So many young, aspiring professionals and entrepreneurs talk about how they would do something unique, exciting, and world-changing if only…_______… Fill in the blank with whatever you want – money, time, knowledge – the point remains the same. Rather than take the first steps to pursue their dream, they sit and worry about why they think [...]
I am often asked by friends and family members who see my controversial posts, “Why (or How) do you get so many people to comment on your stuff?” Now, I’ll admit, not every one of my posts stirs the pot, but I usually know which ones will when I post them. This won’t be a [...]
When people talk about content marketing, they usually insinuate writing articles by the company on a blog somewhere out in the wide world of the web. I’ve got news for you, blogging, link-building, and company-generated content are not the way of the future. The Best Brands Don’t Highlight Themselves; They Let Their Customers do the Talking [...]
As more and more content consumers use “non-traditional” devices to access the internet, content providers are offering a variety of solutions. While large organizations with lots of content may choose to develop a mobile app in house, that takes a lot of work. Think about it, not only do you have to make a version for [...]
It’s amazing how many bright, capable twenty-somethings I know who just aren’t happy. Studies show that general happiness starts dropping off around 20 years old, and doesn’t rebound until people hit their mid-60′s. This just baffles me. Why Are Those With So Much Potential Unhappy? From what I’ve found by talking with friends, classmates, and [...]
Running a startup tech company usually involves taking a lot of (hopefully calculated) risks, and doing a lot of work without any immediate sign of progress. That’s just the way it is. There’s a reason most technology companies fail; it isn’t an easy business. After a month working full time with Uloop, I’ve written somewhere around [...]
Back in September of 2011, I quit my cushy internship with a large medical manufacturing company in Knoxville to work on contract with small businesses and startups. My first client was Uloop, and now, less than one year later, I’m the newest member of a six-man team based here in Chicago. I moved up here [...]
Despite what some may tell you, a little bit of stress can actually be a good thing! Okay, before you shake your head and tell me I’m crazy, let’s look at the research: Stress keeps your brain sharper Stress causes an increase in creativity Ambition and stress keep you happy Stress is normal Stressed people [...]
A couple years ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Sweden to see some relatives over there. My aunt and uncle live in Borlange, a small countryside town about three hours northwest of Stockholm. The trip itself was amazing, and I could write a dozen blog posts about it, but one of the most [...]
Tonight, I decided to finally get outside of my PHP-shaped bubble, and start learning a new programming language – Ruby. My web development experience began back in December 2010 when I first got acquainted with WordPress, a PHP based content management system. At that point, I was very familiar with HTML and CSS, and had [...]