A magic goal for software businesses
secretGeek .:dot Nuts about dot Net:.
home .: about .: sign up .: sitemap .: secretGeek RSS

A magic goal for software businesses

Joel Spolsky wrote the foreword to Eric Sink's book "The Business Of Software"

In that foreword, Joel talks about growing a software business from humble beginnings, much as occurs in a MicroISV.

Near the end, he says the following -- and he says it in a paragraph all of its own, because it is a magical paragraph:

"One day, you'll turn off the feature that emails you every time someone buys your software. That's a huge milestone."

Wow. Can you imagine that? It totally blows my tiny little mind away. That's like having so much money that you light your cigars with 100 bills -- and then you don't even finish the cigar.

TimeSnapper has been selling like hotcakes lately, while it's still on special at $19.95, but even so I wouldn't say my inbox is actually close to collapsing from the added burden.

I've been putting some thought into what can take us to that magic next level -- and one particular thing keeps occuring to me -- just keep doing what we're doing. We seem to be growing steadily, and the software keeps improving. We keep listening to people and we keep ruthlessly removing bugs. It's working. We're learning to do more marketing, we're talking to people all the time; we're headed in the right direction.

It's a blast -- a lot of fun, running a software company. Very stimulating on the brain.

If I haven't encouraged you lately, let me encourage you now. It's worth doing. Go for it.





'KC' on Sat, 02 Aug 2008 11:51:14 GMT, sez:

TimeSnapper is a great product. A version for Macs would be great. How's that coming?



'lb' on Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:17:37 GMT, sez:

Hi KC.
We're very keen to offer a mac version, but we just don't have the technical chops to achieve it.

We've successfully ported most of the free version over to linux, with a goal of porting to mac later -- but realistically there are too many barriers for it to be successful.

I think you ought to write to us and tell us about your amazing mac-abilities, so we can work together on the mac edition.

what do you say?

lb



'Monkeyget' on Sat, 02 Aug 2008 16:08:07 GMT, sez:

This guy agrees:
http://www.followsteph.com/2008/06/26/the-secret-to-success-can-be-summed-up-in-one-word-perseverance/



'John Walker' on Sun, 03 Aug 2008 02:48:53 GMT, sez:

Exactly. Just keep doing what you're doing. It's amazing how many ISV's don't do that. Focus is the thing. Excellent post and thanks for the heads-up to Joel's forward.



'Paul Kohler' on Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:29:10 GMT, sez:

LOL! I can really identify with the whole "email feature" thing… Thanks for the encouragement again – PK :-)




name


website (optional)


enter the word:
 

comment (HTML not allowed)


All viewpoints welcome. But the right to delete any post for any reason is reserved. Don't make me do it. Comments may be republished, emailed to your loved ones or printed and used as toilet paper. Who reads this legal bit anyhow?

TimeSnapper is a life analysis system that stores and plays-back your computer use. It makes timesheet recording a breeze, helps you recover lost work and shows you how to sharpen your act.

TimeSnapper won last year's Developer Competition at Larkware.com, and is used by over 10,000 people.

Articles

TimeSnapper hits the local press... and more on Iceland TimeSnapper hits the local press... and more on Iceland
MVC Zen Garden MVC Zen Garden
Is Corporate IT a form of emotional abuse? Is Corporate IT a form of emotional abuse?
Java Powered Internet? WTF? Java Powered Internet? WTF?
Life is Upstream Life is Upstream
TimeSnapper 3.3, and News From Iceland TimeSnapper 3.3, and News From Iceland
Growing Up Geek (A Hanselmeme) Growing Up Geek (A Hanselmeme)
Is that all you've got!? Is that all you've got!?
TimeSnapper 3.2: What are you afraid of? TimeSnapper 3.2: What are you afraid of?
Babbage and Boole! Babbage and Boole!
Downloadable Slide-decks: Downloadable Slide-decks: "Build your own Tiny Software Company"/"F# eye for the C# guy"
Simple Trouble Shooting Application Now Fixes Everything Simple Trouble Shooting Application Now Fixes Everything
a simple checklist for trouble-shooting regular problems a simple checklist for trouble-shooting regular problems
secretGeek at Tech-Ed: secretGeek at Tech-Ed: "How to build your own Tiny Software Company"
Bambrick versus Hanselman: Bring it! Bambrick versus Hanselman: Bring it!

Archives .: secretGeek :: Complete Archives :.
25 steps for building a Micro-ISV 25 steps for building a Micro-ISV
3 minute guides -- babysteps in new technologies: powershell, JSON, watir, F# 3 Minute Guide Series
Top 10 SecretGeek articles Top 10 SecretGeek articles

Downloads

TimeSnapper -- Automated Screenshot Journal TimeSnapper.com    
Version 3.3: true productivity boost

ShinyPower (help with Powershell) ShinyPower
Now at CodePlex

Next Action NextAction
Managing the top of your mind



[powered by Google] 


World's Simplest Code Generator (html edition) World's Simplest Code Generator
Gradient Maker -- a tool for making background images that blend from one colour to another. Forget photoshop, this is the bomb. Gradient Maker
How to be depressed How to be depressed
You are not inadequate.



Recommended Reading

The Best Software Writing I
The Business Of Software (Eric Sink)

Recommended blogs

Jeff Atwood
Reginald Braithwaite
Joseph Cooney
Phil Haack
Scott Hanselman
Julia Lerman
Joel Pobar
Eric Sink
Joel Spolsky
Des Traynor

Aggregated Links

programming.reddit.com
dzone
dot net kicks

Human Link Machines

interesting finds
a continuous learner's weblog
arjan's world
n links today
new and notable
morning coffee
learning .net
weekly link post
(my del.icio.us account)

LinkedIn profile
 
home .: about .: sign up .: sitemap .: secretGeek RSS .: © Leon Bambrick 2006 .: privacy

home .: about .: sign up .: sitemap .: RSS .: © Leon Bambrick 2006 .: privacy