groups throughout the United States. Contacting DP You can learn from DP directly or as a student of his experience. First, DP has a podcast called Non-Fictions Brands. I highly recommend you give it a listen. However, you might desire other ways to follow him or send a message. You can do that through his personal website. Check out the links below. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/20216390

DP Knudten - Nonfiction Brands - Match Products And People 08/24/2021

DP Knudten - Nonfiction Brands - Match Products And People We continue our interviews with the first part of our discussion with the author of nonfiction brands - DP Knudten. His book sparked my interest, and now we get to sit down and talk to him. We cover a lot about brands, both personal and corporate. Thus, you will have a better grasp of these concepts after listening to him. NonFiction Brands - Sell To The Right Audience A common misconception of advertisers is that they sell items to people that do not need them. Contrary to that, DP focuses on nonfiction brands as a path to get the audience that wants your product. The key point is that we will build better relationships with customers when we have what they need. That also makes the sale much easier. They need our product. Therefore, we need to point out how it meets their needs. Advertising becomes almost responsive instead of proactive and in your face. Brands And Emotions There is always an emotional appeal in the best marketing. It is one thing to sell features, but another to sell how they make the buyer feel. Think of the opposite of buyer's remorse. A brand predicts a pleasant experience and post-sale feeling for the buyer. Likewise, a personal connection in the sales process will help provide a warmer experience than a cold corporate approach. A Little Background DP’s worked on some of the biggest brands in the business, including Coca-Cola®, The Athlete’s Foot®, and ClosetMaid®, during tenures at DDB Needham (Chicago), McCann Erickson (Atlanta), and creative shops in Denver, Sarasota, and Madison, WI. He is the author of and co-author of and the creator-host of the popular podcasts, The ROTOMA Podcast and NONFICTION BRAND. He is also a keynote speaker and clinician in branding, social media, creativity, and culture for groups throughout the United States. Contacting DP You can learn from DP directly or as a student of his experience. First, DP has a podcast called Non-Fictions Brands. I highly recommend you give it a listen. However, you might desire other ways to follow him or send a message. You can do that through his personal website. Check out the links below. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/20194547

Professional Publishing Secret - Get Started And Be Consistent 08/19/2021

Professional Publishing Secret - Get Started And Be Consistent We wrap up the interview with Dale L. Roberts sharing his professional publishing secret. He tells us to get started and be consistent. However, he shows us that a love of our work is always key to success. We need the drive to be successful, and the more we love our work, the more that comes naturally to us. Professional Publishing Secret - Burn The Boats Hunger is an excellent motivator for almost everyone. Unfortunately, that does not always lead to us doing the best things we should. However, we need the motivation to keep us putting in those hours to work through the process. There is a lot of work required for success in any form. Thus, we need to embrace our goals. We may decide there is no plan "B," but there are other ways to set ourselves up for success as well. Find out what is your best motivating factor. No Overnight Success I return to this point. Instant success is a fantasy. At some point, everyone has to put in the work. Otherwise, success will always elude them. We see this and accept it in our technology careers. Likewise, we need to be aware that it is the case for any career. That being said, when we love what we do, time will fly by. Years of effort and work will feel like a blink of an eye. That may not impress others. Nevertheless, you will reap the rewards. A Little Background Dale L. Roberts is a self-publishing advocate, award-winning author, and video content creator. Dale’s inherent passion for life fuels his self-publishing advocacy both in print and online. After publishing over 40 titles and becoming an international bestselling author on Amazon. Then, Dale started his YouTube channel, Self-Publishing, with Dale. Feedspot voted it among the Top 50 YouTube channels about self-publishing. Thus, Dale cemented his position as the indie-author community's go-to authority. Contacting Dale There are many ways to contact Dale. However, these are the best ways to reach out or learn more about the various ways he can help. Website - YouTube – Twitter – Facebook - Instagram – Publishing Links We mentioned a few sites for self-publishing. Here are those links. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/20131139

Publish Wide - Dale Roberts Advice for Building Your Platforms 08/17/2021

Publish Wide - Dale Roberts Advice for Building Your Platforms An interview of a self-publishing expert is not complete without a discussion of "publish wide." That refers to the many platforms available to publish your book. It includes traditional print books, audiobooks, and e-books. Therefore, the conversation with Dale L. Roberts continues to look at how we can grow to reach people. We learn it does not matter how they prefer to consume their content. Publish Wide = Many Platforms Dale lays out several platforms, including the elephant in the room (Amazon KDP). In comparison, each of these has its strengths and weaknesses. It is worthwhile to pursue them all. The key is to start with one and get comfortable with it. Do not try to be everything to everyone in your audience out of the gate. Your bonus recommendation is to take a close look at Kobo. Dale rates it highest for UI and experience. The World Has Changed Self-publishing has always been around. However, modern tools and platforms make it easier than ever to do so. Likewise, self-publishing is truly a viable option. It is often your best approach for an e-book. Do not underestimate the various ways to deliver your content. We can now reach an audience through e-books, audio, traditional, and so much more. You put a lot of time and effort into that book. Make sure you give it the broadest possible reach to wherever your audience members reside. A Little Background Dale L. Roberts is a self-publishing advocate, award-winning author, and video content creator. Dale’s inherent passion for life fuels his self-publishing advocacy both in print and online. After publishing over 40 titles and becoming an international bestselling author on Amazon. Then, Dale started his YouTube channel, Self-Publishing, with Dale. Feedspot voted it among the Top 50 YouTube channels about self-publishing. Thus, Dale cemented his position as the indie-author community's go-to authority. Contacting Dale There are many ways to contact Dale. However, these are the best ways to reach out or learn more about the various ways he can help. Website - YouTube – Twitter – Facebook - Instagram – Publishing Links We mentioned a few sites for self-publishing. Here are those links. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/20131220

Define Your Audience For Publishing Success 08/12/2021

Define Your Audience For Publishing Success We continue our discussion with Dale L. Roberts with a discussion around how to define your audience. That is an important step in any product. Books and written content are no different. We continue the discussion with getting that book written and your first steps in self-publishing. Define Your Audience There are some guides that refer to your ideal audience as your avatar. This vehicle should be a well-defined image of who you are speaking to. That is a key factor in success whether you are selling or communicating. Therefore, the avatar must be defined early and preferably before the writing process begins. Dale provides a perfect example. He wrote exercise books and it seems only logical that an exercise routine differs by age, goals, and fitness. The routine for Betty White is not the same one for my goals. We have people that benefit most from our content. Those are who we want to speak to. Therefore, define your audience by who "needs" to read your book. Perfect Is Not An Option A critical step in self-publishing is writing the thing to be published. That may seem an obvious statement. Yet, Dale mentions multiple times where people ask about publishing before they have written even a word. Start with writing. Also, do not worry about a perfect first draft. Get the content down and then focus on the clean-up. Once you have that rough draft, it can be a basis for crafting your work of art. Note the discussion about editors. An editor is not simply a grammar-checker. This person helps the writer craft a story and present content in the best way. Think about selling a house. Your house may be perfect for a buyer. However, staging the house will help drive that point across and often increase the offer you receive. A Little Background Dale L. Roberts is a self-publishing advocate, award-winning author, and video content creator. Dale’s inherent passion for life fuels his self-publishing advocacy both in print and online. After publishing over 40 titles and becoming an international bestselling author on Amazon. Then, Dale started his YouTube channel, Self-Publishing, with Dale. Feedspot voted it among the Top 50 YouTube channels about self-publishing. Thus, Dale cemented his position as the indie-author community's go-to authority. Contacting Dale There are many ways to contact Dale. However, these are the best ways to reach out or learn more about the various ways he can help. Website - YouTube – Twitter – Facebook - Instagram – Publishing Links We mentioned a few sites for self-publishing. Here are those links. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/20092331

Dale L. Roberts Interview - Getting Started With Self-Publishing 08/10/2021

Dale L. Roberts Interview - Getting Started With Self-Publishing .This episode starts a new multi-part set of interviews with Dale L. Roberts. He is a guru of self-publishing with dozens of books to his name. The focus is how to get started, platforms you can use, and how to find success in this far-ranging discussion. Our first episode provides background on Dale and getting started. A Self-Publishing Firehose Start with a focus. There is . Many pieces go into being successful. Dale refers to it as being a firehose of activity. There are two ways a firehose works. One is uncontrolled and sprays water everywhere. The other is focused and puts out fires. Next, we talk about how to take reasoned steps. That lays out a process to keep your efforts effective. Stick With It We all make mistakes. Those mistakes come far more often when we are new or learning. Writing and publishing a book is no different. Your initial goal should be to write the book. Of course, that is a challenge in and of itself. Once that is done, then move on to the publishing process. Note that the critical part of success in all of these is consistency. Therefore, stick to your plan. It can be easy to grow discouraged and quit. However, staying the course and regular progress will get you to the finish line. A Little Background Dale L. Roberts is a self-publishing advocate, award-winning author, and video content creator. Dale’s inherent passion for life fuels his self-publishing advocacy both in print and online. After publishing over 40 titles and becoming an international bestselling author on Amazon. Then, Dale started his YouTube channel, Self-Publishing, with Dale. Feedspot voted it among the Top 50 YouTube channels about self-publishing. Thus, Dale cemented his position as the indie-author community's go-to authority. Contacting Dale There are many ways to contact Dale. However, these are the best ways to reach out or learn more about the various ways he can help. Website - YouTube – Twitter – Facebook - Instagram – /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/20079047

Finding A Mentor - Creating a Solid Foundation 08/05/2021

Finding A Mentor - Creating a Solid Foundation This bonus episode for our Tim Stratton interview digs deeper into finding a mentor. First, we look at what makes a good mentor relationship. This is a situation where all parties need to contribute to the goals and receive benefits. Thus, the focus is on the relationship itself and what to look for when you desire a mentor. Finding A Mentor Organically There is an industry out there of people that advertise being a mentor. They even have processes and cookie-cutter approaches in some cases. This may help, but I do not see it as a true mentorship. Finding a mentor is not like finding a plumber. You do want someone you can trust. However, many other factors go into being a true mentor. Similar Interests Or Goals The primary objective in finding a match should be similar goals or interests. This is someone you want to emulate. Therefore, they should have a path you can relate to and a destination you also want to reach. Beware of a mentor that has goals or achievements that are only tangential to your path. They , but the closer they align with your goals, the better. For example, a player that wants to be a basketball star can benefit in some ways from a hockey star, but not as much as from a basketball star. Know the areas where your mentor is similar and different. Listen and Then Act The goal of most mentors is to provide useful knowledge. They want you to act on what you are taught and become better in those skills. That is how they know it is useful. If you never take action, then the utility of the knowledge will never be known. The goal is not to fill your head with trivia. Instead, they want to provide you with stepping stones for your career climb. That means you need to plan actions based on what comes out of mentor sessions. Absorbing is not enough. Take the lessons learned to heart and apply them sooner rather than later before you forget what you were taught. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/20004650

Mentor Relationships - Timothy Stratton Interview Part 5 08/03/2021

A Better Manager - Tim Stratton Interview 07/29/2021

A Better Manager - Tim Stratton Interview This episode of our interview with Timothy Stratton delves into experiences and how to be a better manager. We compare notes on what has worked for us and traits of those we seek to emulate. While the focus is on developer managers, there are many general suggestions as well. The Better Manager Summary There are many . We hit on the more generalized of these in our discussion. These come from our experience as a manager and being managed. We started our careers as developers and think we have some good insights into managing developers because of that foundation. It is easy to do the things that you found to be positives when the roles were switched. A golden nugget in this area is to remove obstacles for your team. The Weight of the World One of the more significant challenges in moving from developer to manager is becoming less hands-on. We have skills that allow us to jump in and help get tasks accomplished. However, that is not always the best use of our time. There is a mental adjustment needed to move from a "do-er" role to a guide or director. That is not an easy step to take and can often keep developers on a technical track rather than managerial. Fortunately, there are rewards for either of these paths and we have good options for an extended career. A Little Background Timothy is a software development manager at XSolis with a strong development background. He has a master's degree and a love for learning. We gave some details in part one and then dug deeper into how his career started and how those steps led to success today in part 2. Contacting Timothy You can send an email to [email protected] for other methods of connection. Unfortunately (for us), he is not a fan of social sites. Thus, he keeps that footprint small. However, he is happy to help others, and we can connect you through any of the normal Develpreneur avenues. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/19956377

Interview With Timothy Stratton - Continuing Education 07/27/2021

Interview With Timothy Stratton - Continuing Education We continue our discussion with Timothy Stratton with a dive into continuing education and how to keep up in the fast-moving world. There are always job responsibilities to address that keep our time at a premium. We talk about finding ways to stay up-to-date and the cost of this career path. The Cost of Continuing Education Let's start with the bad news. There are only so many hours in the day, and that means we have to trade off other pursuits for our careers. However, it is not all bad. The things that Timothy mentions as giving up can always be reviewed later. You may not watch as much television or go to the movies, but you can do that later in life. That is the price you pay when your career is starting and . Trust me. I went years without keeping up with current TV and movies and then was able to catch up as desired once life got less hectic. Constant Reader One of the most important requirements for continuing education is reading. Whether it is books, journals, blogs, or news sites, most of the best content must be read. There are and similar outlets. However, most of what we need to keep current is communicated better through reading rather than listening. That means we should expect to read a lot and fit it into our regular schedule of tasks. Fortunately, digital delivery allows us to take and consume this content anywhere. Our continuing education effort can become part of shopping for groceries, waiting in line for a meal, or kicking back on our porch. We can convert any part of life into a classroom. However, do this in moderation. We still need to be able to find some semblance of balance with our personal lives. A Little Background Timothy is a software development manager at XSolis with a strong development background. He has a master's degree and a love for learning. We gave some details in part one and then dug deeper into how his career started and how those steps led to success today in part 2. Contacting Timothy You can send an email to [email protected] for other methods of connection. Unfortunately (for us), he is not a fan of social sites. Thus, he keeps that footprint small. However, he is happy to help others, and we can connect you through any of the normal Develpreneur avenues. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/19923950

Timothy Stratton Interview Part 2 - The Value of Higher Education 07/22/2021

Timothy Stratton Interview Part 1 - Starting a New Project 07/20/2021

Timothy Stratton Interview Part 1 - Starting a New Project We start the next interview with an introduction to Timothy Stratton. He is an experienced developer moving into a role as a manager. This episode focuses on starting a new project and how to ramp up to new technologies. A Little Background Timothy is a software development manager at XSolis with a strong development background. He has a master's degree and a love for learning. We will cover those in the interview, so no spoilers here. Starting A New Project We often have a new project to start. That can be a new job, a new product, or learning a new language. In each of these cases, we must first to enough to get us started. Documentation is invaluable in these situations. However, it is not always available or thorough. We can supplement documentation with questions and discussions. That includes shadowing users or subject matter experts. Thus, sometimes watching others is the best way to help us discover what we do not know. A picture is said to be worth a thousand words. That is important to remember when learning a new thing. Likewise, we can learn quickly by seeing someone in action rather than describing it. For example, consider learning to tie a shoe through an example as opposed to a how-to document. A Hidden Gem When you are faced with a confusing new environment, ask questions. Of course, you are not expected to know everything, and the easiest way to get answers is to ask questions. Nevertheless, we skimmed right through that gem in the interview, so please do not let it go by without note. This is the best technique for getting started quickly. Therefore, embrace your inquisitive side and speed your learning through questions. Great Links for more From Timothy Look him up on Linked In to connect. You can find him at Timothy Stratton. You can also send an email to [email protected] for other methods of connection. He is not a fan of social sites. Thus, he keeps that footprint small. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/19854845

Trevor Ewen Part 2 - The Technical MBA 07/19/2021

Trevor Ewen Part 4 - Extending Code 07/15/2021

Trevor Ewen Part 3 - Functional Core Imperative Shell 07/13/2021

Trevor Ewen Part 1 - Building Software 07/06/2021

Object-Oriented Design : Invest In The Design Process 04/23/2021

Object-Oriented Design : Invest In The Design Process We wrap up the season with a focus on the design process. There is a cost to doing this, as with most things of value. However, you will find that the benefits in tighter, easier to maintain, and higher quality code are worth the investment. We can use the tools and frameworks we have to take shortcuts to an object-oriented solution or be better by spending time on design. Object-Oriented Design Is A Revision We have discussed how the solution is always our primary focus. Developers solve problems. Therefore, our "why" is crafting a solution. The emphasis is on the solution not on the craft. Once we have a solution we are comfortable with, then we can look to mold it into something better. Therein lies the rub. We have a solution so we could push forward to implementation. On the other hand, we can spend time refining the solution. The wise developer chooses the latter approach. The Design Process Is An Investment There is no question that design time is an investment in our implementation. A brute-force approach is often an option. However, those solutions rarely hold up over time. Even duct tape has its limits. Thus, time spent on design assumes we will be able to make up that time in future endeavors to maintain, scale, or enhance our implementation. That makes efficiency and clarity the primary goals for our design process. We want to craft code that is worth re-use and that can handle relying on it for bigger and better things than this one solution. Stopping When Needed We also are going on hiatus for a while with the podcast. This is going to be our last episode until further notice. It does point to the value of making decisions and acting once a decision is made rather than some arbitrary time frame. We often talk about goals and regular reviews of our plans. However, sometimes it is best to act sooner rather than later. That can help us avoid investing in things that we see of lesser value. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/18835070

Keep It Simple - Avoid Complex Object-Oriented Designs 04/16/2021

Keep It Simple - Avoid Complex Object-Oriented Designs Software developers are known for many traits. Unfortunately, one of those is ignoring the keep it simple philosophy. We tend to "show off" our prowess through complex designs and implementations. However, those rarely are the best ones in terms of maintainability and even performance. Simplicity has its benefits. Keep It Simple - Direct Is Better While there is a value in the "scenic route" when we are out for a leisurely drive, it is not the most effective way to travel. The same concept applies to our designs and solutions. The direct solution is often the best, even though it may sacrifice scalability or its ability to be applied in a general fashion. When we focus on highlighting our design skills, we often end up with a solution looking for a problem. That is not a mindset that servers our customers. Solve The Problem First Therefore, we should always start our design with a focus on the problem. The starting point should be the solution and then map that to an object-oriented design. If we focus on the OOD, we may inadvertently attempt to cram a square peg in a round hole. This thought takes us back to the agile manifesto. The number one goal of our solution should satisfy the customer. While a solid design is valuable, it is a means to an end, not the end itself. Opportunity-Based Design When we start with a solution and then translate it to an object-oriented form, we are taking advantage of opportunities. There are opportunities to improve our solution through OOD. A good design makes use of these. Thus, our solution dictates where OOD may be useful. We can take advantage of those without using all of the features OOD provides us. It is like many things in life. Just because we can does not equate to "we should." For example, our car can go faster than the speed limit. However, there are many cases and reasons not to push the car beyond that limit. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/18690332

Leverage Your Language - Use What It Gives You 04/14/2021

Leverage Your Language - Use What It Gives You An often overlooked facet of object-oriented design is how to leverage your language to speed development. Every coding language has features and strengths to make your design or implementation better. We should not design to a language initially. However, we can tailor our implementation and detailed design to take advantage of these features. Leverage Your Language to Boost The Implementation Languages are implementation tools. Therefore, they come into play during that phase. Nevertheless, you can leverage your language as you consider the details of the design. Some approaches will either be simple or complex based on the language. We can include the concept of interfaces or multiple-inheritance in a hierarchy. That includes more granular steps like patterns built into the language. We often see these in the form of iterators or factories. Keep Up With Changes While the initial design should leverage your language, enhancements and upgrades should incorporate the same. Be aware of the changes to a language or environment over time. That includes fixes, tweaks, and new versions. A problem that may have been overly complex to solve in the past could be a "freebie" solution now that it is handled in a single line of code. Languages evolve and often do so with a focus on eliminating weaknesses. That is due to developers suggesting features based on their pain points. We often see a language that is limited in use during early versions become more general-purpose over time. The developer is the customer, so the software team or company will cater to the developers. The things that are difficult to use early on will be simplified or greater support provided. Under The Covers The changes to be aware of include those that are "under the covers." These types of changes are much more implementation-impacting. However, version upgrades have been known to make vast improvements in persistence, multi-threading, and thread-safety. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/18685418

Finding Balance In Your Object-Oriented Design Complexity 04/12/2021

Finding Balance In Your Object-Oriented Design Complexity There are many areas of life where moderation is required. Object-oriented design complexity is one of those situations. We can create a solution that is highly granular and flexible or one that is monolithic and simple. However, as is often the case, the best solutions find some middle ground that keeps our application flexible and limits complexity. A Balanced Object-Oriented Design Every solution is unique and has its own constraints and requirements. Nevertheless, we have guidelines to avoid a solution that is either over-simplified or over-engineered. They may appear obvious but are often overlooked. Isolate unique functionality - we will not get much re-use from it. Look for repeated actions or manipulations. Focus on a unit of work. Do not break down a problem that is not improved by doing so. When we walk through the steps of our solution, we should be either to easily see how to solve the related problems. Those related problems are often a pointer to our methods and classes. We want to break it down into easily solvable pieces and then stop. There is no need for our object-oriented design complexity to rise to the level of micro-managing the solution. Re-use Is A Many Splendered Thing When we are thinking about code re-use and the related work to make a solution generic, there should be multiple uses. This should be more than two occurrences or at least a vision of the code being reused many times. That is where we gain back the extra time spent in creating a generic solution rather than brute force. Our design should take into account that the direct and simple approach can also be the best. We do not get points for an elegant solution in most cases. Simple First The best designs start with a simple solution. It is easier to make our software more complex in a future iteration than simplifying it. We also will have lower maintenance costs associated with a less complex solution. These benefits add up and should bias us away from over-architected solutions. Not only are there no gains inherent in a complex system, but there are also many assumed costs. These include a slower solution, one that is harder to maintain, and a longer ramp-up time for new/additional resources. Therefore, simple is better than complex when possible. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/18678974

Documentation Of Our Object-Oriented Solution 04/09/2021

Documentation Of Our Object-Oriented Solution It is hard to think of a facet of software development that programmers dislike more than documentation. This task is almost always pushed to the end, and shortcuts are used wherever possible. However, we also are quick to complain about a lack of documentation when we pick up others' code. Maybe we need to give so we can get. that is the focus of this episode. Documentation Begins With A Signature All good documents start from an outline. There is either a written or mental plan that the author follows. In software, this objective comes from the signatures of the class and methods. We have a set of details we must provide for every method out there. What are the parameters supported? Are there constraints for those parameters? What is returned? Are there exceptions or error-handling that needs to be documented? Do we require other classes or libraries? Are there side effects? That is a sizable list when you consider that many methods are documented in a sentence or two. While documentation can be exact and concise, that is not always best. Using Documentation Generators Consider a method: integer DoSomething(parm1, parm2) Here is the typical documentation: DoSomething returns an error code or 0 on success. The first parameter is a number that tells which type of processing is needed (trim, pad, compress, encrypt). The second is a string that is processed. I am being a bit obtuse in the above comment, but not far from what most generate. That should be a start for our documentation and not the final version. Add Color Commentary We need to add details and specifics to our documentation. This includes things like validations, side effects, and avoiding magic numbers. Therefore, a better approach to the above would be something like this. DoSomething returns a 0 for success, -1 if the action is invalid, -2 if the string is null, -3 if the action fails. The first parameter (parm1) is an integer with a value of 0 to 3. This tells the method the action to perform. 0 - trim the string 1 - pad the string (left pad spaces to make the length 20) 2 - compress the string 3 - encrypt the string The second parameter (parm2) is the string the action is performed on. The resulting string is set in the instance and can be viewed through the getValue method (provide a link to that method if possible). There is minimal formatting in the example above. Nevertheless, notice how much more information we have now provided. There is no guesswork, and our expectations are properly set. Thus, we have a document that is useful and will make the next developer happy to work with our code. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/18636467

Test-Driven Development - A Better Object Oriented Design Approach 04/07/2021

Test-Driven Development - A Better Object Oriented Design Approach Testing and Design are often at opposite ends of the software development life-cycle. However, test-driven development is an excellent way to drive our design. It can help us build better classes and improve re-use. This episode focuses on TDD and how it can point us to full-featured classes with better error handling and messages. Test-Driven Development For Design We and class-level quality assurance. While those are important tasks once we get the class implemented, they are better incorporated into the design process. When we do, it ties our testing (validation) more directly to requirements. Thus, we have goals for each bit of code to achieve. We drive our implementation by the tests we need to pass. This approach is not the only way to do so. However, it does translate requirements to the implementation. It also can help us find gaps. Testing Responses Testing centers around the responses and behaviors of our classes and methods. Thus, our class must support a message, exception, or value that the test is looking for. In the case of exceptions, I find testing a key indicator of where we need to support them or report errors. That is because a unit test has this basic format. Make a call. Gather results. Compare results to a set of assumptions. That third step will highlight areas where we have the proper amount of error handling and messages supported. A Simple Example Let's consider a simple example to show how this works. In our example, we have a method that takes two numbers, adds them, and returns the sum. The requirements tell us we need to verify the sum is correct; we warn the user if a negative value is sent. Finally, we need to warn the user if they do not provide a number. If we implement first and then test, we can easily forget the latter requirements. We will probably add the numbers and return the sum. It is not until we get to testing that we will realize we have some exceptions handle. If we take the test-driven development approach, then handling these exceptions and related messages will be in our minds from the start. That can heavily influence the kinds of things we want to support and return as we design our class. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/18635243

Testing Object-Oriented Code - A Better Design Approach 04/05/2021

Testing Object-Oriented Code - A Better Design Approach We have spent a lot of time on the core concepts of object-oriented design and programming. However, testing object-oriented code is at least as essential to our practical approach. We need to ensure that our code is written with a quality that makes it worth re-using. Otherwise, it is a better use of time to write new code instead of wrangle low-quality code with the idea of re-use. We have all seen these situations where it is easier and faster to start from scratch than building on previously written code. Testing Object-Oriented Code Through Design We will focus on in the next episode. However, our implementation and approach to a solution can be improved with the inclusion of unit tests. There is a level of expectation that unit tests point to. When we start to code these, the gaps in our return values and messages become apparent. Thus, we get the benefits of tested code and a more thorough design. Unit and Class-Level Testing Unit-testing typically is at the method level. The good news is that we can connect a few of these and easily shift to class-level tests. These are important steps towards building a highly re-usable class. We will show (through successful tests) that our methods work individually and as part of the class system. While interactions and interfaces for our class are important, it is more valuable to have a class that is a solid ecosystem. The Goal Is Re-Usable All of these points lead us to how confident we are in our code. If we have a low-confidence, then why would we re-use it? In those cases, we are better off writing "one-off" code that avoids the costs of object-oriented. There is no benefit in staying on the fence. Either embrace OOD and testing object-oriented code for re-use or write something quick-and-dirty. This concept applies throughout the real world. There is no sense building on a flimsy foundation. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/18605699

Destructors And Cleaning Up An Instance: Object-Oriented Design 04/02/2021

Destructors And Cleaning Up An Instance: Object-Oriented Design When we get to the end of our use of a class instance, we need to clean up after ourselves. This is where destructors come into play. They are similar to constructors in a mirror fashion. While a constructor creates an instance, a destructor removes an instance. Destructors And Resource Release Many languages have a default destructor, much as they have a default constructor. These methods likely free up some pointers behind the scenes. However, we also have resources and properties or even notifications that may be needed as part of this process. That leads us to a process that effectively undoes the creation and initialization steps. We first release resources (reverse the initialization). Then we remove the instance from memory (reverse the constructor). The Important Properties The challenge with a destructor and cleanup is that many languages do most of this work for us. The tasks of memory initialization and pointer creation are done under the covers. Therefore, we can leave the default destructor as is and let the system manage those things. However, we do often have non-simple attributes like child instances and resources to release like file handles. These complex attributes and initialization steps are critical to review and address in our destructors. Keep It Simple With all of the above in mind, we also need to consider what happens when a destructor fails. Therefore, it is helpful to have a close or cleanup method that we can call separate from the destructor. It may seem like splitting hairs, but there is value in handling releasing resources separate from destroying an instance. This impact comes from destructors often being called more often than we think. A fat destructor can dramatically slow performance, just as we see in fat constructors. This multiple-step approach to cleaning up makes it easier to handle each step at a time. Thus, potential exceptions are addressed individually rather than treating them in a bunch. That smaller scope will help you avoid headaches and synchronization of getting the system cleaned up. /episode/index/show/develpreneur/id/18550916

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