When presenting to a client, you may feel inclined to load your pitch deck with information, but overwhelming your audience with information may actually be working against you. This week Rich & Gina give some tips on putting together an effective and persuasive deck. We talk about the importance of simplicity and storytelling and discuss our different methods of rehearsing the pitch. Links: Lifehacker Google Slides - Presentation with Speaker Notes See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pr...
Jul 09, 2020•26 min•Ep. 237
We hate to introduce yet another acronym, but this one is worth paying attention to. This week we introduce QORE, Postlight’s method of evaluating the main components of any projects. We breakdown the 4 letters of the acronym, quality, opportunity, risk and efficiency and show you how keeping track of these can help you produce something you and your clients will be proud of. Use QORE and prosper friends! Links: Postlight Labs See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privac...
Jul 07, 2020•24 min•Ep. 236
When your company is growing quickly there comes a time when you need to give up some control and hire new leaders and managers. This week we discuss introducing new managers to your company and finding the right fit for your team. We also reluctantly acknowledge that off-site meetings in the woods can actually be beneficial. Links: Blinkist See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Jul 02, 2020•28 min•Ep. 234
Big tech continues to dominate the markets. How can their competitors stay alive while keeping up with the speed of innovation? Paul & Rich discuss the double-edged sword of how to find efficiencies. How can we shift away from machine learning that often misses the mark? Start empowering & trusting your people and give them what they need to build tools to find those insights for you. Links Airtable Postlight Case Studies Goldman Sans Font See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy ...
Jun 30, 2020•26 min•Ep. 234
Workflow is a seemingly simple process, you assign tasks and move a project down a pipeline. So why then is workflow still so difficult to manage? This week Paul & Rich talk about different workflow tools and how none of them seem quite right for the challenges we are facing today. We discuss the tools that are out there today and the need for better alternatives. Links: Postlight - Black Lives Matter Airtable Trello Todoist Pipefy See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californ...
Jun 25, 2020•22 min•Ep. 233
Do social media companies have a responsibility to monitor what people say on their platforms? This week Paul and Rich discuss why Facebook & Twitter should be changing their policies in response to unrest and poor leadership. We discuss the laws that let these companies off the hook and Rich gives us an interesting lesson in free-speech law. Links: Our Routers, Ourselves - Paul Ford for The New Yorker See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://a...
Jun 23, 2020•29 min•Ep. 232
Ever wish you could create a custom Slack emoji to send to your co-workers? Well look no further than Textmoji, a new web app from Postlight Labs. It’s simple and easy to use and allows you to make text emoji for Slack and Discord for any occasion. Textmoji creator and software engineer Preston Richey joins us to talk about how and why he wanted to create this app and teaches Paul and Rich about a new developer framework. Links: Postlight Labs Textmoji.app Svelte framework Pixi Dash for Slack Se...
Jun 18, 2020•27 min•Ep. 231
How do you know when it’s time to rebrand? Last week we launched a new brand and want to tell you all about it. But we also want to share some broader lessons about when and why rebranding is necessary. We share what we’ve learned over the years about growing a company and evolving a brand to better suit what the company can do, not what it’s already done. We hope you like our new look! Links: Postlight Postlight Case Study: Goldman Sachs Postlight Case Study: MTA See Privacy Policy at https://a...
Jun 16, 2020•28 min•Ep. 230
Artificial intelligence is all about automating human behavior — and that includes bad behavior. How can technologists write software that helps rather than harms? Paul and Rich discuss the rise of apps that encode shady approaches like loan sharking into automated tools, and whether social pressures may eventually right those wrongs — or if that change will come too late. Links: Rest of World " This lending app publicly shames you when you’re late on loan payments - Morris Kiruga" Lenny Telemar...
Jun 11, 2020•23 min•Ep. 229
When was the first time you became aware of the air? As the CEO of a drone transportation company, Star Simpson thinks about flight everyday. She joins the podcast to talk about her startup, ThereCraft, which uses drones to deliver lifesaving supplies to first responders and improves last-mile delivery to remote locations. She reveals a few secrets about engineering her flying vehicles of the future, and discusses what’s to come for drone technology. Links: Star Simpson ThereCraft.com Otherlab C...
Jun 09, 2020•34 min•Ep. 228
Postlight loves playing with code — and sometimes that play helps people be more productive. Paul and Gina introduce Account, a new open-source Labs project from Postlight that renders interactive math equations as text stories. Paul discusses the importance of creating data representations that people can explore, and thanks to Account, Gina is converted from an old-school coder to a React fan. Links: Account Tinysheet Soulver Tangle.io Idyll RFP Builder Whimsical Reveal Lifehacker Postlight La...
Jun 04, 2020•37 min•Ep. 227
It seems natural to implement rules to reduce risk. But when dealing with fluid processes like software development, can rigidity and fear of unknown variables actually hold you back? Paul and Rich discuss what’s at stake when leaders confuse rules with risk mitigation. We draw parallels between a good pilot, a good lawyer, and good software development — and as a bonus, Paul tells you how you can earn a promotion using only four words. Links: Sarbanes-Oxley See Privacy Policy at https://art19.c...
Jun 02, 2020•26 min•Ep. 226
When you can’t invite a prospective client into the office, how do you hold their attention and show them you’re actively listening? Charisma and eye contact don’t make the same impact over Zoom. Paul and Rich explain an adaptive sales approach that uses digital tools and tactics to demonstrate value. Behold our new Reactive Sales technique. Links: Sitecore Adobe Experience Manager Pendo The Challenger Sale: Taking Control of the Customer Conversation Reveal.js Whimsical Miro Mural See Privacy P...
May 28, 2020•32 min•Ep. 225
Good design often goes unnoticed, but not for Scott Berkun. In his new book, How Design Makes the World , Scott delves into how both good and bad design affect our daily lives. On this episode, Scott lays out the big questions you must ask about your users: Who do you design for, and why? And how do you avoid unintended harm when designing products? Links: Scott Berkun How Design Makes The World Scott Berkun Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at...
May 26, 2020•36 min•Ep. 224
The modern global economy has been built on relatively stable markets, so what happens now that stability is no longer a constant? Paul and Rich ask the big questions about our economic systems: Why is it so difficult to coordinate at scale? What is the best way to optimize a supply chain? And how can we meet everyone’s needs? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
May 21, 2020•23 min•Ep. 222
Creating a sensation: Jordan Mechner built his first video game in high school, sourcing info from books (there was no internet); a few years later, he concocted the hit game Prince of Persia in his dorm room. On the podcast, Jordan shares an inside look into his new book and chronicles the time he spent building a genre-defining game: his creative process, inspiration for his work, and insights about building games then vs. now. Links: Atari 400 Timex Sinclair Doom Karateka Jordan Mechner Strip...
May 19, 2020•32 min•Ep. 222
Shared Crisis: When a stressed client comes to you with an urgent request, it's hard not to panic. The tight deadlines may seem daunting but there are ways to mitigate the crisis. Paul and Rich share their insights on how to lessen stress, limit expectations, and simplify processes to get a product shipped quickly. Some pro tips: take a breath, create a sense of shared responsibility, reduce risk, and don’t forget to sleep! Links: McKinsey Airtable Squarespace Wix Booz Allen Zoho Writer SAP See ...
May 14, 2020•28 min•Ep. 221
Apologize later: Renowned tech journalist and writer Steven Levy chats about his new book, Facebook: The Inside Story , which peers behind the scenes at the biggest social media monolith of our day. Levy breaks down how he convinced Facebook to give him inside access, what was happening there during the 2016 election, and why Mark Zuckerberg loves Caesar Augustus so much. Caution, books spoilers ahead! Links: Steven Levy Hackers - Steven Levy The Perfect Thing - Steven Levy Backchannel - WIRED S...
May 12, 2020•36 min•Ep. 220
Paul and Rich have a follow up discussion about Marc Andreessen’s newest article and ask the important question: How can we connect and empower people to create crucial tools for society when the industry has become so transactional? Are we able to create necessary social momentum when there’s no money involved? Paul puts out a plea for Postlight to create a software development kit for education at a platform level. It remains to be seen if VCs are ready to shift their focus to do the same. (Pe...
May 07, 2020•21 min•Ep. 219
There’s a reason to expect criticism: Paul and Rich dig into the newest article from VC Marc Andreessen. In it, Andreessen exhorts Americans to innovate and blames our lack of preparation for the pandemic on a lack of desire to do so. We reflect on the current state of America and how apparent the holes in our social governance have become since COVID-19 (especially the education system). Is there a world where VC and startups can help us improve these old systems? Has social policy towards more...
May 05, 2020•26 min•Ep. 218
Brand Safety: Parse.ly founders Andrew Montalenti and Sachin Kamdar chat about their analytics platform and share the content trends they are following during the global pandemic. They discuss how publishers and media outlets are being impacted by COVID-19, and the myriad ways that advertising and brand safety are changing. They also share how to give clarity to clients in a time of uncertainty: with the insights of analytics. Links: Andrew Montalenti Sachin Kumdar - Twitter Parse.ly Facebook Ne...
Apr 30, 2020•25 min•Ep. 217
Scripted Interactions: On this week’s episode of Track Changes, Paul, Rich, and Gina chat about ways to keep your team focused and on track when working remotely. How do you create urgency to make sure things get done? How can you keep people focused during remote calls? They discuss the need for clear communication and accountability, and share some tools to help structure meetings and interactions in a digital-first work world. Links: Gina Trapani Cheer on Netflix Tiger King on Netflix Campfir...
Apr 28, 2020•31 min•Ep. 216
This isn’t remote, this is pandemic: On this week’s episode of Track Changes, Paul and Rich chat with friend and client Tim Meaney about when things could return to normal and if they should return to normal. We reflect on some of the positive changes that have come from this pandemic, like more time with family and getting rid of inefficiencies. We also talk about the importance of resilience and of course, the hit documentary series Tiger King. Links: Coronavirus chic: Top sales up, bottom dow...
Apr 23, 2020•29 min•Ep. 215
Excelsior: In this episode of Track Changes, Paul and Rich discuss the new Apple-Google contact tracing app aimed at tracking the spread of COVID. We explain what contact tracing is and how the app works. We chat about the potential difficulties of onboarding these types of apps and whether the app will be able to help the most vulnerable. We also discuss how we can best combine technology with good old fashioned testing. Links: Dyson Andrew Cuomo Video, B-Roll, Audio, & Rush Transcript - Go...
Apr 21, 2020•29 min•Ep. 214
Priorities as a leader: On this week’s episode of Track Changes, Paul and Rich sit down to discuss how the pandemic is impacting business and mental health. Priorities are changing, so what comes first? In juggling health, family, and work, it’s important to give employees space and empathy. But work can be a welcome distraction from the news and rising COVID-19 numbers. Links: Yeti Nano Screen Time Linux Windows 8 Windows 10 HP Pavilion Candy Crush Chrome Zoom Remember Jade Helm 15, the controv...
Apr 14, 2020•21 min•Ep. 213
The Grind: This week on Track Changes, Paul and Rich chat with Postlight’s Head of Engineering Jeremy Mack about all things video games. Jeremy teaches us about current video game trends. We learn about loot boxes, battle passes, pay-to-win games and the controversy surrounding these types of monetization. We also get some great indie game recommendations and chat about the future of gaming. Warning for anyone playing the game Journey, this episode contains some spoilers. Links: PlayStation 4 Je...
Apr 07, 2020•31 min•Ep. 212
Specify like a caveman: This week on Track Changes, Paul and Rich are joined by Gina Trapani, a managing partner at Postlight, to talk about statements of work (SOWs). We chat about Postlight’s unique SOW process. We talk about why we base our approach on trust and relationships rather than just time and money. We also talk about managing risk, what to do when someone oversteps their original demands and Paul gives some tips on how to make the SOW writing process easier. Hint: write like a cavem...
Mar 31, 2020•34 min•Ep. 211
Craft and Quality: This week on Track Changes, Paul and Rich chat with Vice President of Partnerships and Community at InVision, Mike Davidson. We chat about everything from tomato seeds, to shower heads to how to lead a remote team and the ups and downs of remote work. Mike shows us that the one thing these all have in common is they can help simplify your life to help you dig deeper into the things you love. Links: Typescript Sketch Figma Mike Davidson InVision Twitter NBC News Newsvine ESPN C...
Mar 24, 2020•38 min•Ep. 210
Work from home: This week on Track Changes, Paul and Rich chat with Postlight’s head of engineering Jeremy Mack about ways to improve your remote work setup. From basic tips like getting dressed in the morning and using wired headphones to tips on how to navigate remote meetings, Jeremy shares the best practices he’s developed after 6 years of working remotely. He also gives us some examples of non-verbal cues to show others that you’re busy and ways to unwind after a day working from home. Link...
Mar 17, 2020•26 min•Ep. 209
Big thoughts: This week on Track Changes, Paul and Rich sit down to discuss how branding impacts product design. We chat about how branding is critical when designing products, and how helpful it is when the brand comes first. Of course, that’s not always the case. We talk about the challenges of developing brand and product simultaneously and ways to deal with the complexities that come with this type of agile development. Nike Craftsman Ford F-150 Michael Bierut Jessica Helfand - Twitter A Con...
Mar 10, 2020•25 min•Ep. 208
