Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

We start a new interview and dive into the benefits of taking risks. The host of the label-free podcast sits down to share her story. Deanna is recently married (hence the name change) and is living her best life, as her tagline suggests. However, it has not been an easy road. Our discussion reviews numerous challenges she faced and how she overcame them. Spoiler alert, she took risks and avoided playing it safe. Benefits Of Taking Risks The idea of risks is one of those half-full or half-empty ways to examine a subject. One can focus on the upsides of a risk paying off or avoiding the loss of a risk that does not. We are naturally biased to prevent pain and loss, so taking the safe route is more common than embracing risk. While you may see some of Deanna's story as a back-against-the-wall situation, it is still hard to consider her anything but a risk-taker. That embrace of risk has led her to an exciting and enjoyable life. The hope is that her story will motivate you to do the same. About Deanna From a high-level overview, she is a human trafficking survivor, a widow, a former C-Level executive, a fashion designer, and a bodybuilder expert. Currently, she is Ms. Chicago America Nation 2021 and host for the Label Free podcast. She has lived a very big life with lots of experience. When she decides to do something, she does it BIG! While she has a hard time selling herself in a bio, she is more than happy to talk about her story. You can learn more about her from her podcast and website. Learn More Check out the website for the podcast at: https://labelfreepodcast.com It is streamed on 15 different audio platforms and rapidly growing on YouTube. It has been nationally syndicated and covers diverse topics, all while blowing up the myth of labels. The last year of building this podcast has been the most fun, rewarding adventure yet for her. She looks forward to what's to come!

Part two of our interview with Douglas Squirrel delves into building real world software. This topic takes us into finding ways to meet a customer's needs rather than deliver something that gets an "A" grade in academia. We also tackle the challenge of a technologist with a different view from the business customer. It is more focused on building relationships and trusts than it is asserting one's opinion. Real World Software Is Messy There are almost always trade-offs when we talk about building a solution for business. We are not given the luxury of a perfect world and building a flawless solution. There is even a thing called "known bugs"  included with many releases. We know at our core that perfect is not truly obtainable, so why stop a release to achieve that lofty objective? There is a better way to build software that accepts it as a work in progress and focuses on what can be delivered rather than perfection. About Squirrel Squirrel​ has been coding for forty years and has led software teams for twenty. He uses the power of conversations to create dramatic productivity gains in technology organizations of all sizes. Squirrel’s experience includes growing software teams as a CTO in startups from fintech to biotech to music and everything in between. He has consulted on product improvement at over 170 organizations in the UK, the US, Australia, and Europe. Also, he has provided coaching to various leaders in improving their conversations, aligning with business goals, and creating productive conflict. He lives in Frogholt, England, in a timber-framed cottage built in 1450. Learn More Check out his community at: https://squirrelsquadron.com This is a community of tech and non-tech executives learning together. It is free to join, and the weekly events and online forums are free. The community discusses radical ideas like "centaurs for Artificial Intelligence" and "stop your tech team estimating." Likewise, participants ask tough questions with hard-hitting responses from Douglas and community members.

There are many things to take away from our discussion with Douglas Squirrel. However, one major point is that we should learn from coworkers. Technology workers are not immune to seeing other departments as less important than they are. We look at how "suits", marketing, and other groups should be partnered with and not ignored. We will find our job easier and more successful when we build relationships and trust instead. Expand Your Influence When You Learn From Coworkers Some would love to be able to walk into a company and tell everyone how things should be. Fortunately, a company only has one such person, and they are called CEO. The rest must work together and use their diverse skills and talents to provide customers with the best products and services. That is how a business succeeds. When customers are not happy, the organization suffers. About Squirrel Squirrel​ has been coding for forty years and has led software teams for twenty. He uses the power of conversations to create dramatic productivity gains in technology organizations of all sizes. Squirrel’s experience includes growing software teams as a CTO in startups from fintech to biotech to music and everything in between. He has consulted on product improvement at over 170 organizations in the UK, the US, Australia, and Europe. Also, he has provided coaching to various leaders in improving their conversations, aligning with business goals, and creating productive conflict. He lives in Frogholt, England, in a timber-framed cottage built in 1450. Learn More Check out his community at: https://squirrelsquadron.com This is a community of tech and non-tech executives learning together. It is free to join, and the weekly events and online forums are free. The community discusses radical ideas like "centaurs for Artificial Intelligence" and "stop your tech team estimating." Likewise, participants ask tough questions with hard-hitting responses from Douglas and community members.

We go deeper in the second part of this interview to discuss how we can link success to happiness. These are not mutually exclusive goals. Pranay has built a story that guides us through his process as he went from simple success to factoring in what he wanted from life. The "why" that had eluded and blocked him from a full life became his focus. Once he did that, things started to fall into place. Link Success To Happiness And Win At Life We do not have to choose either professional success or happiness. We can have both when we are intentional about the work and options we choose. However, that does not come without risk. We need to embrace risk and try out new opportunities. This approach works whether we are trying a professional role or testing our thoughts about the taste of snails. About Pranay He is a medical doctor, serial entrepreneur, and podcast host. His unconventional journey to medicine helped him learn the skills to excel in entrepreneurship and real estate. Over the past two years, he has bought over $250 million in real estate while practicing full-time as a doctor. Now he helps those who feel trapped in their day jobs start a business to live the life they want. Learn More Check out the From MD to Entrepreneur podcast and subscribe at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-md-to-entrepreneur-with-dr-pranay-parikh/id1625547221 Pranay discusses his journey from MD to entrepreneur and gives the audience ideas for how they can make their own journey and live the life they want.

Pranay Parikh is an MD that has taken a journey to entrepreneur and tells us how to keep a focus on the important things as we pursue our goals. He shares his stories of hard work and determination that led him to question why he should stay the course. These include some lessons we can take away and use to craft our story and entrepreneurial journey. Focus On The Important Things - The Key To Happiness This episode gives insight into someone who has worked hard and seen some setbacks. However, he kept moving forward and found success. That is where the story truly begins. He looked at his success and what he enjoys and found some mismatches. Those findings led him to start an entrepreneurial journey that coincided with living his best life. He has found a way to keep a focus on the important things while fully embracing the life he has wanted.  About Pranay He is a medical doctor, serial entrepreneur, and podcast host. His unconventional journey to medicine helped him learn the skills to excel in entrepreneurship and real estate. Over the past two years, he has bought over $250 million in real estate while practicing full-time as a doctor. Now he helps those who feel trapped in their day jobs start a business to live the life they want. Learn More Check out the From MD to Entrepreneur podcast and subscribe at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-md-to-entrepreneur-with-dr-pranay-parikh/id1625547221 Pranay discusses his journey from MD to entrepreneur and gives the audience ideas for how they can make their own journey and live the life they want.

Our discussion with Kyler Nixon wraps up with a focus on audience building and assessment. The assessment part of the equation is where he provides details on what we should be looking for as we launch a course. That is an important bit of information. Particularly, when you are at the point where you are trying to make a decision. He gives some excellent rules of thumb for where you should see your content and interactions before taking the course creation step. Audience Building And Reaching Out The other part of this discussion is an important look at the idea of audience size. Likewise, what you are providing them. There are many problems that we can solve. However, the number of competing solutions must be a factor in your decision to monetize one into a course. A problem with many solutions may have a wider appeal.  On the other hand, it may have less opportunity or value per customer. Likewise, a complex problem that only you have solved will be more likely to have less application but a higher value per client. These market research steps will be essential in making the best decision in your specific case. About Kyler He has a solid background in helping companies take their marketing to the next level. This often is centered on courses and content delivery. He created Kyler Creative as a way to provide those services to a broad number of clients. You can learn more about him and the company at Kylercreative.com A Special Offer You can get a free download to help with course pricing and schedule a free consultation at https://www.kylercreative.com/free/course-pricing-guide. If that is not enough, then check out the other free resources available at his site.

We start a new interview and switch gears to focus on course creation. Kyler Nixon sits down to share his thoughts on what one can do to get their content into course form. This starts with us looking at what should lead one to create a course in the first place. In the same vein, we see that nearly everyone has something they can share and use to launch their side hustle. Course Creation - Where Do I Start? Course creation differs from other content creation and offering platforms we have discussed. At the same time, there are many ways to approach a class. The first step is the content itself. Fortunately, our lives lead us to create expertise of some sort. We might have something complex like heart surgery or something mundane like cooking a quick meal. Both of those, and all points in between, are a foundation for a course. That is where Kyler comes in. He uses his expertise to recommend a path that helps get your content in front of the people that can benefit most. That is the key to success. You can have the best course and best delivery in the world. However, those are useless if you cannot let your target audience know the class exists. About Kyler He has a solid background in helping companies take their marketing to the next level. This often is centered on courses and content delivery. He created Kyler Creative as a way to provide those services to a broad number of clients. You can learn more about him and the company at Kylercreative.com A Special Offer You can get a free download to help with course pricing and schedule a free consultation at https://www.kylercreative.com/free/course-pricing-guide. If that is not enough, then check out the other free resources available at his site.

We continue our interview with Jason Skeesick and delve into the key to happiness in work and life. It is almost a true key to match against our goals. Once we have a complete understanding of what makes us tick, we can use a form of key to see what will work for us and what will drain us. Amazingly, that simple calculation is the first step toward true happiness. The Key To Happiness Is a Good Fit Jason covers a lot of ground that does not directly get labeled as the key to happiness. For example, we talk about mindset, strengths and weaknesses, goals, and the environments that suit us best. Nevertheless, while these factors impact our productivity and odds for success, they also can be distilled into bringing us joy.  Each of us has a certain way that best fits us in life. Jason lays out the edges of this key to happiness and what we need to do to craft it for ourselves. Once it has been refined, we can use it to match against our objectives and opportunities. Then we can determine the path that will bring us the most joy. Yes, it seems so simple. However, it is a tool we can use in every area of life to get each area working in the direction that makes us the best we can be. About Jason Jason Skeesick is a US Army veteran, coach, and entrepreneurial evangelist. He is a father, husband, fighter, and carrier of heavy things. His company, Spear and Clover, helps businesses with passionate leaders, talented teams, and strong playbooks go from contenders to Dynasty Organizations. He leads The Spear and Clover Mastermind a large group of like-minded entrepreneurs united in helping one another impact the world with their unique missions. Jason hosts the weekly Spear and Clover Podcast on Youtube and across all audio platforms. A Special Offer Check out: www.spearandclover.com Book a FREE test drive of their bi-monthly mastermind for entrepreneurs! Each session features a new expert guest speaker and small group breakout mastermind sessions!

We start an interview with Jason Skeesick and learn about the spirit of the puppy. However, that is the tip of the iceberg. He has an incredible story and leads a mastermind group and a business focused on mindset. That is where we spend most of our time as we delve into what makes us tick. Likewise, we find out where our strengths lie. Spirit Of The Puppy? I found Jason's mindset description of the spirit of the puppy very suitable. It is very different from his other trait, the military mindset. Nevertheless, Jason has found a way to marry those traits into a prescription for his success. He learned how to use what he has and what he needs as a roadmap for his business. Now, he takes us through his story and how we can use it to find and leverage our strengths. The secret sauce is passion. We each have that in the right situation. We just need to find out what works best for us. That will be the path that keeps us excited and driven even when times are tough. That is the way we persevere and find success as well as happiness. About Jason Jason Skeesick is a US Army veteran, coach, and entrepreneurial evangelist. He is a father, husband, fighter, and carrier of heavy things. His company, Spear and Clover, helps businesses with passionate leaders, talented teams, and strong playbooks go from contenders to Dynasty Organizations. He leads The Spear and Clover Mastermind a large group of like-minded entrepreneurs united in helping one another impact the world with their unique missions. Jason hosts the weekly Spear and Clover Podcast on Youtube and across all audio platforms. A Special Offer Check out: www.spearandclover.com Book a FREE test drive of their bi-monthly mastermind for entrepreneurs! Each session features a new expert guest speaker and small group breakout mastermind sessions!

We continue the discussion with Vic Manzo and explore how you can leverage your high-energy times to improve productivity and get more done. Each of us has a pattern that fits our natural rhythm of rest and work. For example, this pattern makes us night owls or early risers. In any case, we will be most productive when we embrace the work patterns that are best suited to our rhythm. Check out this site for more on chronotypes: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/chronotypes Set Your Schedule To Improve Productivity The discussion leans on our ability to adjust our schedule to improve productivity. However, not all of us have the freedom Dr. Vic has to make those changes. Or do we? In the modern world of remote work and flexible schedules, we have more opportunities than ever before. Thus, we can push the limits of our schedule as needed to reach goals as he has. However, we will need to be patient and allow for time for those changes to "burn in," just as he discusses. About Victor Dr. Vic is an International Business Success Coach, Certified Pediatric Chiropractor, 3x Author, Podcaster and Speaker. He is the founder of The Billionaire's Success Formula. Dr. Vic is the author of 3 books, the most recent being, "Decoding The Matrix: Powerful Tips for Unleashing Your Potential and Accelerating Your Spiritual Awakening." Dr. Vic has two podcasts, "The Mindful Experiment, " ranked top 1% globally, and "The Mindful Chiropractor," which focuses on the Chiropractic profession. A Special Offer Check out https://tinyurl.com/the-mindset-solution-ebook Download a free copy of The Mindset Solution: How to Think Yourself into Wealth and Freedom Today eBook.