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How to start a company with no free time

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Re: How to start a company with no free time

#171

Post by nraynaud »

marktangotango wrote: post #39
drieddust wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There's always bits of time to work on your task list on your phone or flesh out a bit of meta-code in your to-do list, and now I'm able to do the brunt of the "thinking" work in the shower or I want to move to this model of working but nothing seems to stick. Do you follow any specific routines or use tools to manage yourself? I have tried a lot of tools but nothing sticks.

I did this, what worked for me was leaving myself a note of where I left off and exactly what to do next at the top of my task list; "validate input x on form y" for example. Just a simple 'trick' that really worked, for me at least.

In code, I think a good trick is to leave a lexical error in your current file.

Re: How to start a company with no free time

#172

Post by cauterized »

aoeu345 wrote: post #9

Sara Mauskopf, if that's you in the bottom pic, then can you please invest in some ergonomic keyboard and mouse? Laptop keyboards and trackpads are very bad for hands in the long term. Your employees and you should all be working with keyboards and mice on nice big monitors. Ergonomics is an easy win to grab, so do it! Get the Microsoft ergonomic keyboard or the Advantage Kinesis if you want the best.

Do you carry around your ergonomic keyboard and mouse and use them when you're sitting in a hospital waiting room?

Laptops are useful because you can use them places other than desks. Places where you don't have room for an external keyboard and mouse.

Yeah, laptop ergonomics suck, but they suck less than being unable to use your computer at all on the go. And that doesn't mean that one doesn't hook the peripherals back up when one returns to one's desk.

Re: How to start a company with no free time

#173

Post by m3Lith »

ThomPete wrote: post #141
iamcreasy wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've sent email at info@ghostnoteapp.com requesting update on Windows version. Really want try it out as soon as it's ready.

Great. I will let you know once there is something. Here is how we are trying to work it in http://www.ghostnoteapp.com/assets/uploads/GN-green.png

Is that a real custom theme for Windows or a mock-up of sorts?

Re: How to start a company with no free time

#177

Post by feiss »

eximius wrote: post #113
lubujackson wrote: post #12

After having a baby I struggled to switch from marathon coding sessions to trying to punch out code in hour, half hour or even 10 minute increments. The best advice is what she said - plan and divide tasks ruthlessly. There's always bits of time to work on your task list on your phone or flesh out a bit of meta-code in your to-do list, and now I'm able to do the brunt of the "thinking" work in the shower or wherever,…

What if I actively don't want to think about my code in the shower? Work/life balance and all that jazz.

This. It's true that when you have a child you get used to plan and 'prepare' code in your head and then write it down in small slots of free time. But the result of doing this is that you are working all day really, your mind is not with your family or house duties, it keeps working on background, anxious and eager to put your hands down on the keyboard. And that's not nice. And it's very difficult to balance, I'm struggling with this on a daily basis.

Re: How to start a company with no free time

#178

Post by iaw »

I think if you generalize the concepts behind each bullet point you'll find that her concepts are much more broadly applicable than at first glance.

1) Don't get coffee with VCs -> Don't spend time on things that don't accomplish your objective, even if they seem like they're 'progress'.

2) Plan your tasks. Context switching is hard, if you have a pre-planned task you can work on things in smaller gaps without having to figure out what needs to be done.

3) Ask for help when you need it, let go of things you don't have to do. Long before you get employees you could ask your support structure to help lighten the load for you.

4) Ensure feedback you receive is actionable. Don't accept broad statements, get specific details about what you can do better. Even at normal companies this can be taking a manager saying "I wish you'd demonstrate more leadership" and holding them accountable by asking "what are specific instances where I could demonstrate leadership that I did not and what actions would you like to see me taking in these instances in the future?"

5) Hold yourself to a high standard but be realistic about where it matters. Some things just need to be done, not everything you do has to be building a Stradivarius.

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