9 Aug 2010

Globalization Gold Rush

Are we experiencing some kind of new gold rush? The interconnectivity of our new world has empowered solo-preneurs and tiny teams in ways we never could have imagined. With fewer resources and less time, any motivated idea driver can build a small empire if they know how to take advantage of the cheap resources and opportunities.

This is where India comes into the picture. Imagine a billion people clamoring out of the third world, getting educated and sprinting into the global marketplace—motivated, educated and able to speak English better than most people I encounter every day. So what's the difference between them and us (aside from the fact that they are far more polite)?

Money.

They work for a lot less money; often for 10% of their American or Western European counterparts. Sure, their institutions lack the same level of experience and creativity but that's where you come in. You have the creative guidance these teams need to produce amazing work. All you need is an idea, a plan and a little bit of capital. This is not your parents' entrepreneurial world anymore.

Hell, ten years ago, my aspirations would not have been possible without a wheelbarrow full of gold bullion, or those handy bearer bonds Hans was trying to steal in Die Hard. Now, if I can scrape together a couple thousand dollars, I can oversee the development of a fully automated and complex piece of software that can generate passive revenue at a great clip.

The barrier to entry into the world of business has been substantially lowered by these off-shore firms, making it possible for anyone to get ahead; as long as they have ideas and the willingness to lead. But just like the gold rush, the cheap money and opportunities won't last forever. Unless you're near the front of the pack, you're going to get left behind and will miss out on some of the finest opportunities you'll ever have.

 


 

I'll be following up this post with a list of tips to help you succeed with outsourcing, particularly when working with an off-shore development firm. Look for that soon.

5 Aug 2010

Your website sucks.

Yeah, the title of this post has all the subtlety of a brick to the dome. But that's how tons of online applications approach their products! Sure, it works, but you're missing out on tons of potential because it's ugly.

We're dealing with a very sophisticated Internet consumer these days. And with the proliferation of Internet-based applications and services, there are tons of examples of terrible design. I'm not going to preach about UX design or any of that boring stuff. I'm just trying to make a general, sweeping and overly-simplified point.

If you're serious about being an online entrepreneur, you simply have to acknowledge that a beautiful user experience is as important as a flawless and useful application. If you don't, you're toiling for fewer rewards than you could otherwise reap. In fact, I'd argue that you could probably have some legitimate success by stealing the application ideas of a few ugly services, putting some makeup on them, and selling them as your own. Hell, if you're strapped for ideas or looking for experience, I'd fully advocate doing that.

My point is this: The modern Internet user not only expects but demands a beautiful user experience in conjunction with the usefulness of the product.

The Air Force apparently has a saying when it comes to the R&D of new planes...

"Look pretty. Fly pretty." 

The notion is that if it doesn't look slick, how can we expect it to function well? That might not be entirely valid as a system of analysis but that's how consumers think!

You're not going to convince the market to change its expectations. You simply have to change what you value in the production of your application to better meet the expectations of the modern Internet consumer.

Disagree or have something to add? I'd love to hear about it. patrick@patrickkeefe.com

5 Aug 2010

Productivity in the trenches

I did an experiment in 2009—I named the year. In this case, 2009 was the Year of Progress. Guess what. I made more progress in 2009 than in any other year. 

What caused so much progress in 2009? I attribute much of the success to dedicating the entire year to progress in addition to naming the year. Furthermore, I made myself accountable to progress by telling all of my friends and family about my idea and my upcoming year of progress.

Making yourself publicly accountable is a great way to keep from slipping.

In addition to naming 2009, I implemented a couple of simple productivity strategies that really boosted my output. The most important strategy was to keep a super simple, three-step to-do list.

Inthewild

The idea behind the list is to only focus on three action items every day. You must be able to accomplish the action item in one day. If you can’t, that goal should probably be broken up into several action items. Additionally, the lists all ask the same rhetorical question: If you could accomplish this one thing today, would you feel fulfilled?

That question forces me to identify the importance of the action items for the day. Am I just adding things to the list for the sake of adding things to the list or will I actually fulfill something by completing the action items? This is a really important part of the success of this little list—you have to be honest with yourself and take responsibility for your goals and the little steps required to realize them.

I’ve provided a PDF of my list template for you to use. I just print the template on a sheet of paper and cut out the individual lists. I have a stack on my desk at all times. Give it a shot and let me know if it works for you.

Patrick@patrickkeefe.com

Click here to download:
GTD-patrickkeefe_com.pdf (539 KB)
(download)

 

4 Aug 2010

Let's be great today

Text
I got this text message from one of my business partners this morning as I was laying in bed, not really feeling ready to start my day. Reading this message was like 200mg of caffeine straight to the brain.

Like most people who work on the Internet all day, I'm very prone to distractions that rob me of my time and motivation. Reading this message made me realize the importance of having someone on your team who motivates you. Instead of laying in bed for an extra hour, stumbling out eventually, and screwing around on Twitter for a while, I was at my desk immediately and coming up with ideas.

And since my new job is about coming up with ideas, I'm going to live or die by my ability to get motivated and creative.

Do you work with someone who motivates you?

If you're an entrepreneur it's in your best interest to work with someone who can get you psyched up to work hard every day. Every day you waste not coming up with new ideas is a day your competition is gaining on you or building an even bigger lead. Or it's one more day you're going to have to spend in the office instead of traveling and having new experiences.

If you're looking for some motivation in your life, feel free to shoot me an email. Tell me what you're working on. Maybe we can motivate each other.

patrick@patrickkeefe.com

3 Aug 2010

Graphic Design... it's not me. It's you.

I've decided that I'm finished being a graphic designer. I can't take it anymore. Graphic design as a service can't support my real aspirations. And so, as with any failing relationship, I'm finished throwing good money after bad; I'm pulling out. Goodbye, graphic design...

...or, wait, maybe not. Am I waffling here?

Graphic design is a bit of a sucker's game—unless you love working tons of mostly thankless hours for clients that don't truly value your expertise and can't understand the value you add to their undertakings. You'll never be on the same level as the lawyer or accountant. In fact, you're not even on the same level as the car mechanic. At least people mostly understand what those guys do, even if it entails ripping them off with an increased frequency.

I'm not interested in that game anymore. The pay sucks and the hours suck. I'd rather be a teacher and make the same meager paycheck.

Hmm... but maybe there's a way for me to utilize my designer brain in my new life.

There is. I've teamed up with another entrepreneurial spirit and we've been dipping our toes into the globalized economy. We've been developing a fancy new SAAS (software as a service) business model and application with the help of an IT firm in... India. And it's awesome!

My job has been developing the UI for the application as well as doing tons of thinking and documenting about the user process. Additionally, I've been managing a team of developers thousands of miles away. While I sleep, they code. While they sleep, I design, document and think.

And while I've never worked so many hours in my life, or been nearly this tired for so long, the process has been more rewarding, by a factor of beleven, than doing any client work ever has. I've been getting up every morning eager as hell to start thinking and designing. Ideas are coming faster than ever before.

Maybe I'm on to something here. I think I am. So I'm quitting my design day job by 2011 and finally dumping all of my creativity and intellect into entrepreneurship. In fact, my partner and I are about to start our second application any week now. And that idea already has several bastard children spinoffs running around our heads.

Ultimately, I want more out of my creative problem solving and communications skills than just building the same website a hundred times. I'm not knocking you if that's what you're all about. I've just come to realize that it's not for me.

Patrick Keefe's Posterous

My name is Patrick Keefe. I am an entrepreneur and graphic designer living in St. Louis. I love to travel and have new experiences.

Need some motivation? Email me and tell me what you're working on: patrick@patrickkeefe.com