web * print * motion * code
In an effort to get the word out about Pictography, today I purchased some prime ad space over on the Weblog Tools Collection blog. The spot appears on all pages and posts of the site. Since the site is a popular place for persons interested in WordPress themes and plugins, I’m interested to see how much traffic and business my ad generates.
While I was working in the home office this morning, I looked up to see a DHL van parked in our driveway. After signing my name, the driver handed me a package which smelled like fresh paper. Inside I found the July/August issue of Noticreto, a Colombian trade/technical magazine.
It took me a minute to get my bearings. Then I remembered an email exchange I’d had regarding one of my Flickr photos a couple of months ago. In April I was contacted via Flickr email by Paola Pinzón, publications assistant of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association of Colombia (ASOCRETO). She said their next issue was to be a special edition with a feature called “Stadiums in Concrete”. She thought my aerial shot of Neyland Stadium would be an excellent addition to the article. In exchange for using the photo, all I asked for was a copy of the publication.
For the past year I’ve been a part of a teaching team at my church for a series called God and Creation – Understanding God’s Relationship to His Creation. Spanning four weeks, the series discusses God’s attributes and his relationship with creation.
One of my favorite discussions occurs during the third session when we discuss God’s role as Creator of all creation. I like to begin this discussion by presenting the Bible’s assertions with regards to God as Creator:
Then, one thing I ask is: Do those Scriptural propositions agree with what we are able to observe in nature? Should they? Does it matter? This gets us talking about the role and purpose of Scripture, the nature of truth, the intersection of science and faith, and the ways other Christian thinkers have worked out this issue.
As you might imagine, these topics provide a fertile ground for much enthusiastic discussion and debate. I enjoy the opportunities I get to help class members think about perspectives they may not have considered before, and I never fail to take away new insights that I glean from the discussion. It is my desire for our time together to spur one another on towards further study and wrestling with this topic. To that end, what follows is my list of recommended resources for further study:
Late last year, I was contacted by Jon Day, Director of Sales and Marketing for the newly formed Knoxville Force soccer team. With their inaugural season fast approaching, the team needed a website fast so they could start building rapport with Knoxville’s latent soccer fan-base.
Jon’s specs were modest: They needed a nice looking site which would serve as a base for team news, general information, and ticket and merchandise sales. In addition, they needed their site to have the capability to grow as they grow.
Working with WordPress makes these kinds of projects quick and easy to execute. I mapped out our game plan as follows:
Step 1: Select a Pre-Built WordPress Theme
Given my expertise with web design and WordPress, I can build a site layout (i.e. theme) for WordPress from scratch, completely meeting a client’s design goals and vision. However, that type of project takes time and can be expensive depending on the client’s design specifications. Since Jon’s wishes were to get his team’s site online quickly and within budget, we opted to go with a pre-built WordPress theme.
I pointed Jon to Theme Forest as he began his search. Their extensive catalog of themes encompasses many different types of sites (i.e. business, informational, blogs, etc) with a wide range of aesthetic appeal. It was only a couple of days before Jon got back to me with his choice: the Grounded theme.
Step 2: Customize the Theme to Suit
Next, Jon and I worked together to customize the theme. He added the team’s logo and a site background, and I made a couple of adjustments to the theme’s code (i.e. CSS or styles) to make sure that everything aligned nicely. I also installed plugins that handled things like social media integration, analytics, and various other additional functionality that Jon may or may not have known he needed.
Step 3: Add Content and Go LIVE
For the third step, it was up to Jon to add his content. This process was made much easier by WordPress’s intuitive, easy-to-use editing interface. With an editing interface similar to a word processor, Jon was able to edit individual pages and add his text simply by typing it in. In addition, the WordPress interface also makes it easy to add images and other pertinent files like PDFs for download. All the while Jon was adding his content, I was helping him with formatting and addressing any theme customization needs as the site began to take shape. This process took us a couple of weeks, and then we were ready to go live with the new site.
Post-Launch Improvements and Additions
Since launching the site, Jon and I have continued to work together to improve and enhance it. Typically, all Jon needs to do is email me a list of his requests, and I’m able to answer his questions and make changes for him in a matter of days. This means the Knoxville Force website is agile, quickly adapting to their needs and wishes.
As an example of this, our most recent enhancement to the site was adding an online store which integrates with Google Checkout. I added this feature by coding a backend product management interface and a frontend store and shopping cart display. Now, fans of the Knoxville Force can browse their online store and purchase season tickets, shirts and any other merchandise they offer.
This project is a great example of how quickly I can develop a website with WordPress. For clients who are motivated and able, rather than getting involved with a laborious development process, I can offer them a turnkey solution with a quick turn around.
Working with Michael has been wonderful. His knowledge of wordpress and its many tools have made our website more effective. I appreciate Michael’s ability to troubleshoot and implement effective solutions that enhance our website.
Jon Day, Director of Sales and Marketing, Knoxville Force
This past March I reached a place professionally where the creative tension inside of me was at a breaking point. Multiple projects with tight deadlines had left me feeling as though I had no outlets to express my personal creativity. This was the tipping point which led me to recommit to blogging on a regular basis.
For the first several weeks after that, I published a new article every week day. This pursuit satisfied my built up desire for personal creativity and expression. Although there have been natural lulls in my output since that time, I’ve been riding a steady stream of motivation ever since. Now I’d like to share a couple of things I’ve learned and observed during this process.
LET YOUR WRITING, NOT PAGEVIEWS, MOTIVATE YOU
Throughout this process my main motivation hasn’t been to get everyone’s attention, rather I’ve been blogging for myself. This is a place for me to express myself and hone my craft. It’s true that I do enjoy the opportunities for interaction afforded by blogging; however, that isn’t what keeps me going. And, that is a good thing because I have little control over whether or not anyone else reads or responds to my writing. In essence: I blog for me while writing with you in mind, not minding whether you are “listening” or not.
BLOGS ARE GREAT FOR SHARING YOUR PERSONAL “TALKING POINTS”
The topics I blog on frequently come up in my conversations with my friends (e.g. technology, world events, books, science, religion, etc). When I’ve written a post about a particular subject, it is nice to be able to email a link as a follow-up or a continuation to a conversation.
Of course, I could quickly become obnoxious doing this type of thing (Hey, I blogged about that. You ought to read it!). However, when used with discretion, my blog is a great way to collect and share my thoughts on all manner of topics. Hopefully my friends think that too (if not feel free to let me know).
KEEP AT IT, ENJOY THE PROCESS
Above all, I’ve appreciated the benefit that comes from simply “keeping at it.” It’s okay if I let a day or two go by without publishing a post. My goal isn’t to be a prolific blogger. I just want to enjoy sharing my thoughts, observations and findings on a semi-regular basis. That’s what I’ve been able to do here, and if you blog or have been thinking about it, I hope the ideas I’ve shared give you some additional insight and inspiration for your process.
If you’re not familiar with Kickstarter, it’s a website where people post their ideas for products, books, movies, etc. Generally these ideas include some preview or prototype. If the idea interests you, you can pledge funds to back the project. Each project has some funding goal which if met means the project will be funded and completed.
Recently, I was introduced to the olloclip on Kickstarter. Billed as a quick change iPhone 4 lens system, the olloclip is a physical lens attachment which features fisheye, wide-angle and macro lenses.
After watching the video below, I was sold on the concept. So, I pledged $45 toward the project. Furthermore, since the project has more than reached its funding goal of $15,000, when its funding is released on June 6 the olloclip will go into production. My $45 pledge secures my olloclip pre-order and also comes at a 25% discount off of the expected retail price of $60.
Find out more about the olloclip by watching the video below, or visit the olloclip page on Kickstarter:
This month’s Fortune magazine features an article taking a look inside of Apple, Inc. In addition to being an entertaining read, Fortune has made the article available via Amazon’s Kindle Store (Inside Apple — From Steve Jobs down to the janitor: How America’s most successful – and most secretive – big company really works
One of my favorite stories from the article is Steve Job’s parable: The Difference Between the Janitor and the Vice President. Every time an executive reaches VP, Steve Jobs relates the following story:
Jobs imagines his garbage regularly not being emptied in his office, and when he asks the janitor why, he gets an excuse: The locks have been changed, and the janitor doesn’t have a key. This is an acceptable excuse coming from [the janitor]. [He] gets to explain why something went wrong… “When you’re the janitor, reasons matter,” Jobs tells incoming VPs. He continues: “Somewhere between janitor and the CEO, reasons stop mattering. That Rubicon is crossed when you become a VP.”
That story has application beyond big companies. It makes me think of how I run my web design/development business. Do I run it like a janitor or like an executive?
It’s always my goal to deliver high quality results which don’t compromise my client’s vision. In order to do this, I must be “on top of my game,” keeping up-to-date with the latest best-practice technology and never compromising my own high standards. In addition, I also must keep my focus narrow enough that my solutions are able to meet those demands.
These ideals work themselves out in the products and services I offer. I specialize in coding and developing WordPress powered websites. In addition, I generally require that my clients host their websites on my Rackspace managed server. Focusing on one web software (i.e. WordPress) allows me to have expert knowledge of its capabilities and implementation. Hosting with Rackspace means I’m able to offer hosting backed by one of the world’s most reliable IT staffs. This gives me end-to-end control over the services I provide. Bottom line: I’m able to manage the quality of the products I offer at every step of the process.
This week I’ve re-discovered one of my favorite “iDevice” apps: the “off” switch.
Last Sunday morning, I realized I’d fallen into a rut. I’d head into the kitchen to make breakfast, and while I was waiting for the tea to brew or the toaster to “pop”, I’d grab my iPad and sneak a peek at the news, my email, my feed reader or whatever else caught my fancy. On the surface, this didn’t seem to intrude on anything. However, having done this for a couple of weeks, I realized it was making my thoughts scattered. All of the various reading, entertainment and app options were adding useless clutter to my mind. This led to mental fatigue and made it hard for me to focus on the present. So, rather than reflexively indulging myself, I choose to forgo the vast majority of my iPad use for that day.
It was a refreshing change of pace. Life proceeded as normal. It was okay that I wasn’t up on the latest news and blog posts, my social networks would be waiting for me whenever I got back to them, and I noticed a shift in my mindset. I was less focused on entertaining myself and more focused on other things.
My success on Sunday encouraged me to continue limiting my iPad use throughout this week. One thing I have realized about my periods of non-fettered iPad use is my tendency to constantly search for and consume interesting or entertaining information. I love using my iPad to read all sorts of news, magazines, books and blogs. However, if I’m not careful, this pursuit prevents me from thinking deeply about any one thing. Instead, my thoughts get consumed by my consumption, jumping from one interesting thing to the next.
This week I’ve found time for more focused reading. I’ve been reading my Bible more regularly, and my mind hasn’t wandered as I do. I’ve also returned to reading a lengthy Civil War history that I started a month or so ago. Given a spare moment, rather than wasting it browsing aimlessly on my iPad, I’ve been reminded of the value of chipping away at something longer with the reward of finishing farther away.
Finally, this isn’t about me “quitting” my iPad. Rather this week has been about finding balance. As I’ve used my iPad judiciously, my days have seemed much simpler. My attention has been divided among fewer things. This has been a time of adjusting amidst a world of ever growing distractions. I suspect I may even need to learn this lesson again some day (probably sooner than I think). Therefore, I’ll let this serve as my own personal reminder, a “note-to-self” for the next time I get lost in my digital distractions.
I enjoy running; however, various foot maladies have cramped my style through the years. The most persistent of these has been a hard knob of bone on my left heel that gets very sore the more I run. About a year ago, I had a PT check things out, and he diagnosed me with a left leg 5/16″ shorter than the other. This in turn leads to increased tension on my left hee. My body has responded by producing a boney mass on the back of my heel. This is the part of my heel that gets sore and tender if I over-do-it. The shorter leg and extra bone on my left heel has been manageable; however, my left arch started hurting last year too. This is what finally led me to get things checked out.
Rather than boring you with more details, I’ll summarize my journey by saying that I took the PT’s advice and mixed it with a little of my own remedy. In the intervening time, I’ve laid off running on pavement, and that has meant no runs in my neighborhood, until today… Following the original advice I got a year ago, I purchased some “moderate motion controlled” shoes. This type of shoe has extra support to prevent my foot from rolling too far in as I stride.
I’m happy to report that my new shoes felt great during my first trial run this afternoon. There was no pain in my arch (those arch strengthening exercises I’ve been doing have probably helped), and the cushion in my shoes really felt great. This is the first time I’ve really invested in a nice pair of running shoes rather than just grabbing a comfortable looking pair off the shelf. Here’s hoping that many more runs are in my future.
