Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

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

We continue our discussion with Dale L. Roberts with a discussion around how to define your audience.  That is an important step in any product.  Books and written content are no different.  We continue the discussion with getting that book written and your first steps in self-publishing. Define Your Audience There are some guides that refer to your ideal audience as your avatar.  This vehicle should be a well-defined image of who you are speaking to.  That is a key factor in success whether you are selling or communicating.  Therefore, the avatar must be defined early and preferably before the writing process begins. Dale provides a perfect example.  He wrote exercise books and it seems only logical that an exercise routine differs by age, goals, and fitness.  The routine for Betty White is not the same one for my goals.  We have people that benefit most from our content.  Those are who we want to speak to.  Therefore, define your audience by who "needs" to read your book. Perfect Is Not An Option A critical step in self-publishing is writing the thing to be published.  That may seem an obvious statement.  Yet, Dale mentions multiple times where people ask about publishing before they have written even a word.  Start with writing.  Also, do not worry about a perfect first draft.  Get the content down and then focus on the clean-up.  Once you have that rough draft, it can be a basis for crafting your work of art. Note the discussion about editors.  An editor is not simply a grammar-checker.  This person helps the writer craft a story and present content in the best way.  Think about selling a house.  Your house may be perfect for a buyer.  However, staging the house will help drive that point across and often increase the offer you receive. 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

.This episode starts a new multi-part set of interviews with Dale L. Roberts.  He is a guru of self-publishing with dozens of books to his name.  The focus is how to get started, platforms you can use, and how to find success in this far-ranging discussion.  Our first episode provides background on Dale and getting started. A Self-Publishing Firehose Start with a focus.  There is a lot to learn about self-publishing.   Many pieces go into being successful.  Dale refers to it as being a firehose of activity.  There are two ways a firehose works.  One is uncontrolled and sprays water everywhere.  The other is focused and puts out fires. Next, we talk about how to take reasoned steps.  That lays out a process to keep your efforts effective. Stick With It We all make mistakes.  Those mistakes come far more often when we are new or learning.  Writing and publishing a book is no different.  Your initial goal should be to write the book.  Of course, that is a challenge in and of itself.  Once that is done, then move on to the publishing process.  Note that the critical part of success in all of these is consistency.  Therefore, stick to your plan.  It can be easy to grow discouraged and quit.  However, staying the course and regular progress will get you to the finish line. 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/

This bonus episode for our Tim Stratton interview digs deeper into finding a mentor. First, we look at what makes a good mentor relationship.  This is a situation where all parties need to contribute to the goals and receive benefits.  Thus, the focus is on the relationship itself and what to look for when you desire a mentor. Finding A Mentor Organically There is an industry out there of people that advertise being a mentor.  They even have processes and cookie-cutter approaches in some cases.  This may help, but I do not see it as a true mentorship.  Finding a mentor is not like finding a plumber.  You do want someone you can trust.  However, many other factors go into being a true mentor. Similar Interests Or Goals The primary objective in finding a match should be similar goals or interests.  This is someone you want to emulate.  Therefore, they should have a path you can relate to and a destination you also want to reach.  Beware of a mentor that has goals or achievements that are only tangential to your path.  They can still be useful, but the closer they align with your goals, the better. For example, a player that wants to be a basketball star can benefit in some ways from a hockey star, but not as much as from a basketball star.  Know the areas where your mentor is similar and different. Listen and Then Act The goal of most mentors is to provide useful knowledge.  They want you to act on what you are taught and become better in those skills.  That is how they know it is useful.  If you never take action, then the utility of the knowledge will never be known.  The goal is not to fill your head with trivia.  Instead, they want to provide you with stepping stones for your career climb.  That means you need to plan actions based on what comes out of mentor sessions.  Absorbing is not enough.  Take the lessons learned to heart and apply them sooner rather than later before you forget what you were taught.  

The last part of the series in the Tim Stratton interview goes into how he got here and touches on mentor relationships.  While we stick to the specifics, there are some valuable generalizations to take away from it.  We saved the best for last as we wrap up our time with Tim. Mentor Relationships Change We briefly dropped the idea that Timothy has had multiple mentors throughout his life.  It is important to note that these have to do with the stage of life we are in.  I think most of us know that a childhood mentor is not going to necessarily help us as an adult.  However, it is important to remember that as we move through our careers.   The invaluable person in our early career development may not be very helpful and might even hold us back as our career proceeds.  We can outgrow our mentors and leaders in life. Nothing is Free Nothing worthwhile is free or easy.  We have to put something into mentor relationships in order to get value out of them.  Timothy spends some time talking about how he takes these relationships seriously.  He is intentional about listening for guidance and then acting on it.  He also provides feedback after the fact in order to get further mentoring. A Little Background Timothy is a software development manager at XSolis with a strong development background.  He has a master's degree and a love for learning.  We gave some details in part one and then dug deeper into how his career started and how those steps led to success today in part 2. Contacting Timothy You can send an email to info@develpreneur.com for other methods of connection. Unfortunately (for us), he is not a fan of social sites.  Thus, he keeps that footprint small.  However, he is happy to help others, and we can connect you through any of the normal Develpreneur avenues.

This episode of our interview with Timothy Stratton delves into experiences and how to be a better manager.  We compare notes on what has worked for us and traits of those we seek to emulate.  While the focus is on developer managers, there are many general suggestions as well. The Better Manager Summary There are many traits of a good manager.  We hit on the more generalized of these in our discussion.  These come from our experience as a manager and being managed.  We started our careers as developers and think we have some good insights into managing developers because of that foundation.  It is easy to do the things that you found to be positives when the roles were switched.  A golden nugget in this area is to remove obstacles for your team. The Weight of the World One of the more significant challenges in moving from developer to manager is becoming less hands-on.  We have skills that allow us to jump in and help get tasks accomplished.  However, that is not always the best use of our time.  There is a mental adjustment needed to move from a "do-er" role to a guide or director.  That is not an easy step to take and can often keep developers on a technical track rather than managerial.  Fortunately, there are rewards for either of these paths and we have good options for an extended career. A Little Background Timothy is a software development manager at XSolis with a strong development background.  He has a master's degree and a love for learning.  We gave some details in part one and then dug deeper into how his career started and how those steps led to success today in part 2. Contacting Timothy You can send an email to info@develpreneur.com for other methods of connection. Unfortunately (for us), he is not a fan of social sites.  Thus, he keeps that footprint small.  However, he is happy to help others, and we can connect you through any of the normal Develpreneur avenues.

We continue our discussion with Timothy Stratton with a dive into continuing education and how to keep up in the fast-moving world.  There are always job responsibilities to address that keep our time at a premium.  We talk about finding ways to stay up-to-date and the cost of this career path. The Cost of Continuing Education Let's start with the bad news.  There are only so many hours in the day, and that means we have to trade off other pursuits for our careers.  However, it is not all bad.  The things that Timothy mentions as giving up can always be reviewed later.  You may not watch as much television or go to the movies, but you can do that later in life.  That is the price you pay when your career is starting and time is at a premium.  Trust me.  I went years without keeping up with current TV and movies and then was able to catch up as desired once life got less hectic. Constant Reader One of the most important requirements for continuing education is reading.  Whether it is books, journals, blogs, or news sites, most of the best content must be read.  There are excellent podcasts and similar outlets.  However, most of what we need to keep current is communicated better through reading rather than listening.  That means we should expect to read a lot and fit it into our regular schedule of tasks.  Fortunately, digital delivery allows us to take and consume this content anywhere. Our continuing education effort can become part of shopping for groceries, waiting in line for a meal, or kicking back on our porch.  We can convert any part of life into a classroom.  However, do this in moderation.  We still need to be able to find some semblance of balance with our personal lives. A Little Background Timothy is a software development manager at XSolis with a strong development background.  He has a master's degree and a love for learning.  We gave some details in part one and then dug deeper into how his career started and how those steps led to success today in part 2. Contacting Timothy You can send an email to info@develpreneur.com for other methods of connection. Unfortunately (for us), he is not a fan of social sites.  Thus, he keeps that footprint small.  However, he is happy to help others, and we can connect you through any of the normal Develpreneur avenues.

Part two of our series of interviews with Timothy Stratton looks at his early years.  He started with a focus on higher education.  That worked well for him, but not directly because of his studies.  We explore how the journey taught him more than the academic focus. A Little Background Timothy is a software development manager at XSolis with a strong development background.  He has a master's degree and a love for learning.  We gave some details in part one, but dig deeper into how his career started and how those steps lead to success today. Higher Education Side Effects The value of a degree is often noted as coming from the work done more than the learning itself.  Timothy is no different and gained many valuable skills while working on his Master's degree.  These rewards came in some surprising areas like communicating to team members and thinking through details.  He still is gaining from those years in academia and even continues to review his book from those times. Clear and Concise We spend time talking about learning and communicating.  These are two activities that we should not ignore.  They are recurring themes for success as we look at those that have model careers.  Our world of technology changes too fast to sit back on prior knowledge.  Likewise, we must be able to share and convey that knowledge for it to be beneficial.  We can not be successful if we live in an Ivory tower of knowledge where we do not use and transfer it to others. Great Links for more From Timothy You can send an email to info@develpreneur.com for other methods of connection. Unfortunately (for us), he is not a fan of social sites.  Thus, he keeps that footprint small.  However, he is happy to help others, and we can connect you through any of the normal Develpreneur avenues.

We start the next interview with an introduction to Timothy Stratton.  He is an experienced developer moving into a role as a manager.  This episode focuses on starting a new project and how to ramp up to new technologies. A Little Background Timothy is a software development manager at XSolis with a strong development background.  He has a master's degree and a love for learning.  We will cover those in the interview, so no spoilers here. Starting A New Project We often have a new project to start.  That can be a new job, a new product, or learning a new language.  In each of these cases, we must first plot a path to go from little or no knowledge to enough to get us started.  Documentation is invaluable in these situations.  However, it is not always available or thorough.  We can supplement documentation with questions and discussions.  That includes shadowing users or subject matter experts.  Thus, sometimes watching others is the best way to help us discover what we do not know. A picture is said to be worth a thousand words.  That is important to remember when learning a new thing.  Likewise, we can learn quickly by seeing someone in action rather than describing it.  For example, consider learning to tie a shoe through an example as opposed to a how-to document. A Hidden Gem When you are faced with a confusing new environment, ask questions. Of course, you are not expected to know everything, and the easiest way to get answers is to ask questions.  Nevertheless, we skimmed right through that gem in the interview, so please do not let it go by without note.  This is the best technique for getting started quickly.  Therefore, embrace your inquisitive side and speed your learning through questions. Great Links for more From Timothy Look him up on Linked In to connect.  You can find him at Timothy Stratton.  You can also send an email to info@develpreneur.com for other methods of connection.  He is not a fan of social sites.  Thus, he keeps that footprint small.

The second part of our interviews with Trevor Ewen focuses on the value of a technical MBA.  We discuss the benefits of the degree, the program, and the network it can build.  This discussion is a must for those that are considering taking that step. A Little Background Trevor is an experienced software engineer, project manager, and real estate investor. He has overseen full-stack teams in clean energy, insurance, finance, and media. Notable engagements include Morgan Stanley, HBO, Bloomberg, Honest Buildings (now Procore), RunEnergy, Black Bear Energy, and PRco USA. He has an MBA from London Business School and Columbia Business School via the joint, global program. The Value Of A Technical MBA An MBA is not always an obvious (or even desirable) path for someone with a technical background. Nevertheless, there is a lot worth considering when the opportunity arises.  Our discussion touches on the paper value of an MBA as a resume tool.  There is also a level of expectation it can bring to potential employers. First, however, we spend more time looking into the process itself and how it can provide an excellent learning experience. An advanced degree program can put us in the company of like-minded individuals with varied backgrounds.  That is a recipe for expanding horizons and creating a valuable network of friends and go-getters. However, if we are defined by the crowd we hang out with, how much better can we do for our careers? A Hidden Gem A key point to take away from this conversation is that building software can be done with more than just code.  There are libraries and resources to help you reach a solution quickly and without starting from scratch. Great Links for more From Trevor https://stg.software trevorewen.com