Hey folks, hope it’s been a good start to 2022 for ya. So far, so good over here – although currently snowed in in frigid Toronto, but hey, it’s what we signed up for up North.
Let’s jump in
My last week(s) in business
QA’ing continues – check out my last blog post where I talked more about what it means – as we get closer and closer to finalizing our app for launch.
It’s now an interesting cycle where our tech guys are finalizing last steps while I QA, find bugs, then they fix the bugs, then I test to make sure said bugs are indeed fixed.
It can get hectic and communication is key. I’m also realizing how and why they say tech launches are usually a bit crazy and usually don’t launch on-time – there’s always another bug to fix, feature to add, etc.
My key takeaways, that can probably apply well beyond launching tech, are:
1) You need to know where to draw the line. As we get closer to launch and as I continue to use the app, it’s easy to see new opportunities for more features – until you realize that anything you want to add or change means more dev time, which also means pushing back launch.
So set a hard line on the features you absolutely need to launch, and don’t creep beyond.
2) Communication both ways is critical. You can only fix bugs as easily as they can be reported – meaning, the clearer I communicate the issue I run into, the easier the devs can re-create the issue and fix it.
It’s a constant feedback loop, which spins much quicker if communication is effective.
There’s probably even more to take away from the experience, maybe for my next update…
What I’m thinking about
Training, health and habits. For 2 reasons:
1) there’s limited opportunity to stay active in Toronto right now. It’s cold and we’re on lockdown – meaning even the small, private gym in my condo is closed (don’t get me started on that…).
2) I’m running the Ottawa marathon in May, which means I gotta get my ass in shape!
I’ve always been a true believer that staying active is extremely important and beneficial, especially as a busy entrepreneur. There’s no single way to do it, so find what works best for you:
- lifting weights
- running
- yoga
- sports
The list goes on. I find that I tend to stick to 1 activity at a time, but rotate over time as it keeps me excited. For example, I’ll lift weights in the gym for months on end, then switch it up and get into running for a few months, etc. etc.
A few years ago I decided I wanted to run a marathon and started training for it… but 2 months in, Covid came and it was cancelled. I decided to take my chances again this year, and can share some of the experiences training for it over the next few months!
What I’m reading
I finished Swim with the sharks without being eaten alive by Harvey Mackay last week, another solid book for solopreneurs that I’d read years ago and wanted to again.
Here’s why I enjoyed it:
- it’s broken into short, choppy chapters/lessons so you get a bunch of quality tips in an organized fashion
- he uses lots of stories which keeps things interesting
- there are different sections on crucial areas of business like sales, negotiating, managing people and more
If you’re looking for a more general business book for solopreneurs with actionable tips, I recommend it. Here’s my 3 minute review of it on Tiktok if you want to hear more of my thoughts.
New Podcast Episode
Episode 106 of the SG Podcast just went live, where I talked to Quinn Osha about:
– Advice on starting a tech company, funding and applying to accelerators
And much more. Head over here to listen or watch.
That’s it!
Have an awesome week, feel free to share or forward this to anyone you think might enjoy reading my solopreneur tips, and keep grinding.
