Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

In this special topic episode, we examine how consistency and momentum are foundational attributes for success. Neither of these items is listed at the top of the keys to success. However, we see them pop up time and again in examples and processes to march towards success. Therefore, it is worth exploring how we can get them in place for our project, brand, or company. A One-Two Punch Of Consistency And Momentum Expectations are an essential part of any relationship. We have discussed in the past how that can build trust and lead to a lifelong customer. Consistency and momentum work together to get us there. Those early steps in a consistent manner have a momentum that helps us build habits and other critical processes. The things that seem big and insurmountable early on become second nature as momentum builds, and they become a part of the daily routine. One Step At A Time It all comes down to one step at a time. We can not magically jump to the end and have a big success with the stability that comes from building over time. That is why we so often see a flash-in-the-pan success that comes out of nowhere but then is quickly lost in history. They did not build the momentum and strength that comes from consistent work over time. Fortunately, each step gets easier as we build momentum towards our goals. Useful Interviews We have had more than a few guests talk about these key factors of success. They apply for a blog, podcast, or other business launch. Here are some links to refresh your memory. Side Hustle Success Through Perseverance Grow Your Show - Reach More People With Your Podcast Technology and Disruptions

We continue our discussion with Ali Abassi and dig into the value of better AI prompts and how they helped him turn a toy into a tool. Chat GPT is something many have experimented with. Ali did the same and used it to help him generate copy for his marketing blurbs. However, it was not much help. He still spent roughly the same amount of time putting his content together. Better AI Prompts Improve Your Results That is where he started to work on building better AI prompts and asking for refined results. His process helped him turn Chat GPT into a useful tool rather than an avenue for entertainment. He has used that knowledge and experience to map up numerous solutions for business. Whether you are a pastor needing a sermon or a developer that needs a code snippet, he has a series of steps to help you get the most out of your AI experience. These uses and so many more are available on his site for free and more than worth your time to see how AI can work for you. About Ali He is the founder of AI for Work. That is a platform that helps knowledge workers use Chat GPT to work smarter, faster, and perform better at their jobs. He created AI for Work to share his passion and vision for the future of work with AI, automation, and AI agents. He gives everything away for free, including 2000+ prompts, workflows, tools, and educational resources. As a result, he has received hundreds of positive feedback messages from users who say that AI for Work has helped them save thousands of dollars, launch businesses, and reshape their work. He also provides consulting to companies looking to automate processes, leverage AI, and grow their business. Previously, he was the Director of Marketing at Grace & Stella. While there, he helped grow the businesses by over 100% and secured multiple partnerships with the largest beauty subscription boxes. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from Capilano University. Finally, he is an award-winning seller and finalist of the Great Canadian Sales Competition.

We look at how commitment and consistency are critical factors in the eventual success of your product, service or brand. It is not uncommon for someone to start on a new endeavor only to bail out before they see any of it pay off. That is the same whether you are embarking on a new diet or a new business. There have been discussions on past episodes that highlight the kind of time and planning that must go into your side hustle and business launch to give them a chance of success. Avoid Being A One Hit Wonder Through Commitment And Consistency We can all think of a one hit wonder we have come across. However, our memory is often vague and fuzzy. We may not remember the artist, author, or other details. There is some catchy part of the experience that makes it a one hit wonder or fad and then it faded. That may be suitable for some people but a business needs to be more sustainable. We are not looking for one successful month or quarter and then let it die. That is the same for a product or a service. It is not enough to do one thing one time and then be done. We need to build a solution that has an on-going value and reliability. Commit To Building A Reliable Track Record Our customers want to see a track record and we provide that through regular delivery. A track record can not be built with a random delivery schedule or spotty history. No one wants to order a product where the delivery window requires us to take a whole day off of work and then worry we missed the one minute the delivery occurred. Useful Interviews We have had more than a few guests talk about the commitment and consistency needed for a blog, podcast, or other business launch. Here are some links to refresh your memory. Side Hustle Success Through Perseverance Grow Your Show - Reach More People With Your Podcast Professional Publishing Secret - Get Started and Be Consistent

This interview has a focus on using AI for work. We chat with the founder of the site, aiforwork.co, Ali Abassi, and cover the latest hot topic. The story begins with how he got the idea for the site. It is a classic story of someone who had an itch they scratched. They then turn that solution into something others can benefit from. The Genesis Of AI For Work The beginnings of his site can be found in the common use of AI for content generation. He used it to help build copy for his marketing job. However, the time savings did not come right away. Ali had to craft his prompts better. That is where the value started to show. However, he did not stop there. He saw how smart prompt usage could provide a benefit to anyone who wants to leverage the Chat GPT service. About Ali He is the founder of AI for Work. That is a platform that helps knowledge workers use Chat GPT to work smarter, faster, and perform better at their jobs. He created AI for Work to share his passion and vision for the future of work with AI, automation, and AI agents. He gives everything away for free, including 2000+ prompts, workflows, tools, and educational resources. As a result, he has received hundreds of positive feedback messages from users who say that AI for Work has helped them save thousands of dollars, launch businesses, and reshape their work. He also provides consulting to companies looking to automate processes, leverage AI, and grow their business. Previously, he was the Director of Marketing at Grace & Stella. While there, he helped grow the businesses by over 100% and secured multiple partnerships with the largest beauty subscription boxes. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from Capilano University. Finally, he is an award-winning seller and finalist of the Great Canadian Sales Competition.

This episode of the podcast turns to how we approach our customers and whether we are providing an answer or solution. There are important differences between these two. In the first case, we are just providing a starting point. There can be many answers and even correct answers may not be feasible. That means they are not useful to your customer. Are You Providing An Answer Or A Solution A solution is more than an answer. It is an answer that the customer can use to solve their problem. That should always be our focus. Not only should we aim for a solution, we should seek the best solution for their situation. An answer is not enough. Thus, we need to dig into the problem and the questions they ask. When we accept their definition and descriptions at face value we do them a disservice. Instead, we should ensure we have a clear view of the problem, the context, the constraints, and any other details that can help us offer a true solution. That includes when we determine the best solution is something another vendor needs to provide. We must not limit our solutions to only what we are capable of when we know better. Useful Interviews We have had more than a few guests talk about their stories as coaches or how they learned from one. Check out these links to learn more or connect with some potential coaches. https://develpreneur.com/building-a-saas-solution-interview-with-tim-branyan-of-truefanz/ Creating A SAAS Solution Turning Experience Into Solutions

We dig deep into customer satisfaction as we continue a discussion with Drake Nightenhelser and look at why we should master fulfillment. When you think about it, that is the step that is most critical.  That is where we deliver on our promise, whether it is a product or a service. The customer will be most attuned to how they feel at that moment or at that time. Master Fulfillment And Find Success It is surprising how often a business or vendor ignores this critical moment. How would you react to a wedding where the moment they say I do, they mess it up? Likewise, what tone is set if the first kiss is botched? The fulfillment moment is what the customer has been waiting for. It is when we can most emphasize the positives of delivery or negate the happiness. Look no further than Apple for this mastery in their approach to the unboxing experience. About Drake Drake is a Client Quality Consultant who helps business owners land better clients and level up their business to be more attractive to high-quality people. He aims to embrace the win-win situation when a company and customer match perfectly. Customers are willing to pay more for the maximum benefit they receive from the product or service. He points out the tough decisions that must be made to achieve success. There will be customers (even some that pay well) that we will turn away to achieve the greater good. http://resources.profitcollective.vip/3simplesteps Ready to get crystal clear on how to start landing great clients? This training walks you through 3 of his juiciest secrets for landing amazing clients. The ones that are a uniquely perfect fit for your business.

Of the many tools we have discussed, one that can not be overlooked is how to use coaching to advance your career. This option is one where we must sometimes embrace how little we know. Likewise, use a coach as a way to find guidance and someone to walk with us through our career journey. They provide a second viewpoint and one that is experienced and critical in the best way. Invest In Coaching To Advance Your Career We can not learn if we do not put ourselves in a learning environment and mindset. Thus, you will not stumble into coaching to advance your career. Instead, you need to be intentional in your decision to work with a coach. You may have a mentor guide you, but a coach is much more focused and direct. They will be there to push you and point you to how you can grow. It is a much more active relationship than most mentors. However, there are some cases where it is impossible to distinguish between the two. Useful Interviews We have had more than a few guests talk about their stories as coaches or how they learned from one. Check out these links to learn more or connect with some potential coaches. Giving Back As A Mentor, Coach, and Lead Land Software Development Government Contracts: Interview with Richard Howard Informal Mentoring: A Chip Nightingale Interview Detecting And Beating Burnout: An Interview with Victor Manzo

We start a conversation with Drake Nightenhelser to offer timeless advice about avatars and best buyers and their role in an ideal business. Every business has a niche of ideal customers and does best when those are the ones it serves. However, we can get side-tracked by a desire to increase revenue without fully considering the consequences. Avatars And Best Buyers There are several names for the process of defining who our target market is. That often is limited to avatars and best buyers or a similar name. However, we must look further out than these ideal customers to land them. Our net will be rather broad, and then we must learn how to say no to the prospects that will not be a good fit. The best companies look for ways to refine their message to attract the best customers and turn away the "window shoppers." When we achieve that goal, we can best use our resources. The customers we retain get better service from us. Likewise, those turned away can find a better fit for their needs. About Drake Drake is a Client Quality Consultant who helps business owners land better clients and level up their business to be more attractive to high-quality people. He aims to embrace the win-win situation when a company and a customer are a perfect match. Customers are willing to pay more for the maximum benefit they receive from the product or service. He points out the tough decisions that must be made to achieve success. There will be customers (even some that pay well) that we will turn away to achieve the greater good. http://resources.profitcollective.vip/3simplesteps Ready to get crystal clear on how to start landing great clients? This training walks you through 3 of his juiciest secrets for landing amazing clients. The ones that are a uniquely perfect fit for your business.

Every story of success often appears to have a point where overcoming adversity was a key to that eventual success. In this episode, we review lessons learned through past interviews and how we can all become that story of success despite the obstacles. Perspective is critical when we try to compare the challenges faced by ourselves to those seen by others. Overcoming Adversity Is Something We All Do We can be a glass half-full or glass half-empty person. That attitude can be the difference between overcoming adversity and curling up in a ball, waiting for the world to end. Okay, that may seem a bit extreme. However, the right attitude and the desire to succeed even through difficulties is a common thread through the stories we have heard. Yes, they had some significant setbacks. Yet, they still found a way to put one foot in front of the other on the way to a story of success. Opportunity Instead Of Obstacle There is an old trick to wording adversity that has almost become cliche. We can view obstacles and challenges as opportunities to grow and learn. While this may seem overly optimistic, it is also entirely accurate. There is a lot of value in the idea that the things that do not kill us make us stronger. Like it or not, that is a valid way to look at experience. We have seen and beaten challenges, so we can be confident that the next challenge can also be overcome. Useful Interviews We have had more than a few guests talk about their stories and overcoming adversity. Here are some episodes worth reviewing to motivate you. The Benefits Of Taking Risks – Interview With Deanna Kuempel Run Towards Success, Not Away From Challenges The Upside of Challenging Problems Leverage Your Unique Skills – Interview With Tyler Foley A Consulting Approach To Overcoming Adversity – Allison Graham Interview

We continue our discussion with fractional CTO Brian Childress and dig into his career journey for tips on ramping up your skills. He did not start out with that goal. However, his journey included several key positions and roles (as well as decisions) that helped him advance. We look at how sometimes that step into the uncomfortable is the one you need to advance to the next level. Quick Paths For Ramping Up Your Skills If there is one, the shortcut for advancement is to push yourself continually. That includes taking some risks and getting out of your comfort zone. Yes, those sound like just a bunch of buzzwords. However, they broadly describe his journey. There will be jobs and roles that are new and a bit scary. They are not beyond your ability. On the contrary, these are the opportunities to grow skills and experience. About Brian Brian is a husband, father, technologist, and avid adventurer. As a technical advisor with a strong background in software engineering, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, he is experienced in helping CTOs and CEOs make the right technical decisions for their organizations. He understands the challenges that leaders face when it comes to technology. That's why he takes a pragmatic approach, focusing on delivering tangible results that impact business performance. By leveraging his deep understanding of the technology landscape and his experience working with startups and established organizations, he can provide valuable insights and guidance that help drive strategic decision-making. Check out His Website https://brianchildress.co/ This is his website. From here, listeners can read more about the topics he focuses on, subscribe to his newsletter, connect with him on social media, or email him.