Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by hurricane Katrina in the southern States and across the continent.

In times of disaster such as these, the best in human nature comes out in most people. I hope that everyone finds their loved ones safe and sound. Things can be replaced - people cannot be.

The recovery will be long and slow but it will happen.

What Role Are You Doing?

The FoxShow is one of my FoxPro and development business-related podcast. The latest episode (issue, cast, whatever) had an interesting piece that a colleague suggested I share in other areas as well.

Even though every one may have a different title in a company, when it comes to customers, EVERYONE is a sales person, a support person and a developer.

Part of this comes from the Return on Customer book I'm reading but it's also something that I think many people see in their every day life.

You're always selling something, You're always supporting something and everyone is always developing something.

The key takeaway - if you see someone in your organization that isn't thinking this way, then think of the consequences. Do you want that person speaking for you in front of others?

The FoxShow

Codetch - Web page editing and more within FireFox

If you haven't seen this before, it's very cool. Found this from one of my fellow TechPodCasts network members, Victor of the Typical PC User podcast.

What does this do? Allows you to edit HTML, XML, XUL and more.

And provides both a code and preview "view" as well right from within Firefox.

Very cool
Mozilla Update :: Extensions -- More Info:Codetch - All Releases

The Game is Afoot: A New Game

Eric wrote a great article on the software business: The Game is Afoot. In a recent conversation with a colleague, I came up with my own:

The Game: Puzzle Making

The Principle

You have a bunch of pieces that you need to create a picture from. Some of these pieces may fit into multiple areas but there's really only one place where each piece fits to create the right picture.

The Challenge: You have to know what the picture is supposed to look like BEFORE you start putting the pieces in. If you think you're working on a picture of a grassy meadow, but the real picture is of a balloon in the sky, it doesn't matter where you put your pieces - the picture will never turn out right - even if you have pieces with pictures of the sky.

How Software is similar

Software companies need to place individuals where they are best fitted. Some people are great in front of customers. Others are great in front of white boards. Others still are great in front of a screen and a keyboard. Every person can have a fit in the puzzle but if you try to put a coder in front of a customer or a salesperson into design, then you are not going to complete your puzzle.

And regardless of where they are great, if they don't know the end goal, then you may still be left with a Picasso or Dali picture when you were thinking of something completely different.

Reading List

Return on Customer by Martha Rogers and Donald Peppers

Truly innovative - not for the solution discussed (most smart business people know to put the customer first) but in the approach taken. Instead of a "do it for the customer, rah rah rah" approach - Rogers and Peppers take a highly analytical look at what it means to take the customer's perspective and turn it into an equation - one that everyone should be able to appreciate.