Week Three

Posted on October 26, 2007 by rbirkey

MORNING
Week three is almost over. Today I need to finish up a scope document for our first client: Sunshine Gospel Ministries, as well as meet with Derek Taylor and Benjamin over lunch.

I remembered to bring in my tools today, so we can take down a workstation wall that will allow Benjamin and me to see each other from our desks. We are wanting to open things up more in our work area for easier communication and collaboration.

AFTERNOON
We had a good lunch break with Derek Taylor today. He came on over to the Headstand Media office and shared some good Maggiano’s Italian food! This reminded me that I did some illustrations for Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises some years ago for Maggiano’s. I’ve included a few of those sketches here.

One of the things we discussed over lunch was how to manage and keep really good web developers. Derek had some experience at one of his former jobs of losing key people because as the marketplace changed, and management didn’t really keep up with those changes. They would give key people minimal raises, then those people would find much better jobs elsewhere. Management would also go through phases of staffing up, and would pay new people more than the people who had been there and earned their stripes. This would tick off the people who had ben there and sacrificed already, and they would quit and move on. All of this kind of change is a huge disruption to a company, the momentum and the team building that you need to maintain in order to grow. I had some of my own experiences along these lines to share as well. It was good to know that we are not alone and that many companies are facing similar challenges in today’s changing marketplace.

EVENING
This evening is the Breakthrough Urban Ministries annual fund-raising benefit dinner, with guest speaker Tony Evans. I will be leaving the office early to get there on time, since Deb and I are table hosts. I am looking forward to having Michele Dillon join us, the Guyer’s, Miller’s (great news you guys!), Jeb, Kathryn and Noel, as well as seeing Arloa, Von & Vilma, Brenda, Keith, Donny and Mary, and many other friends who will be there.

Thanks to: Ken W., Chris A., Kyle W., and Derek T. – for visiting us this week!. To Taylor B, Noel B, Marshall B, Nicole H, Patrick F, Karen N, Laura and Debbie B for feedback on logo designs! To Russell K: thanks for calling me at my new office number!

Lunch with Chris

Posted on October 25, 2007 by rbirkey

Today I had lunch with a friend named Chris, who worked for me a short while at BIRKEY.COM. Chris was a recommendation from another friend, Steve T, and did some web design work for us on a freelance basis when we were going through a busy spell. We met at the second floor food court at the Merchandise Mart, and ate Billy Goat Tavern burgers and fries while we talked… “Coke – no Pepsi!”

It turned out that Chris was offered a job working for Moody Bible Institute not too long after BIRKEY.COM had been one of the finalists in responding to an RFP from Moody, to help them redesign and redevelop their websites. Chris took the job at Moody and became their Department Manager: Web Communications. He is actually now working with the companies that won that project: Change Design, and The C2 Group out of Grandville, MI.

It was good to reconnect with Chris, hear about the process of how his job came about, and to understand that all these things have worked out for the best.

Chris is an avid photographer as well. You can view his work online at iStockphoto.

Thanks Chris!

Another step was completed in the New Identity process. We narrowed down the direction of our potential new logo design, and sent HBN Design our feedback and request for development of round 2. Thanks to all of you who gave us your feedback on the preliminary concepts we showed you. It has all been very helpful.

My SEO Friend

Posted on October 24, 2007 by rbirkey

A former employee who worked for me at BIRKEY.COM came to visit with Benjamin and me today. Kyle W’s first task at BIRKEY.COM in 2000, was the production of the Scholle Corporation website. Ironically, Scholle was a customer who eventually hired Benjamin. We talked together about search engine optimization (SEO) as it related to the new Headstand Media business, our web design business, and customer websites. We also discussed the latest trends in Web 2.0 technologies, and how it is affecting the corporate marketplace that we are serving.

I remember Kyle as a very enthusiastic young guy about all of this cutting edge search engine technology. Back in the day it was Google, Yahoo, MSN, PageRank, backward links, sandboxing, domains, etc. He branched out on his own in 2003, managing Survive Outdoors for his father, as well as a number of his own website ventures. Even though Kyle has grown and matured as a person in the remaining years (including marriage!), the “Internet” passion hasn’t changed. Everyone needs to be passionate about something positive… and this is definitely Kyle’s “thing.” It was good to see it still alive and well!

We had lunch at Giordano’s, ate good pizza, reconnected, and told Benjamin stories about the “golden years” with Corey, Daniel, Nicko, and the rest of the team at BIRKEY.COM. It was also fun to dream about the future together, not as “boss – employee” – but more as friends and peers. I prefer it that way.

Thanks for the visit Kyle! I look forward to working with you more again!

New Headstand Identity

Posted on October 23, 2007 by rbirkey

Morning
This morning we sent out a PDF file to a group of friends and associates that contained about 10 logo design directions. We have asked for feedback and comments from them. Once we get all those back, we will ask HBN Design to move forward on some final directions for our new identity.

We’re also taking a look at the office floor plan and doing some space planning thinking. We’re looking at creating more clusters of workgroup spaces, for small teams of people to use more effectively.

Resources

Posted on October 22, 2007 by rbirkey

One of the great things about this new endeavor are the amazing resources that I am surrounded with. Today I met and talked with a software architect who is in the process of getting his MBA from the University of Chicago, and is changing his role here in the office. While finishing his degree by April, he will be focusing more of his energies on the growing number of new business start ups that are here in the office… including Headstand.

As Headstand moves forward, I am so excited to be able to provide solutions to our customers in virtually any technology… we have the freedom to be technology agnostic. It doesn’t matter what our new customers may need, we can do it. We can supply Microsoft classic ASP and SQL Server solutions hosted in the Windows server environment, as I had been supplying for the last 8 years at BIRKEY.COM. We can also supply “Open Source” solutions using PHP, MySQL, Java, XML, AJAX, and many more in a UNIX/LINUX server environment. We also have access to engineers who are adept at many legacy systems and languages.

The first day of having a team member here was also great. We had to do a fair amount of et up like setting up email accounts and software (We’re on an Exchange Server here), gaining network access, installing Firefox and various plugins, and more.

We had a chance to meet with Joel Hamernick, Executive Director of Sunshine Gospel Ministries to discuss that web project. It was good for Benjamin to meet him and get a little oriented with that ministry and project. We need to develop a project scope document this week.

We had lunch purchased across the street at “Pockets”… my first experience, but an old favorite for Benjamin. Not too bad.

Week 2 Retrospective

Posted on October 19, 2007 by rbirkey

Well, it’s been two weeks since I officially launched a new business. In the process, I’ve rediscovered that building a new business is really fun and exciting. There are a ton of things to do and to think about. It gets my creative thinking engaged and energizes me. I already have more than I can do each day, so I have to prioritize and pace myself.

Looking back over the first two weeks I’d have to say things are going very well. In that time I:
• Moved into a new office space
• Set up network access and Internet connections
• Learned the basics of managing a web server
• Got a new VOIP telephone
• Decided on a company name
• Hired HBN Design to design our company logo and identity
• Put up a temporary webpage at HeadstandMedia.com
• Met with a new customer to get an exciting new web project rolling… Sunshine Gospel Ministries
• Completed an SEO research study for my friend Chuck Thomas at CTCreative
• Hired the first Headstand team member other than myself – Benjamin Nelson
• Purchased new computer hardware and software, and got it all installed and configured
• Read a book on the EL: “Death by Meeting, by Patrick Lencioni”
• Found a stapler to use
• Rode my motorcycle to work at least 4 times
• Got my Chicago Card for easier and quicker CTA navigation
• Got my security pass for the building I’m in
• Took care of a myriad of other office related details

I also I’ve had many great visits from friends and colleagues: Mark Goeke, Steve Tanner, Benjamin Nelson, Chuck Thomas, Steve Wilson, Kyle Williams, as well as my son Noel.

Technology and Identity

Posted on October 18, 2007 by rbirkey

MORNING

This morning arrived the new computers and software that will enable Headstand Media to do it’s thing: (2) MacBook Pro 17″ laptops, and (2) 22″ Samsung flat screen LCD monitors, and (2) Adobe Creative Suite 3 Premium licenses. I spent most of the morning installing and configuring software on Benjamin’s machine.

Then my friend Steve Tanner showed up for lunch, which we had together at a nearby Potbelly’s. It was good to catch up on his life, his work at Kidology, and other life related things. Thanks for the visit Steve!

AFTERNOON

Back at the office, we were joined by Benjamin Nelson! After saying goodbye to Steve, Benjamin and I headed over to HBN Design, to review the first round of corporate logo and identity design ideas they had prepared for Headstand Media. We met with Dwight Nelson, Anne Chipman, and Emily Andre. They had prepared quite a range of good ideas, which were fun to discuss and brainstorm about. Benjamin and I selected a short list and brought back all of the ideas to the Headstand office for further review and feedback. There are some really great ideas to contemplate! Thanks HBN for the great start!

Benjamin and I debriefed about the meeting and direction over Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee, and talked about his start day on Monday, October 22, 2007

After Benjamin left I completed some more software configuration and answered email.

It feels good to be making steady strong progress on a daily basis. This new business is feeling like it is going to actually take off!

Friends

Posted on October 17, 2007 by rbirkey

MORNING

This morning, I had a great email exchange with a former employee named Josh Frank, who worked for me at BIRKEY.COM. He took a job at Michigan State University as a Project Manager in the Health Information Technology department. He loves the new job and is doing well! He’s trying to sell his home in Oak Park, buy a home in Lansing and get his family moved as well! Best wishes to you Josh!
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AFTERNOON

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

The first employee of Headstand Media (beside me of course) is (drum roll)… Benjamin D. Nelson! I have known Benjamin a number of years, and he was most recently employed at ShopLocal.com as a User Interface Designer, and Client Services Director. Before that he had worked at Sonlife Ministries, Click Commerce, Scholle Corporation as well as through his own freelance design firm, Someday Soon Design.

Some of you know that Benjamin is a very creative and funny guy, and does improv comedy and music direction at Second City as well. While at ShopLocal, Benjamin and boss Patrick Flanagan produced a wild vlog called Digital Punch TV. My favorite is Episode 5.

I am very happy to have Benjamin on board!

So, now that the news is out… I’m sure this announcement will be on every wire service and news program by the end of the day!

Now I’ve got get him a computer, software, a coffee mug, scissors, post-it notes…
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Also very exciting at the end of today was to have my friend Steve Wilson in the office for a visit. Thanks for coming down today Steve, and for the great discussion!
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EVENING

At home I tried the VPN connection that Justin helped me troubleshoot… and it worked! I guess having the right IP address is really important! I’ll have to remember that!

A Big Day!

Posted on October 16, 2007 by rbirkey

It was great to have my old friend Chuck Thomas of CTCreative come by the new office for a visit today! Chuck and I go back to 1980, when my wife and I got married and located in Oak Park, Illinois. We heard about this guy in the music business who might have some contacts to help Deb get in to the music jingle singing business. It turned out to be Chuck, and his wife Sue was someone that my wife knew growing up! Pretty amazing! Ever since then we have gone through a lot of life together as close friends. Priceless!

Thanks Chuck for all that you shared with us today, and for your good questions and insights. I learned a lot of new things just hearing you go over your career history and the development of CTCreative and VALCORT, and all the good things that have happened over the years. I look forward to partnering with you as the future unfolds.

MORE GOOD NEWS!
I am also pleased to announce that a personal friend who I had made a job offer to, said “Yes!” today. I’ll be announcing who that new Headstand team member is to the world very soon!

So, Fox, CNN, ABC, NBC, PBS, CBS and all you other news outlets… be watching here and don’t miss the Big Announcement!

New Office Photos

Posted on October 15, 2007 by rbirkey

Here are some photos of my new office space. The first image is of my “workstation” which I have just begun to get settled into, and personalized. As soon as I can clear out of my old office, I’ll have more personal things to put up here.

The second image is of the entrance to our office suite… basically our lobby. This is where you would wait if you came for a visit, while Jackie would let me know you were here. We’ve got some nice comfy chairs to sit in. If you are nice, Jackie might even offer to get you something to drink!

The third image is of the all important lunchroom and kitchen area! We’ve basically got anything you might need: a fully stocked refrigerator, Starbucks coffee (decaf and regular), tea, water, cereal, yogurt, munchies, candy, and more. There are tables and chairs, stuffed lounge chairs, a counter with stools, and oh yeah – a great view of downtown Chicago!