Know Your Truth: Developing Strength In Business.

strength in business

I’m a pretty obsessive guy.  This characteristic didn’t bode too well with girls in my high school, but it seems to be working well for me in business.  So when tasked with a project, I make sure to see it through to the end, no matter what.  I’m a pitbull of web development and project management. I think this obsessiveness … Read More

New Zealand’s Hidden Gem

Over the last couple of days, I’ve been getting email newsletters from, ihiphop distribution.  These newsletters took me back about 7 years ago, when Frog On Top was commissioned by Chuck Wilson to develop an all hip hop based, social media network.  I knew Chuck from the time I worked with Vin Diesel on his web projects, so naturally I … Read More

Design Versus Development: The Suck Factor.

When I was young, not only did I have to walk 6 miles backwards in the snow to school, but I learned a valuable lesson that things simply look better on TV and that the end product doesn’t always come out the way you envisoned it. I had asked Santa for the Six Million Dollar Man, Misson Control Center.  It … Read More

Why a Website Matters For Your Job Hunt

Before the Internet, our biggest concern when applying for a job, other than getting the job, was what  paper stock to use for our resume or CV. You can’t use standard white, it needs to stand out…but of course, like everything else, it’s what’s on the paper that counts. Once you figured out the color and weight of the paper, … Read More

You Want A Free Mock Up? Sure, I’ll Get Right On That!

free mockups

My first job dealing with the Internets was for a company called, CSP Internet. It was based in Victoria, BC. I remember sitting in on a web meeting with a senior project manager and a potential new client. The “client” asked if we could do a free mockup and based on that he would decide if he’d continue on with … Read More

Employer Employee Contract: The 3 Must Haves

employer emploee contracts

  Having a contract between you and your “employees” is as important as having a contract between you and your clients.  It doesn’t have to be some long winded document, but must include these 3 main points: delivery dates, payment terms and source files. Delivery Dates: We’re all painfully aware that design and development is not a perfect science.  Glitches … Read More

Setting Your Price

Finding your place in the market is not an easy task. Charge too much, people will walk. Charge too little, people won’t take you seriously. The latter, is a tough one to learn. I, naively used to think, if I undercut everyone, I’ll do well for myself. Offer the cheapest rates and everyone will come to me. Let me tell … Read More

Setting Client Expectations

Setting a client’s expectations seems like a pretty straight forward thing to do. It isn’t. Some clients, if not most, will always want more than they are willing to pay. Or, they think your quote is too high based on what they want. Because a website is not a physical object they can touch, or drive, or live in…it’s difficult … Read More

What’s Your Budget?

When I was 18, I knew these 2 guys that bought and sold cars. I happened to be looking for one, so they showed me a Ford Escort. They asked me what my budget was. I told, them $1500. Guess, what? The car happened to be $1500. What a coincidence. Turns out the thing was only worth about $800. That … Read More

Be Accountable

Hopefully, by the time you get out of high school you learn that, for better or worse, your reputation is everything. Unfortunately, when you’re young, sometimes you don’t quite get that. The good news is, if you mess up, you’ll probably end up moving to a new town or city when you’re older anyway so you can start over. But … Read More

How To Find And Work With A Good Designer/Developer

A couple of weeks back I wrote about dysfunctional web designers/developers. Today we’ll discuss how to actually find a and work with agood one. I guess first, you can start out by not calling them dysfunctional. I’ve been managing projects and designers for 13+ years and it’s tough for me to find a good worker, so imagine what it’s like … Read More

Contracts? We Don’t Need No Stinking Contracts…

When I first started my empire…I didn’t use contracts.  “My email is the contract” I would foolishly claim (to no one). Because I never cared much for “corporate” I wanted to try a different business model.  A model apparently, no one else uses… a business model that would eventually fail miserably.  Please, allow me to explain: My big thing when … Read More