Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

We wrap up the main part of the conversation with Sam McNeill as we mention difficult conversations.  That is a perfect start for his stories about building a team and maintaining high morale. Next, we discuss roles and cross-training in the wild without getting into the academic terms and suggestions.  Take notes as this is a valuable conversation. Difficult Conversations Sam mentions the book about dysfunctional teams and difficult conversations.  There is a link below to learn more about this book from Patrick Lencioni.  We move forward from there to see how Sam has managed to sort of avoid difficult conversations.  Yes, they still exist.  However, they are not so difficult when everyone is on the same team and shares goals.  People can self-select themselves out of places they don't feel comfortable and would not be very productive.  Leadership is still required, but it tends to be more player-coach in its approach, and everyone feels valued. Cross-Training We wrap up this episode talking about how he has grown his team. First, he found areas where he needed help.  Then he found people that could provide the needed skills. Of course, there is always overlap and a need to avoid people falling into ruts.  Nevertheless, filling skill and experience gaps are important steps during the early growth of a team.  The unmentioned part of all of this is chemistry.  It may seem hard to find someone that does not get along with a personality like Sam, but we all get on each other's nerves at times.  The important part of building a team is finding people that generally gel while still being comfortable and different enough to raise questions.  We want to row the same way while keeping a lookout that we are not rowing in the wrong direction. A Little Background Voted as a Top Five Speaker in Spice Magazine’s Hot 100, Sam McNeill - SongDivision GM for UK & Europe - is an in-demand Corporate MC and accredited DiSC Facilitators.  Sam has hosted over 600 interactive face-2-face and online experiences.  These include musical team-building workshops, gala awards events, and product launches on five continents. Sam’s accolades include winning ‘Future Leader’ awards for Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). Sam is also a member of Connect Corporate’s esteemed list of ’40 under 40’ industry professionals. Sam’s professionalism and energy have made him a favorite among some of the biggest brands in the world, including Coca- Cola, Microsoft, McDonald’s, Spotify, and Fujitsu, and Virgin. Sam earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Studies (Classical Voice) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Learn More You can learn more about Sam's work and the organization he loves by visiting the Song Division website.  If you think they might be able to help you, then give him a call. SongDivision Another Useful Link: The Five Dysfunctions Of A Team

We continue our multi-part series of interviews with Sam McNeill with a look at when things go wrong and an examination of leaders.  There are times that we go a little off the rails and times where things go completely awry.  The way you respond can help keep the former from stumbling into the latter. When Things Go Wrong, And They Will Sam has a history of being the "guy with the microphone."  That can be the best way to handle challenges or the worst.  You are in the position to impact the situation.  Therefore, it is best if you enjoy being in that role.  One can either run the show or delegate.  Sam enjoys the former and gives us insight into one of the things that make him tick.  He feels most comfortable being on the stage as if that is what he is meant to do.  While we skimmed over that in the interview, that is something we should all know and pursue.  You will always be happiest when you are doing what you were meant to do. Build Your Team It helps to have a solid and reliable team when things go wrong.  The story and details Sam provides at this point of the interview are worth noting.  He mentions the idea of matching strengths to roles and also how to focus on a team as such.  Even when there is a team leader, the team is the most important part.  They do the work and share responsibilities.  This may be best summarized by the Song Division values of excitement, energy, and a willingness to work hard. A Little Background Voted as a Top Five Speaker in Spice Magazine’s Hot 100, Sam McNeill - SongDivision GM for UK & Europe - is an in-demand Corporate MC and accredited DiSC Facilitators.  Sam has hosted over 600 interactive face-2-face and online experiences.  These include musical team-building workshops, gala awards events, and product launches on five continents. Sam’s accolades include winning ‘Future Leader’ awards for Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). Sam is also a member of Connect Corporate’s esteemed list of ’40 under 40’ industry professionals. Sam’s professionalism and energy have made him a favorite among some of the biggest brands in the world, including Coca- Cola, Microsoft, McDonald’s, Spotify, and Fujitsu, and Virgin. Sam earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Studies (Classical Voice) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Learn More You can learn more about the work Sam is doing and the organization he loves by visiting the Song Division website.  If you think they might be able to help you, then give him a call. SongDivision

We continue our interview with Sam with a deeper dive into enthusiasm.  He describes how his love of his job helps him to win customers.  However, that is just the beginning.  He then goes into some excellent examples of how professionalism leads to customer success.  There is more to winning over customers than simply getting that sale.  He walks us through how to ensure each customer is satisfied. Know Your Role The musical band and recording session examples are highly relatable to the IT world.  We can see many of the personalities he describes among studio musicians and "the talent" in our technical teams.  The key to success is understanding your role as much as it is clear on the roles themselves. For example, if you are playing background for Sir Elton John, your role should be obvious.  However, what role John Elton plays on your development team may not be so clear. Win Customers Then Keep Them Sam has dealt with countless projects and customers over the years.  All of those little projects have provided him a pattern for what works and what does not.  The success he has had at Song Division comes from traits the organization espouses and executes.  These include professionalism, consistency, understanding the needs of the customer, and focusing on success. That last item can be tough when things go haywire.  Nevertheless, success can still be possible and must be pursued.  That is how you not only win customers but also keep them. A Little Background Voted as a Top Five Speaker in Spice Magazine’s Hot 100, Sam McNeill - SongDivision GM for UK & Europe - is an in-demand Corporate MC and accredited DiSC Facilitators.  Sam has hosted over 600 interactive face-2-face and online experiences.  These include musical team-building workshops, gala awards events, and product launches on five continents. Sam’s accolades include winning ‘Future Leader’ awards for Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). Sam is also a member of Connect Corporate’s esteemed list of ’40 under 40’ industry professionals. Sam’s professionalism and energy have made him a favorite among some of the biggest brands in the world, including Coca- Cola, Microsoft, McDonald’s, Spotify, and Fujitsu, and Virgin. Sam earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Studies (Classical Voice) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Learn More You can learn more about the work Sam is doing and the organization he loves by visiting the Song Division website.  If you think they might be able to help you, then give him a call. SongDivision

We start our next series of interviews with an example of what happens when you love your job.  Sam McNeill is highly successful and entertaining because of the energy he brings.  You will see that as we go through a discussion of his background, his challenges, and becoming a key part of the success of a company he loves, SongDivision. A Natural Talent Sam is one of those people that is born with plenty of natural talent.  He started as an aspiring musician and actor.  He briefly describes that childhood and his early loves.  This sets the table for his career.  The two worlds of childhood and his future meet up at a Microsoft event as he is introduced to SongDivision. Love Your Job = Success We almost start at the end as Sam points out how much he enjoyed working with SongDivision and the people in the organization.  This enthusiasm put him on track to join the company and see a lot of success.  The important point for us to learn is that success took work.  However, he enjoyed every minute and was even more effective at his job because he had found what he loved to do.  Optimism and excitement are contagious.  When you exude these, you will find success following close behind. A Little Background Voted as a Top Five Speaker in Spice Magazine’s Hot 100, Sam McNeill - SongDivision GM for UK & Europe - is an in-demand Corporate MC and accredited DiSC Facilitators.  Sam has hosted over 600 interactive face-2-face, and online experiences.  These include musical team-building workshops, gala awards events, and product launches on five continents. Sam’s accolades include winning ‘Future Leader’ awards for Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). Sam is also a member of Connect Corporate’s esteemed list of ’40 under 40’ industry professionals. Sam’s professionalism and energy have made him a favorite among some of the biggest brands in the world, including Coca- Cola, Microsoft, McDonald’s, Spotify, and Fujitsu, and Virgin. Sam earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Studies (Classical Voice) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Learn More You can learn a lot more about the work Sam is doing and the organization he loves by visiting the Song Division website.  If you think they might be able to help you then give him a call. SongDivision

We jump into a discussion about repetition as key to your brand success.  However, the next topic of style stages is just as critical.  Then, we touch on several nuggets and suggestions to wrap up our interview with DP.  He provides a few challenges and valuable insight to leave you with plenty of food for thought. Style Stages A key concept for this episode is the idea of style stages.  There are numerous (maybe countless) social media platforms available today.  We should take advantage of many of those, if possible.  On the other hand, some provide a better stage for our presentation content and style than others.  These style stages vary from written form to audio to long or short-form videos.  Therefore, we have a range of options to embrace and find what works best for us. For example, if you have a face for radio, then go the audio route.  When your content makes more sense, and you are comfortable writing, then use those tools. Building The Connection We should balance our comfort zone with how these style stages impact the audience.  DP provides a quote about how people interact as blog readers, video viewers, or audio listeners.  These are important to consider.  Where possible, audio is one of the best formats as it builds a personal connection due to being in the listener's head. A Little Background DP’s worked on some of the biggest brands in the business, including Coca-Cola®, The Athlete’s Foot®, and ClosetMaid®, during tenures at DDB Needham (Chicago), McCann Erickson (Atlanta), and creative shops in Denver, Sarasota, and Madison, WI. He is the author of "NONFICTION BRAND—Discover, craft and communicate the ‘completely true / completely you’ brand you already are," and co-author of "ROTOMA—The ROI of Social Media 'Top of Mind'" and the creator-host of the popular podcasts, The ROTOMA Podcast and NONFICTION BRAND.  He is also a keynote speaker and clinician in branding, social media, creativity, and culture for groups throughout the United States. Contacting DP You can learn from DP directly or as a student of his experience.  First, DP has a podcast called Non-Fictions Brands.  I highly recommend you give it a listen. However, you might desire other ways to follow him or send a message.  You can do that through his personal website.  Check out the links below. https://dpknudten.com The NonFiction Brand Podcast The NonFiction Brand Book

This episode starts right away with a continuation of the niche brands discussion.  We then move to DP's thoughts on social media and using those tools.  He even moves into examples of live-streaming and ways to use these tools no matter your strengths. Niche Brands - Livestream Anything DP dropped a couple of examples that are highly niche right out of the gate. First, he talks about Trezy, who uses twitch to lifestream software coding.  Then he shifts right into mentioning he live-streamed writing his book.  How can you get more niche than that?  However, these have followers and are ways to build a community.  These tools can build relationships in ways marketing never used to be able to touch.  Even a podcast interview can build a relationship among the participants. Influencers All of that brings us into a discussion of influencers and personal brands.  The people that like to label themselves an "influencer" are not highly praised by DP.  However, he does point out that all of us are influencers.  The niche of our audience may be small.  Nevertheless, we bring influence to those people, which could potentially be highly valuable to some sellers.  We should never underestimate what we can do for others. A Little Background DP’s worked on some of the biggest brands in the business, including Coca-Cola®, The Athlete’s Foot®, and ClosetMaid®, during tenures at DDB Needham (Chicago), McCann Erickson (Atlanta), and creative shops in Denver, Sarasota, and Madison, WI. He is the author of "NONFICTION BRAND—Discover, craft and communicate the ‘completely true / completely you’ brand you already are," and co-author of "ROTOMA—The ROI of Social Media 'Top of Mind'" and the creator-host of the popular podcasts, The ROTOMA Podcast and NONFICTION BRAND.  He is also a keynote speaker and clinician in branding, social media, creativity, and culture for groups throughout the United States. Contacting DP You can learn from DP directly or as a student of his experience.  First, DP has a podcast called Non-Fictions Brands.  I highly recommend you give it a listen. However, you might desire other ways to follow him or send a message.  You can do that through his personal website.  Check out the links below. https://dpknudten.com The NonFiction Brand Podcast The NonFiction Brand Book

We dig into the ways to build a non-fiction brand in episode two.  The focus is on brand first principles and sticking to truth in building upon it.  DP starts with his "a-ha" moment that took years to develop.  Then he weaves a series of points to help us build a brand, personal or otherwise. Write Some Stuff The non-fiction idea started with a simple statement, "write some stuff."  He was working on advertising content and had only those instructions.  That caused him to halt and note that he is not a fiction writer.  His advertising process required facts and truth so he could present them.  It was not sufficient to simply make up a story for a product or brand. Brand First Principles DP highlights his personal brand first principles and gives us a foundation for ours.  We need to stick to our first principles and build on those.  That is the case whether you are building a brand or selling a product (including your resume).  These are the traits that make you special or unique.  They are your strengths and should be the basis of your value to customers.  However, you might want to review what you want to be as well as your strengths.  The goal might be to pick up diamonds instead of potatoes. A Little Background DP’s worked on some of the biggest brands in the business, including Coca-Cola®, The Athlete’s Foot®, and ClosetMaid®, during tenures at DDB Needham (Chicago), McCann Erickson (Atlanta), and creative shops in Denver, Sarasota, and Madison, WI. He is the author of "NONFICTION BRAND—Discover, craft and communicate the ‘completely true / completely you’ brand you already are," and co-author of "ROTOMA—The ROI of Social Media 'Top of Mind'" and the creator-host of the popular podcasts, The ROTOMA Podcast and NONFICTION BRAND.  He is also a keynote speaker and clinician in branding, social media, creativity, and culture for groups throughout the United States. Contacting DP You can learn from DP directly or as a student of his experience.  First, DP has a podcast called Non-Fictions Brands.  I highly recommend you give it a listen. However, you might desire other ways to follow him or send a message.  You can do that through his personal website.  Check out the links below. https://dpknudten.com The NonFiction Brand Podcast The NonFiction Brand Book

We continue our interviews with the first part of our discussion with the author of nonfiction brands - DP Knudten.  His book sparked my interest, and now we get to sit down and talk to him.  We cover a lot about brands, both personal and corporate.  Thus, you will have a better grasp of these concepts after listening to him. NonFiction Brands - Sell To The Right Audience A common misconception of advertisers is that they sell items to people that do not need them.  Contrary to that, DP focuses on nonfiction brands as a path to get the audience that wants your product.  The key point is that we will build better relationships with customers when we have what they need.  That also makes the sale much easier.  They need our product.  Therefore, we need to point out how it meets their needs.  Advertising becomes almost responsive instead of proactive and in your face. Brands And Emotions There is always an emotional appeal in the best marketing.  It is one thing to sell features, but another to sell how they make the buyer feel.  Think of the opposite of buyer's remorse.  A brand predicts a pleasant experience and post-sale feeling for the buyer.  Likewise, a personal connection in the sales process will help provide a warmer experience than a cold corporate approach. A Little Background DP’s worked on some of the biggest brands in the business, including Coca-Cola®, The Athlete’s Foot®, and ClosetMaid®, during tenures at DDB Needham (Chicago), McCann Erickson (Atlanta), and creative shops in Denver, Sarasota, and Madison, WI. He is the author of "NONFICTION BRAND—Discover, craft and communicate the ‘completely true / completely you’ brand you already are," and co-author of "ROTOMA—The ROI of Social Media 'Top of Mind'" and the creator-host of the popular podcasts, The ROTOMA Podcast and NONFICTION BRAND.  He is also a keynote speaker and clinician in branding, social media, creativity, and culture for groups throughout the United States. Contacting DP You can learn from DP directly or as a student of his experience.  First, DP has a podcast called Non-Fictions Brands.  I highly recommend you give it a listen. However, you might desire other ways to follow him or send a message.  You can do that through his personal website.  Check out the links below. https://dpknudten.com The NonFiction Brand Podcast The NonFiction Brand Book

We wrap up the interview with Dale L. Roberts sharing his professional publishing secret.  He tells us to get started and be consistent.  However, he shows us that a love of our work is always key to success.  We need the drive to be successful, and the more we love our work, the more that comes naturally to us. Professional Publishing Secret - Burn The Boats Hunger is an excellent motivator for almost everyone. Unfortunately, that does not always lead to us doing the best things we should.  However, we need the motivation to keep us putting in those hours to work through the process.  There is a lot of work required for success in any form.  Thus, we need to embrace our goals.  We may decide there is no plan "B," but there are other ways to set ourselves up for success as well.  Find out what is your best motivating factor. No Overnight Success I return to this point.  Instant success is a fantasy.  At some point, everyone has to put in the work.  Otherwise, success will always elude them.  We see this and accept it in our technology careers.  Likewise, we need to be aware that it is the case for any career.  That being said, when we love what we do, time will fly by.  Years of effort and work will feel like a blink of an eye.  That may not impress others.  Nevertheless, you will reap the rewards. A Little Background Dale L. Roberts is a self-publishing advocate, award-winning author, and video content creator. Dale’s inherent passion for life fuels his self-publishing advocacy both in print and online. After publishing over 40 titles and becoming an international bestselling author on Amazon.  Then, Dale started his YouTube channel, Self-Publishing, with Dale. Feedspot voted it among the Top 50 YouTube channels about self-publishing. Thus, Dale cemented his position as the indie-author community's go-to authority. Contacting Dale There are many ways to contact Dale.  However, these are the best ways to reach out or learn more about the various ways he can help. Website - http://selfpublishingwithdale.com YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/selfpublishingwithdale Twitter – https://twitter.com/selfpubwithdale Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/selfpubwithdale Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/selfpubwithdale/ Publishing Links We mentioned a few sites for self-publishing.  Here are those links. https://authors.apple.com/publish-your-book/ https://play.google.com/books/publish/u/0/ https://press.barnesandnoble.com/ https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/ https://www.kobo.com/us/en/p/writinglife Draft2Digital

An interview of a  self-publishing expert is not complete without a discussion of "publish wide."  That refers to the many platforms available to publish your book.  It includes traditional print books, audiobooks, and e-books.  Therefore, the conversation with Dale L. Roberts continues to look at how we can grow to reach people.  We learn it does not matter how they prefer to consume their content. Publish Wide = Many Platforms Dale lays out several platforms, including the elephant in the room (Amazon KDP). In comparison, each of these has its strengths and weaknesses.  It is worthwhile to pursue them all.  The key is to start with one and get comfortable with it.  Do not try to be everything to everyone in your audience out of the gate.  Your bonus recommendation is to take a close look at Kobo.  Dale rates it highest for UI and experience. The World Has Changed Self-publishing has always been around.  However, modern tools and platforms make it easier than ever to do so.  Likewise, self-publishing is truly a viable option.  It is often your best approach for an e-book.  Do not underestimate the various ways to deliver your content.  We can now reach an audience through e-books, audio, traditional, and so much more.  You put a lot of time and effort into that book.  Make sure you give it the broadest possible reach to wherever your audience members reside. A Little Background Dale L. Roberts is a self-publishing advocate, award-winning author, and video content creator. Dale’s inherent passion for life fuels his self-publishing advocacy both in print and online. After publishing over 40 titles and becoming an international bestselling author on Amazon.  Then, Dale started his YouTube channel, Self-Publishing, with Dale. Feedspot voted it among the Top 50 YouTube channels about self-publishing. Thus, Dale cemented his position as the indie-author community's go-to authority. Contacting Dale There are many ways to contact Dale.  However, these are the best ways to reach out or learn more about the various ways he can help. Website - http://selfpublishingwithdale.com YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/selfpublishingwithdale Twitter – https://twitter.com/selfpubwithdale Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/selfpubwithdale Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/selfpubwithdale/ Publishing Links We mentioned a few sites for self-publishing.  Here are those links. https://authors.apple.com/publish-your-book/ https://play.google.com/books/publish/u/0/ https://press.barnesandnoble.com/ https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/ https://www.kobo.com/us/en/p/writinglife Draft2Digital