009 : Speaking Tech, the required language of the future with Vinay Trivedi

Vinay headshot When you come from a non-technical background, listening to developers speak can sound a lot like FDJKFJ CJ KCDJK REJISJ KLSSJ K SKD.

Fortunately, my guest this week is here to help. Vinay Trivedi is the author of How to Speak Tech: The Non-Techie’s Guide to Technology Basics in Business. In this episode, we talk about specific things that non-technical people should learn in order to remain relevant in the workforce.

When you’re a novice, sometimes you don’t even know what questions you should be asking. Vinay helps lay a solid tech foundation so that you’ll be able to use where ever your learning takes you in the future. If you’re ready for developers to stop sounding like they’re speaking in tongue, it’s time to listen up.

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Should you ask your investor to sign an NDA?

There’s a common question among first-time entrepreneurs: Should I ask [insert person here] to sign a Disclosure Agreement? These “idea people” think they have a highly profitable idea, and want to make sure it’s protected before talking to anyone.

When someone asks my opinion on whether they should present an NDA to a potential investor or mentor, I have one emphatic reply: No. No no no. No no no no no no no. NO.

I made a video to explain why. Continue reading →

003 : Building the ultimate roommate finder with Ajay Yadav

NNL Podcast What would you do if you came back to your apartment after a trip abroad to find out that your roommate had disappeared with the deposit, the locks had been changed, and your stuff was missing? I know my response would involve a large number of guttural screams and a healthy amount of crying.

Ajay, on the other hand, used it as inspiration to build Roomi, an app that helps people find ideal roommates. List or browse apartments, describe your lifestyle, and never get stuck with a nightmare roommate again.

After a ton of research, Ajay built Roomi from scratch — learning Objective-C in a few months using free online resources, hiring a designer, and creating a minimum viable product (MVP). He’s learned from past mistakes and really did it right this time.

If you’re still struggling to figure out your best next move, listen to this episode and follow in Ajay’s steps. You’ll come out with an awesome product.

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The early adopter’s guide to keeping your information safe

So, you’re an early adopter. I am too. For me, it may even be an addiction. I bounce from Hacker News to Tech Crunch to Tech Meetups like it’s no one’s business. I religiously listen to start-up and tech related podcasts on my daily commute. Sometimes I feel like I’m trying out a new website or business every day.

But with innovation happening so fast, it’s really easy to get lost in a sea of new accounts. And when you’re lost, it’s really easy to compromise important information. If you’re like me and you fall into the “early adopter” category of consumers, here’s a few tips to keep you organized and your information safe. Continue reading →