Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

Our discussion with Michaell Magrutsche transitions into the area of work balance and whether more productivity really leads to more happiness. The whole concept of working faster and better does not seem to be leading us to worthy results. We are not seeing vast amounts of free time and instead often are chained to our desk of phone. The promise of freedom has become more chains. Return To The Focus Of Work Balance That is where we have to go back to square one and look at the "why" of our systems and solutions.  There should be a reason for every system and it should help the humans on the other end. We can not simply build solutions that are faster or cleaner or even easier to use if they do not help humans. The focus must be on moving the ball forward in the attempt to allow humans more time to be human and not just a faster cog in the machine. About Michaell He is an Austrian-Californian multimedia Artist. During his journey, he became a creativity-awareness educator through experience-based outside-the-box upbringing that he was forced into by his neurodiversity. He is a self-taught, author of 5 books, podcaster, speaker, guide, former Newport Beach CA Arts-Commissioner and co-produced with Robert Evans. Fluent in German and English. His ability is seeing hidden contexts which allows him to resolve paradoxes and arrive at awareness solutions in leadership, hospitality, customer service, communication, success vs. fulfillment and any form of creativity and culture. He separates each problem/solution in human and system relevancy, which allows all participants/host/listeners to become aware and align needs. Without creativity there are no man-made systems, there would be no world as we know it. He discovers patterns within art/creativity that foster creative communication and identify art-values outside of any art-product. This perspective of looking at creativity this way brings humanity together, shows its limitlessness and raises our human potential. He discovered that there are three inherent human-superpowers that we all should be aware of: Creativity Healthy Dialogue Adaptability All systems need to be adapted to this strategy because without humans there is no need for systems. Humans and living beings and nature must be THE PRIORITY to keep raising OUR human potential instead of wasting our lifeforce with man-made systems (therein lies heaven on earth.) Listen to his 30 second podcast THE SMART OF ART - The Power of Art and Creativity, where he provides conversations about this limitless superpower. Learn More Learn more about Michaell's content at: https://michaellm.com/self-aware-art-education You can also check out his podcast at: https://anchor.fm/michaellart Connect with Michaell:  https://MICHAELLM.com #TheSmartofArt

We start a new interview and delve in to the topic of human based systems. This topic is one that should be a common one as AI grows. Our discussion with Michaell Magrutsche goes a bit off the beaten path as we look at the road less traveled. This journey leads into examining what makes a system useful and a focus on why we should build one in the first place. The Basis For Human Based Systems This is going to shock you, but humans are the most common user of a system. However, there is a rise in non-human systems as we build more and more complex integrations that go on behind the scenes and general automations. The Holy Grail of systems is one that is perfect for the average person and also easy to adopt for automation. That attempt to server to very different users is likely going to continue to be a challenge in UX and product design for a while longer. About Michaell He is an Austrian-Californian multimedia Artist. During his journey, he became a creativity-awareness educator through experience-based outside-the-box upbringing that he was forced into by his neurodiversity. He is a self-taught, author of 5 books, podcaster, speaker, guide, former Newport Beach CA Arts-Commissioner and co-produced with Robert Evans. Fluent in German and English. His ability is seeing hidden contexts which allows him to resolve paradoxes and arrive at awareness solutions in leadership, hospitality, customer service, communication, success vs. fulfillment and any form of creativity and culture. He separates each problem/solution in human and system relevancy, which allows all participants/host/listeners to become aware and align needs. Without creativity there are no man-made systems, there would be no world as we know it. He discovers patterns within art/creativity that foster creative communication and identify art-values outside of any art-product. This perspective of looking at creativity this way brings humanity together, shows its limitlessness and raises our human potential. He discovered that there are three inherent human-superpowers that we all should be aware of: Creativity Healthy Dialogue Adaptability All systems need to be adapted to this strategy because without humans there is no need for systems. Humans and living beings and nature must be THE PRIORITY to keep raising OUR human potential instead of wasting our lifeforce with man-made systems (therein lies heaven on earth.) Listen to his 30 second podcast THE SMART OF ART - The Power of Art and Creativity, where he provides conversations about this limitless superpower. Learn More Learn more about Michaell's content at: https://michaellm.com/self-aware-art-education You can also check out his podcast at: https://anchor.fm/michaellart Connect with Michaell:  https://MICHAELLM.com #TheSmartofArt

Our discussion with Ricky Howard continues with a dive into all of the government work resources for finding and landing a contract. We talk about sites like usaspending.gov. It is where one can see where the money goes. That provides an insight into what departments are a good starting point for your research. There is a lot of research and groundwork to do to win a contract. However, he provides resources to help you on that journey. A Wealth Of Government Work Resources While the government is a huge series of departments and all manner of divisions, it is not impossible to navigate. The government work resources we discuss help one narrow the focus to something that is manageable. Likewise, we get to see what sort of path is required to get us to winning that first contract and setting ourselves up for subsequent ones. About Ricky Richard Howard, Lt Col (Ret), is a leading authority on US federal government contracts. As a career military acquisitions officer, he oversaw $82B+ in DoD contracts and has advised & trained over 400 companies as a consultant. Richard is the CEO of DoD Contract, which guides, trains, and mentors small business owners and sales executives. They are guided through the sometimes complex and often misunderstood government sales process. Richard hosts the "DoD Contract Academy" podcast and speaks extensively on the nuance of federal contracting strategy. For consultations on proposal writing, advisory/coaching services, or speaking engagements, please email him at Richard@richardchoward.com. Learn More Reach out to Ricky at: https://www.dodcontract.com They will help you win your 1st or 100th government contract. Check out the "done for you," "done with you," and "done by you" offerings at their site. Also, you can listen to their podcast. "The DoD Contract Academy" is available on all podcast platforms. Also, listeners will be given a code to save 25% off online training that takes them step by step through the federal sales process.

We start a new discussion and new topic of how to land software development government contracts—in short, working for the government. Ricky Howard takes us through the ins and outs of finding opportunities and winning a contract. While this can be a lucrative and steady line of revenue, it does take an investment of time. Nothing worthwhile is easy, and our discussion shows how this path follows that rule. The World Of Software Development Government Contracts Our discussion stays general purpose, and Ricky goes through the pros and cons of this area of work. He uses examples one would never consider as he talks us through ways we could pursue software development, government contracts, or other areas of IT. Government jobs and contracts go far beyond the military and the I.R.S. About Ricky Richard Howard, Lt Col (Ret), is a leading authority on US federal government contracts. As a career military acquisitions officer, he oversaw $82B+ in DoD contracts and has advised & trained over 400 companies as a consultant. Richard is the CEO of DoD Contract, which guides, trains, and mentors small business owners and sales executives. They are guided through the sometimes complex and often misunderstood government sales process. Richard hosts the "DoD Contract Academy" podcast and speaks extensively on the nuance of federal contracting strategy. For consultations on proposal writing, advisory/coaching services, or speaking engagements, please email him at Richard@richardchoward.com. Learn More Reach out to Ricky at: https://www.dodcontract.com They will help you win your 1st or 100th government contract. Check out the "done for you," "done with you," and "done by you" offerings at their site. Also, you can listen to their podcast. "The DoD Contract Academy" is available on all podcast platforms. Also, listeners will be given a code to save 25% off online training that takes them step by step through the federal sales process.

We change gears and talk about how to dress with success with Robyn Balsley. Yes, even developers benefit from a first impression. Furthermore, that is important for remote and work-from-home employees. Professional dress is not just for those in the office. We can adjust those Zoom calls, but we still need to make a good impression. Even Developers Need To Dress For Success There is often a view of developers as poorly or casually dressed people that live in closets and crank out code. While that may not be far from the truth in your case, there is still a lot to be gained from professional attire. Robyn provides us with excellent ideas to improve how we are perceived and warnings about dressing too casually or unprofessional. About Robyn Want you and your team to feel confident and empowered every day? With Robyn's many years in sales, she understands too well that it takes 7 seconds to make a first impression. How do your clients perceive your team? People do judge a book by its cover! Many companies are realizing how their employees dress, whether in person or remotely, matters more now than ever. Thus, Join Robyn Balsley, of Graceful Impression, for a Professional Styling Workshop where your team will learn how they show up, what affects their attitude and their performance, as well as the perception of them individually and the company as a whole. The workshop includes a mindset analysis. They discuss the effect clothing has on the cognitive process, tips for organizing a closet to reduce overwhelm, and how to establish a capsule wardrobe. These will skyrocket confidence and improve performance. Likewise, It’s time to get back to dressing from head-to-toe, and not just from the waist up - it can truly make all the difference in winning or losing business! As a style expert, she takes the stress out of getting dressed so that you and your team will feel confident and empowered daily and, in turn, be energized to achieve your goals. Learn More Learn from Robyn: https://www.gracefulimpression.com/home#services-section Go to her website and sign up for bi-monthly blogs and learn more about her services. Also, follow along on Instagram, where she gives daily tips on how to get dressed. https://www.instagram.com/gracefulimpression/

We continue our discussion with Neha Naik and talk about how to create a better resume. We look at how to make yours stand out. There is more to your work history than a list of skills and titles. However, those are also essential steps in getting seen by the right people. We include topics like certifications and degrees for those wondering how to navigate the world of job searching. Create A Better Resume With Your Approach There is value in including the right keywords on your resume. However, you can create a better resume by adding details about how you applied those skills and what you have done. The key to a good resume is showing how you brought value to the positions you held in the past. That sets the stage for convincing the interviewer that you can also do that for them. About Neha Neha Naik is the Founder and CEO of 3 successful businesses, including a successful recruitment agency, a sleep consultant company, and a data analytics company. She's an official member of the Forbes Business Council, an invitation-only organization for successful small and mid-sized business owners. Neha's boutique recruitment company, RecruitGyan, specializes in helping hyper-growth tech startups build and keep a first-rate team. She implements strategic recruiting and retainment initiatives to reach an average 92% fill rate, increase a company's hiring rate by 65% and reduce turnover from 54% to 21%. With over a decade of experience working with Fortune 500 companies and startups in full-cycle recruiting, Neha shares her insights on tech recruiting and business trends on various platforms. Learn More Talk With Neha: oneononewithneha.youcanbook.me Building relationships is one of the most beneficial aspects of any growing business. Hop on a call and explore how to collaborate and grow together! Through networking, she hopes that you both walk away with valuable insights. Here's to new connections!

You have several recruiter options when you are looking for a job. While similar, each has strengths and weaknesses. We start our discussion with Neha Naik with an introduction to the recruiting world from the recruiter's perspective. Many of us see recruiters as a means to an end when we want to land that perfect job. However, that is just a piece of what they do and how they get the job done. Neha provides us an insight into the challenges recruiters face and how we can help them help us. You Have Several Recruiter Options The recruiter options available to you may seem hidden behind a curtain. We rarely consider what the focus is for the ones we work with. However, there is a difference between an agency, an in-house, and those focused on placing individuals. Nevertheless, there are also many similar traits across those roles that we talk about. This discussion guides you in your approach to your next job hunt. About Neha Neha Naik is the Founder and CEO of 3 successful businesses, including a successful recruitment agency, a sleep consultant company, and a data analytics company. She’s an official member of the Forbes Business Council, an invitation-only organization for successful small and mid-sized business owners. Neha’s boutique recruitment company, RecruitGyan, specializes in helping hyper-growth tech startups build and keep a first-rate team. She implements strategic recruiting and retainment initiatives to reach an average 92% fill rate, increase a company’s hiring rate by 65% and reduce turnover from 54% to 21%. Now with over a decade of experience working with Fortune 500 companies and startups in full-cycle recruiting, Neha shares her insights on tech recruiting and business trends on various platforms. Learn More Talk With Neha: oneononewithneha.youcanbook.me Building relationships is one of the most beneficial aspects to any growing business. Hop on a call and explore how to collaborate and grow together! Through networking, she hopes that you both walk away with valuable insights. Here's to new connections!

We continue our conversation with Liz Scully and explore getting the most out of a mastermind. Spoiler alert, it is engagement. This is one of those areas in life where you get out what you put in and (hopefully) more. While we talk primarily about what makes a good mastermind group, we keep pointing to the goal of making it worth the investment of each member. The result at the end of a group is not to give the members advice. The goal is to have each member walk away more accomplished and self-sufficient. Getting The Most Out Of A Mastermind Comes From Engagement You will hear the word "engagement" a few times in our discussion, and the worst of the "A" words... accountability. Yes, a mastermind takes a while (a year or more) and can be a slog. However, we have daily and weekly tasks and goals for our business. The group aims to help us meet those goals and define the best ones for moving forward. That means we are pushed to both get things done and intelligently choose new things to put on our plate. Thus, we get the most value when we engage with our group and accomplish the tasks we set for ourselves. About Liz She spent 20 years working on big Hollywood films. It led to her winning an Emmy, and she had work that is multi-Oscar nominated. Now, she is a business strategist and a Mastermind coach. She loves helping entrepreneurs have more fun with their business. That is why she has the daft (in her words) - yet fabulous - brand "Evil Coach" alongside her more sensible Mastermind biz, Rethink Central. She is Irish, nomadic, and as confused as everyone else about why she has an English accent. Learn More Learn more about her Masterminds at: https://www.rethinkcentral.com/develpreneur Check out the content and view the links. You will learn more about her unique approach to helping build better businesses and leaders.

This episode starts a new interview with Liz Scully and focuses on the question, "What is a mastermind?" We go far deeper than that. However, that is not a question that is worth answering quickly or simply. There is a sort of art to good masterminds, and we delve into all the artsy details as we craft our answer to the question. What is a mastermind? The idea of a mastermind can be different for different people. Thus, when you ask, "What is a Mastermind?" you get varied answers. Part of this comes from people being attracted to the word but not grasping that it does have real meaning. There is a buzzword sort of following for mastermind groups that has been embraced by many get-rich-quick pursuers. That muddies the waters. Our conversation with Liz looks to clarify that and let you see the true definition (and value) of a well-run group. This conversation details what makes a good group, how to keep members engaged, and how to get the most value from your time. We explore the costs in time and money and why the ROI makes a good group an easy decision. When you are done with these episodes, you will be much better informed whether you are considering joining a mastermind or starting your own. About Liz She spent 20 years working on big Hollywood films. It led to her winning an Emmy, and she had work that is multi-Oscar nominated. Now, she is a business strategist and a Mastermind coach. She loves helping entrepreneurs have more fun with their business. That is why she has the daft (in her words) - yet fabulous - brand "Evil Coach" alongside her more sensible Mastermind biz, Rethink Central. She is Irish, nomadic, and as confused as everyone else about why she has an English accent. Learn More Learn more about her Masterminds at: https://www.rethinkcentral.com/develpreneur Check out the content and view the links. You will learn more about her unique approach to helping build better businesses and leaders.

We continue our discussion with Naomi Johnson and examine some of the more advanced ways to use your profile to close deals with LinkedIn. She provides a story that is a convincing way to view how we can use our profile to talk to a customer. This focus is not on people in general but on how to reel in that client that is considering a purchase or hire. It is that final step in a funnel that LinkedIn can help you build. Close Deals With LinkedIn By Addressing Lingering Doubts We have all seen funnels and how they typically work. The last step is the decision to buy. We can close deals with LinkedIn by thinking about that decision step. The customer will be talking it out amongst their team and others that may not know you yet. The profile provides you a way to give them a quick summary of your skills and how you are the best choice for them. We talk about how the time invested in building reliable connections via networking can lead to that sale and a return on the investment. About Naomi Naomi Johnson is an Expert LinkedIn Profile Writer. She has spent the last ten years helping people position themselves as the 'go to' experts within their industry and structuring their business so prospects come to them pre-sold and ready to buy. Furthermore, she is the founder of TheProfile.Company and The Expert Economy. She is also the author of "The Expert Economy," "What to Put on Your LinkedIn Profile," and "Grassroots to Green Shoots." Learn More Check out how you are doing by visiting: http://www.theprofile.company/scorecard Answer 18 questions and discover where your business might be falling short. Then learn how, with some attention, you can begin making LinkedIn work for you. It takes just 2 minutes. It's completely free. Receive customized results instantly. If you've attended multiple workshops on using LinkedIn and you're still failing to win new business, it's time to look a little deeper and discover why. Get clarity on why your LinkedIn Activities fall flat and don't convert into Sales!