I’ve Got a Problem and The Solution Isn’t More Cowbell

I’m struggling with my day job. I recently completed a week of vacation in which I discovered that I want to write about WordPress when I’m not required to write about it. Go figure! Returning from staycation, I’ve had a difficult time finding things that inspire me to write about WordPress. More often than not, my FeedReader is filled with items that make me go Meh at best.

Since my job is to write about WordPress on a daily basis, this is not good. My FeedReader is filled with tutorials, questions, crap, and other things dealing with WordPress that don’t create that spark of creative writing.

When I initially applied for the job, I said that all I wanted was for someone to pay me to sit on my ass all day and write about WordPress. I have what I wanted but I’m not happy. Things have changed and no matter how hard I try to replicate the environment which generated success 4 years ago, it doesn’t seem to show up.

With WordPress powering over 23% of the web, you’d think it would be easy to find something to write about. Well, it’s not as easy as you might think. A lot has to do with my interests and whether I see something that readers may find interesting or helpful. For the most part, it has to interest me first before I start writing about it.

There’s a part of me that feels like WordPress has passed me up. It’s like everyone is using or developing WordPress in ways that go way over my head. I have no interest in learning what Sass or Less is yet, there is definitely a crowd yearning for that knowledge.

After nearly a decade of writing about WordPress, I’ve almost reached a point where I don’t want to be a journalist anymore and instead, just want to mingle in the community. I’ve thought about this a lot and if I could start over with a WordPress centric site, I’d make the whole thing a forum. Forums are a great way to archive things and have discussions about sites or articles that don’t need a front page mention.

A forum is a great way to establish a community and an identify. It’s a way to feel like you belong somewhere. I’m passionate, enthusiastic, and have a knack of connecting the dots for people. This is why I think I’d be able to successfully build and maintain a rocking WordPress forum. I’m a down to earth, no bullshit kind of guy that is able to listen to people, no matter what their status is in the community.

That’s not to say every now and then, I wouldn’t want to write a long, thoughtful post on a particular subject. But doing it everyday even when paid is a pain in the ass, especially when you can’t find anything to write about. Funny how when I’m put into a position I thought I’d be happy in, the opposite is true.

I think a lot of people would love to be in the position I’m in and yes, I do realize the position I’m in. It’s just that, the things you think would make you happy sometimes don’t and you don’t realize it until you’re in the thick of things. I’m working towards putting myself into a work environment and situation that makes me happy but until then, I’ll need to buckle down, trudge through the tough creative times, and gitter done.

How I Save Money Using AT&T Services

I’ve been an AT&T Uverse customer for a few years. The service has been great and I have no complaints. When I signed up for Uverse internet, I received an introductory rate for a one year commitment. Once the year was up, the rate increased to the normal price.

In order to cancel a service, you need to speak with a rep so they can figure out why you’re cancelling and provide anything possible to keep you as a customer. Just to see what would happen, I called AT&T to cancel my service.

I spoke to a friendly lady and explained that I was receiving offers from TWC, Comcast, and others for equal services but at a great introductory rate of around $30 for two years. I told them that I had no problems with my Uverse service but paying $56 per month had me considering switching. I asked if there was anything they could do to lower my bill as I’d prefer to not leave them.

After crunching some numbers, they had two offers. One would allow me to keep my same internet speed and lower the bill by $10 a month. I almost went with this plan but the service rep told me if I wanted the lowest price possible without bundling any other services, I should take advantage of the manager special. The manager special bumped up my internet speed to 18Mb for $30 per month if I agreed to a one year commitment. Of course, I went with the manager special.

These big service providers like AT&T will do almost anything to keep customers. I know that and use it to my advantage. So far, I’ve been able to avoid paying regular price since I became a Uverse customer. After this one year commitment is up, I’m going to call them back and re-negotiate a new plan that avoids paying regular price.

90s Kids Win, Surge Is Back Baby

Surge In 12 Packs

Surge Available In 12 Packs

The soda I used to drink by the 2 liter in the 90s is coming back. Surge, produced by Coca-Cola, is available exclusively on Amazon.com. Since coming back, the product has sold out at least twice. For once, a huge brand has listened to their customers and brought back a product people are dyeing to buy.

The movement to bring back Surge is largely thanks to a large Facebook group named The Surge Movement. Formed in 2011 and with over 140K likes, the group and its members have been instrumental in bringing back the fizzy beverage. Watch as the three administrators of the group announce the return of Surge from Coca-Cola headquarters.

I loved this stuff as a kid and would drink it by the 2 liter during the hot summers. Maybe that explains a few things but I digress. I’m waiting for it to come back in stock so I can relive the 90s one 16 fluid ounce can at a time.

Now is the time for PepsiCo to relaunch a 90s brand of their own in Josta. They too have a Facebook page and campaign to bring it back but it’s not as popular. There is renewed hope however that with the return of Surge, Josta can return as well. Although it’s crappy quality, here is a commercial for it from the 90s.

This stuff had a unique, fruity flavor thanks to the Gurana Berries used. These berries are also the reason it was labeled as a high-energy drink. Its seeds contain about twice the concentration of caffeine found in coffee beans (about 2–4.5% caffeine in guarana seeds compared to 1–2% for coffee beans). Nothing in the soda market today tastes like Josta.

One reason PepsiCo may not bring back Josta is because it could eat into their Mountain Dew segment of the market. However, since it’s a totally different soda with a unique taste, I don’t see why the company can’t offer both.

At the end of the day, the 90s kids have a victory to cheer about!

I Have Symptoms Of Imposter Syndrome

I just finished watched Chris Lema’s presentation on escaping the imposter syndrome and I think I’ve been diagnosed. I have many of the symptoms he talks about such as immediately deflecting praise or compliments to someone else. I call it being humble, apparently it’s part of imposter syndrome. That’s just who I am as a person but I’d rather not devalue the amount of effort and work I put into the things I do.

There’s always a reason for any success I encounter such as someone else did the work or I just got lucky. Looks like I need to cut the bull crap and just accept the accomplishments and be happy about them instead of passing them off to someone else.

I have no problem telling someone I don’t know when asked something I don’t know. It’s all the other stuff mentioned in the video I have a problem dealing with. There’s a lot of great stuff in this presentation. Not all of it applies to me but I at least know I have symptoms related to imposter syndrome.

I’ve Inspired People To Get Into WordPress?

Earlier this week, I was involved in a few different conversations where something like this was said, You’ve inspired so many people like myself with WP Weekly or You inspired me to get into WP. I find it hard to believe that someone like me could inspire someone to get into WordPress either personally or through WordPress Weekly. I just don’t think what I do is very inspiring to others but I’m routinely reminded that it is. Maybe this is a sign that I should take more pride in the work I do?

Matt Mullenweg Eats Food That Doesn’t Look Like Art

If you follow Matt Mullenweg’s blog that doesn’t pertain to WordPress as I do, you’ll notice he publishes a lot of pictures of food. The food always looks delicious. For example, look at this scrumptious Duck Confit with Sauerkraut he published October 5th, 2013.

Put a frame around it!

Put a frame around it!

Now who would eat a piece of art like that? Put a nice frame around it and it’s ready to be displayed in a gallery. Not once have I seen a picture of a Whopper from Burger King or a Big Mac from McDonalds.

Matt recently joined the Advanced WordPress group on Facebook and opened the floor to questions about WordPress, the Foundation, Jetpack, Automattic, and a host of other topics. I decided to use the opportunity to finally ask him a question that’s been eating away at me for a few years.

I have a question not related to WordPress. Do you ever eat food that doesn’t look like it belongs in an art gallery? Like a Big Mac or something.

His Response: I had McDonald’s as recently as Sunday, just a few days ago. I just don’t usually post it to my blog. McDonald’s I’m a chicken McNugget guy, though I’m curious about their new jalapeno burger. Burger King it’s always a Whopper. Growing up in Texas I have a soft spot for Whataburger and Sonic, I think In-n-Out is overrated but usually tasty, and I’ve been really enjoying Five Guys when I come across one.

I will always be happy with fried chicken from Popeyes or KFC, though the former has better biscuits and I grew up just a few blocks away from one. When Automattic had an office in the Mission in SF there was a KFC on the opposite corner and I’d often sneak over there for lunch or a late snack when I was in the office till odd hours.

So I finally have the answer to my question. Although I’m satisfied with his answer, I want him to take a photo of a bucket of KFC or a Whopper and publish it to his blog. You know, pics or it didn’t happen! If anyone has the skills to make a Big Mac or Whopper look great in a photo, it’s him.

iThemes Announces Strategic Partnership With Crowd Favorite

Over the past few years, iThemes founder and CEO, Cory Miller, has structured the company, its culture and the way he does business around a memorable African proverb.

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

As an example of that proverb in action, iThemes and Crowd Favorite have announced a joint-venture partnership. An advisory board with key executives from each company will work together to prepare iThemes Sync, Security, Exchange, and BackupBuddy to enter the enterprise market. Crowd Favorite CTO, Chris Lema, has yet to start his new job and is already creating lasting relationships between companies.

iThemes Continues To Mature as a Company

Go Far Together

Go Far Together

In late 2009, I published an article on the Tavern that highlighted iThemes response to speculation that the company was stagnating. Miller took the speculation to heart and responded to it on the company blog. I think his blog post in 2009 is one of the pivotal turning points for iThemes.

After that post was published, I sensed a renewed fire in Miller and the company began releasing innovative products such as Flexx and Builder. iThemes diversified its products by offering commercial plugins with PluginBuddy. The company also provided training through webdesign.com.

All of this to say that I’ve had the pleasure to watch iThemes mature as a company from the outside looking in. They’re moving, shaking, and making things happen by creating great products. The joint-venture partnership is yet another example of how the company is going far together, instead of alone.