Ian Landsman is Starting From Scratch, August 13, 2006:
Did Your Product Get Better Today?
If you're in the market for a powerful and user friendly Help Desk solution, please take a look at my company's flagship product HelpSpot.There's a little test I give myself everyday. At the end of the day I ask myself if today my product got a little better. In a small ISV it's hard sometimes to make sure you're making forward progress. There's so many things to do, many of which aren't moving the product forward. While these things have to be done, it's easy for them to eat up an entire week before you know it.
So I've found an easy way to test this is the question above. If you've said no more than a few days in a row then it's time to refocus and get back to improving your product.
Discussion
Ian, I've been impressed over time with your ability to continuosly, and rapidly, improve your product. Good job and please keep sharing with us.
Created by Scott Meade on 08.14.2006 12:05 am
Thanks Scott. I've actually had more "no's" then I'd like over the summer, but things are really picking up now. Lots of nice new usability enhancements coming to HelpSpot this fall.
Created by Ian on 08.14.2006 12:45 am
Ouch! You're touching where it hurts :-(
Created by Serge Wautier on 08.14.2006 3:18 am
In my case, it is a 'No' for 2 weeks now. Oh boy, I am in trouble 
Created by Greg Moreno on 08.14.2006 7:09 am
'better' is a broad term, and so is 'product'.
'better' could mean:
- better error handling
- better layouts/interface
- better features
... but it could also mean
- better documentation (I hate this the most)
- better wording on my interface buttons and links
- better usability (very tough for technical thinkers like myself)
... and even
- better equipped to scale to my new features I am planning next year
There is no real way to keep coding great new things every day, or even every week, especially if you wear most or all hats at your company. However, as a true coder, you have it in your blood.
Personally, I am always evaluating software (even stuff I will never use) simply to look at interface design and usability. I am not a MAC fan by any stretch, but I purchased one just so I can see the interfaces of software -- they give me all kinds of ideas (have lots of "cool" factor).
I am always looking for something that makes me say "wow - that is really cool" -- even if it is totally useless. I have a long list of ideas (in a text file) I constantly ammend to, half of which I never use, and the other half which winds up in the software at some point.
So, even if you are not touching your code, you are always 'thinking' about it, growing your product(s) in your mind (and in your text document). I suspect that also counts as bettering your product, and if it does, I can confidently say "Yes, my product got better today".
Created by Anthony on 08.14.2006 6:43 pm
Actually Anthony that's exactly what I mean. Better doesn't have to mean code, it just means forward progress in any part of your product. Docs, marketing, etc.
Created by Ian on 08.14.2006 6:51 pm
This is great advice Ian. Even on the weeks that I don't make a lot of progress on my app, I think back and made sure that I moved it forward in some way.
Created by Michael Sica on 08.14.2006 9:48 pm