Wordpress Theme Shoppping

It has been a long time since I went shopping for themes for Wordpress projects, I have always been a huge fan of the Genesis child themes from Studiopress, and I still very much am a huge fan.

However, some projects need a little something extra and with so many developers churning out beautiful Wordpress themes, it can be somewhat hard to ignore them.

We recently had a project come into our web design manchester studio that was for a dentist in the local area. Their remit or brief, was to have a website that was nothing like any dentist website on the market. So we did something we had not done in a long time and visited Themeforest to see what beautiful new, and responsive themes had been released.  I have to say that I always, no matter what the project, always move towards the creative folder of themes, if nothing else I get some great inspiration and get a handle on what is current.

The whole day was spent thinking will this do, will this one do, in the end I bought 2 themes and when it comes down to it, I don't think I will use either of them for this project.  My personal feeling is that a  website built on the genesis platform will outstrip many competitors who do not use it.

So even though it was a nice bit of window shopping with a couple of swish purposes, the part of me that wants to deliver websites that perform won't let me do it for too long.

3 Tips for running a business on your own

So I have £4 in the bank, however I am about to share tips on how to run a business (I bet you can't wait to hear this eh?) First of all allow me to introduce myself.

Unveiling.... The Inventor.

My name is Jamie Brennan, inventor of the un-invented and tweeker of the already invented. You may know me from such inventions as 'Bus Undies' or 'Leaf Blower Shoes' or as many, if not all of you who stumble across this blog, you won't have a clue who I am.  I am not just an inventor though, my day job is that of a web designer who specialises in wordpress websites, but that's enough about that.

Tip 1: Believe in what you do.

If being my own boss has taught me anything, other than early Friday finishes to go for a beer should start no earlier than 10am (that is a differnt blog though), then it is unless you have belief in your ability and worth as a person and as a business, then no-one else will. We each have the potential in us to be the best in the world at what we do, it takes will, plenty of hard work and commitment and BELIEF.  The universe has a way of making the things you desire happen.

Tip 2: Behind every great boss is a fantastic assistant

I wouldn't be anywhere without my fantastic number 2 Ashley, she is the person who takes care of the finiky bits I deem unnecessary, but which. From accounting to form filling and a host of all other things I would be lost if I had to do them all myself. It also helps that Ashley is my partner and we are soon to be expecting our second child in a month or so's time. Not only is my work detail taken care of but I get to come home to a loving home, leaving me more time to come up with even more inventions....sweet!!

Tip 3: Don't eat yellow snow

Fairly self explanatory, the fact that it is yellow signifies that it may have been wee'd on, and no one wants to eat wee'd on snow.

Take care for now.

Jamie

My world in Wordpress

Three years ago I was working at British gas helping people that were moving house to switch there bills across. I left to start a business with my brother which, unfortunately petered out within 10 months due to our sibling rivalry taking over in the office, things became strained and to save a great brotherly friendship we parted company as a working duo.

My next step - Learning Wordpress.

In setting up our business we built our own website using Wordpress, it was the first time that I had ever come across it. I thought the website was the bees knees, I really did, it wasn't, it was mediocre at best.

When I look back over the last two years and see how much I have learned by spending 14 hours a day each and every day honing my craft as well as running a business it feels like I was destined to do this.

It may be a stepping stone in my life, I don't lay anchors anywhere. Life is about being happy, for me, I have a fantastic family of my own, I love getting up and starting work. There is something magical about allowing the creative side in you to be the one that runs your day to day existence and 'bring home the bacon' in effect.

I have a lot to still learn but feel that since Christmas I have started learning at an exponential rate. The Age of Enlightenment is certainly upon us as we move into the age of Aquarius. The Mayans might have sneaked one in the back door it appears as the new long count begins.

Ps I heart Wordpress :)

pps I heart being a wordpress website designer.