Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

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Jeff Kilgore

"Your life is designed to give you the results that you are getting"

Founder - Madnonnie.com

"It`s Like A Whole `Nother Internet"

Are you talking about leadership, management, or motivation?

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Craig Landes
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Defining the undefinable. "There are 10 kinds of people in the world---those who understand binary numbers and those who don`t." - Unknown

International Society of Curmudgeons

Yes, I`m not sure what "walls" you are running into.  If it is with programming, then you might need to reevaluate your current status.  Is your programmer working out?  Do you need more than one?  Is it your own leadership that is perhaps clashing with the development process?

Tell us what you think is holding up the progress.



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Home Sweetest Home - Poster-Style Home Portraits
Zingerding - the Internet`s Funny Pages (coming soon!)

Steve Lowtwa

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Jeff Kilgore

"Your life is designed to give you the results that you are getting"

Founder - Madnonnie.com

"It`s Like A Whole `Nother Internet"

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Jeff Kilgore

"Your life is designed to give you the results that you are getting"

Founder - Madnonnie.com

"It`s Like A Whole `Nother Internet"

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Jeff Kilgore

"Your life is designed to give you the results that you are getting"

Founder - Madnonnie.com

"It`s Like A Whole `Nother Internet"

WOW... That was alot... lol.... Thank you "Stuck-in-a-rut" and I get it..... That may even be me... who knows???  Point is I am an overwhelmingly positive person and I refuse to give up. I will make this work, it just might take more time and money then I would have to spend if some compassionate person out there could save me the trouble of making the same mistakes that they made and push me off in the right direction.

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Jeff Kilgore

"Your life is designed to give you the results that you are getting"

Founder - Madnonnie.com

"It`s Like A Whole `Nother Internet"

I`m starting a web business myself and it is taking much longer than I would have anticipated, had I really anticipated it.  My developer is a partner in the biz and I know she is making great progress for us, and is hard working.  Since she isn`t working under me, rather as an equal partner, I`m learning to go with the flow.  But at the same time, I work hard to keep momentum and enthusiasm alive.

Have you talked with your programmer about the pacing of development?  From the very little information you`ve given on the situation, it sounds like you are being sort of passive aggressive by calling and waiting, calling and waiting.  Be direct with him and discuss picking up the pace.  But don`t belittle his work ethic.  Give constructive criticism and be ready with answers and ideas to strengthen your working relationship.

I suggest doing some reading on management skills.  Unless there is previous experience, managing is an art that us entrepreneurs are often thrown into without much understanding.  Here`s a wonderful resource from one of our members here at SuN - Great Management.



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Home Sweetest Home - Poster-Style Home Portraits
Zingerding - the Internet`s Funny Pages (coming soon!)

Steve Lowtwa

Thank you Steve.... I have been VERY successful in all my endeavors to this point. I understand what you are saying and I will give the benefit of the doubt and agree that I may be a part of the problem. I don`t think this is the case but there is always a chance. He is not lazy, he is just slow. When we first started he was very aggressive almost like a child to show me what he had done at school.... now he seems to be tired.... so I don`t want this to be a programmer bashing ... that is not the case. Bottom line is I seem to be stuck - in - a - rut... lol  I could use another cracker jack programmer and any advice the panel wants to give. Good or bad...

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Jeff Kilgore

"Your life is designed to give you the results that you are getting"

Founder - Madnonnie.com

"It`s Like A Whole `Nother Internet"

First of all, let`s always remember the instant gratification mindset of so many people these days. Secondly, let`s keep in mind that almost ALL the "overnight" successes you hear about took years and years.

You`ve mentioned that you look at other companies and see them growing as if they have a magic wand, golden goose, or direct line to heaven. The likelihood is there are only a rare few companies like that. It may "appear" as if they`re growing without much effort, but that`s appearances.

As for your issues with the programmer, you may want to consider setting milestones and incentives. For example, you speak with this programmer and ask for an outline of modules. Not the programming modules, in technical jargon, but the "blocks" of code that will be required in order to reach some basic milestone.

Then you ask about when s/he thinks they`ll be delivered---each one, not the final segment. At that point, you explain that if they reach that deadline, they`ll be paid whatever you`re contracting. However, if they reach each section ahead of time, you`ll pay them X amount more for each day ahead of schedule.

Finally, keep in mind that specialized skills are just that: specialized. Otherwise everyone could do them, nobody would pay for them, and you wouldn`t have a problem. Digging a hole? Any idiot can dig a hole. Program a complex Web system with ASP.net? I don`t think so.

You may have some unrealistic expectations. I don`t know, that`s a research question for you to examine. I do know you`re likely not going to find a partner with unlimited disposable income. :-D If you do, could you mention my name, too?


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Craig Landes
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Defining the undefinable. "There are 10 kinds of people in the world---those who understand binary numbers and those who don`t." - Unknown

International Society of Curmudgeons