John Joubert » Personal http://www.johnjoubert.com freelance wordpress designer, e-business consultant, entrepreneur & blogger Fri, 28 Jan 2011 09:08:14 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 The comeback… http://www.johnjoubert.com/2009/09/the-comeback/ http://www.johnjoubert.com/2009/09/the-comeback/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:04:57 +0000 John Joubert http://www.johnjoubert.com/?p=415 It’s been a while since I have written anything on this blog (last post was in February I think), so I thought it was about time I put some of my thoughts up here and also update everyone as to my comings and goings over the past couple months.

Firstly, I have been quite busy lately. I started my second degree at the beginning of this year and it has been going quite well actually (thanks for asking). I also decided to take a job offer from a really awesome IT company based in Johannesburg (as their General Manager). I started working for Intdev Internet Technologies in June, and have been absolutely loving it! We’re an ISP with a lot of potential and a great culture, and we’re looking to grow quite rapidly over the next couple of years, so keep a look out for us!

So, what happened to my own ventures? Well, for now I am simply loving what I am doing, and this I believe is the most important thing…it doesn’t really matter to me at this stage whether or not I work for myself or for someone else, aslong as I am learning something and enjoying it. This view may change at some point in the future but it seems to be working for now :) . I will also still be available for questions and advice regarding your design and business problems (it’s usually free advice) and would love to hear from you.

Right, so now that we have gotten that out of the way, we can deal with an interesting question…what I am going to blog about? This blog has been positioned as a design blog and I have been relatively successful in terms of attracting attention to it through the really cool header that I designed, thus I think I will still try to keep up with web design theme here, but to a lesser extent. I will, however, be using this particular platform to build my personal brand and share my day-to-day experiences of running a dynamic IT business as well as managing people in a fast paced and rather energetic environment, and who knows…. I might even entertain and excite you in the process :)

Stay tuned for more soon….

]]> http://www.johnjoubert.com/2009/09/the-comeback/feed/ 0 Monetizing your blog…to ad or not to ad? http://www.johnjoubert.com/2009/02/monetizing-your-blogto-ad-or-not-to-ad/ http://www.johnjoubert.com/2009/02/monetizing-your-blogto-ad-or-not-to-ad/#comments Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:27:17 +0000 John Joubert http://www.johnjoubert.com/?p=396 I would like to say upfront that I am not pretending to have the right answers to this question. If you have read any of my other articles on this topic you will have noticed that I am strongly against obtrusive and greedy advertising (see here).

What I would like to know is whether or not anyone would mind if there were one or two ads on this blog that were relevant and useful to those who are reading. The reason for my question is that I have been contemplating whether or not I should test the response I get from a couple ads on this site.

So, before I do anything…I would like to know what you think? As usual, let me know in the comments :)

]]> http://www.johnjoubert.com/2009/02/monetizing-your-blogto-ad-or-not-to-ad/feed/ 6 Where the magic happens! http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/10/where-the-magic-happens/ http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/10/where-the-magic-happens/#comments Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:34:18 +0000 John Joubert http://www.johnjoubert.com/?p=365 I’m almost always a sucker for checking out photos of people’s work areas. I’m not sure why but I just find it really interesting. With that having been said…here’s mine. Enjoy :)

myspace

You can also check this image out in more detail on Fickr.

My setup is as follows:

  1. Dell XPS M1530 Laptop (See post)
  2. Acer 22″ Wide Screen LCD
  3. Logitech Wireless Keyboard and Mouse
  4. Creative Inspire T6060
  5. Seagate External HDD (160gb)

Anyway, I hope you all found that pretty interesting :)

]]> http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/10/where-the-magic-happens/feed/ 8 How hard do you work, really? http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/10/how-hard-do-you-work-really/ http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/10/how-hard-do-you-work-really/#comments Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:29:37 +0000 John Joubert http://www.johnjoubert.com/?p=324 Do you you work harder on projects that are for yourself or for a client who is paying good money for your best efforts? This is a question that came up recently while I was chatting away on twitter the other night, and I thought I would just put it out there and see what you think.

Most people answered yes, and this lead me to ask another question…is that really ethical? Should we not give our all when we are being paid to do something? Whether it is a freelance project or a 9 to 5 job, I think we all sometimes (for lack of a better word) tend to slack off a little.

I guess this is human nature, but is it fair to the other person or organisation who has invested their trust and money into us and are expecting to receive something that is of the highest quality. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not judging anyone, I just would like to know what people think about this issue.

Why not let me know :)

]]> http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/10/how-hard-do-you-work-really/feed/ 4 I’m famous! http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/09/im-famous/ http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/09/im-famous/#comments Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:24:36 +0000 John Joubert http://www.johnjoubert.com/?p=217 This blog has been featured on We Love WP! Which I consider quite an honour. I’m not quite famous though so I do apologize for the slightly misleading title ;-)

John Joubert


Anyone else like my new design?

]]> http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/09/im-famous/feed/ 6 Who I’m reading at the moment… http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/09/who-im-reading-at-the-moment/ http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/09/who-im-reading-at-the-moment/#comments Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:22:34 +0000 John Joubert http://www.johnjoubert.com/?p=180 There are so many great blogs around, and I’m sure everyone has their favourites. I’d like to share my five best blogs with you and then you can decide if you agree or disagree. These blogs are not necessarily the only ones I read, but they are my first stops on the daily reading list.

Here are they are in no particular order:

Adii

Adii Rockstar – I love checking in with Adii’s blog and tracking his progress over the last couple of months. He has been an inspiration to me and always good for honest and open opinions. Really great read!

elliotjaystocks

Elliot Jay Stocks – I just love looking at his design! Seriously though, all his articles are always very well written and informative and you can easily see why he is so well respected within the blogging community.

markforrester

Mark Forrester – You have got to love that header! I enjoy reading the assorted posts he writes about his life, work and interests…always a great read. He is also a fantastic web designer.

briangardner

Brian Gardner – Another inspiring blogger who built his website from virtual obscurity to a top ranked blog on Technorati and others. He also pioneered the premium theme design industry! Enough said :)

smashing magazine

Smashing Magazine- This blog is a fantastic resource for all things to do with design. If you ever need tips or tricks about design, or feel like some useful and free resources, give them a go!

Well now that you’ve seem my favourites what do you think? Why not suggest a blog or tell me your favourites, in the comments!

]]> http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/09/who-im-reading-at-the-moment/feed/ 2 Get inspired and become successful! http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/09/get-inspired-and-become-successful/ http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/09/get-inspired-and-become-successful/#comments Sun, 28 Sep 2008 08:26:40 +0000 John Joubert http://www.johnjoubert.com/?p=170 I recently read a fantastic series of posts written by Brian Gardner in which he talks about how he achieved success in the WordPress theme industry and I just couldn’t resist sharing this. After reading part one and two, I felt inspired and encouraged to pursue my dreams and goals.

Sometimes things just seem so impossible, but if you persevere and work hard towards the goals you have set, they become more and more achievable and realistic. So, if you feel like a bit of inspiration why not go check out these awesome articles. Part one and part two! It will definitely be worth your while :)

]]> http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/09/get-inspired-and-become-successful/feed/ 0 My apologies… http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/09/my-apologies/ http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/09/my-apologies/#comments Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:36:44 +0000 John Joubert http://www.johnjoubert.com/?p=162 A while back I wrote a post about page rank, in the comments I said that I would write a follow up post about how I managed to achieve my page rank of 3, which isn’t really mind blowing, but was quite an achievement for me.  Well, I never actually got down to writing that post and I thought I would just apologize to my readers, I have been really busy with my studies as well as shifting my focus more too design and web development… Sorry guys and girls :(

So, basically I have decided to apologize and move on, I’m going to provide you with some cool links to blogs that handle this topic better than I do and I hope those people who have been waiting for this post are able to forgive me for not writing an in depth article :)

Check out the following sites for some great information and tips :

]]> http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/09/my-apologies/feed/ 1 A long awaited post! I’m back. http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/09/a-long-awaited-post-im-back/ http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/09/a-long-awaited-post-im-back/#comments Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:20:16 +0000 John Joubert http://www.johnjoubert.com/?p=108 It’s been ages since I have written anything on this blog, and I have really missed it! As some you may know, I’m currently still a student and with that comes the inevitable…studying! I have been really busy with my studies of late, mostly due to the fact that I will be finishing my degree in the next two months or so, which is pretty exciting.

What the future holds…

Well, I’m definitely going to be continuing my studies, which will more than likely be in the form of an Honours degree. But in terms of this blog, the future does seem quite bright! In the near future I will probably be changing focus a little. It will still remain a great marketing tool for my talents, which I feel are expanding in a number of ways, but it will possibly become more of a personal blog in which I can really express myself.

How am I going to get there?

The first step is a serious redesign of this blog and the way it looks…because frankly I have been pretty unmotivated when ever I see how plain and safe the current look is. I have already begun experimenting with the design and will post some possibilities in the near future.

The second vital step is to possibly begin earning some kind of income from my blogging. Now, before everyone starts shouting, “Ads here we come!”, let me say that I have no intention on placing any ads on this site. I would,however, like to start helping others set up their own blogs or e-businesses and in turn earn a living doing this kind of freelance work. I’m also considering offering design services in the near future, but currently the main focus is to get the design of this blog sorted out!

Enjoying the ride!

Life really is a journey and I am loving the ride! I hope everyone that reads this will become inspired to go out there and do something new, different and exciting! If you do…please let me know about it. I would love to hear from you.

Lastly…an invitation.

If you’re thinking of starting a blog or need help in deciding what kind of online venture you want to get into, why not drop me a mail. Question are free and so is my advice!

]]> http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/09/a-long-awaited-post-im-back/feed/ 0 How to overcome a lack of motivation http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/07/how-to-overcome-a-lack-of-motivation/ http://www.johnjoubert.com/2008/07/how-to-overcome-a-lack-of-motivation/#comments Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:08:10 +0000 John Joubert http://www.johnjoubert.com/?p=100 Happy FaceThe last couple days have been quite trying for me. I haven’t had too much motivation to blog…which is really hard on me because I absolutely love blogging. I think it may have something to do with the recent failure of my latest competition which I was really disappointed about. With that having been said I thought I might share some techniques on how to get over ‘writers block’.

Take some time off

Take a break from the rat race that is life and just do things that you enjoy and that take your mind off all the worries and hassles!

Do something different

I went to a beautiful game reserve here in South Africa, for a couple of days, and I really loved it! It was great to just relax and see some beautiful animals that most people won’t see in their entire lives!

Change something

As the saying goes….”Change is as good as a holiday”. You don’t have to make any huge changes but why not try something new…get a new haircut or buy yourself a new TV, it doesn’t matter what it is but as long as you shake things up a bit, you’re in the right direction!

Get creative

Why not start a new hobby or art class? By stimulating your creative side you begin get great satisfaction out of the things you do…whether it is drawing, painting, building, moulding or singing, it will help to put you in a positive frame of mind…guaranteed!

Share your thoughts

When you are stuck in an unending cycle of no motivation it helps to share thoughts with others…you may find that a friend or family member can offer just the right advice to catapult you out of that lethargic mood!

The above techniques were just a couple of the ways to get you back on track and out of the rut you are stuck in.  I really hope that you found this post interesting and I would love to hear any opinions from you…please feel free to comment. Also, if you enjoyed this post please share it with others by using the icons below :)

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