Optimizing Efforts for Extended Payouts

1.0 What we try

We as people tend to try to do a good job with the tasks at hand. In return, we expect to get paid or some personal reward. This could include the normal work you do, a hobby, or doing something to pay forward. Now examples I am providing come from our personal views but the goal is to extend the process and allow you to implement some of those ideas in your endeavors.

Typically a major issue is doing a job once and only get paid (in some form) once. So the value of a job or effort is very limited. How can we work smarter so we get multiple rewards for the time we have? I guess it is really two-fold.

How can we work smarter so we get multiple rewards for the time we have?

2.0 Using the time you have more efficiently to get more done

There are all sorts of techniques. Some are organizational and others are forming good habits. I will touch base on a few things but remember these are just my introductory thoughts and leave room for improvement.

2.1 A few suggestions for efficiently

• Planning your day by writing stuff down. Yeah, it is that simple. Put overall tasks in your Google Calendar or whatever calendar you use. What the heck are you doing today and add milestones and all that. There are a bunch of other tools but best to at least centralize basic content when possible.
• For managing projects, I use something like Basecamp or another project management tool. That is a little different as it is not meant for the general day-to-day activity but the smaller details of a project. But they can at least run the more important events in parallel.

• One thing I am really enjoying is trying to make sure I account for most of my time and follow good habits. I actually found one called the SELF Journal that I hand write in. Sort of a modern old-school method. It is said that actually writing things down by pen and paper is retained better in your memory.

• The SELF Journal has a lot of good things. It promotes a positive thought process, releases stress (as knowing is half the battle), allows you as an individual to track your progress. I wrote another article on that here if you care to learn about it.

3.0 Making choices that have multiple benefits

So we just talked about some organizational and optimization choices and now how to approach a few goals to pay out in a multitude of ways.

• The first thing that comes to mind is how to help others and contribute in paying you back in the long run. Did an article on LinkedIn that talks about this in more detail called Share Your Knowledge to Increase your Bottom Line. The gist of the article talks about providing useful information and that in return provides a few things. Such as awareness, honesty, and expertise.
• Supporting your groups. These are things that range from not only joining but participating. These can be LinkedIn groups and joining in the conversation or MeetUp groups where you physically meet people with your interests within a given reason. Of course, there are Facebook groups and the host of other social media connections. The key is to actually provide useful information and not just blast your own advertising.
• After finishing a challenging project. See if it is award-worthy. Did a post on awards and there are plenty of benefits. Most of it is exposure to clients and adding new energy to your current group. Happy employees stay around longer and reduce costs.

• Creating a Smart Item. This is a little obtuse but could be what you are known for. I just made up the name. I guess I just coined the phrase. Anyway, it refers to the special something that people will remember you for. For example, we are known for specialty interactivity. Things like Apps, Games, 3D simulations, and integrating different technologies together and making things work. But our Smart Item is what we leave them with. It is not a business card they will throw away a or bottle of Wine they will consume (which drink is always a plus), it is a promo piece that they will not through away.

• They will keep it on their desk and always remember you. We made the Entire Team in a Box. A miniaturized team with a flatscreen video player and a business cardholder. It is called the ISO Interactive Mini Office.
• This alone has helped us get meetings with large clients including LEGO and other big game companies.
• Lining up with other groups that are not in direct competition but fill parallel objectives. For example, we are competent in a few areas. But may developers need the animation part to be added. So we then partner in that area to help support the product. Others have specific technology (smartfoxserver a multiuser system for example) and they advertise us as experts. We tie that technology to other formats such as HTML5, Unity, Flash, Java, and others. It is a mutual benefit to be partners with people that actually need your services and not doing exactly what you do.

If you only talk to people that do exactly what you do, you can generate your own competition.

Don’t make it harder than it has to be. Expand beyond your own group, stop fighting for pennies, and make some dollars. 😉

4.0 Reach out

If you would like to engage with us or just to brainstorm, then feel free to contact us. We are here, open, and ready!

We look forward to the possibilities.

~Troy Hipolito