60 Second Blog

Don't wait for perfection

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 10:09:00 -0400

Its hard to do, perfection. Infact, if you wait for it, you'll likely never stop waiting. So why do we want perfection in the first place?

Is it to satisfy our customers wants?
Is it to make sure we deliver precisely what they want?
To make sure the design achieves what we expected ?
Because we want to ensure the client was more than satisfied with the product, right?
To add every conceivable additional service, that you knew would be needed from the start.
We want to make the ordering process and delivery service exactly what every customer wants.
Or is it that your frightenned customers will be turned off by a less that perfect product.

How do you know perfection is required,or even desired? Maybe its better to get the product out earlier and allow the client to play with the product, even to break it.

This feedback is invaluable, and you'll never get that waiting for perfection.

The end of the agent?

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:41:00 -0400

Ask yourself what an agent does, is it worth it?

Are they putting you into contact with new customers or just trying to make a sale?

Are they matching your skills with the perfect client or are they gathering your CV and playing a numbers game with your career?

Do they help you build a community of exceptional followers of your work or keep you as an anonymous resource?

Do they profit share with you or with themselves?

Do they help you to make cost savings or are they making more than you?

The internet changes the playing field. Agents no longer have the monopoly on potential clients and rarely do they help you network with other contractors, other agents or those likely to help you.

So why use an average agent? If your agent isn?t doing these things for you, ask yourself what are they doing.

Don't be an Ostrich

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:09:00 -0400

Don't you prefer working with clients who like to work with you?

If you're carrying out work at a client site, maybe amongst a group of employees, here are some tips that will move you ahead of the pack and get you seen as a valued member or the team, rather than an unwanted intruder into the employees' inner sanctum.

1. Make them a coffee. Nothing says "I'm on your level" more than offering to make/buy someone a coffee. Try it, you'll see. It's like saying that you have no problem getting your proverbial hands dirty; a little humility is a good thing.

2. Offering help. If someone is struggling, and you know the solution, offer to help. Don't be frightened to lend a hand. Most likely the person will thank you for it. You've also proven that you don't mind sharing your knowledge.

3. Suggesting improvements. If you see something that could be improved, take a note of it and at an opportune moment, bring it up and explain how your solution might bring some extra value for the team and the benefit to the client. Being a team player bills you as a values resource.

4. Build relationships. Always say hello to the receptionist, and mean it. Smile, and mean it. Ask them some questions, and mean it. Really listen to their answers. Ask them to introduce you to people in the company you don't already know and do the same pattern. You'll learn a lot about the business, and build a strong foundation with the organisation. Be sincere, your wallet will value you forever.

5. Be outstanding. Research, and show statistics that support your work, this gives you and the people around you confidence. Follow this up by developing powerful presentations using imagery, rather than boring, verbose PowerPoint slides. Give your clients all the whistles they expect and deliver the flutes they didn't. Don't be afraid to show how exceptional you are.

After all, it's the exceptional that's memorable.

How to Climb Mount Everest

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:27:00 -0400

It’s high, very high. Perhaps looking up you'd be forgiven for thinking that it can’t be climbed. Maybe you shouldn’t even try? Why bother, what’s the point?

The point is its there, so why not give it your best shot.

Everyone has their own personal Mount Everest. And we’re born to climb things, trees, stairs, your cousins shed roof. Curiosity does that, it makes us want to see what’s over the other side of the mountain, how much further we can reach – if only we give it our best shot.

Maybe you’ll fall off and hurt yourself? Maybe you’ll never reach the top. Who cares?

You should.

Because the people who really, truly succeed, they get up; brush themselves off; and try again. They do this, they practice, and they improve. Even when they reach their goals they look to be better, leaner, smarter and that’s what you have to do.

Ignore mediocrity, ignore your critics and aspire to be the best in the world.

The Back of My Business Card

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:32:00 -0500

This is what I have on the back of my business card, if it helps just one person keep their PC running then its done its job....My clients, friends and business associates can give my card to their contact, tell them to either follow my advice or refer me, so that I can do it for them - either way my card gets used.

Speed up and protect your PC

1. Free up disk space

The Disk Cleanup tool helps you free up space on your hard disk by helping you remove temporary and unwanted software and emptying your recycle bin.

2. Speed up access to data

Disk Defragmenter is a Windows utility that improves windows data access response time. Run Disk Defragmenter at regular intervals—monthly is optimal.

3. Detect and repair disk errors

Error Checking utility checks the integrity of the files stored on your hard disk. If you use your computer daily, you should run this utility once a week to help prevent data loss.

4. Protect your computer against spyware and viruses

Run anti-Spyware and anti-Virus software on your PCs to protect your confidential information. Windows Defender is included in Windows Vista, and is available as a free download for Microsoft XP. Also AVG (free anti-Virus software free.avg.com) and Ad-Aware (www.lavasoft.com)

"The highest compliment my clients can give me is the referral of their friends, family, and business associates!" – Thank you for your trust.

What does the back of your business card say about you?

Helping Others to help themselves

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 07:59:00 -0500

My normal Friday morning routine is up at 5, wash dress. On PC by 5.30 for half an hour, reading, tweeting (twitter > follow paulthehacker - thats me). Out the door by 6.20am for my regular 7am BNI meeting (Business Networking) in South Shields, N.E. UK.

So what was different today?

Today, we had a 10 presentation by Katherine Scholes of Finchale Training College, County Durham. If you don't know who they are, go see their website.

What they do is simply fantastic. They provide vocational training to unemployed, disabled adults. But more than that, they give them purpose, skills and hope. Not some kind of pipe dream hope, no this is real, honest to goodness hope that builds reputation to enter and retain employment.

They're currently looking for job placements, for their students, in a range of skill areas, such as I.T. 7 networking, Accounting, Joinery and decorative occupations, to name a few.

That deserves, in my opinion, 5 minutes of anyones time to look and see whether you can offer support, whatever form that may be.

Do what you love

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 04:24:00 -0500

I had a conversation on twitter yesterday with some who asked a simple question "I want to start a business, any suggestions?".

Well, here was my advice.

Do what you love, what your passionate about.

I, myself, like to program computer code. Sad but true. I don't really care what the language is (though some are a little more obtuse than others), its the code writing and problem solving part that I like. I choose VBA because I think its the easiest language to teach and get results from for newbies. And, If a student enjoys the art of coding scripts, they can decide to move off into C#, java, ruby or whatever. My job is to give them the spark of passion.

If you know what you love, then starting a business from it is the easy part. Making a living at it, that a whole other ball game. Start a blog and write about your passion, tweet about it, teach it, make samples of it - ask Nike say, Just do it.

Like Bob the builder, give yourself THE as your middle name. I'm Paul The Programmer. 3 little letters instantly associate YOU with your passion in the audiences eyes.

Now go be what you love.

My own Childrens TV Series

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:52:00 -0500

Because I'm a programmer and I'm called Paul, I thought I'd name my website PaulTheProgrammer... simple, or so I thought.

One of my so-called friends asked me today....

Are you planning on releasing a children's TV series for the digital age?and went onto explain

In the 80's we had Govt Services: Post Man Pat, Fireman Sam....

In the 90's we had TV DIY - Bob the builder
and finally, in the 00's - the Internet age - 'Paul the Programmer'

then he topped it off with a little ditty

'He's always on the scene... he laptops nice an clean...' Or even better 'Programmer Paul, Programmer Paul, Programmer Paul and his black and white optical mouse..'

Unwittingly, he gave me a new strap line, excellent story to keep me remembered when networking and a decent chuckle.

If only everything in life was so useful.

Sick of the same old insults?

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:00:00 -0500

In the good old days before the typewriter or the printing press there were many, many superb put downs that appear to have fallen out of favour and now are merely historical artifacts.

Well I say Bring Them Back! So here, presented for you are 5 common life experiences that warrant an insult and 5 new insults you can have, for FREE!

1. Someone just ate your last cookie ...

Call them a goatish fat-kidneyed moldwarp

2. Your partner throws away your favourite sneakers

Aren't they an unmuzzled onion-eyed varlet ?

3. Someone cuts you up in traffic

Don't get road rage, just think of them as a lumpish beef-witted bum-bailey

4. Your bank account is in the red and you can't withdraw cash

They're all surly pox-marked measles at that bank

and finally

5. You catch your spouse cheating

Just leave them reeling by calling them a yeasty beetle-headed codpiece

Hope you liked them, for more alternative insults, visit the Shakesperean Insults page

Merging CSV files Into A Single XLS spreadsheet

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:48:00 -0500

Twitter user, v1p1n, asked ... "I have three csv files (comma seperated). I want to merge these csv files to a single xls files with 3 csv files in 3 tabs of the xls. Please let me know how i can do this..... "

Here's some code to get you started, this will merge 3 CSV files (FILE1,FILE2 and FILE3) into a single sheet. You'll need to modify strFilePath to the path the the CSV files...

Sub CSVFiles()
   MergeCSVFile "FILE1.CSV", "Sheet1"
   MergeCSVFile "FILE2.CSV", "Sheet2"
   MergeCSVFile "FILE3.CSV", "Sheet3"

End Sub

Sub MergeCSVFile(strCSVName As String, strSheetID As String)

   strFilePath = "c:\temp\"
    Workbooks.Open Filename:=strFilePath & strCSVName
    Windows(strCSVName).Activate
    Cells.Select
    Selection.Copy
    Windows("Book1").Activate
    Sheets(strSheetID).Select
    Cells.Select
    ActiveSheet.Paste
    Range("A1").Select
End Sub