Patrick Keefe http://patrickkeefe.posterous.com Capitalist at large! posterous.com Mon, 09 Aug 2010 09:36:00 -0700 Globalization Gold Rush http://patrickkeefe.posterous.com/globalization-gold-rush http://patrickkeefe.posterous.com/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.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/375030/18842_519280611000_66900861_30962006_6456213_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3snybVePvIGd Patrick Keefe patrickkeefe Patrick Keefe
Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:04:00 -0700 Graphic Design... it's not me. It's you. http://patrickkeefe.posterous.com/graphic-design-its-not-me-its-you http://patrickkeefe.posterous.com/graphic-design-its-not-me-its-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.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/375030/18842_519280611000_66900861_30962006_6456213_n.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3snybVePvIGd Patrick Keefe patrickkeefe Patrick Keefe