What I get

An opportunity to put theory into practice and create working examples in C# ASP.NET, which I could quickly adapt.

Acquire novel ideas for website features, which others have seen and want. Presenting information uses standard mechanisms, but first seeing those in action, to know what can be done, is a team effort.

Gain confidence in running a web server

Identify where I could add value as a business opportunity. If I could save you time and money, in a knowledge economy, that is a business opportunity.

Marketing is not about selling you something which you don't want, but making you aware of something which will make your life easier and more profitable.

Information is a tradable commodity. We all tell others what they need to know, because it is in our social nature. Priming you to make introductions, to give sales pitches on my behalf, will result in more sales, than directly to you. I'm aiming for a wider window of sales, than from the brief moment any individual is on this website. This concept is called a prospect and is worth optimising.

Experience business insights second hand.

Belief and optimism must be underpinned by preparation and realism. I'm finding that the balance is to the left. We know that people have to do the work and that most people won't. They'll cut corners and will generally get away with it, by luck. What I didn't realise was how prevalent that is. Human nature is about headlines not substance, indeed not even outcomes, just appearance. As a species, we deceive even ourselves. Instead of checking, testing and working through the detail, we assume or will something to be right. Corporate life is no different. We see them strutting around pretending to be passionate, dedicated, professional, putting in more hours than God sends. It's all a ruse. Ironically, the ones who do the unseen work, find it has a negative impact on them in corporate life. In a start-up it leads to changes in social circles.

Whether it's the 2015 film Joy, or the 2016 TV film To Walk Invisible, or the 2005 TV film Kinky Boots, they were all about entrepreneurs forced into doing something. They followed the same pattern of trial and error and more importantly, being let down in the same standard ways. This mirrors my real-life observations from about 200 examples. We are condemned by our own good intentions with people. Having someone with the right skill-set whose services are free, misses the human factor, that most people are a waste of space. Managing that is key.