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zachleat
March 02, 2013
Programming
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1.2k
Side Projects
How I generate ideas for, manage, and work on meaningful/less side projects.
zachleat
March 02, 2013
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Transcript
SIDE PROJECTS This ain’t my main gig.
@zachleat http://www.zachleat.com Filament Group
A creative endeavor that isn’t your primary source of income.
Maybe you’ve heard of:
None
Side project of: Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie
None
—The White Stripes Side project of:
None
‘s Side Project
None
Side project of:
allow you: SIDE PROJECTS
a fresh, independent perspective.
a creative outlet.
an opportunity to learn something new.
What would you do if money were no object? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siu6JYqOZ0g
SIDE PROJECTS
A few of my SIDE PROJECTS http://www.zachleat.com/web/projects/
http://www.alarmd.com
http://www.alarmd.com
http://www.alarmd.com
http://www.alarmd.com
http://www.alarmd.com
None
http://www.zachleat.com/projects/Malarquee/
http://www.zachleat.com/bigtext/
A few of my favorite SIDE PROJECTS
http://whatcheer.com/
http://whatcheer.com/
http://whatcheer.com/
How to decide what to work on?
I have a book.
(Well, it started as a notebook. Now it’s in Evernote.)
All of my ideas go into the book.
“What if I could…”
“Why doesn’t this…?”
“Man, it’d be cool if…”
But, I also have a few Rules.
#1 It doesn’t matter how weird or unachievable the idea
is, it goes into the book.
For example,
A Gritty Mary Poppins Reboot
Spoiler: She’s a drug dealer.
#2 Never work on an idea right away.
#3 Revisit achievable ideas; order in a big list by
Motivation & Complexity.
can be: SIDE PROJECTS
Esoteric.
should be: SIDE PROJECTS
Simple.
For example, a NSFW Url Shortener
Fun.
For example, a multiplayer online Ouija board. Credit to @davatron5000
For yourself.
For example, a real Deal with It Glasses kit.
@zachleat http://www.zachleat.com