HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE AND SHUT YOUR MOUTH. That's my whole user research method. Mostly. Dashboards and surveys are part of the picture... a small part. Sit with 5-10 real users. Different kinds of people. Hand them what you built and watch. They'll click the wrong button. They'll skip the feature you spent three weeks on. They'll use it for something you never imagined. A survey tells you what people think they do. Watching tells you what they actually do. Do it enough and your gut stops guessing... it starts knowing. So... when's the last time you actually watched someone use your product? If nobody's watched a real person touch your idea yet, DM me. Coffee's on me in Nashville. I'll bring the shutting up.

Every trend: 'Facebook for cats… we're gonna be rich.' If you think you need AI, data engineering, or automation… you probably do. But do yourself a favor… slow down. Who's it for? What problem are we actually solving? What do you really need to do here? Don't build the rocketship when a car gets you there. So be honest… what's the most overbuilt thing you've seen shipped? Drop it below. Or if you're sitting on one right now, DM me before you light the fuse.

QUICK EMAILS, GROUP MESSAGES – SUCK Quick emails, group messages, Google searches, YouTube videos and even AI can create the feeling that we’re being productive. Sometimes we’re just avoiding the harder work of thinking deeply and creating solutions. I’m working on slowing down long enough to ask: What am I actually trying to accomplish? Why does it matter? Who truly needs to be involved? Where should I put my hands and feet today? “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance.” Proverbs 21:5 Technology and collaboration are valuable tools, but they shouldn’t replace discernment, experience and focused thought. I want to build my businesses that way… doing the hard thinking, focusing on what matters and being intentional about where I spend my time. If you’re building something with that same mindset, I’d enjoy connecting and hearing what you’re working on. LET’s CATCH-UP

WORK CREATIVELY AND BE THE BEST! I’ve been having a lot of conversations with people who are all seemingly trying to figure out some of the same things I’m trying to figure out an answer for. I hear questions from most people around, “what’s my purpose“, “what should I do next with my career?”, “ how do I use what I have learned over the years to provide for myself and my family” I think there’s a few areas of focus, but I would say the majority of us need to look at two things… 1. What’s the “thing“ that you are or can be the best at… Do that thing. Be better than the majority… Try to be in the 1% at that thing. 2. Learn how to work creatively with intelligent machines… that doesn’t necessarily mean artificial intelligence, although that is the current technology, everyone’s trying to figure out how to work with. There is a third option, but this is only going to apply to a smaller minority of people If you have capital you can invest in the other two things… Then do that.

SINGLE MALT! The office and meeting spot for the day. Hey, how are you? More in person meetings… I’m throwing “teams meetings” in the trash. Let’s get out of the Home office or the executive building… If you’re not in Nashville, I’m willing to fly or drive somewhere to meet you in person. – at Nashville, TN

AI HAS MADE IDEAS CHEAP. IT DID NOT MAKE JUDGMENT CHEAP. In other words… AI is the latest technology that makes ideas cheap… It doesn’t mean that your idea or the problem that you think you have a solution for is bad As a lot of you know… I’m running my own company again… I never really stopped. I just took a detour over the years to sharpen my leadership skills and help grow and run some really interesting companies. I found that it’s really important to have a morning routine that allows you space and time to prepare for the day. Part of my routine is sitting on the front porch… Reading, praying, meditating, and getting myself grounded for the day. Finding the right value and testing it and understanding if it’s the “thing” you need to implement… Is the difficult part of any engagement that I deal with every day no matter what it is. Being mentally and spiritually grounded is the most valuable thing you can do for yourself. Having the time and the space to ponder and think is really important. It’s also really important to have a partner that wants to dig deep and find the value sooner rather than later. I really enjoy this part of what I do… If you have an idea or a problem that you think you have a solution for my superpower is talking through those ideas and proving what direction and implementation path should be taken. I genuinely love these kinds of conversations… If that resonates with you… REACH OUT! LET’S CATCH UP!

I started reading Deep Work, and page 6 put words to something I couldn’t quite name before leaving my last position. Nearly every company I’ve worked for has operated under a shallow-work mentality. Complete the task. Answer the message. Attend the meeting. Update the ticket. Move on to the next thing. Everyone stays busy, but very little space is protected for thinking deeply, practicing your craft intentionally, or creating something of real value. Over time, that started leaving me feeling empty. I wasn’t lacking work. I was lacking meaningful work. One promise I’ve made to myself is that I’ll run my companies differently. We’re going to focus deeply on the things that matter, even when it feels like we’re falling behind. Maybe we’re not behind at all. Maybe we’re just swimming against the current of the 99%. Deep Work by Cal Newport, page 6: amzn.to/4xjKKkg

First customer kickoff since 615io became my full-time work again! The brief is the one I like most: a team with a real idea and real people waiting on it, who need proof before anyone writes a big check. So we build the riskiest piece first, on their data, and put a working proof of concept in front of customers and investors in 60 days or less. If it holds, they fund the build with evidence. If it doesn't, they found out for the price of a prototype. That's the whole 615io method, and it's why they hired us. Trust like that isn't something you get by opening a business. It comes from twenty years of building and leading, and it's why AI has been such a gift to how I work. It handles the parts that used to eat my week, so I can focus on what I'm best at: the architecture, the UX, and how the product feels to the person using it. Built like it was made just for them. Can't share the what yet. Will share the how as we go. I'm sure we can help you too. 615.io

LET’S CATCH UP! I recently went back out on my own… I’m really happy about this decision. For many years I was self-employed and did a lot of different things and that’s exactly what I intend to do now. For those of you that have known me over the years… Let’s catch up! I’m really excited for what the future holds and would love to buy you a cup of coffee or a beer.

2 Samuel chapter 24. I think we can apply this to all of our lives in someway however, if you are entrepreneurial… You have ambition you are trying to “grow your portfolio“, you have to zoom out and ask yourself what are you actually trying to grow here? What is true wealth. There’s a lot deeper meaning in the chapter. I just read, but something that jumped out at me as a business owner, and someone who is constantly relying on prayer and trying to keep my eyes fixed on the right thing. ““What am I currently counting that I may be tempted to trust?” Money? Success? Connections? Ability? Opportunity? People? Plans? Then remind yourself: The provision is not the Provider. Use what God gives you responsibly. Build. Plan. Measure. Steward. But don’t worship the numbers.”

Today I read 2 Samuel chapter 21: just a personal observation about sections of the Old Testament, especially first and second, Samuel. If you like, gladiator type movies about Rome or any other ancient civilization I encourage you whether you are “religious” or not to read these books. Here’s the small Takeaway from the chapter that I feel like I could apply to my daily life. “Simple Daily Application “What am I still carrying that I should be teaching someone else to carry?” Then invest in that person. Teach them. Trust them. Give them responsibility. Let them become strong.” Spoiler alert the chapter was basically about a king having to pay for sins of another king and near the end of the chapter handing off his legacy to his men who have become giant killers in their own right.

Today I read 2 Samuel chapter 20. There’s so many good things to learn throughout the last few chapters of this book. One that keeps cropping up is… Telling the truth is difficult but necessary… Being slow to anger is important… Speaking the truth and acting on the truth can cause damage but it’s up to us to cause the least amount of damage possible. Here’s the simple daily application that I learned from this chapter today. Before solving a problem today, ask: “What is the actual problem?” Not the emotion surrounding it. Not every person connected to it. Not every old grievance. Identify the real issue. Then deal with that truthfully, directly, and with the least unnecessary damage.”

I’ve been reading through the Old Testament. If there is ever a manual for life to live by as a man… I encourage you to read about David… Specifically first Samuel and second Samuel. I’ve found that I really connect with David. He’s perfectly imperfect and deals with a lot of issues that men deal with today. Today I read second Samuel chapter 19. Here’s what I got out of it in a nutshell. “What responsibility do I need to get back up and carry today?” Maybe you’re disappointed. Maybe something hurt. Maybe something didn’t happen the way you expected. Acknowledge it. Bring it before God. Receive whatever truth He is showing you. Then… get up and sit in the gate. Not because the pain isn’t real. Because faithfulness is still required. And Christ gives us an even stronger foundation than David had: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 A godly man isn’t a man who never gets knocked down emotionally. He’s a man who knows where his strength comes from when it’s time to stand back up.

Today’s version of the early 2000s “site under construction”, is the first vibe coded version of your new website… Lol That being said, I’m pretty happy with the direction that I’m taking with my band and the music career. Southernsoulfoundation.com

Around five years ago, I decided that I’ve waited too long… I am a musician so I’m gonna start living my life as a musician. “5 reasons why you should go for it: - You’re gonna die. - Fuck your mood. Follow the plan. - The price of authenticity is being disliked. - Your new life will cost you your old one. - The only way out of uncertainty is through it. “ -Leila Hormozi @LeilaHormozi

Guess what .... 615.io lives again! I'm getting back into doing what I do best and I'm building a team of people that are really good at what they do. It's one of the advantages we have as veteran engineers and craftsman ... Vibe coding only gets you so far.