Don't be an Idiot
Run a viable business
Curtis McHale | @ curtismchale | curtismchale.ca
Be realistic with your time
photo credit: Profound Whatever
Project Timelines
- I estimated projects poorly
- After 5 years it's still really hard to estimate projects
Things that kill timelines
- Client Content
- FTP/Shipping/Payment info
- Scope creep
- Unseen technical issues
How I fixed it
- Weekly Billing
- Help other people out and you'll get helped
8 hours a day right???
- 8am - out of bed
- 9am - sit down and check Twitter
- 10am - open email
- 11am - walk the dog (it's a nice day)
- 12pm - HUNGRY
- 1pm - back to work - TWITTER
- 1:30pm - crap I need to write code
- 2pm - CRAP I need to write code
- 3pm - whew that was work, wait it's only 3
- 4pm - can I have fun yet?
- 5pm - DONE. Wait I only billed an hour?
CHarge Properly
photo credit: Ѕolo
Default Answer is....
I'll charge hourly right?????
- Client Content
- FTP/Shipping/Payment information
- Scope Creep
- Unseen Technical Issues
Hrm so I'll charge...
FLAT RATE!!!!
- Client Content
- FTP/Shipping/Payment info
- Scope Creep
- Unseen Technical issues
I LOVE....
Weekly rates
- Client Content
- FTP/Shipping/Payment info
- Scope Creep
- Unseen Technical issues
Budgets & Spending
photo credit: Eric Constantineau
$0 Budget
$0 Budget and Variable Income
Credit Cards are Stupid
Average North American spends 12% - 18% extra
But AIRMILES FTW
I challenge with math
- $1200
- 2000 AIRMILES FTW
-
1 AIRMILE for every $20 (and that cost us $75)
- $40,000
- $4,000
Payment Terms
- 10 Canadian business days or interest
- Weekly means I get paid Friday for work starting Monday
don't agree to
"We'll pay you XX days after our client pays us."
Set Business Goals
photo credit: 713 Avenue
1st Year goal
make MORE money
buy a NOT crappy computer
don't crash and burn
Goals should be...
- Work to reach
- Public (at least accountable)
But what if I miss?
So what you tried!!!
That's better than most of your peers.
Review Review
photo credit: Dunechaser
Do you Know???
- What's your first task this Monday?
- What has been your most profitable project this month?
- What about in the last 6 months?
- Last year?
- WHY are you running your business?
This Monday?
- Review tomorrow before today ends
Finished Projects
- as soon as possible after they finish
- within a week at the longest
I Found Out
- Shipping/Payment gateway info
- I enjoy building themes a bunch
What are your WHy's?
- I want to be a present father
- I was tired of seeing terrible code
- I see so much potential not fulfilled
So Much Clarity
Reset yearly
- Kill your TODO list
- Kill your email
- Make sure your WHY's are aligned still
- Check your upcoming projects
- Rebuild the TODO list for the year
you've got ideas
photo credit: Joriel "Joz" Jimenez
What Business are you in?
photo credit: Bill Ward's Brickpile
I develop or...
- I design
- I take photographs
You are in the business of customer service
No Mole mode
Marketing More
photo credit: andertoons
So Much work so little Time
- So uh I don't have work now
"passive' Marketing
- 'passive' may not be right
- Blog people blog and blog more
- Help people out
- Meet people for REALZ
- Plug other people all the time
Don't be an Idiot
By curtismchale
