During a recent conversation with a friend, we discussed creating a network of professionals in the IT industry. The basic purpose of the network would be to share business leads. The conversation progressed from there, and a couple of weeks later, we met again, this time with a third person. At this point, we realized [...]
After yesterday’s post about why I hate tech support, I read a short story about a tech phone call that made me appreciate tech support. Yes, they don’t know how to deal with people who understand computers, but that’s because they have to deal with people like Bob: Tech Support: Ok, Bob, type a capital [...]
I have a degree in computer science, and work as a programmer for a large company (over 500 members of their IT group, if I recall correctly), in addition to working writing custom desktop applications for my clients. I think it would be safe to say that I know a thing or two about computers. [...]
This is #2 on Chris Brogan’s list of 100 Blog Topics I Hope YOU Write At my daytime employment, my audience is not clearly defined. I report to 3 team leaders, 2 managers, and have a dozen coworkers with whom I interact on a daily basis. When dealing with these people, despite constant attempts to [...]
In the start of a new professional endeavour, one of the critical components is networking. Of course, you have to have an idea, a plan, a goal, as well as a method for achieving those goals. But one of the primary means of reaching a professional objective is networking. It’s not what you know, it’s [...]
A regular reader of Joel Spolsky’s blog, Joel on Software, I was reading about his company’s goals for 2009 (Goals). Some of the goals are specific (e.g. his first point, Ship FogBugz 7.0 for all platforms), while others are much more general (e.g. Build a kick-ass new product from the ground up with the summer [...]
The benefits of peer review are well known, and this has led me into a difficult situation. As an employee for a large organization, doing peer reviews is a normal part of the job, and it is fairly easy to locate a willing coworker to do a peer review. Process exists for this, documentation is [...]
I recently took on a few contracts which I work on at home. With a wife and baby in a two-bedroom apartment, this turned out to not be a very good idea, but was, in fact, the best of the alternatives. Through my ISP, I do have internet access at one of the local coffee [...]
Elie Kochman is the author of Advice for Small Business Owners and the founder of Optimal Upgrade Consulting. Using his experience working in the corporate world along with his exposure to the world of small businesses, he writes these articles to assist others avoiding common pitfalls of growing a business. His experience in the corporate world, building his own business, and working directly with other growing businesses has given him some perspective on the trials and pains of running a business.
