Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and related concepts have become almost ubiquitous in modern software projects. It was a novel idea a few decades ago that has been incorporated into many frameworks and languages. We even have situations where OOP was "bolted on" to existing systems. However, all of that out of the box OOP design can hide it from us and keep us from fully embracing it. Therefore, this season will start from the OOP foundations and point to ways to embrace it in an intentional rather than accidental way. Avoid Duplication of Effort Software development is all about solving problems. The more we solve, the better we can serve our audience or customers. Thus, we want to avoid answering the same question multiple times. It is a waste of effort and a negative impact on maintenance. It can even hurt scalability. That is one of the core reasons for an object-oriented approach. The goal is to keep solutions contained in a way that makes them easy to re-use. Think of Lego blocks and how they can easily be connected to build small or large objects or even systems. A Model of The Real World The objects part of object-oriented programming are ways to model the real world. We can take problems defined in real-world terms and map them to a series of objects. Thus, an ATM solution can become a collection of customer, transaction, and bank account objects. This approach makes it easier to communicate ideas and break a considerable challenge down into smaller problems that are easier to solve. Practical Object-Oriented Programming OOP is a theory at its core. That means there are many ways to embrace it and put it into practice. Our goal for this season is to point to ways to use OOP concepts every day but can do so better. We will look at how to find a balance between theory and putting these ideas into action. If we have a better understanding of OOP along the way, then that is even better.

We decided that it is a good idea to start a new year with a habit building challenge.  Therefore, we have created exactly that.  The objective of this challenge is to pick something you will work on every day.  The something you work on should be do-able in fifteen minutes or less.  After twenty-one days, a new habit should be established, and your year off to a successful start.  The idea of 21 days guaranteeing a habit may be a myth.  However, this is a solid start on that goal. A New-Year Resolution That Sticks We often talk about using natural transition times to launch a new idea or product. There is no better time like this than the new year. As part of our turning the corner into 2021, we have come up with the 21-day challenge. It is simple, free, and may change your business or even your life. The Habit Building Challenge The basis for 21 days is to build a habit. We like to focus on turning the small into something big so here are the ground rules. Be ready to start on January 1st. You can start later, but why wait? Select a goal for your year ahead, it may be a New Year’s Resolution, or maybe it is a skill or product you want to tackle in the year ahead. Create a plan to work on that skill or goal 15 minutes a day. That is all, no more, preferably no less. Also, this will be for 21 days straight. You are not going to take weekends off. Repeat for 21 days. We will send an email each day to help “remind” you of the challenge. Send us an email at Develpreneur.com with your goal if you would like a more personal daily update. You can even ask to stay anonymous, and we will use the goal to help others with a plan. Food For Thought If you need an idea, here are some to get you started. Learn a new spoken language (try Duolingo for 15 minutes/day) Start a blog (write 15 minutes a day) Start a podcast (record yourself or outline topics each day) Get healthy (walk, jog, or exercise 15 minutes a day) Find balance (meditate or pray 15 minutes a day) Learn a new code language or library (15 minutes a day coding in that tool) Become a better leader (spend time reading or listening to leadership content) Learn a skill (juggle, cook, sleight of hand, etc. practice 15 minutes a day) All suggestions are welcome if you want to add them to our list of items for the habit building challenge!

Sooner or later, a task we work on will reach successful completion.  That is the goal, and yes, sometimes (hopefully often) we do achieve goals.  There is value in resting in that success for a time.  However, time marches on, and we need to plan for our next goal or goals. Damage Assessment We often have a push near the end of a goal that earns us that successful completion.  It is useful to assess the damage done in that final push.  We may be tired and need a little time to recover.  On the other hand, we might have burned ourselves out, achieving that goal.  Likewise, this is the best time to measure whether the cost was worth the achievement.  These thoughts are essential in determining whether we build on this victory or decide to move on to something different. The Momentum Is There We often talk about the momentum we build in moving towards a goal.  This impact is seen in losing the wind in our sails once we hit a goal that we pushed hard to achieve.  I liken this to Christmas morning right after gifts are all open.  There was a push (and anticipation) for weeks built up to that moment that just passed.  That often leaves us with a "now what" feeling.  It is not so much negative sentiment as it is a vacuum left where we have momentum without direction.  An excellent physical example is a drag racer that crosses the finish line and pops the parachute. A Gentle Transition or Total Pivot The momentum, drive, or general energy that got us across the finish line can be exhausted.  We just barely got across the finish line.  The momentum died at that moment.  In those cases, we should rest and spend a little more time evaluating where to go next.  However, the cases where we have momentum provide us energy after a successful completion that can be used for our next objective. We need to assess where to go next while being aware that we have excess energy to jumpstart our next endeavor.  Therefore, we will be further along the road to our next goal if we work with that momentum.  Likewise, it will take an effort to redirect the momentum if we go in a completely different direction.

It is not hard to find a movie or show during the holidays that shows the weight of waiting until the last minute to get things done.  It often is shown in terms of delaying your gift purchases.  However, we can see other examples of how challenges impact when we are already spread thin.  We feel the pain of unexpected events much more when we have a full schedule than when we have some buffer built-in. Working Well Under Pressure These examples can be applied to all areas of our life.  Nevertheless, many of us work better under pressure.  Or at least we claim to do so.  There is a burst of energy we get when under pressure.  This chemical rush can help us get across a finish line.  On the other hand, it is easier to get derailed when you have little room for failure.  There is also a sense in many cases that people who claim to work better under pressure are similar to those that claim to drive better after a little alcohol. Heavier Obstacles Add To The Weight of Waiting I am not immune to the idea of getting to "crunch time" and knocking a task out at the last minute.  Thus, I know that the little things that are more common than we would like are more impactful during these times.  For example, think of a child asking questions as they tend to do.  This distraction can easily be taken in stride when we have no deadlines weighing heavy.  However, this same behavior may incite a gruff response when a deadline is imminent. There are even impossible situations that can arise.  We all have had that project that requires a certain item or materials that are readily available.  Yet, when we get to that crunch time, we cannot get access to the needed items.  I can think of times when all I needed was an inch of scotch tape and could not find any.  It was also late, so the stores I could have gone to for the tape were all closed. Planning Over Scrambling These examples lead us back to getting better in many ways.  This concept is not just for improving as a developer.  It goes to being able to get more done regularly—plan for your tasks.  Consider what items or people might be required to get that done.  Let them know, get your needed materials.  Your blood pressure will thank you.  That means we need to be more intentional about starting tasks.  When we know something needs to be done, we should spend a little time (at least) thinking about the requirements.  There are related items we might need to set in motion.  Also, we might see opportunities to advance multiple tasks simultaneously, much like the kill two birds with one stone concept.

We have calendars full of tasks and items to be done.  However, we must take time and celebrate achievements.  Whether we have successes daily or rarely, it is worth our time to revel in the positive feelings from a job well done.  No time is better for this bit of "self-indulgence" than year-end review and planning.  Looking forward and planning for the new year is important.  However, we can learn a lot and build confidence by embracing what we accomplished in the prior year. Why We Celebrate Achievements One can argue that getting something done is not worth a celebration.  Do you celebrate brushing your teeth or making your bed?  No, we do not.  However, we could achieve a little boost of positive feelings if we did.  There are plenty of examples in daily life.  We see people achieve something that might seem small to us, but they are drunk with joy. For example, consider the "Rudy" story in youth sports.  There are many instances where a child struggles in a sport.  They are the ones that rarely score or find success.  Think of them as the underdog.  It is not uncommon for the crowd to go wild when these players achieve success.  What would happen if we saw that sort of celebration more often in our lives? Keep It Special Too much of anything is not good.  That includes celebration.  Thus, it would be exhausting to throw a party celebrating every little achievement.  Nevertheless, it is good to mark victories regularly.  This action will help drive us forward and keep up morale.  The challenge is that many of us are so focused on the next problem to solve that we move on from a victory without spending time enjoying it.  A sports example would be a team winning a championship, and they immediately go to practice for the next game.  Sizeable victories are valuable motivational tools, so we need to embrace them. Learning From Past Achievements This podcast (and site) is focused on becoming better developers.  However, motivation is nice but is not a direct path to getting better.  Therefore, we should also look to past victories for examples of future success.  Much of our experience is an exercise in learning what not to do.  I would argue that the vast majority of our time in life is spent working through failures to find success.  That brings us to the value of those rare successes.  It is much faster to reach a destination by knowing where to go instead of where not to go.  That is why success breeds success. It is not self-indulgence to sit in a victory for a while or to relive it during our annual reviews.  Instead, it is an opportunity to highlight direct paths to success that can be used to plan for more of those situations in the year ahead.

Every year we find ourselves reviewing what was done and planning for the months ahead.  We do this as part of crafting New Year's resolutions or to plan for our business.  When we have a side hustle that makes this time more valuable.  As an incentive for you to get your planning and review done, here are some side hustle ideas that can come from this investment. Seasonal Problems As Side Hustle Ideas Seasonal problems are some of the most frustrating.  We suffer through them each season.  However, we tend to forget about them once the season passes.  Then we see it again and do not have the time to craft a solution that we can use now.  Instead of falling into this trap, keep some notes of your annual tasks and challenges.  You might find some valuable ideas for a product to create in the year ahead. Recurring Problems and Obstacles Any review has the possibility (maybe even the goal) of highlighting challenges or pain points.  Those are both critical starting points for a good product.  They often even lead to full-blown side hustles.  We often look at these review items to improve our productivity or business in the future.  However, these findings can be better used as side hustle ideas that help others and ourselves. Niche Products It is common to hear that the riches are in the niches.  When we do year-end reviews, we are often in a niche mindset.  That means we are in a good place to come up with new side hustle ideas.  We have repetitive tasks or annoying ones that we will be happy to reduce the time spent on them in the future.  These are often specific to a business and not just your business.  That adds up to an opportunity to create a niche application that scratches your own itch.

Many things can be used to measure your success.  One of the most important of these is whether you can find a job that makes you happy.  That will allow you to live a life where you never work.  There is a job that you perform to pay the bills.  However, that is not a bad thing when you do what you love.  I believe that all of us have this magical job out there.  It may be romantic, like thinking there is someone for everyone.  Nevertheless, it is worth our effort to find a fit that brings us joy. What Job Makes You Happy As a reader of this article (or follower of this site), you are likely interested in IT.  That may even be something that brings you joy.  However, that does not mean you can state "mission accomplished."  There are countless roles and types of jobs in the IT world.  Furthermore, several similar roles still may be different enough to love one and hate the other.  It is worth your time to find out which roles and tasks combine for a job that makes you happy. A Side Hustle Focus We often discuss projects and a side hustle that can advance our careers.  As you consider what to pursue in the year ahead, think about happiness.  Do not stop with measuring what areas you can improve in to earn more money or a better title.  Instead, think about what you consider "fun."  Factor in improvements you can make that will allow you to do more that you enjoy.  Subsequently, that should lead to you doing less work you want to avoid. Avoid Bright and Shiny Things The hardest part of this thought process is that it might steer you away from a technology that has the most buzz.  For example, you might decide that database programming is your jam.  In this case, you should look for ways to enhance your database resume.  Spending time to learn the latest javascript library may be fun for a while.  However, that will not help you in the long run.  You may be better suited for a Javascript job, but is that what you want?  When you consider your resolutions for the new year, think about crafting a roadmap for a job that makes you happy.

Holidays and vacations provide us with many benefits.  However, maintaining momentum can be difficult during these times.  There are more than the normal level of distractions, along with a need to relax at least a little.  Fortunately, we can take small steps and keep our forward progress without taking much away from our time off. A Pause Is Ok While this episode focuses on how to maintain momentum and habits, that is not a requirement.  We can afford to put our drive for success on pause for a few weeks.  That is why we keep a focus throughout the year.  It allows us to take some time off and still see substantial progress each year.  However, it is worth looking at ways to keep these desired goals advancing. Adjusting Priorities Is Key For Maintaining Momentum Our priorities and schedules are the most substantial obstacle to keeping that forward progress.  Likewise, the random distractions that seem more prevalent during the holidays make it easy to skip a day of progress.  The best way to plan for these unplanned events is to get the key things done early.  Push the tasks you want to continue to early in the day.  You might even start your day with these items.  That gives you a bonus of feeling accomplished even on a day off. Time Adjustments Nearly everyone sleeps in during the holidays.  Use this to your advantage.  Plan to get up fifteen or thirty minutes earlier than others.  Alternatively, maintain your normal sleep schedule.  This approach is both healthy and gives you some valuable quiet time to start the day.  I find these times relaxing, refreshing, and something to look forward to throughout the year.  As a bonus, it is very satisfying to know you got something done before most people got out of bed.

Holiday sales start to show up earlier and earlier every year.  Black Friday has become well known and is not just for your personal purchases.  There are a lot of business-related purchases that can be impacted by these seasonal sales.  That is worth looking into whether you are using up an annual budget or trying to add tools for your side hustle. Holiday Sales and Discounts Most sales are driven by timing.  There are commissions that salespeople want to earn or sales numbers an organization wants to hit.  These are motivations to move a product or service and the buyer can take advantage of it.  However, this goes above and beyond the advertised sales and discounts that appear across all manner of products. For example, I found some deep (50%) discounts on training and conference fees at the end of the year.  These savings amounted to hundreds and maybe even thousands of dollars I was able to use elsewhere.  The discounts had the desired goal.  I probably would not have purchased as much had it not been such a good deal.  That allowed me to study for (and earn) a certification I might have otherwise passed on.  Keep an eye out for discounts that move a product from too expensive into the worthwhile area of your budget. Planning and Early Purchases When we look ahead to the next year there are often purchases we can see coming.  When we get those done sooner rather than later we can often receive discounts.  However, cash-flow can be a problem.  It is worth taking a close look at your year-end budget and spending to determine whether now is the time to buy ahead for the next year.  That applies to subscriptions and licenses as well as other products. Bulk Discounts and Gifts You may find your business in a situation where there is a desire to thank customers or staff.  These are opportunities to buy multiple gifts in bulk, get a seasonal discount, and get ahead of your expenses in the next year.  Not all business items are thoughtful gifts.  However, you might be able to get some extra tablets, headphones, phones, or other items that would also be an excellent gift for your staff.  This tactic may not completely offset the cost of gifts or advance purchases.  On the other hand, a lower overall cost is not something to ignore.

There are two sides to quiet periods or closing business over holidays.  We might do this to ease our schedules, or vendors may do so.  In either case, there is a need to plan and properly communicate with those impacted.  Lack of planning can cause all manner of headaches that have no useful solution. Launching a Product or Service The most common of these challenges in my recent experiences is dealing with a flood of year-end deployments.  Sites like the Apple Store, Google Play, and Amazon are sent a larger-than-normal number of applications.  Thus, typical response times suffer.  This response may be expected, or it can derail your launch plans. Podcasts and books are just some examples.  All of your plans to time a release with the calendar can be wasted if the desired platform is not available.  For example, launching a podcast on January first typically requires you to complete your submission before the end of November.  Make sure you check with scheduled outages and slowdowns for any critical vendors. A Planned Slow Down Your business may allow you to slow down or stop progress over the holidays.  Do not assume this holds for all of your customers.  Any planned lack of availability should be communicated weeks and preferably months in advance.  Make sure you are not a vendor that leaves customers high-and-dry without plenty of warning.  You expect it from your vendors and should provide the same. Industry Quiet Periods Quiet periods are common in many industries.  Therefore, do not be afraid to take advantage of those standards to get yourself and your team a rest.  The reduction in focus on external forces may be a chance to improve your infrastructure.  While the doors may be closed, you can always do some internal work to prepare for a better year ahead. Take Advantage of This Time