Time for a re-evaluation...

Well just back from my first trip to my local leisure club following the MacMania09 Asia trip. It's been three weeks since I got back, and it's taken me that long to feel well enough to subject myself to some swimming and a nice hot sauna.

So I suppose, I'm back into the old routine.

However, I think I need to make some re-adjustments.

Since starting ScreenCastsOnline, I've been balancing the weekly shows with some external production work, mainly custom screencasts for clients. This was an absolute godsend in the early days, as it went a long way to keep our head above water, whilst I built up the ScreenCastsOnline audience. It's taken the best part of four years to build up ScreenCastsOnline to the level that it is now and the need for the external jobs to help pay the mortgage is not as necessary as it was in the early days.

ScreenCastsOnline is still mainly a one man show, I do all the technical and creative stuff, although my wife is getting more involved in the admin side of things. However, the one resource that is in limited supply, being such a small operation, is time.

The weekly show probably takes up the best part of a half to a third of the week, admin and maintenance related activities, another day or two and that's most of the week gone.

The problem is, as any self employed person will tell you, it's so hard to say no to work.

An even bigger problem is the time it takes to do the commissioned stuff. You would not believe how much work and effort that can go into a scripted three minute screencast for a client. I've done loads of them and I still don't believe it!

The result of this is that I feel that ScreenCastsOnline takes a back seat some weeks and that just doesn't sit well with me. It also means I have no spare time for my pet projects or just free time to kick back and enjoy the fruits of my labour.

So come September, I've decided to pretty much say no to all* requests for custom screencasts and concentrate more on ScreenCastsOnline.

*All? Look, I'm not completely crazy. If someone needs a screencast and is prepared to pay a premium for it, I'd be daft to say no. Also, if a prestigious project turns up that will increase the visibility of ScreenCastsOnline then again, I'm not going to turn them away. I'm just saying, I'm going to be highly selective in what I take on.

So if that goes to plan, I'd like to take some time to build on the current success of ScreenCastsOnline and make it an even better resource for members and non-members alike.

I'd like time to focus on such issues as:

• Making the huge amount of content on the ScreenCastsOnline archive more accessible
• Making search easier
• Revamping the ScreenCastsOnline website
• Enhancing the Membership experience
• Promoting and marketing ScreenCastsOnline more effectively
• Streamlining and automating the production process
  
• Ramping up show production to produce more shows in advance
  
• Giving myself some time to work on some other ideas I have
  

Of course, the other option would be to expand ScreenCastsOnline with some extra people but realistically, I don't really want to go down that route. I really just want ScreenCastsOnline to remain small but perfectly formed!

We'll see how it goes come September.

PS I'm going to try and restart my regular blogging activities too, perhaps not everyday but a lot more frequent.

Comments

[steve]

Don,

I hope you manage to do what you say. The most difficult thing to do is turn jobs away, especially when it is something you really enjoy doing. Saying that it is important to get that balance. I have no complaints at all about ScreenCastsOnline and have been a happy subscriber for 2 years now. Although, anything you can do to enhance the experience is always welcome.

[Ron Bailey]

Looking forward to see how all this works out. I have a whole list of applications that are crying out for the ScreenCastsOnline treatment! Thanks for what you have already done!

[Richard]

Don:
Have you considered becoming an employer? You might get some technical help so that you don't spend as much time doing the production and spend more time behind the microphone, like Leo.

[Ian Mayman]

Maybe the answer is to employ someone as a screencaster in their own right producing their own shows and which can be licenced for distribution under the Screencasts Online brand. That keeps it a one man show but with extra screencasters to call on when things get really busy, of course that does however invite the possibility of one of them setting up as a rival screencaster. The only thing is few of us have all the necessary hardware that you have Don.

[Mark Dalton]

Don, Like others I wouldn't discount bringing in help. There a lot of talented individuals out there that are looking for a break that would happily work on an internship basis or similar. I am sure with your experience too that you have a great deal to teach so it's a reciprocal arrangement.

That said don't look at me, I can't manage my BBQ requests without somebody reminding me I haven't read my email and of late I have even had to set alarms on the iPhone reminding me to stop ignoring the reminders in my diary.

I understand your hesitation however and am sure you will find the balance, but all I will say is don't dismiss the option completely.

Hell there are a lot of us waiting on the invite to the "Dungeon" (TWiT Cottage).

[Edward Wade]

I have learned so much from you and last year changed my annual subscription to your longest one - 5 yr? I've referred many friends as well. I'm glad you want to keep it your own and not become an employer that delegates. You would lose your personal touch and possibly some audience. Keep it up but remember to have a pint now and again! Cheers from Texas.