Ok.. let’s kick some ass

My last post that I made over a month ago titled “It seems to be coming together…”, where I detailed who FilmBet was coming along quite nicely ( which it was). My exams started shortly after that so my focused changed. Then after exams I started playing some online games ( Counter-Strike and Warcraft 3) oldies but goodies .

I cannot pinpoint the real reason that I have placed FilmBet on the backburner, one theory is that since the coding is almost done and I have reached the design aspect which is not my favorite.

Well, its back on again.. I won’t continue this post as I want to get back to Filmbet

It seems to be coming together…

Quite nicely if I must say so myself. In my last post I made FilmBet (FB) known to the public. So far so good, the feedback that I have received has been encouraging. People seems to be understanding quickly what they need to do and are able to do it. Which is  the must important thing. Before design and all that jazz. Speaking of design; One and two comments from people have hinted that the design needs work. Which I have to agree, but I was following the guide of just releasing something, get the basics going then I will focus on the design later. I think this was to better way to go and I’m glad that I took this approach as currently I have a functioning website like looks lame, but than an awesome looking website that does nothing.

With encouragement from a little friend, I decided to take a stab at the design. Designing is by far my weakest aspect of Web Development as I’m not a creative person to begin with.

I got started with this tutorial which helped my understanding of MANY Photoshop functions, but i eventually got fed up with it so I didn’t continue. I figured I need to come up with any design that I like ( really?!) and try my best to some how design it. Using the recommendation of Andrew Hype ( Pick Project) I got  ‘Balsamiq Mockups’ and started wireframing my design. In no time, I had something that I liked and could move along with.

Now, the hard Part using the devil that is Photoshop to create the layout. ( My history with Photoshop hasn’t been good, I initially tried Photoshop 6/7 way back then. It was embarrassing; I couldnt do anything I mean ANYTHING; Flash forward some years I bought The Photoshop Anthology: 101 Web Design Tips, Tricks & Techniques with hopes of learning and start designing. That again failed. YouTube  brought me to the point where I was actually able to create something). I applied the same principles from the tutorial I started the other night and things just flowed.

PS: Guides is simply the most important aspect of any Photoshop design.  So I came up with my mockup, which I am incredibly pleased with.

A quick note on the coding aspect; I finished a major hurdle in the tallying of votes etc. So the coding is approximately 80% finished!! Just little glitches that need to be handled.

Current / New  / Mockup

Never will that happen to me again

I mention FilmBet.com numerous times, bare with it. It makes sense in the end.

I had that moment in the life that I believe will have a positive impact on me from this point forward. We all have actions and have our regrets but this is my moment to bow my head down. I will not beat myself down but use this as a lifting point in my life both personally and professionally.

I went to my second Kingston Beta, and of course just sat one side and was ready to listen to some pitches and just lay low. Half way through the first pitch I came up with the idea to pitch my little project ( Filmbet.com) . Maybe it was because the first pitch seem like the group was pitching a design/ development company which turn out to be a island lifestyle magazine. I was antsy and restless, I figured I would just pitch my idea and get all the awesome feedback and make some connections. If only..

The first pitch was finished, and the second pitch started which was a Guy from Ireland launching a SMS company ( pretty big compared to my little project [ Filmbet.com] ). I figured I should of pitched before this dude, but still was confident that I would be able to come in after him with “hey, this is what I’ve been doing my spare time”. The second pitch ended which lead to the third, more of the same. A executive looking dude with a nice little twitter / Caribbean app which looked to take much more time that my project (Filmbet.com).

At the end, the host begin wrapping up and encourages to socialize. So I figured well I didn’t pitch to the whole crowd I must can pitch to a few selected people in my line of sight. Mehh..I went straight to my car and drove home.

To me someone who have aspirations to one day become a serial entrepreneur. That was quite embarrassing to say the least. That will never happen to me again.. Never will I copt to my insecurities and not do something which I know I could of done.

This post is both a me coming out of my shell and also announcing my little project which I didn’t/ couldn’t tonight.

Filmbet.com ( I mentioned it 4 times already to stress the fact that I’m ok with letting it out of bag before it’s quite ready).
Filmbet is an web application that allows users to bet using credits on the predictions of the box office results. It you guess correct you double your correct, If your guess incorrectly you lose ‘em.
Monthly draws will be made, and the user picked wins a prize ☺
Pretty simple and sweet.
Listen.. the site is in early beta.. Most functionality is not quite here yet/ design still not even 50%, but I want to get it out as soon as possible to hear feedback and if needs be, I can adapt. I wanted to do one and two things before announcing, but tonight just changed me and it’s OUT…..
Head on over log in and vote.. but most importantly give me feedback… Email to redrory (AT) gmail.com or leave a comments here.

Are you procrastinating Rory?

My answer will be, I don’ think so.

It’s my final year at U.W.I. and its been a rough couple of weeks.

Project after project and so on.

I am still working on FB, in smaller chunks thoughs, but when my exams are finished I’ll head back to full time.

Latest launch day would be Dec 25th.

Awesome news:

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/19/yc-funded-dailybooth-raises-1-million-fr…

So.. I went to Kingston Beta last nite (3 weeks ago)

A while back I said the post about Kington Beta and figured that I had to be there. Since I left the island to work at Darien Lake Theme Park in Batavia, NY . I missed the last one that was held during May. So I had to come to the first one that was held.

Upon reaching Susie’s On the Terrace, I was surprised as from seeing pictures before I thought it would of been more of a conference vibe or simply to be inside, but it was outside right by the door. The turn out was intially small, but eventually grew

The ‘start-ups’ that were pitching were Socialingua, Monagis.com (they sorta dropped out), PlayJamaica.com and CaribContact)

PlayJamaica : a gaming startup started by two friends ( Str8 Games) that persons log on and complete in tournments for a prize. What I like about this, is that they know they won’t be making anytime soon, and are ok with that. They are currently just getting the word out there.

More on SociaLingua and CaribContact later..

I will be heading back this month, should carry back some picture these time.

*****************************

Three week slater,  I am finishing this post.

All I really remember from Kingston Beta was that most of the companies launched were local based ( with the rest hoping to expand) to the Carribean. My thing whether it be Good or Bad, is that I can’t seem to focus on anything local based. It just not my style, most things that success in Jamaica is normally Entertainment based (Parties or Gaming) or food. Those isn’t where my ‘real’ interest lies. Don’t get me wrong, I like Gaming/Party as much as the average guy probably not average Jamaican (for sure in the case of Partying). Those things just deal appeal, I have no passion for them, unless I am very passionate about something when I will NOT stay focuses on it, as I literally get 3-5 decent busienss ideas in my head daily.

Imma do it MY way..

I Can Do ‘AWESOME’ All By Myself

I have always made excuses when to comes to things in my life. I am huge procrastinator I admit it. It has hurt in almost all aspects of life (school, professional,business). Upon recently It was about to hurt me in my life again. In my first actual project FB, I wanted to start and get the horse going but of course I had excuse. “Well, I can’t code and my designing skills is even worse”. So I decided to make a post on eLance looking for someone to code for me. Always this was a step in the right direction, I was still not doing anything. Just waiting and wanting ‘what if’. Then I don’t quite know what happened, I just had enough. I have been in this online world for 5 years counting. I just got sick of nothing happening, sick of procrastinating  and sick of seeing other young/er enterpreuers strifing ahead of me. Leaving me with nothing to show. So I just started coding again, nothing amazing happened overnight. But I am coming around nicely and as I reach more complexed features I’ll seek help. Then I saw one article posted on Techcrunch which just made everything make sense. Check out the article here.

At the exact moment you had your idea, ten other people had the exact same idea. There was just something in the environment that made it the right time for folks to think that one up. The race has already begun! Who’s going to execute first? Who’s going to execute best? If you want to waste nine months trying to raise VC money for that idea, great. But six months in, you’re gonna cry when you see someone else put out that same product you’re pitching me right now. Like I said, forget everything else and just get your product out the door. Now.
This came at the perfect time, as even before I started any coding/ development. I was getting caught on the whole partnering aspect of the life. I contacted a company as I was considering to partner with them, but that would only cause more distraction. Plus I got my answer to that right here:
Second, like I said, forget everything else and just get your product out the door. No office. No phone system. No hiring. No press. No legal muck. No raising money. No looking for partnerships (who’s going to partner with you anyway?)
Then before you know it, I got another article which almost hit the spot. Which can be found here. My favorite part of course:
1st Time Founder Guy:  How much time should I spend on my business plan. Me: None. 1st Time Founder Guy:  What do you mean?  Don’t I need to have a plan? Me: No, you just need to have a direction.  Get out there fast, make mistakes, and learn from them.
So, with all that said FB is coming along slowly but surely. As I purchase the domain name, i’ll disclose as i’m so over the secrecy and all jazz when it comes to products launching….