First let me preface what I am about to ask by saying, this is a LEGITIMATE question,by asking I mean no disrespect,no inuendos, I'm not implying anything ! That being said, I have noticed many Heads are "posting" and "replying" to posts pretty much all day, and obviously they also run susscesful sign businesses too, I'm just wondering how they get it all done? Meeting with customers, sketches, production, installs, banking, employes, etc., etc. , etc. Any tips would be much appreciated. Ok , Heads, I got my "Asbestos Undies" on Bob
Posted by Marty Happy (Member # 302) on :
Doncha know with 'puters and viney cutters we have all day to good off! Everybody knows that computers do everything fer ya!
Just in case anyone is wondering that was sarcastic humour. Seriously I am home-based and during my busiest times the BB is sometimes my only social outlet. With DSL and this being my main 'puter it's easy to check in and still get a lot of work done!
[ February 27, 2002, 09:48 PM: Message edited by: Marty Happy ]
Posted by Peter Manzolillo (Member # 1062) on :
Before the internet, people did other things during coffee breaks and lunch breaks. Now they log onto Letterville...
Before the internet, you would call a buddy across town and ask him/her your sign-related question. Now you log onto Letterville and post your question to thousands of sign "buddies."
Before the internet, you looked in the phone book, or a sign buyers guide, to find sign suppliers. Now you log into Letterville to see which suppliers to patronize, and while you're there, heck, might as well see what everyone else is yakkin' about... Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
These days I/m at my desk doing lots of design work. Every couple of hours or so I take a quick break... go pee... get a coke our of the frdge and check in here for 30 seconds... well maybe a minute or so. MY ADSL connection is fast. And so am I.
-dan
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
Just put yer head down and run til you hear glass!
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
hey Bob, I'm just a pinstriper
HAVE A NICE DAY Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
And hey....some of us are fast. I can have my plotter cutting.......while I am designing another sign.....while drinking coffee...while talking on the phone.......while jammin to my TUNES (ROCK AND ROLL!).....all at the same time!!!! Yes that's me. And that's not all!!!!!.....I can even eat while doing all this.(while WEEDING) And hey get this: sometimes I even LEAVE while my Roland is doing its twist and shout.......and go GARDEN. This is just such a great thing. To multitask. Just don't forget the lawn mower is still running while you run to answer the phone. (I did that once) oh and the whole time I was writing this...I was chatting with my son at the same time. so there.
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
Sounds like a legit question to me.
My answer is pretty much the same as Dan's.
I also cut back the number of hours I work during the week. I work longer days, but I take frequent breaks.
I also use the internet a great deal to send files and communicate via e-mail with my out-of-town and out-of-state clients. Doing so lets me see what's happening in "As Letterville Turns." Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Peter..I am home based with a shop out back on the 1/2 acre "ranch". I wake up in the morning..crank up the puter..and go grab a coffee and check out e-mail and the BB.
Since I am on a DSL connection I am online as long as the computer is booted up. Since I am a one person shop I quite often only have one or two jobs on the go at any given time (or quite often..none at all) so that gives me the opportunity to check in on the BB many times a day.
On the days when I actually go out into the big wide wonderful world and do the lettering or graphics or whatever you want to call it that I do ( I like to call it "stickin sticky stuff to valuable vessels and vehicles") I only post or reply after the cheque is deposited! Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
I'm with the others....get DSL or cable...no waiting to see what's on the BB! Whenever I pass the puter, I hit "refresh" to see what's new!
Posted by Rob Larkham (Member # 2105) on :
I have fifty Umpa Lumpas who work like the dickins. Just a signin and a dancin all day long.
Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
I had a really cool massive flame job all prepared, but I turned nice just a little while ago.
Posted by Bill Preston (Member # 1314) on :
Rosemary came home with the darning egg, eh?!
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
hehehehehehe
Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
Rosemary is just a student. Lyn is the mistress of the darning egg. Just an unobtrusive "tap" from Lyn can make you see stars.
Rosemary hasn't developed the technique. It's more like a missle.
Posted by Roy Frisby (Member # 736) on :
Just a couple of questions. 1. Pierre, what the heck is a darning egg?
2. Cheryl, with or without shoes? hehehehe
Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
Roy...you know I don't like them shoes. Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
A "darning egg" is, literally, an old time porcelain egg used for darning socks, primarily. Lyn sticks it inside the sock and starts stitching. They're the size of a large, AA egg and exTREMEly hard!
whoops! "percelain??"
[ February 27, 2002, 10:39 PM: Message edited by: pierre ]
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Multitaskin' man..
When I'm at the computer I usually have a window of letterville in the background while im working on something else whether it be graphics or a building design, and at the same time I'll have a sketchpad nearby where I doodle new stock vinyl cutter designs for my personal collection.
At lunch, I do all the above PLUS eat right at the machine.
I take 10-15 minute breaks every hour, time to stretch out, walk around, get totally away from the computer for a little while.
Posted by Del Badry (Member # 114) on :
Rob, i've been wondering, what is that yellow thing hangin around your neck.. in your member photo.... (pretty noose)
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
Del, Those of us that went to the Boise meet yr before last all have those....they are for the privleged only A;)
Posted by Steve Purcell (Member # 1140) on :
I don't reply to posts, it takes too much time.
My new computer came with bundled software that automatically replies to posts that it thinks I might be interested in. Posted by Santo (Member # 411) on :
Yep, I keep it open in the background. Quick replies, bad spelling with no editing will get the flames to rolling.
Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
Hi Bob,
This really is a legitimate question, and one I've been giving alot of thought to lately.
You see, I'm not a very good multi-tasker, though I gotta do it in my business. I really do my best at any one thing when I give it my full focus. Whether it's a design, a proposal, folding my laundry, cooking (hahaha..... finally got a timer for this one, works better than the fire detector, less smoke!) or even replying to a post.
This BB is a daily read with my morning coffee, and later I tap back in occasionally during the day. I had really curbed my involvement for a long while, but recently I've stepped it up a notch and began responding to more posts again. Yet I find myself with either less to say, or perhaps more accurately, less time to say it as I wish.
One of the last replies I gave led to a real scrap. One that became a real time bandit for me, and one that I'm not real keen on hitting the replay button on.
I see many posts on here that turn simple answers into "issues" that are usually irrelevant to the questions that were asked. Personal "opinions" often lead a thread down a path of no return. Not only do I find this disrepectful to the person whose originally posted a topic, but I, personally, find it far too often to be a waste of time. Time I don't really want to invest in that way.
I guess when I weigh my priorities ... and I've been doing that quite abit more these days, I discover that I really could be giving better focus to my business, instead of letting myself be sidetracked by some of the things taking place here.
So as my honest answer to your question Bob, I must admit that when I spend too much of my time here, I really do slack in my job. Like I said, my multi-tasking skills are just not all that saavy.
I'll probably need to be a bit more selective with my intake here, and my responses. I think it only fair to myself, as well as this BB.
Yes indeed, this really was a legitimate question. Thanks.
Nettie
Posted by Marty Happy (Member # 302) on :
Multi-tasking is something I definately relate to. As a single-dad balancing parenting with career and other interests led to some amazing multi-tasking skills. I sometimes find that if I let myself focus on any one area of my life too much I can get lost in it and spend more time on it than is practical. I know if I allow myself the luxury I can overperfect signwork so maybe I need other things in my life to run interference.(LOL)
Posted by ScooterX (Member # 2023) on :
i'm new to the biz... so every minute i spend here is usually a minute where i learn something. (sort of a twist on the saying "every minute spent PLANNING saves you ten in PRODUCTION"). i don't read everything on the board (i pretty much skip the OTs) and i skip the flame wars (get enough of those on other boards through the years -- i know how to spot them and how to avoid them).
what's left is good advice, and peer to peer support. i've been able to undertake and complete some jobs ONLY because of the advice and suggestions i've received here.
if you want to be doing exactly the same thing in a year that you're doing today, then this board is a waste of time. if you want to be doing something different/better/faster/cheaper/fancier then the time spent here is a business investment.
Posted by Joe Rees (Member # 211) on :
Sometime's it IS hard to keep up with it all Bob. Visiting frequently helps because you can stay caught up. You know which threads were of interest and which to pass on. I do the same with some music and guitar boards too. If I skip a few days it can take hours to see what I missed. Easier in the long run to check often, even if I don't really reply to anything.
Posted by Rob Clark (Member # 787) on :
Time IS at a premium. I only get to check the board if I get up early enough (4-5am) or just before I lay me down to sleep, so there aint always a lot of time to give. As a conseqence I don't have much time at all for "meaningless" chit chat, I try to make the time here worth something. I definately cant afford the amount of time this board deserves.
I recently put a LOT of time into a Step x Step on chalkboards and was very disappointed to find that very few had actually taken up the challenge or even READ the text properly.
A recent reply to a portfolio post asking for critique took time I didn't have and what I hoped would be helpful advice seems to have been passed over for a personal bunfight.
I also find "chat" to be a waste of time, I have no doubt that there is meaningful discussion going on at times but I have not been there at the right times I guess.
I have too much going on in my life to be sitting in front of a computer for any longer than necessary, although I WOULD like to be able to get more involved .
Okay, NOW bring out the FlameThrowers!
RobC
Posted by John Martin Robson (Member # 1686) on :
You only get out what you put in.
Lettelville has taught me so much in a very short time, and only because I’ve spent time here. I’m a one man show with no mentor, living on the edge of the world, making signs in a vacuum.
I cannot afford not to spend time here.
Posted by Bill Preston (Member # 1314) on :
This place is more of a social thing for me than anything else. Help out when I can, stay out of the flame type stuff as much as possible, and generally operate on "cruise-control". The biz is small, and just the way I want it at this late stage of things.
Multi-tasking is not something I am good at. Always felt it scattered my attention in too many directions to effectively deal with any one item.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Rosemary came home with the darning egg, eh?!