We are almost done building an app that lets you put text over photos. These are a few examples that have been made using the app. Be sure to sign-up for an early notification and any discounts that we offer!
My friend, your anxiety turned to fear, and your fear turned to sorrow. But sorrow is better than fear. For fear impoverishes always, while sorrow may enrich.
Alan Paton, Cry, the Beloved Country
Just build something that you’d want to use today, not something you think people could use somehow.
- Paul Graham
Ladies and gentlemen, Ben Chestnut; Co-founder and CEO of Mailchimp, one of the world’s foremost names in email marketing. Mailchimp is known worldwide as an enjoyable, simple, user-focused marketing platform that sticks true to it’s guns and knows how to enjoy itself. Ben talks in this video about management and how to foster an environment that promotes creativity and productivity. If I was ever confused as to why, this video firmly illustrates how Mailchimp gained 1.2 million users.
Learn more about Mailchimp here and follow their blog to see what inspires him.
Source: creativemornings.com
Everyone, meet Sam Soffes.
This is the first of many such posts. We want Goalsmith to be a valuable resource for all your goal setting needs, but we also want it to be a source of inspiration and drive for our readers. That’s why I figured it was time to introduce you to Sam. Some of you may Have used or heard of the app called Hipstamatic. It’s taken the mobile phone photography world by storm in the past couple years. According to a 2011 poll, the iPhone 4 camera is the second most used camera in the world, and out of all the photo taking/editing applications available, Hipstamatic shines the brightest. Last month, the team launched a new app that uses vintage camera types and built in sharing features to allow friends to take and share photos with each other. It’s already been given raving reviews… and this blogger uses it all the time. Anyways, without further wait, here’s some thoughts by Sam.
1. So, you’ve had the opportunity to work with some really big clients and create some amazing things. I know right now, you’re working with the Hipstamatic team, for example. But I’m curious to hear what actually got you started in development?
I got started with HTML when I was 10 years old. My mom was going to a class on how to make websites that a local ISP was putting on for free and brought me because I liked to play on the computer. I went home, fired up Notepad, and started writing away with all caps tags. Learned ActionScript a little later after I got tired of tweaning in Flash. Took a class on C++ freshman year of high school. Started playing with PHP in my spare time at the same time. A friend and I did our first website for real money using PHP while I was still a freshman. After doing lots of PHP work, I started playing with Objective-C and Mac development while I was still in high school. After high school, I got a salary job doing PHP when the iPhone SDK was announced. I said I knew Objective-C and could probably make something so I made my first app, Bible. After I left that job I picked up Ruby and have thankfully not written any PHP since.
2. What were your biggest obstacles in the beginning, and how did you move past them?
Since I was all self taught, not knowing how to do something was always my biggest obstacle. Lots of reading and time in front of the computer perfecting my craft has really paid off but was definitely no quick trip. At first leaning now to program is very difficult. Once you learn how to learn a language (very meta, I know) it becomes really easy. I went from never touching Ruby to redoing my website in Ruby on Rails in a weekend.
3. Hold old are you now?
I’m 22. Skipping college really gave me a head start on everything. Fun fact: bought a house when I was 19 and sold it when I was 20.
4. How important to you are personal goals?
Goals are very important to me. Most of how my life is now is due to setting goals and meeting them. I decided I wanted to buy a house, paid of all of my debt, and bought one (granted it was the worst financial decision of my life, but it was a good learning experience). I decided I wanted to move to San Francisco to be near a lot of other great minds, found a job, and moved there—all within a few weeks. Sometimes my goals can be a bit impulsive and sometimes they can take years. I tend to prefer more short term goals so I stay motivated. Planning to do something in 5 years seems silly. 5 years ago I wouldn’t have ever imaged I’d be where I am today and I would assume the same is true for 5 years from today.
5. Are there certain things that really inspire you or light your creative fires? What is it that drives you to continue the creative process?
Looking at other people’s creations is a huge source of inspiration. I download an enormous amount of apps just to see what other people are doing. When I’m pretending to be a designer, I spend a lot of time on Dribbble too. Probably the biggest source of motivation for any project is stuff that I want. Thinking, “It would be cool if it did this because I’d use the crap out of that feature,” makes for good software. Building stuff that satisfies your own needs is super rewarding. Building stuff you care about is way better than building stuff you don’t care about. I have worked on dozens of projects that I thought were completely stupid. It turns work into just a job to pay the bills instead of something I’m passionate about doing.
6. What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in your life?
The value of people. I’ve worked in teams of one a lot. Working with other people is so rewarding. I wish I would have learned this sooner. Moving from city to city and not knowing anyone sucks. Having friends and doing stuff besides work makes everything better. Common sense, I know, but this took me forever to get right. When you build stuff on your own, it’s easy to get into the sense of “this is good enough” because no one else will ever see your code or whatever else isn’t public facing. When you work with a team, you are motivated to show off a little and keep things nice so others don’t have to wade through you garbage. This alone is amazing. Not leaving my apartment and seeing only the pizza guy for days is cool for a short while.
7. Do you have any advice for someone who is just now beginning to explore their dreams and future?
You can do it. People hear about some of my perks at work, see our office, or about how much engineers in the valley get paid and say “I wish I could do what you do.” The truth is they don’t or they would be. If you want to do something, do it. Simple as that. I wanted to learn how to make a Mac app, so I bought a book, fought through it, and made a Mac app. I wanted to make an iPhone app, so I downloaded the tools, fought with it for 6 months, and made an iPhone app. With a little perseverance, resourcefulness, and motivation, you can do it. Go buy a book, google up some tutorials, or whatever and start.
My thanks to Sam for his thoughts. It’s inspiring to me that he’s done so much in such a short amount of time. Besides being one of the brilliant minds involved in Hipstamatic, Sam also developed the Bible app (as mentioned above), and is a respected part of the development community. Learn more about Sam on his site or follow him on Twitter.
Dowload the Bible App here…
Learn more about Hipstamatic here…
If you have an inspirational life story to tell, don’t be shy! Email me at chris@gopotluck.com and let me know. You could be written up on the blog!
Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions
Here’s a list of this year’s top ten New Year’s Resolutions. At the end, drop us a comment and tell us what you have planned for next year!
1. Be more social.
Polls this year have revealed that more than 50% of Americans want to spend more time developing relationships with their family and friends in the upcoming year. And since the Mayans predicted this would be our last year alive, we should probably work on keeping our friends close and our enemies even closer. (I’m kidding… Ten bucks says we’ll be fine)
2. Tone Up.
Breaking in the new year with a renewed zeal for fitness is a time-honored routine. But eating well and exercising daily isn’t just great for increasing the amount of double-takes given by strangers, but it’s also a great way to improve your attitude, life span, stamina, energy, and productivity!
3. To be, or not to be.
One of the biggest New Year’s Resolutions this holiday season is to write a book! So expect romance, intrigue, swashbuckling adventure, and tales of mournful zombies to fill up bookshelves by this time next year! If you’re looking to be the next Edgar Alan Poe or Don Dellilo, but lack the chops or inspiration to begin, kick the year off by enrolling in a local writing seminar, or attending a book reading and staying after to ask some questions!
4. Kick the habit.
Another time-honored resolution; this year, thousands of Americans are resolving to quit smoking. Cigarets have long been tied to cancer, lung issues, and other negative kickbacks, plus, it saps energy and ruins productivity. Dropping a habit like smoking can be hard though, so don’t go at it alone. Add some accountability by letting your friends in on your goal, and don’t be afraid to get some over-the-counter help. If the going gets tough, call your local help line or visit a smoking cessation class. And don’t be ashamed! We all know how difficult it is to quit smoking, and we applaud your tenacity and diligence in doing so!
5. Have a hoote.
This year, people everywhere are vowing to get a kick out of life. If 2011 was a busy and stressful year for you, discover a release for 2012. Get plugged into an improv troupe, join a volleyball league, or book club… Maybe even start a hobby! Many people are looking at 2012 as an oppurtunity to have a change of pace. Not only is it good for the attitude, but it also get’s your mind off work, and develops areas of your brain that you don’t normally use! Cranial workout!
6. Break the bottle.
Right behind smoking, many people have decided to quit drinking in 2012. Too much of anything becomes a bad thing, and just like with smoking, quitting cold turkey could do more harm than good. Again, share your resolution with your closest friends and encourage them to help you meet your goal! It may not hurt to look into local alcoholic anonymous meetings. Discovering that other people are combatting the same thing is often all the drive needed to kick the habit.
7. Cut up your cards.
Was 2011 a year full of financial stress? In 2012, thousands of Americans are vowing to pay it all back. Credit cards fill up fast, and sometimes debt seemingly becomes insurmountable. But great news! There are lots and lots of excellent resources at your fingertips to help crush that debt. Dave Ramsey is one of the most respected people on the subject, and his resources are easy to use, and have worked time and time again. Oh, and start the new year right by cutting up unnecessary credit cards! It may hurt at first, but it will make it easier in the long run.
8. Do something new.
If you promised yourself that you’d finally try sushi, run a marathon, or go skydiving, you’re not alone! Thousands of people want to try something for the very first time in 2012. If you don’t feel like jumping right into something, start slow! Share some poetry at a poetry reading, buy a different fit of pants, or take the long way home from work. Experiment a little, and vow to have fun in 2012!
9. Give back.
As we enter a new year, it’s important to recognize our blessings, and acknowledge those who aren’t as well off. Maybe 2012 could be the year of giving back. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or with the Salvation Army once a month. Strangely, it’s usually the person giving who feels most blessed in this situation.
10. Organize!
Maybe the last straw was not being able to find the remote control, or the keys, but this resolution always seems to find its way into the top ten. Tired of endlessly searching for things in your home or office? Begin by consulting an interior designer, or maybe even taking a home decorating class. Also, browse the Internet for storage ideas…. Ikea always gets my imagination going.
Click the share button below to share your resolutions with us on Twitter and Facebook!
It is the set of sails, not the direction of the wind that determines which way we will go.
Jim Rohn
12 Simple Rules for Stronger Living
It’s almost the end of December, which could only mean one thing: it’s New Year’s Resolution planning season. Every year, I plan on working out and losing weight… It’s a personal tradition. But if you’re like me, then you know how difficult it can be to actually stick to that plan. There’s such a wealth of information out there on the topic of healthy eating and weight loss, that it can be overwhelming. So, here’s a list of 25 things that can simplify that issue.
Courtesy of Esquire Magazine
DO: Something. If there’s anything exercise scientists agree on, it’s that you get the biggest health benefits when you go from doing nothing to doing just about anything.
DON’T: Do stuff you hate just because you think you have to. Nobody ever went soft because he lifted weights when he should’ve been jogging or jogged when he should’ve been rowing.
DO: Your cardio after your strength workout, not before. You won’t wear yourself out, and you’ll dip into fat stores faster because you’ve already burned off some muscle glycogen.
DON’T: Skip the cardio just because you have less than 30 minutes to devote to it. But you need to add intervals—bursts of speed above your normal pace—to make it count.
DO: Work your biggest muscles first, last, and in between. Unless you aspire to a career in professional bodybuilding, your small muscles will take care of themselves when you do big-muscle exercises like presses, rows, chin-ups, and dips.
DON’T: Drink protein shakes. The typical American already eats more protein than even elite athletes need.
DO: Take a men’s multivitamin every day, without fail.
DON’T: Drink mass-produced fruit juices. They’re almost all pure sugar. Fruit, yes. Juice, no.
DO: Eat more fish, especially salmon and other cold-water species like tuna, cod, and halibut.
DON’T: Get carried away with the fancy coffee drinks. A 20-ounce mocha can easily top 400 calories, most of them from sugar. Two mochas a week equals 41,600 calories a year.
DO: Exercise portion control. A portion of protein—beef, fish, chicken—should be about the size of a deck of cards. Being an American is no excuse to eat like one.
DON’T: Pass up the chance to have fun while exercising. An hour of basketball feels like 15 minutes. An hour on a treadmill feels like a weekend in traffic school.
I can personally vouch for that last one. I’ve spent time in both of those two places, and neither of them are much fun. Anyways, good luck on the workouts, and a Happy New Year!
SOURCES: Chris Carmichael, author (with Jim Rutberg) of Chris Carmichael’s Fitness Cookbook (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, $24); Lou Schuler, author (with Alwyn Cosgrove) of The New Rules of Lifting (Avery, $26); and Marion Nestle, author of What to Eat (North Point Press, $30).
Source: esquire.com
Doctor Oz. You may have seen him on his hit TV show, The Doctor Oz Show, or maybe read his articles in Men’s Health, Esquire, or GQ magazines… But one thing’s for certain: this guy knows health and excercise like the back of his hand. He’s gained a lot of klout in the men’s health world because of his humor, down-to-earth attitude, and workout that won’t leave you feeling like a weeping cripple. In plain English, this guy is your friend.
He’s also in great shape. In this video, he shows off his daily exercise routine… and it’s well worth watching, men of the world. This is a simple exercise that won’t break your bank, bones, or pride.
Source: esquire.com
How To Teach Kids Goal Setting
This great post popped up in my dashboard and I thought it may be worth sharing. After all, no one ever said that there was a minimum age for setting goals!
A big thing I always hear about parents talk about is goal setting and how to get their children to set goals and achieve them. How do you set your children off on the right path to be able to have high hopes achievements and goals to accomplish without being strict or giving them the impression of not wanting to have goals etc. This is what a lot of kids today have, “Oh Goals are stupid”. Or they learn from an early age if parents are to hard on them that having Goals isn’t worth it because its a job or something they don’t want to do. See kids have to want to achieve things on their own time and way of doing so. If you can get a kid or child to this from an early age, then your child son daughter is set for life. See getting kids to learn about Goal setting at an early age is something I believe a lot of parents pass up for the sake of waiting. Feeling “oh my child will learn to do so on their own”. Which doesn’t happen and only the top 5% of children in today’s world do. In fact these 5% make up the top 1% of every school systems top achievers and athletes. In fact a recent poll of children 5 to 11 years of age have found that only a handful of students knew how set goals, what was realistic both short term and long term vs what they could actually achieve and understand what wasn’t achievable. So in short these numbers and studies suggest that being able to give your kids that foot in the door is so important. Imagine your child being able to achieve more, go further in life and be ahead of students his age when he starts school and finishes. How about being the favorites among his teachers and knowing your child is getting the attention he or she deserves. Interaction is what stimulates the brains need to learn and want to learn and apply those to everyday life. This in return will give your child that stimulus that will be with them the rest of their lives while they live play and work. The early years of child development are important because the brain is like a sponge soaking up everything he or she sees touches tastes feels and reacts to those throughout their life. With being able to teach them at such a young age goal setting it will make your child the eye of any teacher or any parent. Why? Because your child has the chance to succeed where sad to say many children will fail. The over-all populations thinking is this “Get the kids in school, push them through, keep the ones that need to be kept back back and the others who are in the average range pushed through”. Yes it’s that simple and sad when you look at our public school system and even in a lot of private schools as well. My education and having parents who taught myself how to set goals and achieve those goals helped me throughout my life and is why I’m ahead on so many levels right now. So if your a parent who wants their child to succeed. Be able to set goals and achieve them, then download the following Goal Setting Guide. Be able to give your kids something that will carry with them the rest of their lives. See how much more your child will do learn and be able to achieve when you teach he or she how to set goals achieve those goals and have a realistic view on everything from school to life. Parents today rely so heavily on the school system and the interaction of other people that they don’t realize how simple and easy it is to teach there kids how to set goals and achieve them. Download The Goal Setting For Kids Hand Book today and see how much more your child can be doing. See the improvement in your child within’ days and be able to give them a gift that will last a lifetime. Don’t let your child become a statistic but in return let them have the tools they need to achieve there dreams and goals and be able to have a realistic view of those goals and how they need to achieve them. Goal Setting for children isn’t just something that isn’t important but one thing that should be in every child’s base of learning. Download The Goal Setting For Kids Handbook today, you won’t be disappointed.
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