#I’m not very tech savvy so this is proving to be a challenge

[doodleduck]

Ugh I’m trying to format a fic into a word document so I can print it and have a physical copy but it’s taking FOREVER

[sinsays]

Big Announcement

Now that I’m starting to get my stuff, I figure now would be a good time to finally let everyone know what’s going on.

Remember that customer survey I did a while back? Well this relates to that.

So for a while now I’ve been working with Vocational Rehabilitation to potentially get the support I need to take the next steps in my career (basically starting my own business officially). To do this, I needed to go through a program one of their branches had. I needed to explain my business plan, talk about what experience I had, the challenges I face, strengths, and what were my start-up costs.

The biggest obstacle I was facing was that I did not have a computer that could handle the kind of things I wanted to do. I wanted to be able to: Do 3D modelling, be able to offer 3D model commissions, do more advanced animations, offer animation commissions, livestream art and gaming, spend more time making videos for my youtube (without having to spend way too long rendering the videos with how slow my laptop is), make Vtuber models, offer Vtuber model commissions, create video games, and so on.

I went through the process with Voc Rehab. I had to do a lot of meetings and fill out a lot of paperwork. I worked really hard to prove that with Voc Rehab’s help I would have everything I’d need to succeed with my business. 

With everything said and done, all the paperwork sent in, all I had to do then was just wait to see if I’d be approved. Well, I was approved. They would help me get the equipment I needed to take the next steps with my business. All the start-up costs were approved, they’d help me with that.

So then I had a specialist in ergonomics come over to look at my set up and figure out what I’d need to be able to do my job comfortably and have the right equipment to succeed as well. The person that came by was very tech savvy so he knew what I was talking about when it came to streaming, gaming, and digital art. Once he figured out what I’d need, he then made a report to recommend equipment to Voc Rehab- which was all approved by my counselor there.

When I had initially asked for equipment in my start-up costs, I was modest. I didn’t ask for anything crazy, just what I knew I needed and could work with to succeed.

Ergonomics went beyond that to absolutely make sure I had every single thing I needed to succeed in this career. He looked at the gaming pc I picked out and went “This would be the minimum needed for streaming, let’s get you better specs.” so they’re picking out a pc that is better than what I picked out. He looked at what I had for drawing digital art and decided I needed a screen drawing tablet. Then of course there was all the usual ergonomic gear such as a custom chair, desk, keyboard, mouse, etc. They really wanted to make sure I had everything I needed and I’ve never felt so seen and understood before when it comes to recognizing my physical limitations and my career.

So, with all the gear approved, I then had to wait for them to get everything and once they have it all- they’ll come over and set everything up for me. I have been given a couple things so far that Voc Rehab was in charge of, so I currently have a new phone. Potentially next week I’ll be getting everything else.

Once I have everything, I’ll be taking some time to test and figure everything out. But then, I’m going to be able to do sooo much. I’ve been held back for so long, and now I’ll have everything to hit the ground running. I’ll have a lot of work to do ahead of me, but I’m so excited for it.

TL;DR- For the past, idk, couple years? I’ve been going through a process with Vocational Rehabilitation to be approved in getting support for all the start-up costs to officially start my business. I have been approved. I’ll be getting a full on Content Creator/Gaming/Livestreaming set up. Expect to see big things from me in the near future.

[strange-lace]

My first thing to do knowing hyperfixating on LEGO Monkie Kid is making a role swap AU because of course, though I was also inspired by @cassidyisnowdrawing ‘s Yellow Light Verse (that I really hope it doesn’t look like I’m copying you, I did my best to make them different from each other)!

So in this role swap, while everyone’s roles in the story are swapped (Mei’s the Monkie Kid, Red is her partner in crime, and MK serves DBK and PIF) their backstories haven’t changed, if that makes sense. Now while I keep their personalities similar to canon, they’re going to still have some differences due to their different circumstances.

Mei:

Mei would be a lot more insecure and eager to prove herself, both as Sun Wukong’s successor and her worth as a person since while I’m having backstories for the characters stay the same, I could see Mei and MK both being worse off self-esteem wise without having each other around growing up. 

She’d still just as bubbly, excitable, protective, and phone savvy as Canon!Mei, if not more so on the protective aspect. Tends to go absolutely apeshit the most when someone threatens Green, Pigsy, Tang, Sandy and eventually includes MK and her own mentor, Sun Wukong, under this umbrella.

Case in point: when she sees Sun Wukong and Macaque fight. Through sheer protective anger and hurt about being betrayed allows her to lift the staff and decimate Macaque.

Sun Wukong would get attached a lot quicker to his successor in this AU because Mei just has that energy which activates Parental Instincts he didn’t even know he had.

Does noodle deliveries for Pigsy but has also makes vlogs of what it’s like working at Pigsy’s Noodles. She says it’s to better advertise the shop, but really she just likes making memories that she can look back on and show others. Starts doing it while also being the Monkie Kid and training with Wukong.

Was genuinely scared/intimidated by Demon Kid upon first meeting him but was quick to find that while he’s got the dramatics of being a villain down, he fails at the aspect of actually partaking in villainous behavior. After that, they’re quick to transition from enemies to frenemies to just being friends.

Makes no effort to hide her wanting to be friends with Demon Kid and finds his quiet bewilderment at her friendship adorable but also kind of sad. 

A troublemaker despite her innocent face, which definitely makes Sun Wukong proud to see her causing chaos and get away with it. That, alongside her kind nature, are the reasons he chose her as his successor.

Creates tech for the team alongside Green, though their differing styles of inventing can cause complications or make the inventions backfire on them both, though she takes these more in stride compared to Green.

The undefeated queen in DDR and Monkey Mecha despite Green’s multiple attempts to dethrone her.

Mei: Hey, hey DBK look at me. DBK: [turns towards Mei] Mei: [ready to kick his ass] B I T C H!

A slight bit better at focus and following Wukong’s lessons compared to Canon!MK but still tends to get ahead of herself in wanting to learn flashier techniques before even getting the basics down.

Likes to wage psychological warfare on her enemies. By that I mean, she essentially likes pulling Bugs Bunny level antics to frustrate them to do stupid stuff in combat out of anger, allowing her to fuck them up with a smile on her face.

Green (AKA Red Son)

The most changed personality wise due to different circumstances in this AU, a lot more calm and composed to counteract Mei’s hyperactive demeanor and less prone to losing his temper. Though he’s still pretty uptight.

Is still the son of DBK and PIF but he had ran away some time after DBK had been imprisoned. Makes an effort to make sure he’s not recognized by anyone, dying his hair and wearing makeup. Still wears Canon!Red Son’s shades but they’re larger and he still dresses like a rich bitch because he has standards. He refuses to wear the color red for unknown reasons to Mei and the others, at least until they find out about his family.

Just as protective of Mei as she is of him, to the point he had some objections to her being chosen as Sun Wukong’s successor but eventually let it go once he saw how important it was to her. Begrudgingly chose to fight alongside her, thinking he might as well and avoid her getting herself killed. His way of showing he cares can appear condescending but Mei has known him long enough to know he really doesn’t see her incapable of taking care of herself.

Works alongside Mei to use their combined tech knowledge to combating the threat of DBK and his demon forces. However, his inventions can also have a tendency to backfire or not work as intended, much to his frustration.

Enjoys racing on his motorbike, participating in races across the city and often winning in 1st place. He is most definitely a cocky little bastard about his skill in racing, one the few things about himself that he puts a lot of pride in.

Had a complicated relationship with Demon Kid at first. At first, he resented the other for essentially being his parents attempt to “replace” him after he ran away and led himself to believe that he was much more appreciated by his parents for his control of his flames and magic power. However, that illusion is soon shattered once he sees how Demon Kid gets when they foil his plans since he’s familiar with that look of worry and resigned accepted that he’d have to go back to DBK and PIF with another failure on his back. Tries to show empathy after that without revealing his true identity, which only causes confusion for Mei and Demon Kid on how he’s so familiar with DBK, PIF, and demon culture as a whole.

The exhausted voice of reason among the team alongside Pigsy.

Often challenges Mei to video game championships which devolve to them play fighting once Mei inevitably beats him at everything.

Has his own façade of confidence but often fears not being strong enough to keep his found family safe but is too proud to admit until someone gets injured and he starts fearing for the worst.

Sun Wukong enjoys messing with him due to his uptight nature, especially at the Monkey King’s impishness.

Goes completely feral in combat once he gets the Dragon Sword. Even before that, he was willing to run over Demon Kid’s demon puppets with his bike to give Mei a hand.

Demon Kid (AKA MK)

A kid who’s a lot like Megamind: he lives for the dramatics and presentation of being a villain but fails at actually acting villainous when it comes down to it. Does his best to appear serious, intimidating, and someone not to mess with but that façade slips very often when it comes to things like being complimented or when someone mentions the Monkey King and he turns out to be a complete dork.

Not the son of DBK and PIF, but rather a low level demon that PIF had chose to be help her free DBK after Red Son had disappeared and she was left alone. Mainly because Demon Kid had no one else either and she saw potential with his strong magic, though it was rather out of control when they met. PIF had decided alongside DBK that they’d keep him around as an assistant/minion of sorts once he had helped her free DBK.

Since he doesn’t have Canon!Red Son’s prowess with technology, I considered instead that he’s skilled with magic and his own fire powers, using them a lot more in combat or during his schemes against Mei’s team. Still a major contributor to DBK’s army, but instead of the mechanical Bull Clones, perhaps Demon Kid instead supplies his king with sentient demon puppets given life through his magic. The armor can run the same, except with a magical angle instead of technology.

I have this idea that he’s actually able to pull out Sun Wukong’s staff on his own, much to his surprise. He’s quick to try and say it was due to a spell when PIF questions this. He’s left both amazed and terrified at the mere possibility of him being worthy to wield the staff of Sun Wukong himself.

His first meeting with Mei plays out similar to the show’s canon, though instead he intended on teleporting Mei away with a spell under the guise of “eliminating” her for DBK. Even while chasing her through the city, he was going to simply take the staff and scare her enough to never cross the Demon Bull King again. He tries to convince himself it’s to allow fear of DBK to be spread by leaving her alive but really, he just could never bring himself to kill or seriously harm someone.

Though like Canon!Red Son, he’s prone to losing his temper with others before immediately apologizing afterwards out of reflex. Also tends to teleport away from situations when he’s embarrassed himself, often saying he’s only allowing Mei and Green to win this time but next time will be different.

Spoiler alert: It rarely ever is.

DBK and PIF are often frustrated with Demon Kid because they know he has potential to bring Sun Wukong’s successor and her team to their knees with his powers and knowledge of magical spells but he fails to fulfill this because of his own inability to be cruel. They’re both like that episode of Spongebob where Plankton tries to teach him to be assertive/aggressive except they’re both Plankton and Demon Kid is Spongebob.

Quickly becomes attached to Mei and Green since they’re genuinely nice to him and while he insists that it’s because they’re his “personal archenemies”, he most definitely sees them as his friends and is constantly coming up with flashier schemes to impress/amuse them as well as get feedback from them. Was actually really lonely before meeting them, having to use his demon puppets for company. His attachment to Mei and Green can quickly evolve to possessiveness when he thinks someone is trying to take them away, whether they be other enemies that decide to fight them or a friend who is simply spending noticeable amount of time with them.

In the case of someone else trying to kill them, Demon Kid would be quick to shut that down and make that person immediately regret it since, in his words, he’s the only one allowed to destroy the two. This is one of the few situations where he gets completely serious and doesn’t bother with the theatrics.

Does his best to make himself look scary such as shoes to make him appear taller, jagged face paint, and perhaps sharp eyeliner to imitate PIF since he sees everyone fears her.

[ettadunham]

A Buffy rewatch 7x09 Never Leave Me

aka tired of subtle

We did it, guys! We made it to the last season! Also, hello if you’re new, and stumbled upon this without context. As usual, these impromptu text posts are the product of my fevered mind as I rant about the episode I just watched for an hour (okay, sometimes perhaps two). Anything goes!

And I prefer today’s episode to Sleeper as a post-Big-Bad-reveal kick-off to our season’s main arc in multiple ways. Also, Willow drags Andrew. Literally.

Season 7, as a whole, struggles from the main story arc taking up too much of its time. People often hate on filler episodes, but the truth is, you can’t fill out 22 episodes of television with a singular, focused story arc. And you shouldn’t.

Not to mention that fillers are a great way to explore characters without being bogged down by an overarching plot. (So stop hating on their concept, just because some shows do them badly.)

Buffy at its best realized that these things – your main arc, your character stories and your fillers – can coexist in the same episodes. Some of the best episodes of the show are one-off stories, using a unique set-up or villain of the week while focusing on characters and pushing the season arc on some level.

Unfortunately, the structure of season 7 makes it much harder to tell these kinds of stories. Our Big Bad is ever-present, and the battles and confrontations with it are constant throughout the season, once the reveal happens in episode 7.

I’m pointing this out not to criticize Never Leave Me, but to emphasize how good it is, and why the issue of the season has more to do with trying to keep up with the pace this episode sets.

Oh, yeah. Hot takes I guess about the episode that ranks 98th on iMDB. Never Leave Me is pretty good.

(I kinda wanna look up each episode’s iMDB ranking at this point before writing up on them, just for funsies, but I also don’t want to be influenced by the popular opinions? The struggle.)

To be fair though, part of my fondness for this episode comes from my feelings regarding the previous one. Watching it, I felt like I was seeing a much better version of what a follow up to Conversations with Dead People would look like.

And a lot of that has to do with Spike. And Buffy.

I spent the last time ranting at length about how I just don’t connect with Spike, and that’s okay. Pretty much all Buffy characters are incredibly flawed, and we all relate to and/or gravitate towards different ones, based on our own experiences. I love that. I love that these are well-rounded characters who change and grow in both surprising and consistent ways.

I also like Spike much better in this episode, because his story relates to Buffy much more strongly. Which does seem to be the best way for me to find a connection to Spike in any given episode (see also: Fool for Love).

I guess another aspect is that unlike Sleeper, this episode focuses much less on his romanticism. He instead talks about his past. About the horrific things he’s done. About his and Buffy’s self-hatred. About how he understands it and that she used him now, and how he didn’t back then.

More importantly, Buffy gets to fire back. She did tell him all those things last season. It’s why she ended things with him in the first place. She also challenges his assumptions about that self-hatred as a current motivation in what’s decidedly my favorite scene of the episode.

SPIKE:  “Have you ever really asked yourself why you can’t do it? Off me? […] You like men who hurt you.” BUFFY:  “No.” SPIKE:  “You need the pain we cause you. You need the hate. You need it to do your job, to be the Slayer.” BUFFY:  “No. I don’t hate like that. Not you, or myself. Not anymore. You think you have insight now because your soul’s drenched in blood. You don’t know me. You don’t even know you. […} Listen to me. You’re not alive because of hate or pain. You’re alive because I saw you change. Because I saw your penance. […] You faced the monster inside you and you fought back. You risked everything to be a better man.”

I love this scene, because Spike posits something that’s in line with Buffy’s own fears about her relationships, something that she voices as far back as season 4. That maybe she herself seeks out these painful, dramatic romances.

…But this discussion isn’t really just about that, isn’t it? And even if Buffy hasn’t quite landed yet on how to approach her romantic history, she has plenty of self-knowledge. She knows why she hasn’t and won’t kill Spike now.

Buffy sees and believes in the best of people. Even when they don’t. And here she shows the same compassion to Spike that she did to Angel as far back as season 1.

See, she’s a protector, not a killer. And one with a huge fucking heart at that.

That’s why she didn’t kill Spike. At worst, she saw him as non-threatening to others after his chip debacle, at best, she saw a potential for him to become better.

Still. How does one reconcile this characterization of Buffy with what we see in Selfless? Has Anya not proved more than enough times that she can be better? That she’s more than just the vengeance demon she used to be?

Worse, when Buffy and Xander argue about the difference between stopping Anya then, and Willow at the end of season 6, Buffy’s argument doesn’t really make sense once you think about it. She says that they weren’t planning on killing Willow, because Willow’s human. But from everything we know of vengeance demons, there really isn’t any distinction between them and a human with powers. They still have their souls.

So the distinction Buffy makes between Anya’s and Willow’s case feels arbitrary. And so does the decision to not kill Spike at certain points of the story.

But that’s what Buffy says in Selfless, isn’t it? “Someone has to draw the line.” And in a world with no clear-cut black and white morality, that line is arbitrary.

Buffy’s been acutely aware of the fact that the world she operates in is full of grey areas ever since Lie to Me. There are no easy answers or choices, even when you’re fighting literal creatures from hell, but someone has to makes these decisions regardless. Someone has to draw the line. And that’s Buffy.

But I think that’s why she finds it all the more important to choose hope sometimes. She has to be prepared, yes, and she can’t rely on the power of love alone, as discussed before. Her responsibilities come first. But she can offer a choice.

Even in Selfless, one of the most important moments for Buffy is when she implores Xander to find her another way to deal with Anya. Which is what Willow ends up doing, by asking D’Hoffryn to offer up the same kind of choice to Anya, that Buffy felt unable to in this situation.

Never Leave Me is also the episode where the gang meets Andrew again. More accurately, Willow runs into him, and he’s terrified. As he should be.

ANDREW:  “Warren killed Tara. I didn’t do it. And he was aiming for Buffy anyway.” WILLOW:  “Not making it better.”

In case you missed it, this was a direct callback to another scene:

WARREN:  “It was an accident, you know.” WILLOW:  “Oh. You mean, instead of killing my best friend, you killed my girlfriend.”

Listen, all I’m saying that if Willow flayed Andrew after that line? I wouldn’t have blamed her.

But Willow these days is less about the murder, so instead she just stares incredulously at Andrew after that little moment of rage-inducing blunder. And they both nerd-monologue at each other, I guess?

(Sidenote: I don’t think I ever got around to mention this with the last season, but there’s an interesting and somewhat uncomfortable interpretation of the Trio, as a mirror to Willow’s own character. Mostly the worst parts of her at that of course, but there are definitely some parallels here; particularly to Warren and his tech savviness, and Jonathan and his magical abilities. Andrew is probably the least obvious example though – unless we take his relentless gay-coding as a nod to that.)

This whole storyline of course ends up being played mostly for comedy, as Anya and Xander take it upon themselves to test their interrogation techniques on Andrew. And it’s fun, too, seeing them work together without the added baggage that was their romantic relationship. It makes me both root much more for them to get back together, and wish that they wouldn’t, because they work so much better like this.

Even if Xander’s speech to Andrew is obviously supposed to be about himself, and how he’s still not over Anya.

XANDER:  “There was this one guy, her hurt her real bad, so she paid him back. She killed him, but she did it real slow. See, first she stopped his heart, then she replaced it with darkness, then she made him live his life like that. But he still had to go do his job, and see his friends, and wake up in the morning, and go to bet ad night, but he had to do it all empty. Without anything to look forward to. Ever.”

Honey… I know you know this, but you did this to yourself.

Oh, and isn’t it fun that when the Harbringers attack, one of the first things they do is knock Willow unconscious? It’s almost as if the show is trying not to call attention to the fact, that she could probably take these guys out in a second with magic.

But at least this gives Dawn some chance to kick ass, so that’s always a plus.

Another side-plot that’s happening is with my boy, Robin, who finds Jonathan’s body in the basement. And decides to bury It instead of telling anyone about it.

I’m sure there’s an explanation to this other than making us believe that he’s a bad guy, but I honestly can’t even remember. We’ll see, I guess.

The episode ends with Buffy making the connection that they’re up against the First, and the First itself monologuing at Spike about how it’s tired of being subtle. Which feels very meta in an ironic kind of sense from the show, but also marks a questionable turn in the season arc.

There’s a lot of cool concept and potential (hehe) in the First as a Big Bad, that we’ve seen demonstrated in Conversations with Dead People. It knows things. It can appear as anyone you know who died. It can mess with you in infinite ways.

In this scene though, the First is talking about bringing these Uruk-hai vampires to the surface, and that’s just not as interesting as those other tactics. Even if Buffy gets to have cool fights with them.

But that’s still to come. Who knows, maybe I’ll appreciate the super vampires after all.

Also appreciated – those scene of Quentin and the Watcher’s Council being their usual, holier-than-thou selves, keeping information from Buffy, and relying on empty platitudes... immediately followed by them getting blown up.

Yeah. This show’s anything but subtle, that’s for sure.

[thezodiaczone]

November Forecast for Scorpio

It’s Scorpio season—and this year, it’s really your time to shine! For the first week of November, you’re rounding out an exciting year of growth and expansion that started back on October 10, 2017, when abundant Jupiter entered Scorpio for the first time since 2006. For the past 13 months, you’ve been evolving into a brand-new version of yourself, and this month, the world could see the unveiling of Scorpio 2.0.

On November 7, the only Scorpio new moon of 2018 acts like a cosmic new year for you, kicking off a six-month cycle for your goals and personal dreams. If there were ever a day to come into your own, it’s now. Hello, fresh starts! Since this is also the very last day that Jupiter will be in your sign until 2029, make a supersized birthday wish…and don’t hold back.

If you’re still figuring out what to do with all of your self-discovery, fear not! On November 8, Jupiter will march into Sagittarius until December 2, 2019, spending 13 months in your second house of work, money and security. You’ll shift into “builder” mode, where all of the exciting discoveries you made over the past year will start to take shape. Sure, plenty of them may wind up on the cutting-room floor, but one or two winners might be worth making into something tangible. They could even become profitable over the coming months—but you won’t know unless you try.

With gambler Jupiter in this stabilizing house, it’s all about taking measured risks. Put yourself out there and see: You could be tapped for a promotion or an exciting new gig that helps you build your nest egg. With vivacious Jupiter in your second house of self-worth, your confidence is on the rise, and others will be drawn to your centered and purposeful energy. In fact, this is a year that many people meet the person they marry, mainly because you’re attracted to prospects who have solid values and good character, instead of the flashy players. Jupiter was last here from November 24, 2006, until December 18, 2007, so look back to those dates for clues of what could resurface.

You’ll get more cosmic reinforcements to pick a solid bet because on November 6, unpredictable Uranus will take a four-month hiatus from your relationship house, where it’s been shaking things up (in Taurus) since mid-May. Uranus will back into Aries and your sixth house of health, wellness and organization for a final hurrah. Then on March 6, 2019, it will leave for good, not to return in this lifetime. Use this time to really get your wellbeing on track and to get stressful projects off your plate. The sixth house rules employees and service providers, and with tech-savvy Uranus here, you might get some extra help from a virtual assistant or by adding efficient new apps and gadgets to your world. The “internet of things” could become your new favorite buzzphrase.

Midmonth, the landscape shifts when Venus, the planet of love and harmony, FINALLY ends a six-week retrograde that lasted from October 5 to November 16. Complications with friendships, family members and romantic partners should start to clear up. You’ll be more relieved than most signs because you weathered Venus retrograde in Scorpio from October 5 to 31 and may have felt challenged at every turn. Not only is Venus straightening out, but on November 15, sizzling Mars will move into Pisces and your blazing-hot fifth house of lust and glamour for the rest of the year, bringing sexy back with a vengeance.

The only downside is that Mercury, the planet of communication, travel and technology, has scheduled its next retrograde to start that same day (November 16) and last through December 6. Mercury will back through Sagittarius and your money house until December 1, putting a damper on Jupiter’s enthusiasm for the first couple weeks. Then, from December 1 to 6, Mercury will slip into Scorpio, making you feel misunderstood all over again. The only silver lining is that this will last for five days instead of three-plus weeks—but during this time, you’ll want to fly under the radar and avoid anyone who pushes your buttons. Got something to launch? Wait until December 7, when the planets are behaving AND there’s a Sagittarius new moon powering up your money mojo.

On November 22, the Sun will move into Sagittarius for a month, balancing out the Mercury effect a bit—or at least turning your focus to practical, productive tasks. November 22 also happens to be Thanksgiving in the U.S., and you’ll have plenty to be grateful for a few days later. On November 26, the Sun will make its annual conjunction (meetup) with Jupiter—a day some astrologers consider the luckiest of the year since it gives you a revitalizing boost of confidence and charisma. With these luminaries linking up in your financial sector, you could have an awesome payout, perhaps from a Black Friday sale or an exciting work offer. Or you might have a major epiphany about a change you want to make professionally—and a surge of can-do energy to go along with it.

The next day, November 23, brings the year’s only Gemini full moon in your eighth house of intimacy, merging and joint ventures. This could mark a turning point in a key business or personal relationship—a time you decide to either go all the way in…or all the way out. The eighth house is the home turf of Scorpio, so you’ll be feeling very much yourself under these extreme skies. It could also be one of the sultriest days of the year since the emotional moon powers up your erotic eighth house, boosting a mind-body-soul connection.

The weekend advances further in this direction because on November 24, dreamy Neptune wakes up from a five-month retrograde in Pisces and your fifth house of romance. The holidays are starting to look promising on the love front! Before you become “all work and no play” with Jupiter fueling your ambition, save room for some hedonistic side splurges, too.

Love & Romance

So many feelings! Love is a super-emotional affair this month—yes, again. Romantic Venus, the planet of relationships and harmony, is retrograde from October 5 to November 16, and it’s dredging up some buried emotions. From October 5 to 31, Venus backtracked through Scorpio, which put you in the hot seat. An ex may have resurfaced, or you could have felt a bit confused about the direction. At times you may have felt like you couldn’t mask your insecurities, no matter what you did.

Venus will spend this whole month in Libra and your introspective twelfth house of forgiveness, healing and hidden agendas, and it will be retrograde until November 16. You may need to clear some old resentments or repair the trust in a bond. Some Scorpios will just need time alone—solitude and silence are golden.

With stressful Mars in Aquarius and your domestic fourth house until November 15, you might not get that serenity at Chateau Scorpio. Be vigilant about carving out a space for yourself under your roof…for everyone’s sake! Conversations about babies, exchanging keys or upgrading your shared living situations could be sources of both excitement AND stress for coupled Scorpios. Keep stress at bay so your moods don’t spiral out of control.

On November 9, Venus and Mars will unite in a cooperative trine (120-degree angle), an ideal day to talk about your feelings, especially ones you’ve been keeping under wraps. Summon the courage to be vulnerable and wear your heart on your sleeve. It’s not always easy to be straightforward about your needs (or to say “I’m sorry”), but passive-aggressive or indirect tactics will backfire. Let someone know how you feel and what you need, avoiding any hint of shame or blame.

The second half of the month takes a sexy turn. On November 15, Mars will blaze into Pisces and ignite your fifth house of lust, flirtation and passion for the rest of the year. The holiday season is about to get hot! With Venus correcting course the next day, the stars are practically following you around with a sprig of mistletoe—and a long list of admirers eager to get under that kissing branch with you. For coupled Scorpios, the rest of the year is perfect for dressing up and hitting some glamorous outings. Prioritize novel experiences and fun to get the adrenaline and mojo flowing.

Book some sultry private time on November 23, when the Gemini full moon heats up your erotic eighth house. A relationship could plunge into new levels of permanent bonding—or you could decide to cut things off for good.

Key Dates

November 19: Mars-Jupiter Square Your romantic vision may be 20-20, but a partner or colleague might be more myopic—or unable to see the brilliance of your ideas today. Don’t get hung up on it. It could prove to be just a one-day obstacle!

Money & Career

Bring on the bounty! Your luckiest financial year in more than a decade begins November 8, when generous Jupiter kicks off its 13-month foray into Sagittarius and your prosperous second house. After an adventurous year of trying new things, you’re now ready (or soon will be) to “pick a lane” and concentrate your efforts on a specific goal. That diligence and persistence could pay off between now and December 2, 2019, so narrow your focus, Scorpio.

While you’re at it, be sure to upgrade your systems. From November 6, 2018, until March 6, 2019, revolutionizer Uranus will make one final trek through Aries and your sixth house of efficiency and employees. From hiring remote service providers to upgrading Team Scorpio with savvy and skilled new people to “going digital” with a clunkily analog project, your world is due for a postmodern update. Do it now because Uranus won’t return to Aries again in your lifetime, meaning you have one final opportunity to apply everything you learned while Uranus was here from March 2011 to May 2018. After that, the planetary shock jock will settle into an eight-year trek through Taurus and your seventh house of partnerships. That’s all the more reason to get things running like a well-oiled machine since you could be offered an exciting deal or an opportunity to join forces.

Things are definitely looking up in the work department, but you’ll have one last hitch to contend with from November 16 to December 6, when Mercury turns retrograde, mucking up technology, travel and communication for three weeks. It won’t be enough to STOP you in your tracks—especially with the Sun soaring into Sag on November 22—but consider it a gentle-ish tap on the brakes before you go barreling into a new business venture.

Besides, you could be really glad you waited once the November 23 Gemini full moon illuminates your eighth house of joint ventures and big money. A bonus, commission, sale or windfall could be headed your way. If you’re thinking of buying or selling property, this full moon can push the deal through the finish line. Just scrutinize every single word before you ink any deals. With Mercury retrograde, you’re prone to missing important fine print, and you just can’t be too careful!

Key Dates

November 26: Sun-Jupiter Meetup This could be one of your luckiest days of the year in terms of work or money. When these bold and expansive planets align—something that only happens once a year—you could make a savvy career move or get in on the ground floor of a business that’s about to blow up.

Love Days: 20, 24 Money Days: 31, 13 Luck Days: 29, 11 Off Days: 23, 27, 8

[books-and-dragons]

Um, okay, saw your blog and had to ask this. Mishima, Togo, and Akechi as partners in crime against the PTs? Would it work?

Ooh, interesting question. Have to ask though, in regards to what? Metaverse? Just beating them somehow in the real world?

At the end of the day, I would argue that the PTs would remain victorious, but that’s not to say Mishima, Togo, and Akechi wouldn’t put up a half-decent fight. Facts are, in my opinion, at the end of the day they’d be outmatched and outnumbered.

I’ll break it down by person, then by their overall skills.

Mishima, while very tech savvy and the curator of the Phandom Aficionado Website, really takes a long time to come into himself- and it’s through Akira’s aid. Even so, if we assume this turn happens after Akira maxes them or whatever, if Mishima were to have the bravery to stand up to them, he could reign hell via phansite. However, Futaba is a significantly more advanced hacker, so there would be minimal effectiveness once the PTs figured out what was going on. 

Hifume is a rather effective tactician, and taught Akira many skills, however she is not perfect- as we know by her failure at shogi once the games stop being rigged, she is prone to mistakes and she still has a lot to learn. I would say that Akira, Makoto and Morgana would effectively be able to counterattack any of their strategies.

Akechi would pose the greatest threat of the three. Strategic and intelligent, influential, and a capable fighter. But we know to be fact that Akira can keep up with Akechi, and that Akechi’s emotive impulsivity can lead to wrecklessness on the battlefield. Also, has Akechi has to pander to his fans, therein lies the issue of just how much slander he can reign unto the thieves- especially if they held popularity. Makoto is a great rival to Akechi’s intelligence, and again it’s canon that they are rivals in this.

Now, when the three team up, there is potential for increasing their danger.

For example, Mishima’s site skills, as well as Hifume and Akechi’s celebrity statuses can influence the public and sway them against the thieves. However, we know that doesn’t stop the thieves from operating. Furthermore, the effectiveness of this media influence is limited as it’s dependent upon the context of the thieves at the time, and their popularity.

Strategy. Hifume and Akechi’s combined skills would prove a great challenge to the thieves, I won’t doubt that for a second. However, against Morgana, Akira, and Makoto’s strategies, as well as Futaba’s hacking skills and technological infiltration, the three would soon see challenges to their strategies. Also, the thieves are adaptive to all situations, so strategies would have to be flexible in order to work even in the slightest.

Combat. Akechi would be a great challenge, as I already said. However, Akira would be able to keep up, undoubtedly. And Mishima and Hifume, whilst they may put up a decent try, wouldn’t stand half a chance against the full might of the phantom thieves- the group is too strong.

I could have put this a lot better, and I do have a few more points I might embellish or add to later, but the fundamentality of this is that, whilst the three would be rather successful, as a great whole they wouldn’t really stand too great of a chance against the thieves. Too many skills held by too many people, all of which whom are strong fighters. 

As playful rivals, sure, it could work. As serious foes? The three wouldn’t really stand a fighting chance.

I’m not saying that they’re weak, but I am saying that the Phantom Thieves are strong. And they cover a huge range of skills- and I’m not talking the magic skills here.

But thankyou for the ask! It was a really interesting and thought-provoking thing to consider ^^ 

[perfectirishgifts]

Should You Retire Now? Millions Fed Up Working Under Pandemic Conditions Have

New Post has been published on https://perfectirishgifts.com/should-you-retire-now-millions-fed-up-working-under-pandemic-conditions-have/

Should You Retire Now? Millions Fed Up Working Under Pandemic Conditions Have

Thoughtful mature woman working at laptop thinking about the pandemic and whether she should retire … [] now.

The pandemic is wearing everyone out, and Baby Boomers are no exception. Individuals who were planning to retire two or three years from now are changing their minds. In the third quarter of 2020, Pew Research Center reported that about 28.6 million Boomers turned in their retirement notices and left their company, many much sooner than they planned.

Tom,65, is an Engineering Director for a large organization. He has been an exemplary employee working 60,70, sometimes even 80 hours in a week, if needed, for 22 years. Four months ago, the company pushed his boss out and had the boss take early retirement. Since then, the new boss has proved to be quite challenging to work with. She does not have an engineering background, making it frustrating and challenging. She asks for work that can’t be completed in her timelines due to her lack of technical knowledge. Tom loved his old boss and is very angry at his company for making his job so much harder by pushing the old boss out. He had been planning to work another four or five years. After months of working through the pandemic and how difficult it has been, Tom does not want to do it anymore. He is now counting every day until he leaves – currently 61.

Richard,62, is a marketing director for a large medical device company. We had worked together to develop his resume as he was thinking of moving someplace warmer and continuing to work for another five years. He oversees a portfolio of medical products. In the past, he would travel, set up demonstrations where the company’s surgeon would do an operation, and educate doctors on using his products in a surgery situation. He organized all the medical conferences plus state and national meetings. Everything changed when Covid 19 begin. No more travel, working totally from home, living on zoom, and trying to keep the products going even though no demonstrations could happen. Richard wrote this week to say, “I’m absolutely done trying to manage a product portfolio this way. I hate Zoom! A month ago, I got Covid and I have been sick for the last four weeks. To make matters worse, my wife got ill too, and we have no idea how we got this. The stress has been horrible. Last week, I decided it is not worth it anymore, and so I am retiring at the end of December.”

As large companies face the pandemic, many offered retirement packages to their older workers. These mature workers were told that if they didn’t take the package, they might find themselves being let go soon after and not getting any severance at all. Many employees took it.

Jane called in a panic to say that her company was ordering people back to the office. She said, “I am 63 with a heart condition. My doctor warned me to stay home until the vaccine is widely distributed. I fear if I get Covid, I will die. I talked to my boss and HR about this, and they suggested I retire. I feel boxed in, but for my safety, I am retiring.”

What’s going on?  

The pandemic already has fueled a surge in early retirements, according to a NY Times report recently published by three economists. They found that among people who had left the labor force through early April, 60% said they were retired, up from 53% in January, before the pandemic. The most massive increase was among people over 65. Still, nearly half of this group were 50 to 65, said Michael Weber, a co-author of the report and a professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

“This phenomenon is widespread across older workers, but it increases at age 65 when economic incentives play a role,” he said. That’s when Medicare eligibility begins, and full Social Security benefits are on the horizon.

The combined unemployment rate and underemployment for workers over 65 was 26% in May, roughly five points higher than for those ages 25 to 54. And the combined rates are exceptionally high for older workers who are less educated, black, Latino, or in specific industries, such as leisure and hospitality, transportation, and education.

Faced with the choice

Retire? Wait this crisis out? Do you look for a new job? Give up? Many mature workers are anxious about their job security. They feel like they are in a boat with a big leak. It is entirely understandable to be scared and frustrated by all the challenges you might face, particularly concerning finding another job, especially if you’ve been furloughed or laid off. It may sound easy just to give up and call yourself retired. Be sure that is what you want. Making this significant decision quickly or under extreme stress is not the right approach. If you are able, take a week off from work, relax, and rest up. Then consider this decision from a relaxed perspective if you can. Ask yourself these questions:

Am I up for a job hunt and possible relocation? The typical job search for a professional over 55 is likely 6-12 months or longer. First, try to test the waters. Network with old bosses, former co-workers, and colleagues to get a realistic picture of your job prospects. Would you need to move to land a new job? If so, where? Moving is a challenge at any age, so be sure you and your family are committed to doing this. The higher your job level, the more likely you’ll need to search nationally to secure a new role. Many companies doing remote work will aid you but be clear when you talk with the employer what their expectation is once Covid is over. Must you move, or can you still work remotely?

Are you willing to update your skills? You need to be tech-savvy in today’s online virtual world. Do you need to update your current computer skills and also your professional skills? If your industry has been hard hit, you likely need to make a career change to doing something new. That means taking classes, picking up a certificate, finishing a degree. – whatever is needed to make you more marketable.

Will You Need Income?

Many retirees still want to work but only part-time. Can you find something in your field? How hard of a search would it be? Many retirees are finding part-time jobs doing something new is ideal. You need to evaluate the risk of social contact with the public if the part-time gig isn’t working from home. Some older workers are still working as uber drivers, and others found part-time call center work remaining at home.  

Time for some soul searching

What do you want your future to look like now that the pandemic has changed everything? Do you want to be closer to family? Do you want to move to a cheaper area? Someplace warm? Is NOW the time to walk away from your professional life and retire? You need to take a realistic look at your Covid health risk, housing situation, living expenses, potential income upon retirement, and medical insurance if you aren’t eligible for Medicare. Then be honest with yourself about what you want the future to look like. If the current stress is too much, and you’d be happier not working, retiring now may be the wisest answer for you.

More from Retirement in Perfectirishgifts

[texanredrose]

Y’all want a laugh? Here’s my explanation of the dream I had that eventually became Loyalty. Not fucking edited to preserve the shenanigans.

Alright. I have no idea how much of this is accurate, but this is how it went. Tried to break it up a bit so it's not as wall-o-texty.

So the girls are a team, right? Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang? And the organization they work for is like a government branch dedicated to hunting down Grim. That's about as much as I've gleaned, so I don't know if any of the following is actually canon or not, but that's the impression I've been working under. Apparently.

Well, our tale starts out like so: the girls are chilling in their base of operations- which was pretty swank, for whatever reason- when they get sent out on a mission to protect a high value target during transport. Yang's not so thrilled, Ruby's chipper about another mission, Weiss is anal Type A about completing it perfectly, and Blake just wants to get things over with so she can go back to her book (from what I could tell, this was considered a normal reaction for all four, so I suppose this may be where the characterizations begin to differ? Dunno). So, they head out, escorting some dude on a train, when it gets attacked by Grim (which my subconscious apparently takes to mean 'fucking werwolves'. I also rewatched the Underworld movies recently, so might be that). Yang volunteers to deal with the Grim at the back of the train while Ruby and Weiss head to the front, to protect the train's engine (the logic is that Yang can always punch off the connections between cars if she starts getting overwhelmed), leaving Blake to defend the VIP. Except, there actually are no Grim- they're just, like, shadow replicas, I have no idea how, but they go poof when hit, kinda like the Puttys from Power Rangers- and Yang, Ruby, and Weiss dispatch them easily, but not before their VIP knocks Blake out. Apparently, the mission was arranged by their organization (I think it's called Beacon? No shits given) and Yang, Ruby, and Weiss return to the VIP car to find Blake in heavy duty restraints and their VIP calling in an airlift, which promptly arrives to whisk Blake away to the protestations of Weiss, Ruby, and Yang, though Weiss is most vocal (she keeps citing protocol. Again, anal Type A, the forms were not filled out in triplicate, now bring Blake back this instant, asshole). They get stonewalled and, eventually, placed under house arrest back in their base of operations.

Weiss spends the time yelling and pacing, Ruby tries calming her down, and Yang is amused. At some point, one of the other chicks drops by (I believe her name is Cinder? Low cut red blouse, that's all I remember) and informs the group that Blake is believed to be a spy for the Grim and, through extreme measures of pain compliance, has revealed herself as having a Grim form (again, fucking werewolves). Because of this, she will be executed. Weiss is pissed, but waits until Cinder leaves to start debating their options, eventually narrowing it down to either accepting the boss' decision and letting Blake die or rebelling and freeing Blake. Ruby tries to talk to her but Yang stops her by the classic big sister tactic 'keep her from squirming and smother her mouth' (are they sisters? Fuck it, don't care) and instead eggs Weiss on until Weiss decides that, yep, she's going to rebel. Yang is excited for the impending kickassery (she apparently likes fighting losing battles? Bring 'em on) and Ruby is just praying they all make it through alive (though the youngest- I guess?- still the generally level headed one). They gear up and break out of their house arrest, fighting through their own complex to find Blake. By the time they get to her, they're extremely fatigued, but Weiss is hella determined to break through the ridiculously heavy restraints practically burying Blake. That's when (what I assume to be) the biggest and baddest of Beacon's agents show up, including Cinder, Weiss' older sister, the ice cream chick (Napoleon? Fuck, the pink and brown girl, you know who I'm talking about), and the twin chicks (I don't know they're names, but I think I've seen fan art of them in the Kill La Kill outfits?), along with the head of Beacon, their father (muscly dude, wears a suit, owns a bar?). Weiss, Yang, and Ruby are clearly outmatched but fight anyway, eventually getting smacked down due to their weakened states. Just when it looks like they're about to get absolutely destroyed, the complex comes under attack by- shocker- fucking Grim. As the agents turn their attention to the sudden attack, a group of Grim break off from the main body and infiltrate the room, finding the girls. Weiss blacks out as the Grim begin attacking Blake's restraints.

Weiss, Ruby, and Yang wake up later in the Grim stronghold, which is like a network of caves with naturally luminescent crystals lining it (I guess my subconscious was trying to imply that the Grim are not tech savvy. Or tech friendly. Au naturale. Moving on.), and under guard by several Grim. They are eventually lead to a main chamber, where the King of the Grim is basically holding a trial for Blake. Turns out, she's not a spy for the Grim, but an outcast, shuned by the Grim for failing to become a 'true' Grim (apparently, this process involves revoking her humanity and accepting her beastial form, which I guess is the nuance between Grim and fucking werewolves; the Grim never revert to a human state and hate humanity as an aberration of the natural order of predators). However, being discovered by Beacon meant they would possibly use her for experimentation and find a way to end the war between humans and Grim in the humans' favor, which they can't allow. Blake refutes the accusation she was willingly allowing herself to be used by Beacon for the purpose of engineering a 'cure' but the King demands that she kill one of her teammates to prove her innocence. At this point Weiss has had enough of this shit and, in turn, challenges the King to a duel over Blake (okay, that's not originally her wording, because she's playing this weird I-like-her-but-she-can't-know-that game that Yang thinks is stupid and Ruby just kinda shrugs because the others are older and she's not quite to the mooning over a love interest portion of her life yet, but the Grim apparently have some sort of rule where a Grim can be challenged in regards to a female, usually meant for breeding purposes, but all the Rules Lawyers are dicks and want to see the human and the King fight, so they bend the law a bit). It's a hard fought battle (Yang is a very obnoxious cheerleader, btw) but Weiss manages to force the King to yield, sparing Blake's life, which leads to a heat-of-the-moment, she-is-mine moment from Weiss that has Blake basically saying 'well, yeah, I'm okay with this'.

The fallout of embarrassing him, though, is that the King refuses to harbor the girls, and promptly kicks their asses out of the Grim caves to fend for themselves. While trekking through a forest- and with a little prodding (in the form of Ruby making Weiss actually own up to her feelings and Yang instilling Blake with some needed confidence)- Blake and Weiss admit they share a 'mutual attraction' (Weiss' phrasing?). Happy lovey dovey time is short lived, however, when Beacon's agents find them, catching the group off guard and subduing them. They're brought back to some sort of chamber, apparently being put on trial (again!) for the whole breaking Blake out thing, but it's actually going in the girls' favor. Between Weiss pointing out the inadherence to protocol, Yang's adamant defense of Blake as a teammate, and Ruby's inability to lie worth a damn, the 'jury'- which is just the higher agents of Beacon- are inclined to believe that Blake isn't a spy and is an honorable Beacon agent but head honcho isn't convinced. They're put in solitary confinement while the 'jury' deliberates, which consists of Ruby drawing as an outlet for her distress, Yang turning her mattress into a punching bag- and subsequently destroying it- as her outlet, Weiss burying herself in Beacon's rules/laws/whatever texts, and Blake tapping into her Grim side on the off chance they're found guilty and must fight their way out (again).

So, next day, Weiss found a bunch of interesting information, but none of it useful, Yang's primed for a fight, Ruby's just her optimistic self, and Blake's suddenly having trouble containing her animal instincts. Against many agents' wishes, head honcho decides that, yeah, girls are goners. Of course, the girls aren't going down without a fight, so it's initially up to Blake to draw as much attention for the others to grab their gear and level the playing field. Due to the whole 'we told you this was a bad idea' thing, Weiss' sister, ice cream chick, and Cinder refrain from the fight, until the Grim attack (again) and draw them into the fight. Turns out, Blake's distress during the whole ordeal has been like a beacon (pun!) for the other Grim and they've been timing their attacks when she's at her weakest emotionally, therefore most susceptible to making the conversion to Grim. So now we've got the Grim King, Beacon Head Honcho, and the girls in a three way battle. Weiss' priority is keeping the King from getting too close to Blake (it's still obvious he sees Blake's failed conversion as a personal insult) and Blake's priority is keeping Head Honcho away from Weiss (he sees her as the instigator in the rebellion of Ruby and Yang). This leads to Back-to-Back badasses on Weiss and Blake's part as they deal with their respective opponents, Weiss using the cool swordie thing while Blake's using her Grim powers (because I have no idea; does she actually have an assigned weapon?) and they're actually holding their own pretty well. Ruby and Yang are running interference, keeping both Beacon and Grim from joining their respective leader while pitting the two sides against each other whenever possible.

Then, in a show of finesse, Weiss manages to pierce the heart of the Grim King. At the same time, Blake uses her animal strength to overpower Head Honcho, caving the dude's head in. Everything else stops as everyone realizes that both leaders are dead. The agents of Beacon look to Blake while the Grim look to Weiss. After some tense and awkward staring, Weiss remembers something she read the night before: Beacon does run on mostly paperwork, but there's a really old clause that no one bothered to repeal, basically stating that if anyone was able to topple the leader, that person becomes the new leader immediately. Cinder acknowledges that, yes, that's still a rule (Ruby thinks it's a stupid rule; Yang is quite adamant that it's awesome and wishes she'd known about it sooner), which effectively places Blake as the head of Beacon. As it turns out, the Grim have a very similar rule (like, verbatim), which makes Weiss the Queen of the Grim. Still ready to tear through anyone who gets too close, Blake needs Weiss' help in calming her Grim side and bringing it under control (ironically, she's completed half of becoming a 'true' Grim by killing a human out of anger) while Blake pleads the case of the Grim (really, they're not all that bad; once they have a goal, they're dedicated to it, so it's really the King's fault they've been attacking the humans, they can be good pups, she swears). The two immediately order a halt to the hostilities (Yang is not exactly pleased) and everyone calms their collective shit.

Apparently (as in, the explanation given in this particular dream), Beacon and the Grim used to be two sides of the same coin: two branches of a central government. Beacon was basically the executive branch and the Grim were their enforcers, until some split happened that neither wanted to take responsibility for, leading to the decades old feud. Seeing as Blake and Weiss are now the heads of the factions, they order the hatchet be buried and reform the old government. Weiss commands the Grim as enforcers of the law while Blake takes on the administrative role as head of Beacon. They help each other out, of course, seeing as Weiss is way more into paperwork and Blake definitely 'gets' the Grim better, but they make it work. Meanwhile, Ruby and Yang are elevated to Blake's and Weiss' assistants, respectively, which amounts to Ruby getting to be a people person while Yang gets to grapple with Grim for training purposes. They are totally okay with this. Of course, not everything's perfect, seeing as the twins are a bit pissed their dad's dead and have defect to form a rough faction, and now Blake and Weiss have to deal with that headache, but it could've been worse.

So, it's essentially the story of how Blake and Weiss take over the world through the power of love.

[aurelliocheek]

Career Growth Tips from Drew Frost @Sam’s Club

Drew Frost is currently the Sr. Growth Marketing Manager at Sam’s Club, heading up marketing efforts for Sam’s Wholesale mobile app as well as their in-club shopping app, Scan & Go. 

But Drew is so much more to us here at Liftoff. As a Mobile Hero, Drew was not shy in jumping on a Best Practices in Marketing Shopping Apps webinar, sharing UA performance results in a case study for his Scan & Go e-commerce app, or writing a blog on metrics, creatives and opportunities. But our favorite contribution is Drew’s recurring character as “Ice Man” in the Mobile Hero Comics.  More recently, we caught up with Drew to discuss his career path and what advice he can offer to up-and-coming mobile app marketers.

Walk us through your career path at Sam’s Club

I’ve been at Sam’s Club for nearly six years and my current role is in growth marketing. Prior to this role, I worked in product marketing, primarily focused on our mobile app. Before that, I worked in loyalty, back-end systems and monetization. I’m probably the oddball, but I also spent a little over a year and a half working in a Walmart store before making the jump to “the office.”

How did you get started in mobile?

I had a really good mentor. I was looking at the commerce space overall, and apps was where it was happening. I was looking at the space thinking, “Everything’s moving to mobile, I should get with the program.”

I had a colleague who believed that in order for you to become better at what we call an “office employee,” you needed to first experience what the problems were in the company – on the floor. He was very passionate about this, so he sent me to the field and said, “If you go out there and can hack it for at least a year, then we can see about finding a role for you here at the office”. After proving myself on the ground at a Walmart, I got an opportunity to move to the office. That year and a half working in a Walmart store set my mobile marketing career in motion.

What qualities do you think are the most important for app marketers to have and why?

One is curiosity. Question everything, even when someone tells you something is completely standard.  Two, and the biggest advice I can give anybody is,  don’t be afraid to fail. Three, is to realize you don’t have to do anything by yourself. There are tons of resources available. I had a conversation with a good friend recently who pointed out — the app community is supportive and takes care of itself.

What has been your most career defining moment?

Four and a half years ago, back when I was based in Arkansas, my director at the time put me on a plane and gave me a large problem to handle. He flew me to our tech office on the West Coast and said, “You’ve got this.” It was a sink or swim moment, but all the lessons in mobile that I shared as good qualities for marketers to have completely applied in this instance. I couldn’t be afraid of failure, I had to ask for help, and I was just naturally curious as to why we were doing things the way we were doing them.

Who has been your best advocate or mentor in the mobile industry?

In the app industry you really need a couple of mentors: 1) a mentor that’s tech savvy and, 2) a mentor who knows advertising and marketing.  For me, I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by a variety of people that are skilled in both disciplines. To this day, I think I learn more from side conversations with them than I do in formal meetings in my day-to-day job.

Who are some of your career inspirations?

Growing up, I was absolutely, positively a Steve Jobs fan. That man could do no wrong in my eyes. As I grew up and learned more about him, I came to understand that he is in fact human, and makes mistakes. But still…  When I look at the advertising space, kudos to Liftoff and the team that you guys have built – you’re on top of the game.

What are three tips you could offer to new mobile app marketers to help grow their careers?

One, is to just get involved. Everybody wants to tiptoe into new things, but that’s not really how the app world works. If you think you have a problem that you can solve, speak up. You’ll learn very quickly that in this world there’s no such thing as a dumb idea. Two, don’t be afraid to let your curiosity flow. Think outside the box. There’s always the option to swim upstream if you think you have an idea that’s better than anyone else’s. Three is to find mentors or folks that you’re really comfortable with. I think one of the bigger challenges, especially if you’re new to the space or just coming out of college, is finding these people. Some think, “Oh, I really need to find a mentor that’s been skilled for twenty plus years.” In our industry, this doesn’t really exist. A mentor could easily be somebody your own age who has a different skill set or perspective than you do.

What are the biggest challenges marketers need to overcome to succeed in the mobile industry?

One, is to keep your ego in check. Apps are a hot commodity, and they will be for a while. Just remember that trends ebb and flow, and while apps are what’s in right now, they may not be in a couple of years. So always prepare for what’s next.  Beyond that, it’s an understanding that app marketers are basically technologists. If you don’t follow tech trends, you’re going to be lost. It’s one of the coolest parts of my job, and until people work in this space, they don’t realize how much app marketers talk about technology, growth stacks, and numbers.

There is relatively high turnover with mobile marketers. Do you see that as an advantage for the industry or a disadvantage?

Overall, I see it as an advantage. When folks hop around, they are showing growth and spreading different ideas which is positive. The trick is weeding out folks that are just here for the buzzwords.

What advice would you offer new app marketers?

It’s a marathon, not a sprint. If I could go back in time, I’d smack the back of my head over and over again and tell myself to slow down.

What resources, blogs, companies, sites, etc. are most valuable for mobile app marketing?

I’d say the one that really kicked it off for me is grow.co. They do a phenomenal job and are very inspirational as far as growth practices. I’m also a big fan of anything that Peggy Anne Salz does. And, of course, you have the standard resources that people follow like MarTech, eMarketer, etc. The trick to any publication is identifying what is app specific and of value to you. 

Read other insightful Q&As with leading mobile app marketers in the industry.

The post Career Growth Tips from Drew Frost @Sam’s Club appeared first on Liftoff.

Career Growth Tips from Drew Frost @Sam’s Club published first on https://leolarsonblog.tumblr.com/

[cathrynstreich]

Providing Exceptional Service in a Competitive Market

Homes.com: An Advantageous Investment for Real Estate Professionals Looking to Stand Out

Sue Anne Cobb, owner/principal broker at Five Star Real Estate Services LLC, with offices in Millington and Jackson, Tenn., is committed to helping folks buy and sell real estate. She also plays a critical role when it comes to ensuring that everybody has access to the home of their dreams.

To that end, in 2015, Cobb celebrated her service on the Fair Housing Committee in nearby Jackson by taking on a leadership position as chairperson. Having served on the board of her regional association of REALTORS®, in addition to the Professional Standards and Education committees of the Memphis-area REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC), Cobb remains active with the nonpartisan organization that supports community building, property rights, growth management and the environment.

Nearly 20 years ago, Cobb launched her very first website with a company that would later become part of the Homes.com system. More recently, after an unsatisfying experience with another web host, Cobb became a Homes.com client—and she hasn’t looked back since.

While Cobb’s web presence evolved along with the expanding technology and innovations Homes.com made available to Five Star Real Estate Services LLC, she also found that becoming a Preferred Listing and City Sponsor client were advantageous investments.

“I’ll probably stay with Homes.com until I retire,” says Cobb, who can’t say enough about the company’s City Sponsor Ads program, which proved to be particularly helpful when she opened her new office outside of Memphis two short years ago.

“I live here in Millington, and while I eat, shop and go to church here, it’s been hard to break in with REALTORS® that have been here for 20, 30 or 40 years, so I’m trying new things,” she says. “If I’m going to be working here until I retire, it’s not going to be about making a million dollars; it’s going to be about providing great customer service.”

But to give great service, you must have great clients, according to Cobb.

“And that’s what Homes.com delivers to me,” says Cobb, who points to the tech provider as being the best in the business. “In addition to being a City Sponsor for Millington, Homes.com’s Preferred Listing service is also generating leads for me from my website.”

While Cobb doesn’t consider herself to be a tech-savvy individual, Homes.com takes the challenge out of the equation.

“They make it easy for me to go in and make changes to my website, and their tech support is awesome. They’ve also added a lot of features since I’ve been with them, so now I have the ability to coordinate my social network presence with Homes.com,” says Cobb. “Facebook is huge in our markets down here, and I love the fact that when someone goes to check a listing on my company Facebook page, it clicks them through right to my Homes.com site.”

But it doesn’t end there. In fact, listings are easy to update, as well.

“When a price changes or a listing updates on my local MLS, they automatically update on my website. And for somebody who’s not tech-savvy or a broker/owner, who doesn’t have time to manually do all this, Homes.com is the best vendor out there,” says Cobb.

“They operate on the same values as I do,” concludes Cobb. “They do what they say they’re going to do, and for me, that’s huge.”

For more information, please visit marketing.homes.com. 

John Voket is a contributing editor to RISMedia.

The post Providing Exceptional Service in a Competitive Market appeared first on RISMedia.

Providing Exceptional Service in a Competitive Market published first on https://thegardenresidences.tumblr.com/

[crazyblondelife]

How to Carve Out Your Own Style at 50 Something!

When I sat down to write this blog post, it was going to be about ageism, but why accentuate the negative?! I switched gears as I did a little research and what I found was surprising and very inspiring! Fifty something women are stepping up and out in a big way. We are living big lives, we have big goals and are a huge force to be reckoned with as consumers.

I read a fascinating article in Forbes magazine about the spending power of the 50ish consumer (women in particular). It seems that brands are finally starting to come around and see that we as a consumer group are not irrelevant. It’s been a long time coming and there is still work to be done before we are represented in advertising as we should be. Research shows that “85 percent of purchasing decisions are made by women and yet 91 percent of women don’t believe that advertisers understand them.”

“According to the Coca - Cola Company and Mass Mutual, a group of 40 million 50+ American women represent over $15 trillion dollars in purchasing power and are are the healthiest, wealthiest, and most active generation in history. This group of super consumers, who will experience the largest population growth over the next 10 years, represent off-the-charts spending power, yet most of these women feel completely ignored by marketers.” ~ Forbes Magazine

Women are no longer brand loyal specifically, but are on the lookout for the latest and greatest of everything from makeup to cars. We want the products that will enrich our lives, make our wrinkles less obvious, and make us feel good…and we are willing to spend the money. For marketers, that means advertising aimed specifically at 50 something women is crucial because we are “literally on the prowl for the items we want”.

According to a study by the U.S Government Consumer Expenditure Survey and Neilson, female consumers 50 and over are extremely engaged with wanting to look and feel better (you can put me in that category). The study shows that women 50 plus compromise the largest demographic of incomes over $100,000, we control 95% of household purchasing decisions, 80% of luxury travel purchases, 82% of us are open to trying new brands and we are the fastest growing consumer cosmetics segment. 75% of us are willing to pay a little extra for quality and convenience and 44% of us want to improve our looks more than ever. WOW!! We are…the ultimate super consumers! Brands should are are (slowly) taking notice. As a group, however, we are still under represented in advertising.

What I found in my research is that instead of sitting around and waiting for brands to notice, we are taking matters into our own hands by starting blogs, businesses, and making our voices heard. We can no longer be categorized as irrelevant. We are increasingly tech savvy and must be because we are completely focused on what we want from life…we are willing to do what it takes to live the lives we are capable of living We are bright and curious and ready to talk openly about the challenges and opportunities of midlife.

There are more influencers than I can count who are over 50 and proving that we can bes and are powerful and successful. What I found as I was perusing the Internet was women like Grece Ghanem who is a 52 year old Instagrammer taking the space by storm and showing that it doesn’t matter what decade you were born in. Grace is a personal trainer in Montreal, has only been Instagramming for about 2 years now and has already has gained over 72K followers. My take on Grece is that she is fearless in her way of dressing and therefore gives other women permission to be fearless. That’s what we can do for each other…step out, show up and encourage other women to do the same! We have nothing to lose and everything to gain by realizing our worth and shouting it out to the world!

With the longevity boom just getting started, we are about to enter into the super consumer golden age.

Now is the time for brands to take notice!

Below, I’m sharing some pretty amazing 50 plus women who have carved out their own niches by staying true to their own style!

Grece Ghanem

Girls Gone 50 is a highly entertaining space targeted to women over 50. It is powered by Grace Creative, an integrated advertising, branding and creative content agency that deeply understands the most empowered target market in history - women over 50. Follow Girls Gone 50 on Instagram here.

In The Groove - A Lifestyle Destination for Age Defying Women - Founded by Susan K Feldman, founder of One Kings Lane, for “women like us: smart, sassy, road tested with a lot more miles to burn”. In The Groove covers everything you can imagine that is relevant to 50 plus women! One of my favorite posts was - You Don’t Have To Gain Weight After Menopause!

Renata Jazdzyk is a Poland native who resides in Newcastle upon Tyne in the U.K., she documents her penchant for trends and fashion-forward dressing. Check out her Instagram here!

Renia’s outfits rival any you might find on the streets at Fashion Week. Her style is always put-together, polished, and original. Her Instagram feed is full of inspiration for how to incorporate designer trends into your everyday look, without looking like a replica of what was shown on the runways. Her creativity and love of fashion is apparent in every outfit.

Linda Rodin is a woman who does things her way! She started a beauty company at the age of 59 when more than a few people told her it was crazy! Rodin ignored even very knowledgeable friends in the beauty industry and singlehandedly created the face-oil trend with her exquisite, now-iconic Olio Lusso face oil. She insisted that her entire luxurious, stylist-secret line be totally nontoxic - because she wanted it that way.

Lyn Slater is a 63 year old university professor and social worker with a blog called Accidental Icon. Her journey to becoming a fashionista was accidental (hence the name), because a paparazzi mistook her for a celebrity. Lyn exudes confidence and her style shows it. Her ability to capture you with pictures and her interesting style of writing on her blog proves that with age comes wisdom and…great style!

Dawn Lucy is the 52 year-old blogger behind the over-forty style blog Fashion Should Be Fun. Lucy is a style blogger, a high school English teacher, a wife and the mom of dogs. Her Instagram feed is filled with fresh and playful outfits, pics captured from her daily life in San Jose, California as well as her travels.

Sophie Fontanel of the blog Fabulous Forever, is a 50-something fashion journalist and style critic for the Parisian publication, L'Obs.

Sophie's style embodies that distinctly French way of looking absolutely effortless and impossibly fashionable all at once. She is a writer, fashion guru and a selfie celebrity. Her style is perfectly Parisian and showcases a wardrobe made up of vintage gems that reflect her whimsical personal style!

Colleen Heidemann is a former flight attendant, who lives by the mantra, "if not now, when?" She was discovered by blogger/photographer Seth Cohen of the blog Advanced Style, when he met Colleen at her California consignment store in 2011. She has since became a fashion muse in her own right and signed with Next Models. Colleen’s style is anything but minimalistic. She favors glamour with a vibrant flair. The only word for Colleen is fabulous!

There are more 50ish bloggers and Instagrammers than can be counted these days and this is a small example of what we as women are doing in the social media world!

Thanks so much for reading today!

[andrewmawby]

Nutone Knock Review

I installed the Nutone Knock wireless doorbell a few days ago.

So far so good, but it was a stroke of luck that it actually brought it to life on my new Moto G5 Plus smartphone!

I want to preface this entire review letting you know I LOVE the Knock, even though I was knocking my hand on my head trying to get it to work.

I think you're going to enjoy this story.

  Nutone Knock WiFi Enabled Security

The Nutone Knock is a sleek doorbell that has a camera, microphone and infrared light. It also has a speaker built into it allowing you to have a conversation with anyone at your door no matter where you are.

It works just like making a Skype phone call over the Internet.

Here's my Nutone Knock ready and waiting for you to push that green highlighted button. Once you do that, the magic starts! Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Related Links:

Doorbell Extenders - Hear Your Doorbell Everywhere

Doorbell Stories and Alternatives

Installation Challenges

I'm an amateur radio operator and have built small radios using tiny electronic parts. This skill came in handy as the instructions require you to install a small diode in the actual interior doorbell in your home.

My guess is most homeowners would not be comfortable doing this step. It's important to note that diodes must be installed one way as they regulate the direction of flow of electricity.

Here's the inside of the actual doorbell up on the wall inside my house. The yellow arrow points to the diode. How many homeowners do you think will be able to do this without messing it up? My money is on most will shy away from this step. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

I installed the doorbell base plate outdoors with no difficulty. A point often overlooked is the importance of following the instructions.

It's extremely important that you have the above-mentioned diode installed correctly BEFORE you connect the new doorbell to the wires sticking out of the wall at your front door!

It was easy to attach the new doorbell wires to the ones sticking out from my wall with the supplied crimp connectors.

Here's what appears on your smartphone screen a second or two after someone pushes the green button on the Knock. Don't ask me how my German Shepherd got up to ring the bell. Smart Lady the dog! Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Downloading the Knock App

Another key point is to go step-by-step following the easy-to-read instructions. I was able to download and install the free Nutone Knock app on my smartphone in less than a minute.

Just after that is when the trouble started.

I followed all the steps multiple times to get the app to work with my new Nutone Knock doorbell. 

Each time all I saw was a image of the doorbell on my screen with a nasty RED X showing the phone couldn't connect.

I'm fairly tech savvy and got frustrated. Not wanting to give up, I had my very tech savvy son give it a try.

He was unable to get it to work.

I decided to wait until the following day to reach out to the Nutone people to see what I was doing wrong.

  The Monster Nor'easter

Hours later, a monster Nor'easter storm lashed central New Hampshire where I live. We lost power and Internet for 16 hours.

I have a standby generator, but the electrical circuit that powers the DC transformer connected to the doorbell is not on it.

The doorbell was dead for 16 hours.

It's (Nutone Knock) Alive!

When the power came back on, my cell phone was on the kitchen counter getting charged up. I left it there overnight.

Little did I know, but the doorbell was now working and the motion detector was sending alerts every few minutes that a leaf fell onto the front porch.

Lot of Settings

When I woke up, I was stunned to see the doorbell was working.

It was working VERY WELL!

The first thing I did was go into the settings and let the motion detector to the lowest possible sensitivity to stop the constant "bong tone" in my phone.

Suggestions to Nutone Knock Engineers

I can't prove that the doorbell needed to be powered down to make it work. But that's the only thing that happened once I had given up trying to make it work.

If that's the case, then it needs to be put in the instructions.

But there's an issue with that.

Most houses there's no indication on the circuit breaker box which circuit controls the low-voltage transformer that operates the doorbell.

Tim's Suggestions:

The Nutone engineers need to put an on/off power switch on the Knock

The pairing of the Knock needs to be as simple or even more simple than me activating my Arlo wireless security cameras

A video needs to be made showing how easy it is to install the diode

Update app to allow homeowners to prerecord messages that can play through the speaker when the homeowner is unable to respond to a ringing doorbell

Have a person who's fluent in the English language view every warning issued by the Nutone Knock - see below screenshot.

Ouch! An editor needs to check all copy of all hard-coded messages. Plus, how could a brand-new Knock that's not even readily available not have the correct firmware in it? Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Final Rating of the Nutone Knock

I give the Knock four hammers out of five.

Once it's working it's a very nice tool to have.

But I struggled to get it working and I'm sure I won't be the last.

  The post Nutone Knock Review appeared first on Ask the Builder.

from builders feed https://www.askthebuilder.com/nutone-knock-review/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

[allardjeremyballard]

Nutone Knock Review

I installed the Nutone Knock wireless doorbell a few days ago.

So far so good, but it was a stroke of luck that it actually brought it to life on my new Moto G5 Plus smartphone!

I want to preface this entire review letting you know I LOVE the Knock, even though I was knocking my hand on my head trying to get it to work.

I think you're going to enjoy this story.

  Nutone Knock WiFi Enabled Security

The Nutone Knock is a sleek doorbell that has a camera, microphone and infrared light. It also has a speaker built into it allowing you to have a conversation with anyone at your door no matter where you are.

It works just like making a Skype phone call over the Internet.

Here's my Nutone Knock ready and waiting for you to push that green highlighted button. Once you do that, the magic starts! Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Related Links:

Doorbell Extenders - Hear Your Doorbell Everywhere

Doorbell Stories and Alternatives

Installation Challenges

I'm an amateur radio operator and have built small radios using tiny electronic parts. This skill came in handy as the instructions require you to install a small diode in the actual interior doorbell in your home.

My guess is most homeowners would not be comfortable doing this step. It's important to note that diodes must be installed one way as they regulate the direction of flow of electricity.

Here's the inside of the actual doorbell up on the wall inside my house. The yellow arrow points to the diode. How many homeowners do you think will be able to do this without messing it up? My money is on most will shy away from this step. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

I installed the doorbell base plate outdoors with no difficulty.A point often overlooked is the importance of following the instructions.

It's extremely important that you have the above-mentioned diode installed correctly BEFORE you connect the new doorbell to the wires sticking out of the wall at your front door!

It was easy to attach the new doorbell wires to the ones sticking out from my wall with the supplied crimp connectors.

Here's what appears on your smartphone screen a second or two after someone pushes the green button on the Knock. Don't ask me how my German Shepherd got up to ring the bell. Smart Lady the dog! Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Downloading the Knock App

Another key point is to go step-by-step following the easy-to-read instructions. I was able to download and install the free Nutone Knock app on my smartphone in less than a minute.

Just after that is when the trouble started.

I followed all the steps multiple times to get the app to work with my new Nutone Knock doorbell. 

Each time all I saw was a image of the doorbell on my screen with a nasty RED X showing the phone couldn't connect.

I'm fairly tech savvy and got frustrated. Not wanting to give up, I had my very tech savvy son give it a try.

He was unable to get it to work.

I decided to wait until the following day to reach out to the Nutone people to see what I was doing wrong.

  The Monster Nor'easter

Hours later a monster Nor'easter storm lashed central New Hampshire where I live. We lost power and Internet for 16 hours.

I have a standby generator, but the electrical circuit that powers the DC transformer connected to the doorbell is not on it.

The doorbell was dead for 16 hours.

It's (Nutone Knock) Alive!.

When the power came back on, my cell phone was on the kitchen counter getting charged up. I left it there overnight.

Little did I know, but the doorbell was now working and the motion detector was sending alerts every few minutes that a leaf fell onto the front porch.

Lot of Settings

When I woke up I was stunned to see the doorbell was working.

It was working VERY WELL!

The first thing I did was go into the settings and let the motion detector to the lowest possible sensitivity to stop the constant "bong tone" in my phone.

Suggestions to Nutone Knock Engineers

I can't prove that the doorbell needed to be powered down to make it work. But that's the only thing that happened once I had given up trying to make it work.

If that's the case, then it needs to be put in the instructions.

But there's an issue with that.

Most houses there's no indication on the circuit breaker box which circuit controls the low-voltage transformer that operates the doorbell.

Tim's Suggestions:

The Nutone engineers need to put an on/off power switch on the Knock

The pairing of the Knock needs to be as simple or even more simple than me activating my Arlo wireless security cameras

A video needs to be made showing how easy it is to install the diode

Have a person who's fluent in the English language view every warning issued by the Nutone Knock - see below screenshot.

Ouch! An editor needs to check all copy of all hard-coded messages. Plus, how could a brand-new Knock that's not even readily available not have the correct firmware in it? Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Final Rating of the Nutone Knock

I give the Knock four hammers out of five.

Once it's working it's a very nice tool to have.

But I struggled to get it working and I'm sure I won't be the last.

  The post Nutone Knock Review appeared first on Ask the Builder.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8247360 https://www.askthebuilder.com/nutone-knock-review/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

[our-beginnings]

Nick Caldwell, VP Engineering at Reddit

First thing’s first: tell us a bit about who you are, and what you do now.

Sure! I’m Nick Caldwell, and I’ve been VP of Engineering at Reddit for the past 9 months. Before that I had a 13 year career at Microsoft where I worked my way up from intern to General Manager of a product group called Power BI. I live in San Francisco with my wife Tia and dog Poochie (a corgi, because Cowboy Bebop). I grew up in Largo, Maryland which is a little suburb to the south east of D.C. as an only child.

Besides building the team at Reddit, lately I’ve been doing a lot of writing about management, participating in /dev/color, and am starting up a scholarship fund called Color Code.

What's does your day-to-day at Reddit look like? What’s your favourite part about it?

Management is all about making sure that your team has everything they need -- inspiration, tools, processes -- to head in the right direction together. Over the last year, Reddit has undergone a lot of change and there’s more to come. A big part of my job is organizing the engineering team and making sure that we are delivering new features to users on time with high quality. So on a typical day you’ll see me tracking engineering work in JIRA, coordinating upcoming features with the PM team, working with our network of vendors/contractors, and coaching my staff.

A sort of mission statement we like to say around the office is that “everyone has a home on Reddit” and I look forward to making that a reality.

There’s no one favorite thing about my job, so I’ll give you three. First, it’s pretty amazing that I get to come into work every day and make Reddit better. I have been a Redditor for just shy of a decade and it’s always been one of my favorite sites to learn, laugh, kill time, and more. There is nothing better than getting to work on a product you love alongside a great team, which is the second thing I like about my job! Reddit’s engineering organization is packed deep with some of the smartest yet low-ego engineering minds I’ve encountered. We’ve also got a “People and Culture” team that does a great job of making Reddit a fun place to work. Probably my favorite example of this is the all-company trip to Lake Tahoe. The final thing I love is Reddit’s potential. We have 300M monthly active users but there’s a lot we’re doing this year that should drive the number even higher. A sort of mission statement we like to say around the office is that “everyone has a home on Reddit” and I look forward to making that a reality.

When you were a kid, your dad brought home a Tandy 1000— is this where your love for coding began? 

I was only about 4 years old then, so I don’t remember much about it other than that I learned enough to play my favorite games: Reader Rabbit, Pac Man, Tank!, and a few others. When I watch my nieces play with their iPads and iPhone nowadays, I suspect they are far more tech savvy than I was at that age.

At that time no one in my life knew about computer programming. But gamers and coders have a lot in common. They share the same systematic ways of thinking about problems, the desire to optimize systems, and the superpowered ability to stare at screens for hours at a time. So inevitably, my love of games eventually transformed into coding.

What was your ‘eureka'  moment—the one that, if you look back on it now, sparked your journey? How did it feel? Was it “Hello World”? 

In junior high school, I had a friend named Billy, and we were great friends back then because we both loved video games and were both absolute nerds. One day he invited me over for video games at his house. I was expecting Super Nintendo but what I got instead was an absolutely epic re-introduction to PCs.

Billy had LHX Attack Chopper [pictured above], Wing Commander, and Wolfenstein 3D. These were all amazing, groundbreaking PC games at the time. After that, Billy launched a game he had written himself in QBasic. It wasn’t especially complicated but he showed me how he could change the scoring system and game text, then relaunch the game with the changes. Then he used a 2400 baud modem to dial into a local Bulletin Board System called “The Illusionary Forest” and download a copy of Commander Keen.

I was completely blown away by all this. I biked home after that and begged my father to buy a new PC, which we did a few weeks later on a trip to Micro Center.  

Out of all that experience, it was the BBS that stuck. BBSs were a doorway to a much bigger world, where I could be anyone I wanted to, talk to whoever I wanted to, learn more than I could at school. I eventually learned to code so that I could write and sell my own BBS software.

Of course, the first program I wrote was “Hello World” in C++, but I think the real catalyst for my coding career was watching my friend hacking on QBasic and imagining what I could do when it was my turn.

BBSs were a doorway to a much bigger world, where I could be anyone I wanted to, talk to whoever I wanted to, learn more than I could at school.

A bit later, I was also introduced to the idea of starting something of my own, the Silicon Valley dream; I was in a summer program call MITES (Minority Introduction to Science and Technology) hosted at MIT. It prepared me for the school and introduced me to entrepreneurship.

You went from that Maryland/DC magnet school to MIT, then to Microsoft. What brought you to Reddit eventually?

Before Microsoft, I got my first paid internship as an engineer at NASA working on software for x-ray detectors. In school, I became fascinated by AI and machine learning and game programming, and that resulted in my first internship at Microsoft on the Direct3D team.

My first fulltime job, though, was at Microsoft— first working on natural language processing components, which led to learning about enterprise search, information retrieval, machine translation, and machine learning. After that, I jumped into business intelligence where I picked up knowledge about data modelling, data visualization, in memory databases, and advanced analytics. Somewhere in the middle of all that I got my MBA from UC Berkeley, became a General Manager, and started learning about the inner workings of marketing, finance, and business development. Because of MITES, I was continually coming up with ideas with that startup mindset; I always wanted to do something, but it was safer and still fun to stay inside Microsoft and do "intra-preneurial" projects. Now I’m at Reddit and it’s great fun to pick up knowledge about consumer products, online ads, and venture capital.

Going to Reddit was a shock to a lot of people in my life. I had been at Microsoft 13 years and was having one of the fastest career trajectories possible. I’d also built a truly amazing team. I think if I were still there I’d probably be working with my mentor James on how to become a corporate vice president at a large company. But a combination of things finally got me to leave: 

First was a mental shift around how “safe” I felt. I realized that a lot of my energy and motivation came from proving myself through work and that my validation came in the form of promotions and money. But at a certain point, money just stopped being a huge motivator for me and by the time I became a General Manager there was nothing left for me to prove career wise, other than to manage more and more people. 

I realized that a lot of my energy and motivation came from proving myself through work and that my validation came in the form of promotions and money. 

I like learning new stuff and challenging myself but there wasn’t anything on the horizon that excited me.  So, in the months before left Microsoft I was faced with a choice: continue on the same track and be paid a lot to work on a huge new project I didn’t honestly love, or finally chase the dream of Silicon Valley I’d been putting aside for a decade.

Second, Seattle weather. ‘Nuff said. 

Third, living in Seattle made it very hard to see our family. Our brother and sister and live in California but we rarely got to see them, and they were starting to have kids of their own. It made us stop and realize just how isolated we were. At one point the trade-offs made sense, but I could see it in my wife’s eyes that being separated from her family by such a distance was weighing on her.

Somewhere in the middle of all this, Reddit contact me about a VP of Engineering opportunity. The timing was good because my manager at Microsoft was asking me to move into a larger role outside of the Power BI organization. I was already thinking about “what’s next?” and open to taking on something new. I suddenly found myself with an opportunity to make a clean break from Microsoft and get down to the Bay Area. So I handed the reins of my organization over to a guy I knew would take great care of it, and my manager found another experienced exec to run his new team.

I had been looking at other jobs in the Bay Area, but Reddit was the first consumer company. What they needed perfectly matched my skillset: building product teams fast. I’m no longer the best coder around, but if you drop me out of a plane handcuffed and blindfolded into the deepest darkest Amazon, I will crawl out of the jungle 3 weeks later with a kick-ass product team and a working MVP.   

The other thing that “de-risked” the decision for me was a conversation with Steve the CEO where he explained just how much traffic Reddit gets on a monthly basis, the general direction he wanted to head with the business model, and how critical communities are to Reddit. Having launched a few products before, it immediately clicked that his vision would work as long as we could move quickly and carefully.

You’ve mentioned before that “you can’t go home again” after life changes so much. How do your parents perceive your career now, after laying such strong foundations for it?

They are astoundingly proud but I’m sure they have no idea what I do. I know they aren’t on Reddit or Power BI users. Whenever I go home my family asks me to help them install Office or debug their machines. But I think that’s true for a lot of people who work as software engineers. 

The other thing it took me a long time to realize, being so focused on my own career, is that my parents never really cared how high I got in the corporate world. When I was at Microsoft, they didn’t understand what a General Manager was, or show any interest in the fact that had come to have a large team with employees around the world.

My mom was a school teacher and my father a public defender. I have yet to meet two people who are more selfless and satisfied with what they have. They only ever really cared that I was doing my best for the people around me. 

Do you ever feel pressure to be a mentor, an example, or a role model for underrepresented folks in tech?

I feel a lot of pressure to be a good person. I’ve had a very fortunate career with an unbroken string of supportive managers and great opportunities. The great thing about being where I’m at career-wise is that I can do pretty much whatever I want now. I don’t need to prove anything to anyone or chase money.

So when I try to mentor, give back, or write a blog, it’s because I actually think it is important to help other people. Tech careers are today’s gold rush, and I want to make sure that women and minorities have access to the opportunity.

If you could do everything all over again, do you think your journey would be the same? Would you want it to be? 

Looking back on my early career I thought of Microsoft was a “safe” job where I could build a career and fortune over time. I equated money with a safety net that would allow me to take on more risks. But now I realize that I always had something even more valuable: time and motivation. When you are early in your career, time itself is a safety net. You can take on risks, try a lot of things, and if it doesn’t work out you can try again. Because I didn’t have this mentality, I passed on great opportunities that would have made the entrepreneur in me happy. 

Second, I am a total workaholic. I put all my energy into building software with little to spare for thinking about kids or family. But eventually I came to understand that tech projects are sandcastles. Even the most beautiful and carefully designed system is meant to be swept away and replaced someday. Looking back, I would have learned to balance work and life more carefully.

Nowadays I work at Reddit where the company culture makes it hard to fall into that trap, and my wife also gives me a back-of-the-hand slap if I’m spending too much time on the keyboard.

"Roy Rogers is terrible but nothing beats the spice of nostalgia.” Is there anything about the internet or technology that you remember from your childhood/early years that gives you the same nostalgic feeling as Roy Rogers?  

I hate to age myself this badly but Usenet, IRC, BBS systems, MUDs. You could be pseudo-anonymous and because of that you could connect with people in ways that weren’t possible in real life. But something got lost along the way from the development of those early systems to modern social networks. It could be the nostalgia speaking but the connections with total strangers I met on BBSs, and even AOL, felt more real to me than most of my Facebook and Twitter “friends.” The early internet was maybe slower paced and harder to get into, but the result was a deeper sense of community.

total strangers I met on BBSs, and even AOL, felt more real to me than most of my Facebook and Twitter “friends.”

Reddit works because of great communities. I think it has the potential to bring back that spirit of the early internet and make it available to everyone on the planet.

How many steps did it take you to become an C++ expert in the end?¹

I will proudly say that I have written software in C++ that is today used by a good fraction of humanity. But I will never say I’m an expert in C++.

Thank you so, so very much to Nick for his time and thoughtful responses to my questions. I originally reached him via the dev/color speaker request form. A lot of this interview was sparked by his piece From “Hello World” to VP Eng, which you should most definitely read. You can also find him on Twitter.

¹ - “My father got me a copy of my first coding book called “Learn C++ in 12 Easy Steps”. Now, this was an absolute god damned lie.” From “Hello World” to VP Engbuild

[ngtrend-network]

Secrets to Success and advice for Small Business Entrepreneurs Revealed By Australian CEOs

      AUSTRALIA is now home to more than 2.1 million small businesses, as many budding entrepreneurs strive to try and turn their one idea into a multi-million dollar success.

But no matter what your business idea is, a little help from an expert can go a long way.

News Corp Australia asked some of Australia’s most successful, and up-and-coming bosses from a variety of industries for their advice for entrepreneurs.

NAOMI SIMSON

FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF REDBALLOON

Naomi Simson started RedBalloon, a unique experience gift service from her front room at home back in 2001. Today, her business provides more than 3,000 experiences in every state across Australia and New Zealand. As an entrepreneur, she also stars on Channel Ten’s Shark Tank Australia.

     RedBalloon entrepreneur and star of Channel 10's Shark Tank Naomi Simson. Picture: John Fotiadis

LESSON: Love them or they will leave you

“As a business owner, one of the most important jobs you have is to build a team that you

can trust (and that trust you); to engage people aligned to the purpose and the values of the

business, and provide opportunities, freedom and space to live these out. Purpose and

values influence the culture of the business, and a great culture makes it so much easier to

grow a business and have it thrive. Culture is about the employee’s experience of the business. It’s about the environment you create and they want to participate in. A great employee experience turns into a compelling employer brand — one that attracts people who want to be a part of what the business stands for. That turns into a great customer experience because it means you have the right people doing the right things and giving his or her best for the customer. When we started RedBalloon, I knew happy customers were at the heart of its success. But it took time and few mistakes to learn that a great Net Promoter Score can easily go south if your Employee Net Promoter Score is suffering. (The Net Promoter School is a metric used by many businesses to assess how well the business is performing when it comes to customer experience). So, as the owner or as a leader in a business, consider your employees your first customers. Invest in them. Thank them. Recognise his or her progress and reward them when they do great work. Be intentional in celebrating the wins — and do this often. Don’t just wait until the annual performance review or even your quarterly staff meeting — do it in the moment, and make it meaningful — this is why I am so committed to Redii.com who give me the tools to recognise people regularly and insight into who key players are. We have all heard that ‘people’ are the greatest asset of any business — but you need to prove it. Employees are the new customers. What is the single thing that growing, thriving businesses (especially in Australia’s tech sector) are competing for? Great people to join the team. So do what you can to create a great environment for your people, and the great customer experience will follow.”

DON MEIJ

DOMINOS GROUP CEO & MANAGING DIRECTOR

Don Meij was a delivery driver and a pizza store manager, before he became a Domino’sfranchisee and built a network of 17 stores. In 2002, he became Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd’s CEO. In 2005, he led Domino’s to become Australia’s first publicly-listed pizza chain on the ASX and continues to encourage innovating ways to produce, deliver and order Domino’s pizzas.

   Domino's Pizza CEO Don Meij leads an innovative pizza chain. Picture: Annette Dew

LESSON: Back yourself and push to achieve more

“Without a doubt working hard, surrounding yourself with high quality people and taking responsibility for one’s own actions were the biggest drivers to getting to this place today. Mental toughness is a hard one no matter who you are. Mostly it comes from backing yourself and believing in yourself. We live in a world where everyone wants to tell you why something can’t be done. However, if you really believe in something and you have done your research, then back yourself. Convince others it can be done. And then show them. Over time you will develop a radar that guides you based on learning from your mistakes, taking responsibility for these mistakes, and forming more and more wins. Next time, people will be less likely to judge you and more likely to accept the what if? I have always given 110 per cent of myself in everything that I do. When I started out as a delivery driver for Domino’s at the age of 17, I loved delivering pizzas and found challenges within the role to beat my times, improve my averages and at the time I thought I was a good delivery driver. I really tried my best. This is the same attitude I have taken to every role and therefore it’s hard not to love what you do and continually push to achieve more. Sure the responsibilities increase and consequences can be greater at the CEO level but a similar drive and determination to be the very best version of yourself at every level is important and will shape the leader you become.”

ROXY JACENKO, 

CEO & FOUNDER OF SWEATY BETTY PR, THE MINISTRY OF TALENT

Roxy Jacenko founded Sweaty Betty PR in 2004, a Sydney-based publicity agency that specialises in fashion, lifestyle and beauty. As a regular on the A-list social pages herself, Jacenko’s company has close working relationships with celebrities, models, sports personalities and designers. In 2012, she also founded The Ministry of Talent, Australia’s first management agency dedicated to creative talent and digital influencers.

  Roxy Jacenko, publicist and author, is a savvy entrepreneur. Picture: Chris McKeen

LESSON: Smart growth is about being flexible

“One thing I’ve learnt is the importance of smart growth and adaptability in business. Sometimes growth for growth’s sake, is not the smartest move for business, profitability or productivity. Many business owners are so focused, obsessed even, about the way things should be or the way things used to be that they can’t see new opportunities. While focus is obviously important for any successful business owner, sometimes you can lose sight of the bigger picture and miss incredible opportunities. Several years ago, Sweaty Betty PR were representing about 120 brands and I came to a crossroads. I could either continue to grow and take on more and more brands, which also meant higher staff costs, larger office space — or look at my options to diversify and potentially downsize. At around the same time, the idea for a social media talent management agency, which ultimately became The Ministry of Talent, was in the back of my mind. I started to think how I could leverage the change that was taking place with the growing power of social media, but to do so I decided I couldn’t keep Sweaty Betty PR the way it was — so I downsized the number of clients we had on the books. Social media undoubtedly changed the face of PR. However, instead of fearing the change, I embraced it from a different angle. Without looking at the new opportunities with a fresh perspective, I would never have taken the leap and started The Ministry of Talent. Smart growth is about being flexible. You need to be able to adapt your offering by staying on top of new trends in your area of business. You don’t necessarily have to downsize, but always be thinking about how you can refocus your attention, refine your product or service offering and play to your unique strengths for the best outcome.”

DAVID KOCH 

HOST OF KOCHIE’S BUSINESS BUILDERS

Away from his hosting duties on Sunrise, David Koch also hosts a TV program titledKochie’s Buisness Builders . As a long-time small business owner with his wife Libby, his mission is to support small business owners. He is also an owner of Start Up Daily and contributes to News Corp Australia’s Money Saver HQ.

  Sunrise host David Koch at Channel Seven’s studio in Sydney. Picture: John Feder

LESSON: Give it a go. There’s no stigma attached to failure.

“The new breed of Australian business successes stories are the disciples of disruption. They target old, lazy but profitable business sectors and use technology to turn them on its head with better products, prices and customer experience. If they don’t succeed, they pull the pin. They fail fast and go hunting for the next prey. Welcome to the new world of business. It’s where the fortunes are being made, tomorrow’s big businesses are being built and why every traditional business is under threat. I love small business owners and entrepreneurs. Their energy, their lateral thinking, their courage is inspiring. I’m lucky because my job is covering small business for my TV program and I am an owner of Start Up Daily which reports on these new age digital entrepreneurs. So what do they have in common?

*They focus on traditional profitable industries which have become lazy. Just like John Symonds disrupted the home loan market with Aussie Home Loans all those years ago, he and the banks are now being disrupted by Society One, Moula and Stockspot.

*They are tech savvy and use technology to cut costs and market digitally.

*They are very customer focused. The founders go to market quickly and then let customers refine the product.

*They tend to start life in an ‘accelerator’ which is a sort of start-up boot camp … a co-working space for a group of start-ups which provide mentors and resources to develop.

*They aren’t afraid to fail and if the do, they fail quickly. The mindset is give it a go, and if doesn’t work then move on to something else. There is no stigma attached to failure.”

FRED SCHEBESTA

CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF FINDER.COM.AU

Fred Schebesta is Co-Founder of Finder.com.au, Australia’s leading financial-product comparison website that helps consumers compare credit cards, savings accounts, home loans, personal loans, travel insurance, life insurance, shopping deals and more.

  Finder.com.au’s Frank Restuccia with Fred Schebesta, the co-founders of the business. Picture: Supplied

LESSON: Be genuinely passionate about what you’re doing

“Imagine if you won Powerball today and so money was not an issue. What business would you start with your winnings? Whatever it is that you come up with, that is what you should do.

This is the advice I was given by my friend. You know that saying, ‘Find a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life’? It’s a little like that. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all going to be fun and games. But when you’re genuinely passionate about what you’re doing it makes it easier to get out of bed each morning with a spring in your step. I stand by this philosophy. I’m passionate about the internet, new ideas and new ways of helping people. And that’s what finder.com.au is all about. One of the hardest things about building and running a successful business is staying motivated. And that inspiration best comes naturally when it’s something you love. If it’s not, it will feel like death by 1,000 cuts because it’s not one thing it’s many small things that can make starting out very tough. The most important asset at the birth of a new business is yourself. You are the one that will do all of the work, so if you don’t take care of yourself you’re not going to have success. The motivation of your team is critical.”

JANINE ALLIS

BOOST JUICE FOUNDER, DIRECTOR OF RETAIL ZOO

With a reported net worth of $66 million, Janine Allis grew her juice and smoothie empire from her kitchen in 2000 with her husband, Jeff Allis. Boost Juice Bars are now in 17 countries with more than 350 stores. She is also a mentor on Channel Ten’s Shark Tank Australia. In 2007, her husband took over as the CEO of Boost Juice. He then turned the company from the single brand of Boost Juice into a multibrand platform known as Retail Zoo.

  Boost Juice founder Janine Allis, who changed the way we drink smoothies and juices. Picture: Eugene Hyland

LESSON: Know what you want to achieve

 “I get asked for advice often but what people forget to ask themselves about their business more often than not is ‘What is that I believe in for my business?’

As a leader what you believe in is the backbone of your business, it sets the tone and should reflect into every aspect of the business. You can hire consultants to come through your business and tell you what your business’ vision is — but unless you and your business fully live and breathe this then a vision statement is useless. When Boost started I knew what I wanted my business to achieve, this is what guided me through every decision I made — although sometimes I didn’t always get it right I used it as a reference point as something I could always look back and determine how to act and what to do. I can tell you how I hired people, how I managed suppliers and how I expanded my business but the honest truth is that this steamed from one simple belief that we communicated right and is still at the heart and soul of everything we do.”

DAMIAN GRIFFITHS

CEO AND FOUNDER OF DOUGHNUT TIME

Damian Griffiths is a former lawyer turned trendsetting hospitality guru who opened the Limes Hotel almost a decade ago. Limes Hotel was the building block for a precinct he has centred around Alfred and Constance streets in the Fortitude Valley neighbourhood of Brisbane. He is the founder of Doughnut Time, which began as a hole in the wall outlet and is now expanding across Australia. He has also founded Mister Fitz Finest ice-creameries.

  Damian Griffiths outside one of his Doughtnut Time stores. Picture: Chris McCormack

LESSON: Don’t be yesterday’s man, take action

“The heart of my businesses are the people. I can’t do what I do on my own, so investment in the right people is paramount. I think I’ve always built my companies with this in mind. Having trust in your employees, creating that culture and holding on to a team of talented individuals who understand you and share your passion makes such a difference. I’m not the kind of CEO that can just hide out in the back of an office and delegate. My businesses are my passion and when you work with that mindset you want to be there on the ground among it all. I think that’s how the right decisions are made, on the spot then and there. It might sound cliche, but backing my instincts and making quick decisions has always worked for me and that’s the advice I’d give to aspiring young business owners. Don’t be yesterday’s man, don’t rest on your laurels, take action, understand that nothing will be perfect immediately, take the time to travel and be inspired by the world around you. If you’re planning to expand on the success of one or two businesses, assess how you can diversify your portfolio and have them complement each other. My bakery (Chester Street) bakes the bread and prepares the desserts for my Steak Frites restaurant (Les Bubbles), as well as baking the brioche used for our signature pork roll at Alfred & Constance, and in turn we created a Chester Street cake cabinet for the A & C cafe.

I recently decided to the make the decision to put four of my businesses on the market so that I could channel more capital into expanding Doughnut Time and Mister Fitz around Australia and internationally. This was hard (particularly with Limes Hotel and Alfred & Constance, as I’m very emotionally invested in them). They were my start and without them there would never have been a Doughnut Time or a Mister Fitz’s Finest Ice Cream. I realised that I had to see the bigger picture. I’m not selling to ‘cash in’, I’m selling so that I can write more chapters while I’m young enough to take the journey.”

ALYCE TRAN

CEO AND FOUNDER OF THE DAILY EDITED

Alyce Tran founded The Daily Edited in 2011, a an online store stocking personalisable leather goods with business partner Tania Liu. With backgrounds in corporate law, their Australian brand is now available in David Jones and is growing an international following.

 Alyce Tran, founder and director of The Daily Edited. Picture: Supplied

LESSON: Use social media to your advantage

  “There is constantly so much going on with The Daily Edited, whether it be new product lines, new campaigns or general operational issues with our online and bricks and mortar retail booming I am constantly in a state of flux. I try to get to the office as soon as possible in the mornings and go through any emails that might have come in overnight. I then start a to-do list and sometimes this already has item on it I haven’t completed from the previous day and try to knock through each as efficiently as possible. I also like to be very involved in every aspect of the business, whether it be on customer service, order fulfilment, working in our retail stores as I find this is the only way to really know what is going on and to identify and solve any problems that we might be having. Most of my recruitment has been done via our network, whether it be via recommendations from friends or staff. We have also had massive success with recruiting via social media. We have built our whole Melbourne retail staff team from responses to our advertisement posted on Instagram and so far so good. I love to reward my staff where I see an individual go over and above, it’s a two-way street, if you want your staff members to be invested in your business you have to invest in them. I am passionate about creating an amazing workplace and culture, I basically copy Google and Mecca Cosmetica! Google in that I am all about supporting my female staff members and we have a fully stocked pantry and fridge accessible to all at all times and Mecca as I am obsessed with fully training my staff in all aspects of the business. For example, we had our Melbourne retail team up in Sydney for training to experience all of the machinations of our head office so they could see how our retail arm fits into the picture.”

ROBIN MCGOWAN 

CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF INSTITCHU

Long term friends Robin McGowan and James Wakefield founded InStitchu together in 2011/12. Their company allows men to create custom-made suits and purchase them online. Customers can also visit their tailors in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Wellington.

  James Wakefield and Robin McGowan, the co-founders of InStitchu. Picture: Bob Barker

 LESSON: Scout around for reliable suppliers

“We decided to start InStitchu when we identified a gap in the market. We were both working corporate jobs and encountered a challenge when trying to build our own professional wardrobes.

Transitioning from the real estate firm, CBRE, into retail / fashion industry and building a new business without any expertise was equal parts exciting and challenging.

From the start we both realised that we needed to upskill to build a brand that now many men are proud to wear. Tailoring is an extremely detailed process. We employed an Italian pattern maker to help us learn about this aspect of the suit-making business and improve our patterns. We also decided to engage bespoke tailors to completely deconstruct our suits and work out what improvements could be made. We created our own course in running a start-up and — with the exception of physically sewing the suits — have become experts in everything to do with tailoring. Finding great suppliers was a challenging and lengthy process as there are very few manufacturers in the world that can produce high quality tailored garments at scale. We reached out to as many suppliers as possible and got them to send samples in. Once we’d narrowed it down to top five, we met in person and set up the integration of our system.

Another important step was to sell our product to friends and family first. This not only tested the market to see if there was a need for our offering, but also allowed us to generate cash flow to fund our businesses growth, which set us up for success.”

JODIE FOX

CO-FOUNDER & CCO OF SHOES OF PREY

Jodie Foxdidn’t love shoes until she could design them herself and customise every detail. She created Shoes of Prey with her co-founders Mike Knapp and Michael Fox in 2009, who were both working at Google and were really excited about the potential of online retail. Her company allows customers to use a 3D Designer to help choose the shape, colour and height of shoes. They custom make designs and ship anywhere in the world in around four weeks. They also relocated to LA.

  Jodie Fox, who created Shoes of Prey and changed Australian fashion. Picture: Aaron Francis

LESSON: Know the market you are in

“I’m a lawyer by trade and started out working at Blake Dawson (now Ashurst), where I worked with amazing people. But, I soon came to realise that my heart just wasn’t in it. The longer I was there, the more unhappy I became. It’s the first time that I realised how important it is to fill your life up with things you truly love. When I fully came to terms with this, I made a list of things that would make me happy. In the beginning, our biggest hurdle was getting other people to understand what it was we were doing. We had to provide a lot of education around the idea. We also had to build our reputations from scratch, as we were three twenty-somethings building a totally pie-in-the-sky idea! We overcame these challenges through perseverance. Shoes of Prey broke even after two months of business, so we were quickly able to prove the demand for the service we were providing. A big part of what we do at Shoes of Prey is make sure that we balance quality with affordability. The main factors to consider are knowing your cost of goods sold, forecasting, market research, and testing price elasticity. Understanding the existing retail market was our first step, as it gave us an initial benchmark for pricing our products. From there, we implemented market research, looked at the different components that went into the design process from start to finish, considered how this could change over time and tested different price points until we struck a balance between quality and affordability.

It all comes down to market research and understanding your customers needs — and finding a balance between the two.”

TIM REED

CEO OF MYOB

Tim Reed became the CEO of Australasia’s largest business management software provider in 2008, after working for five years in management roles including Managing Director of MYOB Australia and Group Product Executive. Before his career with MYOB, he lived and worked in Silicon Valley where he held senior management roles with different companies in global technology and internet markets.

  MYOB chief executive Tim Reed has advice for budding entrepreneurs. Picture: Supplied

LESSON: Have a plan and know your ‘secret sauce’

“Make sure you have a clear plan. So many business owners have ideas, but lack plans. Plans need to include some detail about not just what is to be done, but how it will get done.

Know the three or four key drivers of your business and measure them. If you need to acquire customers via search marketing at less than $50 per lead, know that fact and measure it every day. If your success is relying on the fact one sales person can cover 100 accounts, test whether that is reasonable and then track the level of engagement those sales people are having with their 100 accounts. Know what makes you different. What is your secret sauce; what separates you from the competition? It has to be something that your customers will notice, something that will give them a reason to return. Own the culture, live the culture. If you don’t know-one else will.

Find an objective sounding board. Someone who will be honest with you and won’t let your natural passion and enthusiasm for your business cloud their feedback and judgment. Your accountant may be this trusted adviser. Starting a business, or evolving and existing business invariably leads to lots of moving parts, make sure you always know your priorities and push them to the top of your list. Expanding a great business can be as stressful and tiring as managing an underperforming business, be ready for this and make sure you have great people around you. Cashflow, cashflow, cashflow — there is only one reason a business fails — it’s because it runs out of money. You can’t manage your cashflow too closely.”

  *Please note, comments in this story are of a general nature only and may not take your businesses specific needs or circumstances into consideration. You should seek professional advice about your personal circumstances.

  via Blogger http://ift.tt/2pw8HpZ

[andrewmawby]

Nutone Knock Review

I installed the Nutone Knock wireless doorbell a few days ago.

So far so good, but it was a stroke of luck that it actually brought it to life on my new Moto G5 Plus smartphone!

I want to preface this entire review letting you know I LOVE the Knock, even though I was knocking my hand on my head trying to get it to work.

I think you're going to enjoy this story.

  Nutone Knock WiFi Enabled Security

The Nutone Knock is a sleek doorbell that has a camera, microphone and infrared light. It also has a speaker built into it allowing you to have a conversation with anyone at your door no matter where you are.

It works just like making a Skype phone call over the Internet.

Here's my Nutone Knock ready and waiting for you to push that green highlighted button. Once you do that, the magic starts! Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Related Links:

Doorbell Extenders - Hear Your Doorbell Everywhere

Doorbell Stories and Alternatives

Installation Challenges

I'm an amateur radio operator and have built small radios using tiny electronic parts. This skill came in handy as the instructions require you to install a small diode in the actual interior doorbell in your home.

My guess is most homeowners would not be comfortable doing this step. It's important to note that diodes must be installed one way as they regulate the direction of flow of electricity.

Here's the inside of the actual doorbell up on the wall inside my house. The yellow arrow points to the diode. How many homeowners do you think will be able to do this without messing it up? My money is on most will shy away from this step. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

I installed the doorbell base plate outdoors with no difficulty. A point often overlooked is the importance of following the instructions.

It's extremely important that you have the above-mentioned diode installed correctly BEFORE you connect the new doorbell to the wires sticking out of the wall at your front door!

It was easy to attach the new doorbell wires to the ones sticking out from my wall with the supplied crimp connectors.

Here's what appears on your smartphone screen a second or two after someone pushes the green button on the Knock. Don't ask me how my German Shepherd got up to ring the bell. Smart Lady the dog! Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Downloading the Knock App

Another key point is to go step-by-step following the easy-to-read instructions. I was able to download and install the free Nutone Knock app on my smartphone in less than a minute.

Just after that is when the trouble started.

I followed all the steps multiple times to get the app to work with my new Nutone Knock doorbell. 

Each time all I saw was a image of the doorbell on my screen with a nasty RED X showing the phone couldn't connect.

I'm fairly tech savvy and got frustrated. Not wanting to give up, I had my very tech savvy son give it a try.

He was unable to get it to work.

I decided to wait until the following day to reach out to the Nutone people to see what I was doing wrong.

  The Monster Nor'easter

Hours later, a monster Nor'easter storm lashed central New Hampshire where I live. We lost power and Internet for 16 hours.

I have a standby generator, but the electrical circuit that powers the DC transformer connected to the doorbell is not on it.

The doorbell was dead for 16 hours.

It's (Nutone Knock) Alive!

When the power came back on, my cell phone was on the kitchen counter getting charged up. I left it there overnight.

Little did I know, but the doorbell was now working and the motion detector was sending alerts every few minutes that a leaf fell onto the front porch.

Lot of Settings

When I woke up, I was stunned to see the doorbell was working.

It was working VERY WELL!

The first thing I did was go into the settings and let the motion detector to the lowest possible sensitivity to stop the constant "bong tone" in my phone.

Suggestions to Nutone Knock Engineers

I can't prove that the doorbell needed to be powered down to make it work. But that's the only thing that happened once I had given up trying to make it work.

If that's the case, then it needs to be put in the instructions.

But there's an issue with that.

Most houses there's no indication on the circuit breaker box which circuit controls the low-voltage transformer that operates the doorbell.

Tim's Suggestions:

The Nutone engineers need to put an on/off power switch on the Knock

The pairing of the Knock needs to be as simple or even more simple than me activating my Arlo wireless security cameras

A video needs to be made showing how easy it is to install the diode

Have a person who's fluent in the English language view every warning issued by the Nutone Knock - see below screenshot.

Ouch! An editor needs to check all copy of all hard-coded messages. Plus, how could a brand-new Knock that's not even readily available not have the correct firmware in it? Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Final Rating of the Nutone Knock

I give the Knock four hammers out of five.

Once it's working it's a very nice tool to have.

But I struggled to get it working and I'm sure I won't be the last.

  The post Nutone Knock Review appeared first on Ask the Builder.

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