We love working with clients on all types of projects, but sometimes its hard to balance client work with our company's applications.  It seems that in todays time, to make a name for yourself you either have to work with a major client or create a killer app.  Here at Operis Systems we have a lot of great ideas but not alot of time. So here are some steps i take to manage my time.

1.  Time management - You really need to find a good way to manage the time you are spending on clients vs. your own work.  This is were having a hourly charge is great.  Do not spend more time on client work than you charged.  I find myself spending more hours on a design than I should.  A good website to help you with time management is Get More Honey.  Using a site like this will really save you money and time in the long run.

2.  Stop chatting - Twitter, Ichat, Myspace, and facebook are all wonderful applications but can also become big time killer.  Lately i have really been paying attention to the time im wasting on these applications especially IChat.  Friends are constantly chatting with me which causes me to chat with other people.  Now don't take this wrong, I really enjoy talking with my friends but when its time to work its time to work.  So what i have been doing is closing these applications until i have a break.  Twitter has really become addicting, so i have had to close twhirl also.  I have saved about 1 to 2 hours a day just staying away from these applications. 

3. Organization - When things are organized you get alot more done.  Create a list of projects and goals.  Check off each thing you accomplish and communicate with your developer.  Get More Honey has a nice accomplishment list with the timer.  This allows you to see what you did in the time you worked.  It helps to have goals.

4. Pre plan - When making a list plan how many hours each thing should take.  Follow that time line and when you fail mark it down.  If you follow this step your work will become more efficient.  Really communicate with your developer so when you finish a step he can also begin a step.

Following these steps are easy and will save you 10 hours a week.  It only take about 30min to an hour to make a work sheet for the week.  You will notice your work becoming more proficent and better.  Also this will allow you to have more time to work on your own projects.  With 10 hours a week you can get alot done.

Posted by: Rob
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When spending months on a project  and working with both the design and css its easy to not notice the small details.  These details i am talking about only people with designers eyes would notice, but when the details are fixed it really makes a difference.   Not sure if all designers have this problem but I know alot struggle with it. When we launched Operis Systems there were alignment problems in my design.   I got so caught up in wanting a clean design i forgot to double check where my elements where aligned.  I always go to my good friend and mentor Allan Branch to get his opinion on my designs and also to improve.  He brought to my attention the alignment problems. 

I have posted a few screen shots on my new design flickr account.  I use this account to keep track of designs I like and design elements I like.  Allan will tell you i stole this idea from him and that is true, but research is a large part of staying current in the design world.  My new account is MindMyDesign. There i have posted photos of the change for your viewing.

Having a third eye has really improved my designs and it really makes me work harder to get it done right the first time.  Allan grades my designs and he is very honest.  He really doesn't mind telling you the design is crap.  He dosen't do this to be mean but to really help improve my designs.  I really check my designs now before i send them and 80% of the time I find problems.  Normally those problems would have made it to the development stage, but now having a third eye they get fixed.

I suggest finding someone you may lookup to design wise and ask him to judge your designs.  You want believe the difference it will make in your work, and in your company.  My designs have progressivly gotten better and i expect they will continue.  Also find someone you can return the love to and lets make the web pretty.

Posted by: Rob
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Have you ever been shocked when looking at a photo,  and im not talking about whats in the photo im just talking about just the photo its self.  Well that happened to me the other day when my buddy came out and took photos at our softball game. His name is Brian Hursey and he takes photos as a hobby but has alot of talent in it. Follow the link above and see alot of his work.  Or Click Here to check out his flickr page. Brian loves for people to use his work so hit him up on either of those pages and tell him what you want to use.

Posted by: Rob
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Is it just me or does it seem like there are some tv shows that are always on no matter when you are watching the tube.  The one show that really caught my eye tonight is CSI.  It always seems like you can find an episode no matter what time it is.  My wife and i love the show but now we don't like it as much becuase its always on.  I guess now that it is always available we don't care for it as much.   Not only can you catch  CSI but all 3 versions of it.  There is CSI, CSI Miami, and CSI New  York.  Maybee no body else notices these things but lately i do.

Posted by: Rob
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I just wanted to say thanks to Less Everything for creating the wonderfull open source social networking platform.  If you havent checked it out its LovdbyLess.  We used it to develop the fellowship site in 100Souls.  It was very easy to add on to and remove apps we didnt need.  I normally don't plug other companies or competition, but Allan at Less Everything is a great friend of mine and really my mentor.  To me he is probably one of the most talented designers i know, and he is the reason i feel in love with web design.  Now im not saying go to Less over us, but if you for some reason can't find what you need with Operis, I would check them out.  If you like developing and love working on projects download Lovd and play around.  Travis really enjoyed working with Steve "co-founder president of Less" code.  So check it out and let them know what you think.

Posted by: Rob
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I know this has nothing to do with Web design or development, but it has been on my mind.  If there is such a fuel "oil" shortage, why do we let NASCAR race?  NASCAR uses approximately 8,000 gallons of Supreme 112 per race weekend.  This does not include the gas that 18 wheelers use to get the gear to the race or the fans who drive to the race.  I know you can say that about other sports like football and golf.  How football players and golfers fly to every game and jets use about 10,000 pounds per hour.  But most NASCAR drivers fly to every race on a jet.  And when football players fly to games it's in a team jet, which is still one jet like NASCAR drivers.  So my point is, if we are in a fuel shortage, we should stop NASCAR from racing, or start racing electric cars.

Posted by: Rob
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